Joe Biden Offers "Daily Guidance"

Joe Biden isn't planning on being a behind-the-scenes sort of vice president.

He wants you to know where he's been and where he's going.

From Politico:

The new no. two's aides issued a "daily guidance" email to reporters Friday night detailing where he has been for the past three days, and where he's going over the weekend. And they committed to making this a habit.

"The Vice President's communications office will send out a daily guidance each evening for the following day," the email says.

Giving reporters "guidance" wasn't really Cheney's thing. He drew the line at the obligatory notices for public events and, really, what was the point of announcing an "undisclosed location?"

Biden has promised to be more open. From his guidance email we learn that he administered the oath of office to seven Cabinet members on Wednesday; he took his daily intelligence briefing with President Obama on Thursday and Friday; he also lunched with Obama on Friday and attended a budget meeting.

Biden has no public events on Saturday. On Sunday, he will appear on CBS' "Face the Nation."

This is wonderful.

Joe Biden is giving "daily guidance."

No undisclosed locations for Joe.

I don't know that this is really about Biden defining his new style, making a break from Dick Cheney's lower public profile as the vice president.

I think it's a matter of Biden not wanting to take a back seat to Barack Obama. He enjoys his moments in the spotlight so much. He doesn't want to be lost in Obama's towering shadow. So Biden is promoting his appearances. He wants reporters to ask him questions. He's almost begging for attention.

Don't expect Biden to pull what Obama did during his surprise visit to the White House press corps Thursday night.

[Obama] got agitated when he was faced with a substantive question.

Asked how he could reconcile a strict ban on lobbyists in his administration with a deputy defense secretary nominee who lobbied for Raytheon, Obama interrupted with a knowing smile on his face.

"Ahh, see," he said, "I came down here to visit. See this is what happens. I can't end up visiting with you guys and shaking hands if I'm going to get grilled every time I come down here."

Pressed further by the Politico reporter about his Pentagon nominee, William J. Lynn III, Obama turned more serious, putting his hand on the reporter's shoulder and staring him in the eye.

"Alright, come on" he said, with obvious irritation in his voice. "We will be having a press conference at which time you can feel free to [ask] questions. Right now, I just wanted to say hello and introduce myself to you guys - that's all I was trying to do."

Biden isn't dodging questions or being a control freak about what sort of interaction is permissible. He wants to talk. Biden really does love to talk. Any attention from the press is good attention.

Today's Daily Dose of Biden Guidance: No public events scheduled for Saturday, but don't forget to watch Face the Nation this Sunday. Please check your local listings.

In other words, "Hey, guys! Over here! It's me, Joe Biden! I'm ready for my close-up!"

I suppose this works out well when taken with what Obama is offering Americans.

Biden will give us our "daily guidance" and Obama, the messiah, will give us our daily bread.