3 ms·

Joe Biden is like an amazing "character actor" of politics. He has an almost Clinton-like ability to remain likable ... but whatever you think Clinton was actu

by mr_luc 13y ago

Joe Biden is like an amazing "character actor" of politics. He has an almost Clinton-like ability to remain likable ... but whatever you think Clinton was actually like, he came off as sharper conversationally than Biden. Still, the ability to remain likable in spite of gaffes seems to be vital in Presidential politics -- look at Bush/Kerry.

crusso 13y ago
Never underestimate the impact of the entertainment media in shaping public opinion. If SNL did a recurring imitation of Biden in an unflattering light, making up things he didn't really say or just repeating the really dumb ones over and over - Biden would be perceived a lot more like Sarah Palin or at best Dan Quayle.
- Zimahl 13y ago
  SNL does portray Biden as a caricature. Jason Sudekis played him as a quick talking ex-fraternity asshole who takes upskirt pictures of Hillary Clinton and then proclaims "You've been Biden'd!". SNL isn't doing him any favors - to them he's a lovable buffoon.
  - crusso 13y ago
    What they did with Biden was to do a good physical imitation, but to have him act uncharacteristically as a spoof. What they did with Palin was to go after her in as cutting a manner as possible in order to take her down as a credible candidate. Here are a couple of examples off of Youtube. The first one, they went out of their way to make Biden look large and in charge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yl8LcbtQ75A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yl8LcbtQ75A This second one, Biden is commiserating with George W. on being second in command. So even when imitating Biden, they make sure to really make Bush the butt of the joke. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lyZrtd83Mk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lyZrtd83Mk The SNL folks have long admitted that they used their skits to push a political agenda: http://www.worldtribune.com/tv/videos/as-stupid-as-he-acts-chevy-chase-admits-he-wanted-carter/ http://www.worldtribune.com/tv/videos/as-stupid-as-he-acts-c...
    - Zimahl 13y ago
      I guess if that's how you see it, I just have to disagree. To me, someone who voted for Obama/Biden twice, in both of those skits they do a fairly good job of making him seem incompetent, simple, and short-sighted. In the second, they equate him with their version of incompetent W - that doesn't seem all that flattering. EDIT: Adding the 'Biden Bash'[1] [1] http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/biden-bash/n32032 http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/biden-bash/n320...
      - crusso 13y ago
        I guess if that's how you see it So despite a very well known SNL actor's ADMITTING that what they did was focused and political. Despite his extraordinarily relevant insight stating that they still do it that way... that's just how I see it? At some point you have to wonder if your theories are falsifiable or if they're just dogma.
        Zimahl 13y ago
        First, Chevy Chase hardly represents the current cast of SNL. He hasn't been on the show for decades. Second, I was talking about how you think SNL is building up Biden with positive sketches. I don't agree that they are very positive. Sorry if that's my opinion. Third, no shit they push a political agenda but its probably less biased than Fox News. They do attack those who are insanely inferior politically (Palin, Perry, Bachmann) because they can and should. I'm just saying that dumb Democrat decisions don't get the kid gloves you seem to be just so sure they do. After the election there hadn't been a lot of noteworthy political sketches this season, they didn't seem to be able to make light of the gun control debate, the sequester, etc.

by mr_luc 13y ago

crusso 13y ago

Never underestimate the impact of the entertainment media in shaping public opinion. If SNL did a recurring imitation of Biden in an unflattering light, making up things he didn't really say or just repeating the really dumb ones over and over - Biden would be perceived a lot more like Sarah Palin or at best Dan Quayle.

Zimahl 13y ago
SNL does portray Biden as a caricature. Jason Sudekis played him as a quick talking ex-fraternity asshole who takes upskirt pictures of Hillary Clinton and then proclaims "You've been Biden'd!". SNL isn't doing him any favors - to them he's a lovable buffoon.
- crusso 13y ago
  What they did with Biden was to do a good physical imitation, but to have him act uncharacteristically as a spoof. What they did with Palin was to go after her in as cutting a manner as possible in order to take her down as a credible candidate. Here are a couple of examples off of Youtube. The first one, they went out of their way to make Biden look large and in charge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yl8LcbtQ75A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yl8LcbtQ75A This second one, Biden is commiserating with George W. on being second in command. So even when imitating Biden, they make sure to really make Bush the butt of the joke. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lyZrtd83Mk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lyZrtd83Mk The SNL folks have long admitted that they used their skits to push a political agenda: http://www.worldtribune.com/tv/videos/as-stupid-as-he-acts-chevy-chase-admits-he-wanted-carter/ http://www.worldtribune.com/tv/videos/as-stupid-as-he-acts-c...
  - Zimahl 13y ago
    I guess if that's how you see it, I just have to disagree. To me, someone who voted for Obama/Biden twice, in both of those skits they do a fairly good job of making him seem incompetent, simple, and short-sighted. In the second, they equate him with their version of incompetent W - that doesn't seem all that flattering. EDIT: Adding the 'Biden Bash'[1] [1] http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/biden-bash/n32032 http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/biden-bash/n320...
    - crusso 13y ago
      I guess if that's how you see it So despite a very well known SNL actor's ADMITTING that what they did was focused and political. Despite his extraordinarily relevant insight stating that they still do it that way... that's just how I see it? At some point you have to wonder if your theories are falsifiable or if they're just dogma.
      - Zimahl 13y ago
        First, Chevy Chase hardly represents the current cast of SNL. He hasn't been on the show for decades. Second, I was talking about how you think SNL is building up Biden with positive sketches. I don't agree that they are very positive. Sorry if that's my opinion. Third, no shit they push a political agenda but its probably less biased than Fox News. They do attack those who are insanely inferior politically (Palin, Perry, Bachmann) because they can and should. I'm just saying that dumb Democrat decisions don't get the kid gloves you seem to be just so sure they do. After the election there hadn't been a lot of noteworthy political sketches this season, they didn't seem to be able to make light of the gun control debate, the sequester, etc.