Joe Biden: 30 Percent Chance of Bail Fail

The stimulus and other measures might fail -- but is Biden being too optimistic?

For weeks, we've had nothing to read about in the news except bickering about the near-trillion-dollar stimulus bill, which is as boring and complicated as it is important. Even worse, President Obama has now sternly lectured Congress, and by implication the nation, on the importance of acting like grownups and having a civil (but quick, people, quick!) discussion of the spending. In other words, all the carefree hijinks and entertaining fluffiness of the election-dominated 2008 news cycle gave way overnight to very sober, serious, mature, and deadly dull news in 2009.

Fortunately, Joe Biden has finally injected some much-needed excitement into the debate.

On Friday, he told House Democrats that when it came to tackling the gazillions of catastrophes and crises the nation now faces, “If we do everything right, if we do it with absolute certainty, there’s still a 30 percent chance we’re going to get it wrong.”

ZOIKS. That number is either refreshingly honest but realistic, terrifyingly gloomy, or absurdly optimistic. Whatever it is, it's certainly bold!

You would never catch careful, lawyerly President Obama offering Vegas odds on the bailout, but that's why we should be thankful for Joe Biden. He can always be trusted to make slightly outrageous remarks that make other politicians look sane in contrast. He's the rodeo clown waving his hat at the Republican bronco while whatever Democrat just got thrown can run for cover. Except right now, it isn't just one Democrat -- it's the whole party.

Rodeo clown Sara K. Smith writes for NBC and Wonkette.

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