Joe Biden says he sits with President Obama every day for four to six hours. Granted they are probably not sitting, but the fact Biden could state he is “with” the President for four to 6 hours a day is profoundly disconcerting.

Last year I read the Reagan Diaries, which, by the way, I highly recommend. One of the key takeaways I noted was how important it was to Ronald Reagan, and his Vice-President George Bush, to coordinate a two-hour lunch together every Thursday no matter what.

Both Reagan and Bush’s schedules were so busy with executive management challenges they rarely were able to see one another and discuss events, policy, and strategy. They made their Thursday lunches a central component of their cohesion. It was their time to catch up, plan, coordinate and organize their approach to challenges.

Other than those Thursday lunches they were rarely together. Bush was always leading the foreign diplomatic missions and representing Reagan personally in other nations; and Reagan had high standards and expectations for that representation. It was important to Reagan that America should always be represented by the best, the very finest professional standards. Hence his trust only extended to his closest representative.

Remember it was Vice-President Bush who, by design, first met Soviet Prime Minister Gorbachev, and that relationship was profoundly critical for the world not just the United States and Soviet Union.  Bush represented the front, or set up man, for the masterful Reagan.  It was Bush who told Reagan “we’ve got a different outlook” with this man.

Reagan used Bush to carry personal hand written letters to leaders all around the world.  Reagan was a prolific writer and believed in the impact of personal letters.

By the time Gorbachev showed up for the first meeting with Reagan the mental imagery upon Gorbie was staggering – President Reagan loomed like a giant in the mind of the Russian people and indeed inside Gorbachev’s mind himself.   The psychology of their strategy had worked brilliantly, and over time a wonderful relationship was forged in the oft dangerous furnace of trust.

When I listen to Joe Biden say he “sits with the President Obama four to six hours a day”… the imagery contrast is astounding. Obama/Biden seriously appear to be diminishing our executive offices.

Based on how they are conducting themselves I don’t believe that same lack of professionalism, or representative concern, exists for a Romney/Ryan ticket.

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