From Joe Biden’s inexplicably praised speech memorializing Ted Kennedy:

He and I were talking after his diagnosis. And I said, I think you’re the only other person I’ve met, who like me, is more optimistic, more enthusiastic, more idealistic, sees greater possibilities after 36 years than when we were elected. He was 30 years-old when he was elected; I was 29 years-old. And you’d think that would be the peak of our idealism. But I genuinely feel more optimistic about the prospect for my country today than I did — I have been any time in my life.

Mr. Vice-President, we knew Ted Kennedy… well, you can fill in the rest.

UPDATE — A number of readers suggest I’m being unfair to Biden, arguing that the context makes it clear Biden is attributing his optimism to Kennedy. I’m far from sure that’s the case and even if it were, I still find the statement problematic on a number of levels. (Kennedy’s example was so inspiring, yet somehow his optimism magic rubbed off only on Joe Biden? I mean he’s still uncomfortably implying that he shares the same characteristic of greatness as Ted Kennedy, and this characteristic somehow eluded everyone else they served with in Congress over the last 30+ years?) But again, that’s why I linked it for context. Read and decide for yourself.