Bidens name new puppy

Awwwww.

After gathering the whole family around the Christmas tree this morning, Vice President-elect Joe Biden's grandchildren announced the name of his new German shepherd puppy.

They chose to call the new pup "Champ," Biden's press secretary, Elizabeth Alexander said Thursday.

The name has sentimental significance for Biden, whose dad always told him growing up, "Get up champ," whenever he was having a tough time. Biden often mentioned it in his campaign speeches, where he would recall his father saying "Any time you get knocked down champ - get up!"

Vice President-elect Joe Biden on "This Week": The economy, his wife, his Senate seat, and his dogs

By GottaLaff

Joe's talking again, and about all kinds of things. ABC has released a few excerpts from his Sunday appearance on "This Week". Here's what he's saying about that miserable economy of ours:

Vice President-elect Joe Biden says lawmakers from both parties have urged the incoming administration to be big and bold with its economic aid plan next year despite the huge deficits being created.

"There is going to be real significant investment, whether it's $600 billion or more, or $700 billion, the clear notion is it's a number no one would have thought about a year ago," Biden told ABC's "This Week" for an interview to air Sunday.

Biden said the spending was necessary to stop the loss of jobs and that the economy would be the administration's top priority.

About Jill:

[She] will continue to teach after she moves to Washington, but probably part time. He said several four-year and community colleges in the Washington area have contacted her.

"I think it's very important she have and maintain her own life, her own identity," Biden said. "And she'll be a very active second lady. She'll be very active. But I think it's important. It matters to her."

About his Senate seat:

[He hasn't] resigned from the Senate yet because he said it was possible that he could have voted on some issues where the margin of a victory or defeat would have been close. "I have no intention of staying up until the day that I am sworn in as vice president."

About his doggies. Yes, that was plural:

He also noted that he's getting a second dog, and it will come from the pound, not a breeder. [...]

Biden says he wants a companion for the German shepherd puppy and his wife wants it to be a dog from the pound.

Concerns about the Obama administration making the economy, not Rev. Rick, their priority: Check.

Concerns about what kind of Second Lady Jill will be: Check.

Concerns about why he hasn't relinquished his Senate seat yet: Check.

Concerns about his acquiring a breeder puppy instead of a pound puppy: Check.

That was easy.

Americans divided on Obama puppy, poll says

For Clancy, since he gets antsy if we go too long between polls. BREAKING NEWS- United States deadlocked on sex of Presidential Puppy!!!

(CNN) — Most Americans think President-Elect Barack Obama should buy his girls a new puppy from an animal shelter or pound, but there is no widespread consensus on what kind of dog should be the next occupant of the White Doghouse, according to a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll.

Two thirds of Americans say the Obamas should adopt a dog from an animal shelter while just 30 percent favor the next first dog coming from a breeder or a pet store, the new poll said.

(snip)

But the public's advice on what kind of dog to get is widely scattered (more than 70 different breeds were suggested), with Labrador retrievers topping the list with 13 percent.

Nine percent suggested getting a mutt or a mixed breed dog, making that the second-most popular suggestion, along with poodles, also mentioned by 9 percent of the public.

Next on the list were various terrier breeds, followed by German shepherds and golden retrievers.

Vice-Pup

By GottaLaff

I've melted and gone to heaven. How adorable is this? Oh, and the puppy's cute, too:

This undated photo provided by breeder Linda Brown shows Vice President-elect Joe Biden of Delaware holding his newly purchased German Shepard puppy, which remains name-less so far, at Brown's home in East Coventry Township in Chester County, Pa.(AP Photo/Brown Family)

Biden -- not Obama -- gets new pooch

I find it amusing that Jill used the puppy as incentive to Joe much the way the Obamas did for the girls.

Malia and Sasha Obama apparently aren’t the only ones who were promised a puppy if they stuck it out through the presidential election.

Vice President-elect Joe Biden picked out a German shepherd pup this past weekend from a breeder near his Delaware home, according to a local newspaper report.

Biden was reportedly promised the post-election dog by his wife, Jill, who would tape pictures of different dogs on the back of the seat in front of Biden on his campaign plane.

The vice president-elect picked out a month-old male German shepherd from a breeder in Chester County, Penn., according to the Daily Local News. The breeder told the paper Biden wanted a family dog that was social and obedient and said his granddaughters will name him.