Biden Jokes About Bailing Out Greece While in Athens: U.S. ‘Standing With You In Solidarity’
- Posted on December 5, 2011 at 2:08pm by
Becket Adams
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The vice president joked that U.S. taxpayers could come to Greece’s rescue, while introducing a treasury official during a meeting with Greek President Karolos Papoulias, reports My Fox New York.
“This man represents the Treasury department. He’s brought hundreds of millions of dollars,” Biden said.
Some would say that Biden‘s comments are about as funny as comments made by the president earlier this year when he revealed that there weren’t as many “shovel ready” projects as he had predicted:
“[Biden's] comments, which drew laughter from members of the Greek and American delegations, could well unnerve U.S. taxpayers at home, amid growing concern about the global impact of a potential eurozone collapse,” writes the Associated Press.
Indeed, the Vice President‘s comments probably won’t go over to well back in America. But why did members of the Greek and American delegations “laugh,” as the AP reports? Writers at Zero Hedge provide their take on the situation:
It is unclear if the Greeks laughed because the noted number was orders of magnitude less than what would be needed to actually put a dent in the Greek fast-motion train wreck, or because everyone was waiting to see what the American taxpayer‘s response would be to learn that while America is hopelessly locked in gridlock of releasing more cash to that country’s middle class, the US Treasury is quite happy to disburse taxpayer funding to Greece. We are holding out breath to find out.
Biden went on to tell Greek political leaders Monday his government is “standing with you in solidarity,” at the start of a crucial week for the future of the debt-saddled eurozone.
“It is overwhelmingly in the interest of the United States that Greece work its way through this financial crisis and that it remain a strong and vital part of the European Union,” Biden said before beginning talks with Papademos.
Biden stuck to a deliberately optimistic view of the situation, reports Fox Nation.
“I think that out of difficult times opportunities present themselves, and with a lot of hard work and a little bit of luck, a year from now we will have not only weathered this crisis, but even be in a stronger position. Let’s get to work.”
“And we stand prepared to help you in any way we can,” the Vice President assured delegate members.
His comments come on the heels of last week’s coordinated efforts by the United States and other central banks to provide relief to banks in the eurozone.
The eurozone debt crisis began in Greece two years ago, and the country is currently negotiating the terms of a second, massive bailout package from other eurozone countries and the International Monetary Fund.
The new debt deal involves lengthy negotiations with banks to accept voluntary losses on Greek government bonds.
European leaders will meet at a summit Friday on the eurozone — alarmed by surging borrowing costs among its vulnerable members.
Ahead of that summit, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is traveling to Germany, France and Italy for talks with top European officials.
Papademos was appointed to head the Greek coalition government last month, backed by the majority and rival conservative party.
He said discussions with Biden would also include developments in the Balkans, north Africa and Cyprus. The war-divided island of Cyprus is at odds with nearby Turkey over plans to exploit undersea oil and gas deposits in the eastern Mediterranean. The plan is backed by Israel and Greece.
“These are areas where cooperation between the U.S. and Greece can play an important role in preserving stability and security,” Papademos said.
Biden is to meet later Monday with Socialist leader George Papandreou, who stepped down as prime minister last month, as well as conservative leader Antonis Samaras.
He is due to return to the United States after ending his visit to Athens later in the day.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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Comments (47)
RossPoldark
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 9:52pmNothing like hard working tax payers being bottomless bank accounts for these idiots!!
Report Post »SHOWMESTATEGUY
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 3:50amBiden wasn’t joking. What he really wanted to say (but couldn’t, elections coming up ya know) was “as long as BO and I are in office you people of Europe don’t need to worry. BO and I control the American taxpayer credit card and are willing to use it. We love the way you guy’s do business”.
Report Post »Mess23
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 9:40pmKeep Plugs right where he is. This BOOB is the best spy we have.
Report Post »Bill from NJ
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 9:23pmPlugs Biden at it again…
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 8:50pmAudit the Fed.Then see if we really did with the missing money.
Report Post »chazman
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 9:02pm… such an incredible moron. If this idiot read just a portion of what the American people think about him he would melt from embarrasement! But I think he knows. He’s just un-American. He’s become a commie like his boss, OBAMMY …
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 6:20amWonder how much Obama has hidden in accounts off shore
Report Post »lionshield
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 8:17pmwho said I gave you permission!!!! to bail greece out!!! Big-Joe !!! take you hand and reach down
Report Post »an grab your foot and put in your mouth !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GeneTracy
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 8:15pmIn a recent article,Biden stated that he might “run” in 2016.I don’t know,sounds like he’s running off at the mouth now.
Report Post »crabbyoldman
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 10:31pmBiden would make a bad dog catcher.
Report Post »Sibyl
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:54pmHow can we bail out anyone when we are 15 trillion in debt?
Print money faster?
Ridiculous people.
Report Post »Volsense
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:51pmBiden is a paid actor trying to play the role of the ignorant politician in history. No lifeform on the planet could be this stupid on purpose. This should have been the first sign that Obama was too incompetent to lead our nation.. We just cannot make the same mistake we made in 2008.
Report Post »tbarr4
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:50pmImpeach VP Bite Me!!
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:27pmWhat did you expect – It‘s Joe Biden he’s not comfortable unless his feet are in his mouth.
OMG
Report Post »bhohater
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:31pmOne heartbeat away from the Presidency? That is very scary, long live Obummer.
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:22pmThe joke will be on us once again as the idiots give the IMF more of YOUR hard earned tax dollars. And guess what the Europeans will still not like us. Thank you much Barack.
Report Post »whatiscommonsense
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:19pmBiden is stupidity waiting to happen
Report Post »whatiscommonsense
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:18pmway to represent!
Report Post »Tri-ox
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:17pmBarfbucket Joe strikes again!
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:12pmThe douche bag Biden says ‘I’m from the federal government I‘m here to help’,translation you’re screwed.
The more the fed prints the less it’s worth,hell even Barry knows that…………. wait no actually he doesn’t
know that. We are all connected financially so when Greece defaults it’ll be a domino effect that will result in a global depression,it’s inevitable.
We’ll have a fiat currency and gold and silver will have value so stock up if you can.
Report Post »eyestoseeearstohear
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:11pmDid anyone hear Pat Caddell on Neil Cavuto tonight?
Per Pat, he says Obama is going to bail out EU, ON OUR DIME – and will put it ALL
on the line to KEEP THE EU FROM GOING UNDER – because IF THEY GO – WE GO!
ALSO – if EU GOES UNDER – OBAMA LOSES THE 2012 ELECTION – AND –
Obama is going to PUT EVERYTHING UP TO SAVE EU SO THAT HE CAN WIN,
otherwise, IF EU goes UNDER, Obama looses.
Caddell said, Obama is trying to do this WITHOUT the knowledge of the American
people because ALL HELL BREAKS OUT IF AMERICANS FIND OUT JUST HOW MUCH
& WILL BE OUT WITH PITCHFORKS.
Once again, Joe Biden has let the cat out of the bag.
Report Post »He originally said, “ We will help Greece in any way we can”.
Later, it was reported, he MEANT moral support.
Secessionista
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:50pmEveryone thinks this is funny, but here’s what happened today – Biden wasn’t kidding. The IMF released 2 billion euros to greece for relief. Sounds like someone else’s problem, but the IMF *is* the United States! WE are the ones who sent greece roughly 3 billion US dollars via swap arrangements. TODAY. We actually did bail out these lazy no-count non-working government workers in Greece. Yeah, they have a hospital that has 45 gardeners… but no garden! These people are the ultimate welfare queens. 30% of the country works for the government in one way or another, and they stop in the middle of the day to take a siesta even though they aren’t mexicans! They “work” for the government, but all they do all day long is sit around drinking Ouzo. They are so lazy, they make mexicans look like industrial powerhouses.
This is a true horror that the US is throwing this money away. 3 billion dollars would instantly create 50,000 jobs here in America. That’s an entire city of employed people. That’s enough to get Detroit back to, well, nevermind Detroit, it’s hopeless. but the people in Orlando would just LOVE to see 3 billion dollars slide their way – they have 25% unemployment there – one-quarter of the city is living in their vans and pickup trucks.
Mr Biden and Mr Obama – you have insulted the people of America. You have slapped us across the face, and this requires a response. Expect our response in 11 months.
Report Post »Secessionista
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:57pmFor those of you who are liberals, progressives, or democrats, you need to think about this. Obama and biden just gave your “free stuff” to people halfway around the globe who live in a paradise and refuse, REFUSE, to work.
Believe me, these two clowns despise you liberals just as much as they do me, Mr. Tea.
They aren’t interested in helping America get back on her feet, they are interested in causing outright revolution, WAR. CIVIL war. You don’t see them planting the seeds of class warfare every chance they get? Taxing the rich, while just such a brilliant plan on the surface, CANNOT even begin to solve our problem. Our problems is MUCH bigger than all of the wealth of all of the 1%, hell, even of the 10%. The problem is NOT class-based, it is caused by us sending our money to foreign lands for no good reason. AMERICANS needs this wealth, this resource. And we are being bled dry.
Obama, Bush, all the same thing. Bush sent a bunch of money to the middle east in the form of soldier’s paychecks spent there, and nation building. Obama is sending even more money but through the IMF and diplomatic channels. Billions of dollars to Kaddhafi, for nothing. Billions of dollars to every despot on the planet, save Chavez and Castro.
These “loans” to the greeks will NEVER be repaid, NEVER. That’s I can promise. This was a free and clear gift to a lazy people who hate Americans as much as the Pakis and Saudis hate us.
So go get your free stuff – it is in Greece.
Report Post »Secessionista
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:06pm3 billion dollars. 300 million americans. That is 10 bucks for every man woman and child, and about 40 bucks per family. Biden just took 40 dollars from you. How’s it feel? One pen stroke, and your pockets have been emptied.
If Americans are wondering why things seem so hard, imagine being robbed of 40 bucks each and every day. That’s $8,000 per year, each and every year. Wonder why you are falling behind? Wonder why your retirement savings just can’t seem to keep up? Wonder why college for the kids feels so expensive? Wonder why a tank of gas, or groceries, seem like more of a burden these days? THIS is why! You are being robbed very very smoothly. No one takes it out of your bank account, no one takes it out of your pocket. They just print dollars and then the ones you have are worth less than they were yesterday. But those lazy greeks just got their christmas bonuses – about 1000 dollars each.
You do know what they call us, don’t you? They call us Xeno’s. It has just about the same meaning as the N-word. They think they are superior to all other peoples, especially Americans. They think we are dogs.
Report Post »Sibyl
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:58pmAmen! May it be so. May Obama and Biden join the unemployed and may Congress vote to lower their retirement pensions by 40%.
Report Post »Truthmonster
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:49pmThis bobble brained hack needs to retire before November.
Report Post »Fitz Gerald
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:35pmWhat u.s. are you refering to Biden? Certainly not the U.S.A. Nobody I know wants you or any other bastard in washington to spread the wealth.
Report Post »Truthmonster
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:32pmWho ties Biden’s shoes? He is an absolute embarrasment to America,.
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:03pmObama is the safest president we’ve ever had. No one would assassinate him and put this moron in the White House. But somehow, I think he knew that when he chose him.
Report Post »chicago76
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:27pmSpreading around printed money is not going to cure anything. Look at how well money printing has helped us. Biden gives voice to the morons who are trying to cure the problems by devaluing the currencies. The poor countries of the world are being destroyed as a sacrifice to European unity.
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:26pmBiden is as madcap but we are the ones that will end up paying for it. I agree, we need to stop it, NOW!
Report Post »AnAmerican111
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:24pmBiden is nothing more than Liberal Comedy!
Report Post »As funny and inept as can be… if it wasn’t so pathetic!
sgtstubbs
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:20pmIt seems we are the: Worlds Bankers, Policeman, Doctor, general fixer uper. Just one word “Stop it”.
Report Post »Ready2Rumble
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:14pmThat Joe is such a madcap, isn’t he?
Report Post »eyestoseeearstohear
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 3:32pmAnd, THAT, my friend, is WHY he was selected to be Obama’s VP -
Report Post »because HE IS a blundering idiot!