Besotted with Belgium

Vice President Biden is, apparently, besotted with Belgium. According to Daniel Foster of National Review, Biden declared the following in a recent speech in Brussels:

As you probably know, some American politicians and American journalists refer to Washington, DC as the "capital of the free world."  But it seems to me that this great city, which boasts 1,000 years of history and which serves as the capital of Belgium, the home of the European Union, and the headquarters for NATO, this city has its own legitimate claim to that title.

It is a little embarrassing for the vice president to suggest that another county might be superior to his own in terms of freedom and democracy. If this were the case, perhaps a man who has been part of the U.S. government for thirty-seven years and who now holds one of the highest titles in the nation might have, at some point, considered doing something about America's lack of freedom.

But what makes Biden's statement even more embarrassing is that he is talking about Brussels. While Biden suggests Brussels might be "capital of the free world," much of Europe is skeptical about Belgium's commitment to freedom. They are particularly concerned about the actions of Brussels-born European Council President Herman Von Rompuy. Indeed, according to The Telegraph, "Open warfare has broken out at the top of the European Union with governments accusing the new president, Herman Van Rompuy of making a power grab."

European leaders are accusing Van Rompuy of trying to expand his role to take on powers that he was not supposed to take.

Indeed, The Telegraph goes on to describe situation this way:

Diplomats are increasingly worried that amid the turf wars there is a danger of Brussels "mission creep" as squabbling EU chiefs try to enlarge their empires at the expense of each other and national sovereignty. National governments, led by Germany, are incensed by an attempt by Mr Van Rompuy to take on new powers he claims were agreed at an informal summit two weeks ago.

Meanwhile, Nigel Farage, leader of Britain's UKIP, denounced Van Rompuy with the following statement:

I would like to ask you, President. Who voted for you? By what mechanism? Oh I know democracy's not popular with you lot. And what mechanism do the peoples of Europe have to remove you? Is this European democracy? Well, I sense – I sense, though, that you're competent and capable and dangerous and I have no doubt that it's your intention to be the quiet assassin of European Democracy and of the European nation states. You appear to have a loathing for the very concept of nation states, perhaps that's because you come from Belgium, which is pretty much a non-country.

Farage may be doing Belgium a disservice. It is, after all, famous for its cuisine. Brussels is especially well known. Indeed, Wikipedia sums up the city's accomplishments well, saying, "Brussels is known for its local waffle, its chocolate, its French fries and its numerous types of beers." But Brussels' 1000 year history is not a history of democracy and freedom. Belgian imperialism was often cruel and despotic and Brussels was at the center of it. Consider, for instance, King Leopald's barbaric treatment and genocide of the people of the Congo.

Of course much has changed such then. But when our European allies are, even now, voicing concern over Brussels' hostility toward democratic principles, Biden might think twice about suggesting that the city replace Washington as freedom's capital.

Comments

[BillW]

I agreed with you on the freedom issue but when you got to the part about waffles, chocolate, french fries and beer, I began to see things Beiden's way. A city with a culture built around those four essential elements of the American diet can't be nearly so bad as you make it out to be.

Luckily, no one takes Beiden seriously - including Obama - and least of all the Belgian and American people. His great contribution to American government is that he makes Dan Quayle look thoughtful by comparison.

[Miranda]

BillW:

Thanks for your comments! You do have a point - especially regarding the waffles!

[William]

One heartbeat away from the Presidency...OMG!!!

[Roger Meyer]

Don't forget the mussels--they do those so well.

[George Mason]

As a senate staffer once wrote (a paraphrase)"every time Joe Biden opens his
mouth he demonstrates why he finished at the bottom of his class." The question is; What does it say about the voters in Delaware that they voted this clown into the Senate 5 times?

[William]

Don't forget, he had to cheat to make it to the bottom of the class!!

"In 1965 Biden plagiarized while writing a paper as a student at the Syracuse University Law School in a legal methods course which he failed because of that copied paper."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2066640/posts

[BillW]

Don't sell the voters in Delaware short. Beiden has a long track record in the Senate of doing ..... absolutely nothing. Imagine how great this nation would be if only all 100 senators did nothing. The image of our greatness if the House would do the same is breath-taking.

I think there is shrewd method to Delaware's apparent madeness.

[Miranda]

William: I suspect that I know which William you are this time!

Roger: Never having partaken of Belgian mussels, I cannot personally vouch for them, but I will take your word for it!

George Mason: The staffer you quote may well be right. Though, in all fairness to Biden, he has undergone brain surgery. Therefore, it is easy to excuse some of his quirks. But this wasn't just a goofy mistake and is a bit harder to forgive.
Furthermore, unless the people of Delaware have all had brain surgery, they don't have the same excuse. Still, maybe they're using Billw's strategy!

[William]

Right you are, Miranda! - lol

[Roger Meyer]

Miranda

Not to turn this into a food column, but you should try them. If you are ever in DC try Cafe Belga on 8th St., SE. If I am still here and haven't yet moved back to South Dakota which is happening in the next few months, I will even treat.

[William]

I hope Ben's Chili Bowl is still in business since Ben passed away. Are there still any Ollie's Trolley's around, there's supposed to be one near the Smithsonian (although it's not really in a trolley)?

(I don't mind turning this into a food column, BTW) - lol

[Miranda]

If I had objected to this becoming a food column, I suppose I shouldn't have plastered a big, strawberry-covered waffle to the top of it...

Roger: Thank you very much for your kind offer. I don't think I'll be able to visit Washington D.C. in the next few months, but when I do, I will make it a point to try the mussels! I must say, though, that if you can get excellent Belgian mussels in Washington D.C., perhaps Farage is more accurate than I thought!

Since we're on the topic: You don't, by any chance, know the name of the wonderful restaurant near on Capitol Hill that serves Mexican cuisine, but looks like it would serve something completely different? The name made it look more like a steakhouse. That's probably not enough to go on, but I thought I'd give it a shot. It's been well over five years since I ate there, and while I can't, for the life of me, remember the name, I remember the taste!

William: How dare you? No! Really! Please proceed!

[Roger Meyer]

William: Ben's is still operating despite the passing of Ben. I think there is an Ollie's Trolley near the Old Post Office Building. I haven't eaten there. It was our luxury dining when I was in graduate school and the stipend check came. We have progressed haven't we.

Miranda: Can't put my finger on the restaurant with Mexican cuisine. There are many fine restaurants near Capitol Hill but five years in the restaurant business here is a lifetime. It may well have expired. Sorry I couldn't be more help. Now we can get back to politics, LOL.

[David Baeckelandt]

Interesting post. Given the fact that Belgium does NOT operate on a "one-person, one-vote" basis - and that Brussels has a much shorter history of Democracy (universal suffrage there is a 20th century concession by the ruling Francophone elite), the VP is (again) wrong. The Flemish city states of Brugge (Bruges in French), Gent, and Kortrijk however have a long history of limited suffrage and democracy (until the times it was stamped out by Spanish and French and German occupiers of course).