Biden: Washington is "Broken"

(CBS)

Vice President Joe Biden doesn't seem to miss his days as a senator.

In an interview with CBS "Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith, Biden was blunt about the nation's political system. "Washington, right now, is broken."

Having served in the Senate for more than 30 years, Biden has seen a fair share of gridlock in Congress, but the current version is the worst ever, he said.

"I don't ever recall a time in my career where to get anything done, you needed a supermajority, 60 out of 100 senators. You can block anything with 60 (votes).

"I've never seen it this dysfunctional," he said.

In light of the surprise Republican victory by Scott Brown in the race to replace the late Sen. Ted Kennedy's senate seat in Massachusetts, Biden said the win was not solely a warning shot to Democrats.

"I think it was to everybody in public life, and it was, 'Hey, guys, get your act together. Get something going.'"

According to a recent CBS News/New York Times poll, most Americans are dissatisfied or angry about the way things are going in Washington these days. Eight in 10 say Congress is more interested in serving the needs of special interest groups rather than the people they represent.

But only a third of people feel the same way about President Obama. Nearly 60 percent think he is more interested in serving the American people.

Quick Poll

The interview also covered the Biden's take on the future of the economy and national security.

The vice president rang an optimistic tone on the economy, saying the stimulus plan was working and that the best was yet to come.

"We've only been halfway through the act," Biden said. "The job-creating portions are really loaded at the second half."

With the unemployment rate still close to 10 percent, Biden said he understands why Americans are frustrated and have criticized the administration for spending too much time on health care reform.

"We get it," he said. "We understand why they're angry."

On terrorism, the vice president says the Obama administration has made "progress in dismantling the hierarchy of al Qaeda," but he's "very concerned" about the possibility of an individual carrying out a terrorist attack in the United States.

Watch Part One of the "Early Show" interview with Vice President Joe Biden:

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Watch Part Two:

Watch CBS News Videos Online

100 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment

See all 100 Comments


by hologram5 February 18, 2010 9:54 AM EST: DUH, ya think? It has been broken for 50 or more years. Man is in charge, Man is inherently greedy, Power corrupts and we have seen how absolute power corrupts absolutely. Bush did a fine job of destroying the Constitution and Obammy is running the same Gauntlet with our rights, follow the 2nd Amendment hearings, it's about to get exciting.; Reply to this comment


by RobAla February 18, 2010 8:38 AM EST: VP Biden says "I've never seen it this dysfunctional". Well, who has been in charge over the past year. It certainly hasn't been the Republicans. He is basically admitting that the Democrats (who during 2009 had the Presidency, a vast majority in the House and Senate) have caused Washington to be "dysfunctional". The Republicans haven't had the votes to cause this. He is part of the problem.; Reply to this comment


by verycold February 18, 2010 12:03 AM EST: The mixed messages from this man is hurting my head.

Somebody said it right today. We have two Washington political parties. These folks do not represent the average citizen. When ONLY 6 percent of the nation thinks the stimulus has worked, that overwhelming majority cannot be wrong since they are living the 17 percent true unemployment.

What is really infuriating is that Romer says a few months ago, that the bulk of the stimulus would have been felt in 2009 with a much less bang coming in 2010. Biden and Obama insist that the bigger bang for the buck is coming. So if that is true, why on earth did they wait to spend that money with unemployment so high. Obama insists that the stimulus money was intentionally doled out to do the most good. So it is no accident that 2010 would get a bigger bang? Really who can you believe?; Reply to this comment


by CBSisCommunist5 February 17, 2010 8:07 PM EST: Broken....DUH look who they elected as president and VP...; Reply to this comment


by immabme February 17, 2010 6:43 PM EST: People should realize that Bush and the republicans grew government. It's just idiotic to believe the GOP's outrage over fiscal responsibilty. They gave the wealthiest few huge tax breaks, they gave big pharma a 4 billion give away and they started an unneccessary war in Iraq. They didn't pay for all of that, WE did! They had a surplus and turned it into the largest deficit in history and now we're supposed to believe their sound bites crying for fiscal responsibilty. What a joke. They care about big business and the wealthy. Isn't that obvious? If we let the GOP back in power this country might just as well kiss the middle class goodbye. They will privatize your social security. They have already managed to privatize war thru contractors like black water. We need government to protect us from industries like the health insurance industry. The GOP are hypocrites. They slam the stimulus pkg and then take credit for the funds at ribbon cutting ceremonies back home. Jindal slammed it, voted no and then handed out big checks in LA with his name on them as if the money came from him! Wake up America. See thru the misinformation campaign of the GOP.; Reply to this comment


by immabme February 17, 2010 6:26 PM EST: Washington is broken because the GOP has decided that their best strategy to regain a majority is to block any and all legislation. They are not even voting for policies that they are on record supporting. It doesn't matter what is best for the country. Their only agenda is Obama's failure. As long as they can block everything, the dems and Obama will be blamed because they have the white house and had a majority, which is a joke because the majority included "conservadems" like Joe Lieberman that are really just republicans. (republican'ts) It's ironic because these GOP senators that are blocking everything were the same ones that rubber stamped everything Bush did and labeled anyone who didn't agree with them as unpatriotic. What could be more unpatriotic than hoping our president fails??? Especially after what they did to our economy!; Reply to this comment


by jeffinpa1234 February 17, 2010 6:16 PM EST: When a person is "broken" we legally can step in and take away their powers to make decisions by having them committed.

What do we do when goveernment is broken? Should we take away the pen that signs ludcrious spending into motion? Is Biden saying that this binge spending is the result of crazed government?

If so then the crazed government needs to be controlled and since we cannot commit it to keep it from hurting itself.....there have to be other measures.

Maybe we should withhold paying our taxes to remove the ability of the government to spend. Won't work - they will borrow the money.

Remove the ability to borrow the money..... has possibilities but they can work around this by planning.

Get lending countries to stop lending to the United States......this may be easier than it sounds...... Make the other countires aware that this nation has a spending problem and any money that is lent to the United States while she is in this state will not be connected to any legal obligation to repay the debt once goverment is "returned to her unbroken state mind" (hopefully in 2012) This may be the way to control the problem.

Government is fixable....... we only need a scalpel to remove the excess layers of government that well meaning politicians have hung on this great nation over the last 200 years! Think of it a face lift of your rights to live free an prosper...... and we would soon see benefits ...both at home and abroad! A little nip hered tuck there would do this government a lot of good at it's age.; Reply to this comment


by davebogo February 17, 2010 4:11 PM EST: What I say is the longer Washington is "Broken", the better things are for the American people. I don't think there will be an outcry for washington to pass more regulations and tax increases.; Reply to this comment


by Phil_E_Drifter February 17, 2010 3:23 PM EST: This is why the founding fathers gave us the 2nd amendment.

/just sayin'; Reply to this comment

by dontknowitall February 17, 2010 2:44 PM EST

As a legal and voting citizen of the United States of America. I here by proclaim the all members of congress are FIRED.

Reply to this comment


by fatdaddyherb February 18, 2010 7:34 AM EST: What about term limits, so the same corrupt, innefective officials don't get too comfortable? I know it's not a popular idea, but that's because it forces US as a nation to actually pay attention to what is happening to our country, and it also weakens the lobbyists grasp of certain politicians. It forces these politicians to actually work!

See all 100 Comments

Report offensive content:

E-mail this comment to a friend.

Follow Political Hotsheet

CBS This Morning