Biden His Time

I had the television on, watching the end of a rerun of Columbo, and when it finished I decided to flip around, and by near-accident finally checked to see if there was any big news today.  There was some ceremony at the White House in progress, with President Obama at the podium, and Vice President Biden nearby, so I figured I'd watch.  I'm glad I did.  I was one of the more moving moments I've seen at the White House.

It appeared to be the President saying a farewell to Joe Biden in touching, emotional words, and you could see the Vice President almost start to well-up.  But then it took a turn...and President Obama -- to Biden's clear shocked -- awarded him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Biden's reaction, and then a further "topper" by the President and Biden's quiet response to that, and then his unprepared, lovely 20 minute speech were a joy.  To his credit, he made it all the way through.  Barely.  

Here's some of it.