Fox News White House Correspondent Ed Henry has already written the worst article in American history, so why not throw the dumbest question in American history onto his resume as well? THE BACKGROUND: There has been all sorts of Hot Buzz (John McCain has been babbling during one of his Ambien trips) about whether Joe Biden will be dropped from the ticket after saying the words “chains.” So here’s what Ed Henry asked Jay Carney at Thursday’s White House press conference: “Let’s just settle it, once and for all, all of this speculation — this is the ticket, Obama/Biden?”
Dave Weigel offers trenchant analysis of this dumb question:
What’s “all of this speculation?” If you watch the earlier parts of the briefing, you learn that the speculation comes from Sarah Palin and John McCain, neither of whom are Democrats with particular interest or influence in the process of nominating a Democratic veep. In 2008, there was considerable (and even then, overblown) buzz about angry Democratic delegates who wanted Hillary Clinton to be the veep nominee. There is none of that now. We know because any story like that would rise with rocket speed to the top of the cable news pile. Henry was asking about “speculation” that does not exist in any meaningful form, and allowing that the speculation was kicked off because the vice president said something that no elected Democrats have taken issue with.
The other thing we’d add is, is there really much doubt that Joe Biden has been a fine vice presidential choice for Obama? Our litmus test here is basically, “Does the vice presidential choice fundamentally fuck everything up for the top of the ticket?” and he doesn’t, so that’s that.
[Slate]





{ 155 comments }
I love Joe Biden. At least the Obama campaign is standing behind him 100%. As Jay Carney said, John McCain is the last person to take vice presidential nominee selection advice from. I'll bet Todd is really happy to have his celebrity gig right now. Can you imagine the shreiking going on in that house when she reads those comments? And you know she does, she reads every single line every uttered about her.
That's Joe O'Biden to you.
Ed Henry has also failed to sign onto the clever re-branding of the Democratic Party as just "Democrat," as Sarah gleefully tries to coin in every partisan reference.
New Yorker commentator Hendrik Hertzberg wrote, "There’s no great mystery about the motives behind this deliberate misnaming. 'Democrat Party' is a slur, or intended to be—a handy way to express contempt. Aesthetic judgments are subjective, of course, but 'Democrat Party' is jarring verging on ugly. It fairly screams 'rat.' Hertzberg calls use of the term "a minor irritation" and also "the partisan equivalent of flashing a gang sign."
Love me my Hertzberg. Fine, fine writer. ". . . flashing a gang sign." Hee, hee.
A major irritation would be calling them the "Republ-ICK" party.
That particular slur was begun in Texas, by former senator never-met-a-millionaire-he-didn't-like Phil Gramm, may he rot in hell. Gramm was funded by the feds his entire life via programs set in place by the Democrats, then turned rat fink when he saw the main chance.
"shrieking"
About sums it up.
Because her name wasn't mentioned, she might not find it when googling herself. Also, I think she'll shriek with delight, viewing this as proof she's still relevant.
she reads every single line every uttered about her.
Sarah Palin is a giant cunt and her clan of grifters is infested with hookworms.
Though otherwise, some of the nicest, most down to earth meth cookers north of Kamloops.
Man, I hope you're right.
Sarah, please, just go away. You are the epitome of everything that is wrong with this country. You are a liar, a bigot, a grifter and frankly not very bright. Oh, and your voice is like fingernails on a chalk board.
Frankly, Sarah, your only redeeming quality is the material you and your inane utterances provide for the very funny people that comment on this website.
I will give up snarking about Insalata Mista if she will just go away and take her family with her.
Oh, and Sarah, take your goddamn tribe of political props with you, too. They are like goddamn head lice, infecting one outlet after another.
Sheer InSannity still maintains Duh Gov' "beat" Joe Biden in their one debate.
But then, InSannity is a world class tool. And turbo. And Dexter. Also.
Well, she did clean his clock in the Fancy Pageant Walking and Winking competitions.
Which, by the way, is another problem with picking Paul Ryan for the GOP – no fucking way they get away with lowering expectations on his debate performance the way they did with stupid. He's supposed to be their super genius, so he can hardly come out and ignore the questions and wink like she did.
*eyeroll*
Please, she couldn't beat an egg.
Or my meat.
I'm with you. Joe Biden is my hero.
Just proves that much of the MSM is a chain of fools used by tools (GOPers) to distract from their own lousy choices.
The echo chamber, she's echoing.
I is dumb enuff to be a really good jurnalist.
I would have gone with "their own loose stools" at the end there, just to pay off your rhyme scheme.
Chain chain chain
Used by tools
Chain chain chay-ay-ay-ay-ain
Chain of tools
No, I'm pretty sure the dumbest question in American History is still "where's the birth certificate?"
In what respect, Charlie?
AOTK
Second to that is "Where's his college records?"
I've often wondered why no one ever asked "Where was W for a year during his ROTC stint?"
Worse. He walked away from a pilot commitment to the Texas ANG. Just quit showing up — after they burned a million bucks getting him checked out in F-101s (as I recall).
Anybody else would have been court martialed.
I remember reading some article by one of his co-workers that when he did bother to show up, he was worse than useless; other people had to do all his work for him and fix his mistakes.
Somehow, I have no trouble believing that.
Ed henry may be the ultimate oxymoron "Too Stupid to Work at Fox."
Needz less "oxy."
Rush: The original Oxy-Moron.
I was watching Fox the other night, and all anyone talked about was how Obama is going to replace Biden on the ticket.
Too stupid to work at Fox? Not possible.
"I was watching Fox the other night…"
My best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Really. You admit to watching Fox?
He fit in just fine at CNN, however.
Kind of a shame how much they polish trailer hitches these days.
"Let’s just settle it, once and for all, all of this speculation – Obama, he's black?"
Lettin negroidals touch my White House is agin mah creed!!!!
Is he still blah?
Let's just settle something else once and for all, Ed… do you still blow goats?
Him or me? I do love goat restaurants. Well, they is ded & cooked.
There's actually plenty of speculation that he does. Has it been officially denied? I haven't seen any denials.
Congratulations to Ed Henry for just edging out the former dumbest question in American History: "In what respect, Charlie?"
I used to think that being a journalist would be hard work since Lois Lane always seemed so stressed out but apparently the skill set only includes rudimentary writing and the ability to tolerate a diet of junk food.
Me too. That is until I found out that journalism meant asking stupid questions & accepting the talking points or campaign speech as legitimate answers.
This is all just a ploy to get Sarah Palin on Obama's ticket because that's the only way repubbies are winning this.
Then Mittens dumps Ryan in favor of Bristle, and we get months of non-stop SnowGrifter cat-fight until John McCain climbs into an A-4 Skyhawk, and strafes the VP debate.
This will be great !!!
Ed Henry, shouldn't you just go back to making those stupid shirts that douchebags like to wear?
http://www.80stees.com/products/Dicknose-Teen-Wol…
Appropriate response to the question:
"Tim will be taking four to seven snaps a game but Mark is still the Jet's quarterback."
Ed Henry demonstrates what happens when you get all your news from Fox.
Old Joe is going to kick Ryan's ass in the debates.Age,and treachery will undo youth,and vitality every time.
As long as Biden is careful if Ryan asks "Can I call you Joe?"
Call me Mr Vice President. And get that rabbitdick out of your ear.
If there is a god, he/she will have Ryan wink at us.
Every time I read Ed Henry's name, I momentarily confuse him with Ed Helms. This is inevitably followed by sadness and disappointment.
It's so cute when boring people fight.
Still important to note the critical difference between the public reception of the Obama and McCain VP picks four years ago: Very few democrats, if any, were pleased with the choice of Biden because they secretly hoped it would mean that Joe would come to their home and give them a hummer.
Long way to go for a laugh, but well worth the journey!
A cock in her mouth might be the only way to shut her up. What say ye, Glenn?
I'm pretty sure nobody would be crazy enough to put their pecker anywhere near Paul Ryan's mou–…
OH!
Oh, now I get it!
No, if it were a choice between Palin and Ryan, I would…oh fuck…sorry…:::uuurrrrrlllllppp!!!::: .
Never mind.
Well, in Ed's defense, (pffffffttttt), when you work for a "news" outfit that invents it's own news, reality and political opponents, and then go out in the real world, you're bound to look pretty fucking stupid.
As President George Bush certainly did in his first debate with Sen. John Kerry, after four years of FoxPAC infomercials. He wasn't ready for someone to actually challenge him.
And despite that, Fox crowned him the winner of the debates, just like they crowned him the Preznit.
Sen. Kerry answered every question thoughtfully, displaying a remarkable breadth and depth of knowledge. He looked like a President and acted like a President.
George Bush looked like a buffoon – particularly when he lied about never saying he didn't care about Osama Been Forgotten.
And that was WITH the direct line to Rove/Cheney during the debate!
I regret having only one fist.
They should make Ed Henry submit all his questions, written in crayon, through his case worker.
The 24 news cycle is quite a spectacle, but watching Fox use puppets like Henry and Doocy to fabricate a completely made up issue for the daily cycle is absolutely hilarious. It plays only to their own audience, and leaves the rest of America scratching their heads.
Henry wasn't asking a real question. He was just serving his master's lunch. The fact that he's willing to do so just means there always some sad sack of shit willing to say anything for a buck and a pat on the back.
Scooby Snacks!!!
A zillion years ago I thought that Ernest Angsley was a reporter. Silly me (afew 2 many beers). Now he seems to be as much a journalist as 98% of the talking heads.
It leaves their audience scratching their heads, too, but that's mainly because of their head lice.
But is he smarter than a Cephalopod? HINT: no.
I'm just surprised that FOX hasn't hired "Jeff Gannon".He'd be perfect for the undercover Tampa Convention Bathroom Goblin beat.
And Mighty Joe at 4:30 to boot!
Yeah, Bonus! And he looks Mahvellous!
There are many elected Republicans who have proven experience on the Men's Room beat. Gannon, aka James D. Guckert, is a piker. Remember his online slogan: "I don't leave marks, just good impressions."
Meh, he'd leave marks if the price was right.
All hail our new overlard, Moronicus!
Boni-Moroni.
"Mr. Obama will replace Biden on the ticket right after you acquire a legitimate last name."
"And that goes for that snot Paul Ryan, too!"
can't wait for the Biden/Ryan debate, should be fun!
I am giddy with anticipation for this. Giddy I tell you!
Question to Ed Henry: "What do you read?"
Question to Ed Henry: "
What docan you read?"Fixed.
Landing jets and picking Veeps are two subjects Walnuts should never give advise on.
Bad sign when your landings are < your takeoffs.
I like Joe, but just for a second think about a reinvented Obama/Clintion ticket. I think they'd sweep up in November.
I wanted Hillz even though I am not happy with Barrack.
One problem: Secretary of State is the best job in politics, arguably better than being President. Vice President is the worst.
Hillary's worked too hard, and put up with too much bullshit, to make that sacrifice. It's won't make her more electable in 2016, either. She's in the right place.
Admirable job at SECSTATE. Although she didn't have to do much to look better than the previous two.
I assume that Hillary will do the sweeping.
This echoes the great John King moderated Primary Debate, wherein Newt Gingrich had no grounds to be offended:
Regarding his second wife's allegation that Newt wanted an Open Marriage: As you also know, it is the subject of conversation on the campaign.
Newt: I am, frankly, astounded that CNN would take trash like that and use it to open a presidential debate.
“John, it was repeated by your network,” Gingrich interjected. “You chose to start the debate with it. Don’t blame it on somebody else. You and your staff chose to start the debate with it.”
As someone who is convinced the math comes down to a few counties in swing states and that voter suppression and shoring up their base is the real Rethug-again game plan, I'm wondering if the extreme incompetence on the part of Fox and the Republican campaign is a ploy to get us to put down our guard and stop paying attention and giving money. That would at least be Rovian, which seems more likely than that they are all this stupid. Or are they?
Don't stop giving, volunteering, and voting.
Keep in mind that their base LUVS this shit. They'll replay the question forever and edit the smackdown answer to suit their needs.
Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.
Here's Ed Henry interviewing a Meteorologist.
Ed's follow-up question: Imma hungry, do you have any glue?
Rafala libel!!
Ed Henry isn't as smart as that Ed.
Next on Fox: Obama administration denies Biden will be replaced. The controversy grows.
Just think what McCain's reaction would have been if Uncle Joe said "they'll put you back in bamboo cages."
That luffing sound is the now-empty Republican sails.
Full of beans, they'll work up a zephyr soon enough.
Speculation that is invented by Sarah Palin isn't speculation. Its a thought bubble created by a 7 year old.
He also asked if "the President is still a Negro."
"Near," damnit, he asked if the President is near.
"As a follow-up: Is there any truth to the speculation that Biden's left nut is bigger than my frontal lobe?" "Well, yes, in fact that rumor is true"
I used to think Biden was a questionable pick, given his Foot In Mouth disease.
But there's a … I dunno, almost "toughness" about him that I like. Like that cool uncle who let you have a taste of his beer when he came over, bought you a mini-bike, etc.
Obama needs someone like that to keep him in the right (general) direction, IM(ns)HO.
"Some people say that skirt makes your butt look fat. Just trying to be helpful."
Can you tell FOX News why FOX News is speculating about you?
Joe Biden's tramp stamp is way better than Sarah Palin's.
Property of Hells Angels?
Pix or GTFO.
imbecilic showboating
And there it is. Fox News's mission statement, in a nutshell.
That's one of the key features of Backbreaker Football 2 on iPhone. You try to arrive at the end zone with enough time to dance around like a complete jackass and still score. I blame the Negro Receivers for this debasement of Sport.
Well, that, and making sure the old and/or uneducated are riled up, all the time, about something or other.
Henry will be perfect as Fox News WH correspondent in the administration of President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho.
"… the dumbest question in American history…"
Well, it's your move, Jeff Gannon!
Hate being contrary, but it needs to be said: Joe is an idiot and a drag on the ticket.
Demonstrably not an idiot, and not likely a minus on the tickey.
Fox's field day would never end if Hill was #2.
"Assasination Insurance"
I would be completely comfortable with Joe as President.
I doubt very much that you hated saying that.
I doubt that you hated saying that.
yes drop biden now. it s time for reverend wright. goddamn amerika!!
Only white preachers are allowed to say that.
What is it with these guys who have interchangeable first and last names? If my last name were Henry – or Ryan, or Paul, or…Christie – I'd give my child a name like "Tolokonnikova Alokhina Samutsevich."
You just swore in Russian.
Some people are wondering if it is wrong to add the letters 'sp' to prefix Mr. Henry's first name? It would be irresponsible not to speculate.
Bravo Mr. Carney. A nice dig at McCain for the scourge he unleashed on America, but dare not speak its name.
There are no "dumb qustions".
Just Dumb Question Askers…
"I've never seen so many damn learning-disabled reporters"
Oh, relax, Newell. Have a Homebrew.
*ducks thrown beer can*
Ed looked really proud of himself for being able to get that question out without mangling the words. Almost like he was waiting for applause for asking it.
Let’s just settle it, once and for all, all of this speculation — where did Glen Beck hide the girl's body?
Dam, can I get me a job as a jurnalist so I can aks stoopid ?s & get paid lots of money?
Here I thought Ed Henry was a comedian…
Still, it's better than "Did you enjoy the play, Mrs. Lincoln?"
What an awesome game!
“Let’s just settle it, once and for all, all of this speculation — he's not a polygamist, Mitt Romney?”
“Let’s just settle it, once and for all, all of this speculation — he's not a NAMBL chapter head, Congressman Ryan?”
“Let’s just settle it, once and for all, all of this speculation — she's not a meth addict, Anne Romney?”
“Let’s just settle it, once and for all, all of this speculation — he's not a terrapin in mid-molt, Mitch McConnel?”
“Let’s just settle it, once and for all, all of this speculation — he's not a grown-up Steve Urkel from "Family Matters," Rep. Allen West?”
I hate to be picky but it is nambla. I happen to be executive vice guy. Well, not really.
Let's just settle it, once and for all, Paul Ryan DOES or DOES NOT have a crawl space full of dismembered bodies?
`
`
`
*[he does not; they're all in his shed]
In the last three years his neck has grown even FATTER.
Here is my theory. They are using reverse psychology to get those democrats who liked Hillary to start thinking that she should be on the ticket. And if the Obama campaign does not do that, they will then imply that the Hillary supporters should vote for Romeny. Am I off base?
"all of this speculation — this is the ticket, Obama/Biden?”
Dave Weigel offers trenchant analysis of this dumb question:
What’s “all of this speculation?” If you watch the earlier parts of the briefing, you learn that the speculation comes from Sarah Palin and John McCain"
In related news, Silly Sarah suspects that fire may be hot.
Sharp as a *marble*, that one is.
The great thing about Joe Biden is that he can say any damn thing he wants. If he gets it right, the base loves him. If he gets it wrong, the base is, "Well, that's just Joe Biden."
The guy is impervious.
Once again, a clear case of "projection" on the part of the very disappointed right wing pundits who are clearly pleading to remove their own VP nominee.
Yes, continue to FUCK 'EM HARD, Joe.
I'd like to give Jay Carney a hand(job) for his eloquent response.
Jay Carney- "The one place I would not go for advice on vice-presidential running mates is Senator McCain. And added…. "Bazinga!!"
It's either this question or the last question Ed Henry asked. Or, perhaps, the next question he will ask. One of those.
Pilgrims: never trust a man with two first names, or one that is as dumb as a bag of hammers.
from Salon (October 2004) – and, remember, the lubrul NYT spiked the story immediately before the election.
"Bloggers are burning up their keyboards with speculation. Check out the president’s peculiar behavior during the debate, they say. On several occasions, the president simply stopped speaking for an uncomfortably long time and stared ahead with an odd expression on his face. Was he listening to someone helping him with his response to a question? Even weirder was the president’s strange outburst. In a peeved rejoinder to Kerry, he said, 'As the politics change, his positions change. And that’s not how a commander in chief acts. I, I, uh — Let me finish — The intelligence I looked at was the same intelligence my opponent looked at.' It must be said that Bush pointed toward Lehrer as he declared 'Let me finish.' The green warning light was lit, signaling he had 30 seconds to, well, finish."
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