Bidens, Cheneys meet in Washington
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/13/art.cheney.ap.jpg caption=" The Cheneys and Bidens met Thursday."]WASHINGTON (CNN) – Vice President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill arrived at their future home at Washington's Naval Observatory Thursday afternoon and were greeted as they exited their black SUV by its current residents, Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne.
The couples shook hands as Mrs. Cheney arranged the photo-op on the front porch, telling Mrs. Biden, “Now Jill, I was told that you were to be in the middle.”
As the foursome headed inside for what was billed as a private meeting followed by a tour of the mansion, a reporter asked Biden if he had been there before.
“I’ve been on the ground floor a couple times,” Biden responded.
Afterwards, a spokeswoman for the vice president wrote in a statement that the meeting lasted 50 minutes and that "it was a good visit."
"Vice President Cheney and his wife Lynne were pleased to welcome Vice President-elect Biden and his wife Jill to the Naval Observatory this afternoon," said spokeswoman Megan Mitchell. "It was a good visit. The Cheneys enjoyed giving the Bidens a tour of the residence and wished them well as they make it their home in January."
A spokesperson for Biden also said the visit went well.
"The Vice President-elect and Dr. Jill Biden met with Vice President Cheney and his wife Lynne at the Naval Observatory this evening. The Bidens thank the Cheneys for welcoming them into their home and for their gracious hospitality," said spokesperson for the Vice President-elect Elizabeth Alexander.
Chances are most of Biden's visits to the residence did not come over the past eight years. The future vice president has been a regular and fervent critic of Cheney, calling him “the most dangerous vice president probably in American history” at the vice presidential debate in early October.
In that same debate, Biden accused Cheney of not understanding that constitution says the job of VP falls under the Executive Branch. In his speech at the Democratic convention, he also joked about Cheney’s understanding of the document.
“For every American who is trying to do the right thing, for all those people in government who are honoring the pledge to uphold the law and honor the Constitution,” Biden said. “No longer will you hear the eight most-dreaded words in the English language, ‘The vice president’s office is on the phone.’”
The Delaware senator also couldn’t resist poking fun at the vice president when campaigning at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, Washington in mid-October.
“I want to thank you for making this stadium today change, temporarily changing the name from Cheney Stadium to Obama-Biden Stadium for the day,” said Biden. “Besides, if it was Cheney Stadium, we’d be at an undisclosed location. You’d never have been able to find us.”
Biden used Cheney’s November 1 speech in support of John McCain and Sarah Palin to further the Democratic ticket’s case that their Republican opponents would continue the current administration’s failed policies, saying, “It’s not surprising. Dick Cheney has been wrong on everything for the last eight years, he’s on a roll.”
Cheney took on a far more powerful role as vice president than his predecessors had. Biden has said that he hopes to be a ‘confidante’ to president-elect Barack Obama, in the room for the important decisions and offering his judgment.
As for his new home: Biden has said he will still regularly go home to Delaware, though his grandchildren who live nearby in Washington are excited about the move because the new house has a pool.
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Boy – those statements by staffers sure reflect a lot of frozen smiles and discomfort. It reminds me of GW Bush referring to meetings as cordial, which I took to mean "pleasant because we didn't say what we really thought about the other."
If he ask you to go hunting, so no–just say no Joe.
Congrats on your new home, Joe Biden.
I'm glad to see Biden avoided the trap floor door and .... dinner...
It is remarkable that after a hard fought election and many acts the have altered the life in america not for the good, the principle leaders past and future can be civil to each other. It's a lesson for all
That was probably interesting...
Got to love Joe!
Again to Lou Dobb's... George Bush Jmnr is a Hero... Blame his Dad if you Must.. But5 Don't anybody in America Blame Him...
Put your head on the Block, Just like he did after the Twin Towers..
How many thousand could have died??? George BUsh Jne is a Hero...
He di not talk about what he would do... He Did! Do your shoes Fit?
Borack Obama is your worst ightmare.. I can wait for the Bad-News...Can you... Whisper??? SHush.. Someone may gbe listening..
OH DEAR, HAS ANYONE CHECKED TO SEE IF JOE AND JILL ARE SAFE. THAT MAD DOG IS SCARY. YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SCARY, IS PALIN GOING TO MEET WITH THE CHENEY'S AS A NEW VEEP. WOULDN' YOU HATE TO SEE HER EVERY SECOND OF THE DAY FOR FOUR YEARS? I KEEP TELLING MY FRIENDS THAT SHE IS LIKE THE MONKEYS IN THE ZOO, A LOT OF PEOPLE GO TO SEE HER. THEY SAY SHE IS PHOTOGENIC, BUT LOST HER FILM. CAN YOU IMAGINE HER AS PREZ OR VP? WHAT DO THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT HAVE IN COMMON WITH HER? SHE USES THAT BABY AS A PAWN, NOT A GOOD MOM. AN UNCHRIST LIKE PERSON. USING WORDS LIKE MARXIST, HITLER, ATHIEST ETC. AGAINST R. OBAMA. I AM A CHRISTIAN AND WOULD NEVER SAY THAT ABOUT ANYONE. THE CHURCHES THAT GO FOR LIES LIKE THAT SHOULD NOT BE TAX FREE.
"COME ON CNN", WE ARE ALL DISGUSTED THAT YOU ARE STILL COVERING PALIN. THERE HAS TO BE BETTER THINGS TO COVER. DOES SHE THRILL YOU THAT MUCH?
Wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall there? Oh, my!
Glad Biden is alive. I was worried about Cheney Hunting habit.
I hope Dick paid his mortgage before leaving.
This blog is a crack up! You guys are hilarious.
I'm proud to have Joe Biden as our nation's vice president and I welcome his lovely wife Jill.
I just kiss the floor and thank God that this picture does not include Sara Palin and Iron Dog. YES....there is a God!
When is Dick going to jail!
Will Darth Cheney remove the dungeon from the basement before he moves back to Texas, uh, I mean, Wyoming?
Look at the body language in that photograph. The Bidens very warm and open. The Cheneys very straight and stiff.
Interesting!!
I wonder if Cheney showed him the human size safe and industrial sized shredder?
what is up with jill and michele arent they the ugliest women we have ever seen in the white house or what! what is up with rachel maddow and keith olberman arent they disgusting...
rachel makes me want to throw up
jill looks like she left her trailer on wheels in the parking lot.,.girl, get a stylist
is cheney alive?? OMG this guy is useless probably most useless VP ever
Time for a bathroom re-model!
I will be really honest I feel really sorry for Cheney. He's been like a punching bag for everyone and he's taken it, never complained or anything about it, he just smile's for the camera knowing he will be sucker punched by everyone that talks about it.
I disagree with all of his policies and etc, voted for Obama Biden and can't wait until they go to the white house (wooohooo!!) but I still feel really bad for Cheney, he's been a good sport about all of this.
50 minutes?? Geez, what did the Cheneys do... run them through the place at a gallop? Obviously they didn't sit down and chat.
Why is Jill Biden refered to Dr. Biden and Lynne Cheney is not when they both have PhDs? Any bias?
Datz my boy,lets fit him for that orange jumpsuit now.
ABOOKENDS OF IDIOTS>