Acceptable approach when delivering cover letter, resume, etc. in ...

Acceptable approach when delivering cover letter, resume, etc. in person?

I'm applying for my first graphic design job outside of free-lancing. I plan on printing my resume on a thick card stock, but should I also do that with my cover letter? That would seem a little tacky handing two thick pieces of paper, so should I print the cover letter on normal paper and the resume on card stock?

Furthermore, what is the most accepted way to deliver this content? Stapling them would seem unprofessional. Paper clipping could be better, but I'm hoping the cover letter doesn't get lost with the resume. Beyond that, I don't know any other way.

I also have a business card I designed for contact convenience, but I'm not sure if I should attach that with the cover letter and resume. Perhaps it would be better to save the business card as a takeaway for an interview?

What do you all recommend?

Source: http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83065

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New Home Construction In CT Strongest In Four Years | Connecticut ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. ? January 30, 2013 ? (RealEstateRama) ? New residential construction in Connecticut was the strongest in four years in 2012, as demand for new housing units appeared to gain momentum, according to a report today.

Towns and cities issued permits for 4,140 single-family houses, condominiums and apartment units last year, a 46-percent jump from 2,837 in 2011 when new home construction hit the lowest level in decades.

The report, from the state Department of Economic and Community Development, represents a sample of 128 municipalities that is surveyed every month by the U.S. Census. Once a year, the Census surveys all 169 towns and cities and typically releases those statistics each May for the previous year.

Still, the report today gives the first indication of a potential upturn in the state?s new home construction market. There have been false starts before, however: in 2010, the number of permits issued rose only to fall in 2011.

Today?s report also included a breakdown by type of housing. Buildings with five or more units led the way with 2,015, followed by single-family houses, with 1,997. Duplexes accounted for 66 units, while three- and four-family dwellings had 62 units.

By Kenneth R. Gosselin

Source: Hartford Courant/courant.com

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Source: http://connecticut.realestaterama.com/2013/01/30/new-home-construction-in-ct-strongest-in-four-years-ID0590.html

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Consumer Credit Counseling Insider Alleges Corners Are Being Cut ...

A tipster (send in your tips here) reached out to me from inside a very recognized consumer credit counseling organization and shared with me their concerns about corners they felt were being cut.

I?ll share the comments they shared with me, minus the company name, and I?d love to hear you opinion of how widespread you feel these practices are.

?So to try to boost business the senior committee has developed a new ?plan? to drum up more business.

The process for getting people on a DMP has loosened up, and the claim is that the company is just copying what other DMP companies do.

The staff has been required to ?do anything you can to get a customer on a DMP? ? even if that means falsifying a budget for a client.

Normally if a client has more than enough money, they would be given the tools and recommendations to get out of debt on their own, without the need of a DMP, however, now [redacted] pads the budget with the extra income to make a DMP an option.

With people who do not have enough funds in the budget ? the counselor is supposed to cut anything out of the budget and make changes to other expenses to again make every effort to sell the DMP.

And to boot, employees are to leave off any credit cards that the consumer doesn?t want to include ? even though a DMP is designed to get a consumer out of debt and not have to rely on credit cards.?

Based on other information given with the tip, not published, I?m inclined to believe the tipster (send in your tips here) does have inside information.

Get Out of Debt Guy ? Twitter, G+, Facebook

I can always use your help. If you have a tip or information you want to share, you can get it to me confidentially if you click here.

Source: http://getoutofdebt.org/48684/consumer-credit-counseling-insider-alleges-corners-are-being-cut-to-sell-dmp

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Japan Planning To Broadcast 4K TV As Soon As 2014

4K TV, the 3840 x 2160 pixel technology that blew everyone away at CES this year, is still a glimmer in most of the world's collective eye. Japan, however, could get 4K broadcasts via satellite as soon as 2014, thereby pushing the state-of-the-art forward at a speed nearly unprecedented in the TV industry.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/h9viPDFVqgw/

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5 Ways to Enhance Your Relationship Every Day | World of ...

The everyday ? filled with its supposedly inconsequential interactions and circumstances ? is actually quite consequential when it comes to romantic relationships.

That?s because relationships are cumulative, said Nikki Massey-Hastings, Psy.D, a psychotherapist who specializes in couples. ?Each seemingly insignificant daily interaction with one?s partner builds upon the interactions from yesterday, last week, and last year? for better or worse.?

A couple with a history of loving interactions and success solving daily problems is more likely to have a securely attached relationship, Massey-Hastings said.

And that?s a great thing. Couples with a secure attachment are able to rely on each other, turn to each other for comfort and traverse potentially tough times, she noted.

In other words, positive daily interactions create buffers against future challenges.

Take parenting, for instance. One of Massey-Hastings?s clients told her: ?We finally had dinner and watched a movie last night for the first time since we brought the baby home. At the end of our night, we smiled at each other and said ?see you in 3 months! Miss you.??

This couple was able to joke about their situation because they had years of wonderful interactions and success dealing with mundane problems like decorating their bedroom and deeply emotional ones like figuring out treatments for their autistic son, she said.

Silvina Irwin, Ph.D, a clinical psychologist who also works with couples, described relationships as ?living bonds.? According to Irwin, ?without regular tending and attention, [the relationship] will wither and suffer.?

But you might be worried that working on your relationship is another time-consuming task to heap on an already overflowing pile of responsibilities. However, as Irwin said, ?tending to your relationship can be woven into the fabric of your everyday life with a little extra thought and intention.?

Below, she and Massey-Hastings share five suggestions for enhancing your relationship every day.

1. Create connection-boosting rituals.

?Create a meaningful way to connect that meets both partners? needs for connection that you can count on each day,? Massey-Hastings said. For instance, when she was just beginning her career, she and her husband would eat dinner together almost every night.

But then her schedule changed, and that was no longer possible. ?One week of this shift and we were both in tears ? we didn?t realize how much that ritual structured our time to connect,? she said. So they revised their routine. Today, they have a snack when she gets home.

?Eating together and talking about the day, for couples and for families, is a very powerful ritual of connection,? she said.

Rituals don?t need to be elaborate, either. It could be something as simple as rubbing each other?s feet every night, which Massey-Hastings and her husband also do. It?s a minute but meaningful ritual they look forward to, she said.

If you have kids, you can create rituals after they?re in bed. For instance, Massey-Hastings works with a couple who cuddles in bed for 30 minutes after putting their child to bed.

2. Be affectionate when you say hello or goodbye.

?A time that lends itself naturally to acknowledging your bond is around moments of separation and reunions,? said Irwin, who also leads workshops for couples. She suggested asking yourself: ?Do I hug and kiss my partner when we greet each other or say goodbye??How about in the evening when we say goodnight??

If you?ve been together for a long time, you might not. But this can contribute to ?couples feeling more like roommates than lovers,? she said. Whether it?s a hug, kiss or touch, daily physical attention can greatly enhance your relationship.

3. Let your partner know they?re on your mind.

Send your partner a text, leave a loving note or give them a quick call during the day, Irwin said. As she noted, these seemingly small gestures communicate an important message: ?You matter to me.? ?This can be especially meaningful when folks work long hours or experience prolonged periods of separation,? she said.

4. Acknowledge how much your partner means to you.

Let your partner know the things they do or say that are meaningful to you, Irwin said. Maybe your partner gives you a massage every night or cracks a joke after you?ve had a tough day at work. Maybe they make you coffee every morning or always wash the dishes after you cook dinner.

?[This] shows that you aren?t taking your partner for granted, and lets them know that they make a difference in your life,? she said. ?A wonderful positive spiral that can ensue when we take a moment to point out the way we appreciate our partner,? she added.

5. Check in with each other.

?Make it an intention to slow down, make eye contact, sit near each other, touch one another and check in,? Irwin said. Even just asking your partner ?How are you?? is a beautiful way to bond.

?These conversations bring a significant point of connection in couples? sometimes-busy, seemingly parallel lives.?It?s saying to each other ?In our crazy lives, the person I want to talk with at the end of the day is you!?? she said.

Relationships certainly take work. But nourishing your partnership every day isn?t painstaking. Instead, it gives you the opportunity to build your bond. Plus, helping your relationship blossom on a daily basis helps you cope better as a couple with the inevitable challenges of life.

Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. is an Associate Editor at Psych Central and blogs regularly about eating and self-image issues on her own blog, Weightless.

Like this author?
Catch up on other posts by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. (or subscribe to their feed).

????Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 28 Jan 2013
????Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.

APA Reference
Tartakovsky, M. (2013). 5 Ways to Enhance Your Relationship Every Day. Psych Central. Retrieved on January 28, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2013/01/28/5-ways-to-enhance-your-relationship-every-day/

?

Source: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2013/01/28/5-ways-to-enhance-your-relationship-every-day/

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khukonahmed: Computers and Technology|Hardware: Various ...

Are you planning to setup an office which is complete in computer equipment, networking tools, and other IT infrastructure? If so, one of the many things you might be concerned with right now is how to pick the right server option that fits your newly established business. The truth is, there are many alternatives out there and it is easy to get lost with every tech solution presented by IT resellers and retailers.

However, if you want the best choice of server for your fledgling business, you need to be aware of the following options to select from:

Dedicated Server Options

Dedicated servers are hot because it provides computer administrators the capacity to have full control over their operations. This is the best option if you are running a business operation which requires your personnel to communicate and collaborate with their colleagues on multiple floors or locations. For example, instead of relying on an internet service provider to provide internet connections to your workstation computers, a dedicated server can provide its own connection in-house.

When it comes to uploading files into private archives, dedicated servers also works best for medium to large population staff because these types of servers are known for being able to handle huge amounts of traffic, storage data, or bandwidth. That means, if you run an intranet in your office or a shared virtual workspace, your dedicated server can handle it.

The only slight downside of dedicated servers is that you need to handle all the maintenance, software or hardware upgrades, and technical troubleshooting on your own.

Cloud Servers

These are servers which can be found "in the cloud", or in simpler language, servers that can be accessed, modified and configured online. This type of server is relatively new in the industry and it is revolutionary because it allows people and companies to send and store their data while using minimal hardware. Through a cloud server, a web administrator can easily control other servers within a virtual private network. File sharing and archiving is also made much easier through this amazing option.

Blade Servers

Blade servers function pretty much like any other high-end server, but the only difference is that it is optimized to conserve space and energy within your work environment. Because of its modular design, blade servers can easily fit in very small office space. This is ideal for companies who are just starting out to do business. These types of start-up business can still enjoy smooth employee communication and IT processes even with minimum space and budget.

One of the best ways to save money on your server and data storage device purchases is to get your IT equipment from an independent IT reseller. This way you can have a wide array of server options to choose from, as well as lower markup rates. Many companies save thousands of dollars per year by doing this.

Source: http://hardwarehelps.blogspot.com/2013/01/various-server-options-for-smooth.html

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Source: http://khukonahmed70.blogspot.com/2013/01/computers-and-technologyhardware.html

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Smile: Gingivitis bacteria manipulate your immune system so they can thrive in your gums

Jan. 3, 2013 ? A new research report published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology shows how the bacteria known for causing gum disease--Porphyromonas gingivalis--manipulates the body's immune system to disable normal processes that would otherwise destroy it. Specifically, the report shows that this pathogen prompts the production of the anti-inflammatory molecule Interleukin-10 (IL-10). This, in turn, inhibits the function of T-cells, which would otherwise help to protect the host from this particular microbial infection.

"Since greater than 50 percent of the U.S. population over 50 years-of-age develop adult periodontal disease, we hope that the results of our study will ultimately help in the development of novel treatments that could prevent or ameliorate the chronic infection caused by the pathogen P. gingivalis,'" said Jannet Katz, D.D.S., Ph.D., a researcher involved in the work from the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

To make this discovery, scientists used cells from mice that were exposed to P. gingivalis. One portion of the cells was treated with an inhibiting antibody against IL-10 and the other portion of cells was not treated. All of the cells were then tested for interferon gamma production. An increase of interferon gamma production was seen in the treated cells, but no increase was found in the untreated cells. These findings suggest that the damage done by P. gingivalis happens when the immune cells of the host are first exposed to this pathogen, and further implies that for treatment to be successful, it must be started as early as possible. This study highlights the mechanism by which P. gingivalis can establish a chronic infection in the form of periodontal disease and provides insight into how the disease develops. Results also demonstrate the importance of very early intervention either by eradication of the bacterium with specifically designed therapeutics or by prevention via the development of an effective vaccine.

"Gum diseases and the infections that cause them can be incredibly stubborn and difficult to treat," said John Wherry, Ph.D., Deputy Editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology. "What isn't as well known is why these infections are so difficult to eradicate. These new studies now demonstrate that these bacteria go beyond merely evading our body's defenses and actually manipulate our immune systems for their own survival."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. D. E. Gaddis, C. L. Maynard, C. T. Weaver, S. M. Michalek, J. Katz. Role of TLR2-dependent IL-10 production in the inhibition of the initial IFN-? T cell response to Porphyromonas gingivalis. Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 2012; 93 (1): 21 DOI: 10.1189/jlb.0512220

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/cOp4xnvnVO0/130103114215.htm

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Hilary Mantel wins best-novel Costa Book Award

LONDON (AP) ? British writer and two-time Booker Prize winner Hilary Mantel has been named novelist of the year at Britain's Costa Book Awards for "Bring Up the Bodies."

Mantel's achievement Wednesday for her blood-soaked Tudor saga makes her the first author to win both the Costa novel award and Booker Prize in the same year.

The Costa Book Awards carry a 5,000 pound ($8,125) prize and are given in five categories: novel, first novel, biography, poetry and children's book.

Other winners included Scottish poet Kathleen Jamie for "The Overhaul," and Francesca Segal for her first-novel "The Innocents," which is set in a tightly-knit Jewish community in northwest London and modeled on Edith Wharton's "The Age of Innocence."

"Dotter of Her Father's Eyes," written by Mary Talbot and drawn by her husband, Bryan, won the biography category, marking the first time a graphic work has won a Costa award. Severely dyslexic writer and illustrator Sally Gardner won the children's book prize for her fifth novel, "Maggot Moon."

The five winners are now shortlisted for the 25,000 pound grand prize of 2012 Costa Book of the Year which will be announced Jan. 29 in London.

The awards, known until 2006 as the Whitbread Book Awards, were established in 1971 and recognize "outstanding and enjoyable books" by writers based in the U.K. and Ireland.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hilary-mantel-wins-best-novel-costa-book-award-210945822.html

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Hollywood Keeps Tax Break; Adoption Credit Expires - Finance ...

Most Americans will see their taxes go up to help pay for Social Security this year, but some industries got big breaks in the fiscal cliff deal passed by the House Tuesday night.

The ABC News blog "The Note" reports the provisions are just extended from past years, but in light of America's skyrocketing debt the breaks are raising concerns.

Among the controversial breaks is the Hollywood industry, which is being giving $430 million to make productions inside the United States.

There's also NASCAR, which will gain $70 million due to an extension in a seven-year-cost recovery period for certain motorsports racing track facilities.

Rum makers in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands will get $222 million in breaks. And algae growers will get $59 million for trying to make biofuel.

Even though Congress was doling out the breaks for big spenders, it dropped dozens of tax credits and deductions that affect ordinary people.

For example, the adoption tax credit is now gone. It expired on Dec. 31.

Source: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/finance/2013/January/Hollywood-Keeps-Tax-Break-Adoption-Credit-Expires/

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6 Tips That Will Keep Your Cat Safe and Comfortable While ...

Most cats do not enjoy traveling, as they are prone to feeling frightened and vulnerable when they are taken away from their familiar territory. However, sometimes you have no choice but to travel with your feline friend. When you have to take your cat on a trip, it is important to know exactly what you can do to in order to make the experience as painless as possible.

1) Select a good cat carrier
Your cat should be secured at all times during a journey, so make it one of your top priorities to pick out a sturdy cat carrier that offers no chance of escape. It is important that your carrier be just the right size. A carrier that is too small for your cat to lie down or stretch will cause restlessness and distress. However, carriers that are too large are not always safe either. When your vehicle turns a tight corner, your cat could be thrown against the wall of the carrier. The ideal carrier will have just enough space for your pet to move around a little and to stretch his back and limbs. Finally, you should pick out a cat carrier that is well ventilated. In addition to providing fresh air, your cat will also be able to look around more easily and will feel less confined.

2) Pick out something soft and cozy for the bottom of the cat carrier
When you are going on a journey that lasts between two and eight hours, it is unkind to expect the cat to sit on hard plastic for the entire duration of the trip. Instead, provide a soft towel or one of your pet?s favorite blankets. However, be mindful of the fact that accidents happen; that favorite blanket could end up soiled with vomit or feces if your cat starts to feel particularly anxious or ill. Place newspaper on the very bottom of the carrier, and make sure that you pack a spare blanket or towel in your bag so that you can provide fresh and comfortable material in the event of having to remove the original bedding.

3) Allow the cat to get used to the carrier before the journey
Set the carrier out in the room where your pet spends most of its time, and leave the door open so that the cat is free to wander in and out. If your cat seems reluctant to go anywhere near the carrier, place something with a familiar scent inside (such as a shirt that smells like you). Of course, you should also ensure that your cat has plenty of access to whatever you will use to line the carrier during the journey, so you should never use a freshly washed blanket that has lost the cat?s scent.

4) Do not feed your cat on the morning of the journey
Feeding your cat shortly before you depart dramatically increases the chances that he will defecate or vomit inside the cat carrier. The night before you travel, give your pet a hearty and enjoyable meal, and reward him with something similar when you eventually reach your destination.

5) Sit the carrier in a secure place that allows the cat to see you
While you are in a moving vehicle, it is vital that you place the cat in a safe place where the carrier cannot topple over or dramatically shift if the vehicle suddenly stops or swerves. In addition, if it is possible, you should position the front of the cat carrier so that it is facing toward you, allowing your pet to see you and smell your reassuringly familiar scent. This will also provide you with the opportunity to talk to the cat.

6) Keep the carrier at a moderate temperature:
You need to be particularly mindful of the temperature during summer months. Your cat will not be able to drink water until the vehicle stops, so it is more important than ever to avoid sources of dehydration. Keep the carrier in a cool, shaded area where there is a lack of direct sunlight. During the winter months, hypothermia is a concern, so make sure that there are extra blankets in the carrier and that there is a reasonable source of heat nearby.

These tips should help to make sure that your cat is as relaxed as possible while you travel, though it is highly unlikely that your pet will actually enjoy the journey. Finally, it is important to note that traveling by air is an entirely different matter that is generally more dangerous and requires preparations that are more extensive. If you plan to fly with your cat, approach your vet for advice and make sure that you thoroughly investigate the policies of different airlines, as these can differ dramatically.

This article is tagged with the following topics:
cat, Pet, Travel

Source: http://petspot.aaa.com/pet-friendly-travel/6-tips-that-will-keep-your-cat-safe-and-comfortable-while-traveling/

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MTV's Best Songs Of 2012 Get An Acoustic Mash-Up By Megan & Liz!

YouTube stars compile medley of Taylor Swift, One Direction, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West and more.
By Cory Midgarden

Megan and Liz
Photo: MTV News

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1699505/megan-and-liz-best-songs-of-2012-mashup.jhtml

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Website business marketing, SEO, profiling and submission ...

Hi

We are a new startup business, selling quality silver sterling jewellery.

We wish to find the most cost effective way to drive customers to our website, and monetise from ecommerce platform.

This could be a good business relationship depending on the price quoted. it could be a one-off or/and it could be monthly payment setup, for proved results.

Its all out on the table.

--------------------------

Website
Sunnymay.co.uk
Title:
SunnyMay Jewellery - Fashion Sterling Silver Prestigious Quality Gifts
Description:
SunnyMay Jewellery - home to most Beautiful Fashion Sterling Silver Jewellery on the web. We have sterling necklaces, bracelets, anklets, rings, pendants, chains and much more. All of our Jewellery is made from the highest quality .925 silver and we use only top quality gemstones in our pieces.

--------------------------

Once again, we are all about the need for quality and relevant traffic. Mere busy server with sporadic traffic sources is not good for us.

We have a considerable marketing and SEO already completed, and wish to take this a notch further to create an even greater presents, sales-traffic, to drive our customers in.

We wish the following:
Relevant listing in Search Engines
Relevant listings in Business Categories/Directories (backlinking)
Competitive listing on Google (does not matter if we don't get the top one)

Most cost effective competitive solution with track record/reporting will do. I dont mind if this is done by the most remote-living specialist who lives very far away, since there is rarely any "urgent" requirements to undertake, - as long as it DOES get done, and could be tracked/reported - these are typically checked and verified.

There are no clarification questions.

Source: http://www.peopleperhour.com/job/website-business-marketing-seo-profiling-and-submission-201715

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Biden May Be the Most Influential Vice President Ever

Barack Obama just can?t get enough out of Joe Biden these days. And anybody who?s been following Biden?s steady ascent in stature over the last several years -- from gaffe-happy presidential contender to one of the most powerful vice presidents in U.S. history? -- couldn?t be less surprised.

Perhaps the only surprise at all is that, in contrast to a year ago,? it took Biden quite this long to become the president?s point man on the latest round of fiscal talks. The exact reason for the delay is not clear. Perhaps it is that, only a week and a half ago, Obama had called on his vice president to lead a commission to expedite recommendations on a truly serious national issue, gun violence (as opposed to the present trumped-up issue, fiscal reform, which requires only the smidgeon of political courage necessary to depart from? ideological rigidities). Maybe Obama wanted to keep his veep?s powder dry for that.

Or maybe it is just that, in the awkward pattern of political dance partnerships that have emerged over the last couple of years, whenever Barack Obama and Speaker John Boehner fail to execute ? as they did after the ?Plan B? debacle -- it?s Biden and his old Senate colleague, Mitch McConnell, who step into the spotlight. The Biden-McConnell duo didn?t cut it during last year?s cliffhanger over the debt limit, of course. But in a sign of just how important a figure the vice president has become in Washington, Biden?s absence until now has been one reason that Republicans doubted Obama?s seriousness about cutting a deal, my colleague Chris Frates reported last week.

As the inevitable brinksmanship plays out, it?s useful to step back and look at just how central a role Biden has played throughout Obama?s presidency.

Over the past four years Biden has insinuated himself into the White House, while seeming hardly to try, in a way that no other vice president in memory has done. He and Obama, both consummate pragmatists though they tend to be liberal in outlook, have achieved something close to a mind meld across a whole range of issues, including foreign policy, the economy, and political strategy. Biden said it outright in his speech during the presidential campaign: ?I literally get to be the last guy in the room with the president. That?s our arrangement.? That?s no small thing in a town where power is often measured in minutes of presidential face time.

It wasn?t long ago that Biden?s predecessor, Dick Cheney, was seen as the gold -- some might say sulfurous -- standard in vice presidential power. Biden himself, ironically enough, once described Cheney as ?probably the most dangerous vice president we?ve had? because of what many observers saw as Cheney?s undue influence over George W. Bush.?

But in terms of the sheer number of issues Biden has influenced in a short time, the current vice president is bidding to surpass even Cheney. Fiscal issues and guns are only a small sampling of this vice president?s portfolio. Back in 2010 it was Biden?s office that, in the main, orchestrated the handover to the Iraqis. It is Biden?s view of Afghanistan that has, bit by bit, come to dominate thinking inside the 2014 withdrawal plan. On financial reform it was Biden who prodded an indecisive Obama to embrace, at long last, Paul Volcker?s idea of barring banks from risky trading, according to Austan Goolsbee, formerly the head of Obama?s Council of Economic Advisers. The VP also tilted the discussion in favor of a bailout of the Big Three auto companies, according to Jared Bernstein, Biden?s former economic adviser. ?I think he made a difference in president?s thinking," Bernstein said. "He understood the importance of the auto companies to their communities, and throughout the country.?

In an interview in the fall of 2010, Biden could hardly contain his enthusiasm for his partnership with Obama. The phrase ?Barack and I ? ? fell from his lips naturally, with no hint of diffidence. He told me then that to his continuing surprise Obama has continued to ?turn over big chunks? of policy to him to handle, whether it?s Iraq, middle-class issues, overseeing the recovery act.? At an early meeting, ?all of sudden Obama stopped. He said, ?Joe will do Iraq. Joe knows more about Iraq than anyone.?. The [Economic] Recovery Act, he just handed it over? to Biden, according to a senior administration official who attended the meetings and would talk about internal discussions only on condition of anonymity.

All of this power makes for quite an irony. Until his ascent to veep, Joe Biden was largely known as an amiable guy with a brilliant smile and a rather big mouth in which he frequently inserted his foot. And it?s not as if anyone could have expected that he?d be much more impressive as vice president. The vice presidency is a job that has tried to be taken seriously throughout U.S. history?and usually failed. John Adams, the nation?s first vice president, bitterly derided his job as ?the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived.?? Like Adams, it was often men who had tasted real power who had the most disdain for the job. John Nance Garner, a former House speaker and FDR?s equally slighted No. 2, declared the job wasn?t ?worth a bucket of warm spit? (it?s believed he used an even saltier term). In modern times the vice presidency began to grow in stature, especially as the hair-trigger calculus of the Cold War required presidents to keep their putative replacements informed. But the job remained for the most part a funeral-attending, snooze-inducing post, barren of almost all constitutional duties.

The previous two vice presidents, Cheney and his predecessor, Al Gore, significantly changed that power dynamic. But on Biden?s watch the ?OVP??Office of the Vice President-- has become something even more: almost a conjoined twin to the presidency, organically linked and indivisible from the Oval Office. Cheney succeeded for a time by creating a kind of shadow presidency, yet there?s nothing shadowy about Biden. Indeed Biden remains, in many respects, the anti-Cheney.

Yet in two critical respects the Delaware Democrat?and the Wyoming Republican do resemble each other. Both are known to be confident in pushing their views, and both became masters of the Washington insider game. Whereas John Adams was not invited to participate in meetings of George Washington?s Cabinet, Biden handles so many issues that when, say, the national security team leaves the Oval Office, he is often left alone chatting with Obama because he needs to be part of the discussion when the economic team arrives to brief the president. He will also often sit down with Obama in the residence before an important National Security Council meeting.?

Now, if Barack Obama does leave a lasting legacy on gun violence that comes out of the terrible tragedy in Newtown, Conn., Biden will be a big part of it. And if anything like an agreement is reached on fiscal issues, Biden is likely to be part of? that as well. His long Senate tenure, and the many relationships he developed across the aisle, are once again proving crucial.? As I reported in the fall of 2010, shortly before the looming congressional election that gave the Republicans?and the Tea Party?the House, no one has more experience working with the other party, reaching across the aisle, and that talent may be critical to just keeping the government going in the coming months. ?He can sit down in foreign policy or other issues and find a common interest and drive the ideas forward. Look at what he did with Jesse Helms and Strom Thurmond? in passing the chemical weapons treaty and crime bills, respectively, in the ?90s, his former chief of staff (and later successor), Ted Kaufman, noted back then. ?I mean, Jesse Helms and Strom Thurmond! You don?t get more conservative than that.?

Actually, you do, as the current breed of Republicans has demonstrated in this era. But if anyone can talk to Mitch McConnell, it?s Joe Biden. Whose stock is still rising steadily.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/biden-may-most-influential-vice-president-ever-133153208--politics.html

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