New Sheriff In Town

By: Mark Knoller
Topics: White House

(AP)

A week after telling the nation that "nobody messes with Joe," President Obama bestowed yet another title on Vice President Biden to describe his role as a zealous overseer of the $787-billion economic stimulus plan.

"To you - he's Mr. Vice President, but around the White House we call him 'the Sheriff'- because if you're misusing taxpayer money, you'll have to answer to him."

Addressing employees at the Department of Transportation with Biden at his side, President Obama went on to say he wants all of us to be part of Biden's posse.

"I'm deputizing every single American to visit a new website called 'recovery.gov,' so you can see where your tax dollars are going and hold us accountable for results."

It's clear the White House is calling on the nation to saddle up for stimulus – in the hope it will slow and reverse the recession.

Biden is modest about his role in all this. He got a standing ovation as he began his remarks, but responded in an "aw shucks" manner by telling the audience "you need not stand for me."

Move over "Smokey and the Bandit," here come "Obama and the Sheriff."

(CBS)

Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent. You can read more of his posts in Hotsheet here.

Mark Knoller
Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent.
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by winstrv March 4, 2009 12:16 AM EST: Maybe he should start with getting the Obama appointees(crooks) to pay their taxes so we can have more money for the stimulus. That might be change we can believe in.; Reply to this comment


by bumpedoff March 3, 2009 11:44 PM EST: yee sirr boss biden; Reply to this comment


by ozus March 3, 2009 11:24 PM EST: Wiley is the author of the political comic strip that shares your name.

I doubt your Republican credentials, but if you say so.

I used to be a solid Democrat until I realized the party was dominated by people claiming tolerance, who were in fact intolerant. I hated the smugness, the name calling, and the people who wanted to turn our nation into a pale copy of the overtaxed, over-regulated Europe.

I see nothing wrong with being a long-time member of a number of service clubs and working for a non-profit organization in the medical industry.

Is what you do for a living of any value to society or am I right in my first assumption that you are just some teenage kid?; Reply to this comment


by Non-Sequitur March 3, 2009 10:59 PM EST: Posted by ozus at 7:45 PM : Mar 3, 2009

First, I'd like to mention that I've never been a Democrat in my life. I WAS a Republican... with a capital R... when they made sense. Secondly, I don't know Wiley and don't care to know about your present insanity... keep your ills to yourself, I have a weak stomach and cannot handle the smell of poop. Thirdly, i don't give a sh*t who you think you are... you come off as an idiot poisoned by your own hate for anyone who you don't perceive is as good as you.; Reply to this comment


by ozus March 3, 2009 10:45 PM EST: Non-Sequitur,

Your childish outburst has just proven my point. Obviously my Wiley reference went over your head.

A large section of the media hated GWB from the beginning because they believed he stole Florida. Whatever he did after that would not gain praise. He could have cured cancer, invented a car that ran on water only and solved the Palestinian problem and he would have been ridiculed.

As to saying I am considered vermin, you have no idea who I am, the charity work I have done (without pay or making a tax claim), or unlike many of Obama's colleagues that I have always paid my taxes.; Reply to this comment


by Non-Sequitur March 3, 2009 10:23 PM EST: Posted by ozus at 6:40 PM : Mar 3, 2009

Not a word you said made sense... you're obviously insane. Tthe media coddled Bush like a newborn babe until you bought it all and sold your soul to him and betrayed your country like the good little goosestepper you are. Look into your own soul loser... you've been repudiated and are now considered vermin. You should ponder why this has happened and will continue to happen. You're WRONG! And we all know it. Get used to losing, loser.; Reply to this comment


by ozus March 3, 2009 9:40 PM EST: Non-Sequitur,

Obviously you are not Wiley. You are not that clever. Your command of the language gives you away as somebody who is badly educated or a teenager.

As to complaining about people badmouthing Obama, I can't remember the lefty-controlled media ever having anything good to say about GWB, even about his efforts to reduce AIDS in Africa.; Reply to this comment


by Non-Sequitur March 3, 2009 9:29 PM EST: I love you repugnants smacking down America for all to see, ensuring your slow (hopefully not too slow) descent into obscurity. You just don't get it... you had your chance and you screwed it up... you didn't make the cut. Instead of mending your evil ways, you sabotage whatever hope the rest of us have that your incompetence wasn't fatal. No matter that most of you idiots are too poor to benefit from their policies (although you do have hope, you fools), you support them in your suicidal death dance with the spawns of Satan known as Limbaugh, Hannity and O'Reilly... rich men preaching to paupers... and you still don't get it. No matter... you're maybe about 30% of the population and as irrelevant as birth control for a 60 year old. Go ahead and start your revolution... you might have Blackwater, but we have the U.S. Army. Get your wits about you and help your country... or sell your souls for your party ideology and your homeland-fatherland-naziesque vision of Amerika, Inc.; Reply to this comment


by pepperwood2 March 3, 2009 8:28 PM EST: New Sheriff of Nottingham In Town - Business as Usual. Hold the Working Class Hostage. Tax & Rob from the Poor to pay off the King's & his Courts royal life style. So Sad!; Reply to this comment


by inketolstoy March 3, 2009 8:19 PM EST: Boy am I relieved. Everything will be OK now that Barney, I mean Biden is the sheriff in town. Just make sure that he doesn't have the bullet, or he will shoot himself in the foot. Nothing to see here people. Move along.; Reply to this comment