Our columnist William McGurn notes polling data showing Biden strength against Donald Trump in key swing states. He adds that a Biden candidacy “would give Mr. Obama options he doesn’t have so long as Mrs. Clinton is the only plausible contender in his party.” But it could be costly for Mr. Biden. “The Clintons are not a forgiving couple,” writes Mr. McGurn.ADDED: Why are the Democrats getting themselves into this trouble? Biden is only interesting because he's not yet in. Once he gets in, it will be awful. What's he going to do, attack Hillary? Stand back and grin — toothily, 72-years-oldishly — waiting for her to self-destruct? Will she fight back or somehow use this threat to trigger a flashback to the empathy people felt for her back in '08 when she almost seemed to cry in New Hampshire? Isn't it much better for the Democrats to let the GOP "clown car" attract all the attention for a few months, during which the email thing will age — for most people — into the boring annoyingness Hillary's always wanted it to be?
Writing this post, I looked up the number 72 to see if there is anything interesting about it. There are about 100 interesting things about 72! It's room temperature. It's the human heartbeat. It's the percentage of water in the human body. It's the sum of four consecutive primes and the sum of six consecutive primes. It's the number of languages in the Tower of Babylon, the number of disciples sent forth by Jesus, the number of names of God, the number of houri each Muslim martyr receives in Paradise, the degrees of the Jacob's Ladder, the number of linens in the sacred cord Kucti, the number of stupas at Borobudur, the number of sects doomed to Hell according to the sayings of Muhammad, the number of strings in a classical Persian hammered dulcimer, and radio shorthand for "Best wishes."
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98 comments:
Biden's polling OK for a man with near universal name ID and that nobody has ever actually looked at for a possible President. Given his track record in campaigns and his inability to not sound like a gibberish-spouting imbecile, his numbers will crater.
Let The Games Begin!!
Hilarity ensues.
I was really hoping for a Clinton/Bush race to bring home how broken our system really is. But I'll settle for a Doofus/ fake Indian vs a loud mouth. At least that race would be entertaining.
The word "blessing" is a microaggression (or a dog-whistle, if you prefer) that refers to Mafia-inspired Chicago politics.
For all of Biden's weaknesses, he is a far better option for Democrats and Obama in particular than Hillary. Puts his foot in his mouth? Hillary can't say anything that's not focus-grouped, and still comes across terribly. Connection to Obama's failures? Hillary is far more connected to them as she had specific responsibility over foreign policy. Attackable voting record in the Senate? Hillary's is just as bad, and she was only there for 8 years. Plus, he has the sympathy factor having lost his adult son, and comes across as a regular guy far more than Hillary can pull off. And unlike Hillary, he's not tied to dozens of small and major corruption scandals.
Seems like a no-brainer--if you want to increase your odds against the GOP, go with Biden. Hillary's a dangerous risk.
Hillary being indicted would be a great sign that the system works and the rich and powerful cannot just wiggle out of things.
And yes, the Clintons are vindictive so it is risky to go up against them--all the more reason for Biden and Obama to go after the jugular. The Clintons are not good people, and they have to be stripped of power.
Yea, but can Biden "eat pussy like a champ" ...like the Clintons?
And there's all those Organizing for America offices and staff waiting to be utilized by someone. I think part of Obama's "blessing" includes use of his campaign infrastructure. So it's Biden-Warren now is it?
Is Biden Jacob to Clinton's Esau?
“Bless me—me too, my father!”
the Clintons are vindictive so it is risky to go up against them--all the more reason for Biden and Obama to go after the jugular.
Machiavelli put it succinctly. "Never strike a prince unless you kill him." Does anyone think Biden is a killer ?
I fear we missed our chance in 2012 with Romney and the next one will be no better.
Biden is 76, working in his final job ever, and rich as Croesus - how can the Clinton's hurt him?
-XC
I find it amusing that Biden, the sitting VP, was not even in consideration for President until Hillary tanked.
Most sitting VP’s are their party’s first choice as candidate for President. Slow Joe rises to the top only after Hillary and Bernie are determined to be unelectable. Now the media pundits are talking about what a strong candidate Biden will be.
Joe Biden: From high school JV team to Superbowl MVP overnight.
Slow Joe Biden/Lieawatha 2016! That's the ticket!
CBS is reporting Obama gives Biden the "green light" to run.
WTF? Why in the world does this have to do with Obama? Why does Obama have to give Biden permission to run?
Why does someone want the news agencies to report Obama has some kind of control over Biden's choice?
Will Obama actively campaign in the primaries for Biden?
Will Barack call Hillary out on her email?
Hillary Clinton is utterly devoid of charisma, spontaneity, genuineness. She has not accomplished very much on her own and has never won a contested election. When given power, she has been unimpressive (Hillarycare, SOS) . She is also corrupt and has been from the start (cattle futures, travel gate, misuse of IRS and FBI). Her influence peddling over the last few years is disgusting. I think many democrats would now agree with most of these statements; the email stuff is just an excuse to cut bait.
Biden is a reliable Tammany Hall brave and will serve as a placeholder in the White House for another 4 years while the Obamaites consolidate their "transformative" gains.
And I suspect the NSA, etc. know all about Hillary!'s server shenanigans as well as her financial misdeeds.
"I find it amusing that Biden, the sitting VP, was not even in consideration for President until Hillary tanked."
That's not so unusual--until Nixon in 1960, VPs were usually overlooked when a party wanted to nominate someone. And Cheney was never seriously considered to succeed Bush. I think Obama picked Biden to balance his ticket (with a more experienced Senator) but the Clintonites sort of created this (insane) presumption among Dems that she, not Biden, was next in line.
Realizing just how awful a candidate she is, Dems are reaching out. Smart move, if a little late.
This is a good time to run Biden as I think the whole rotten edifice is about to come down. An interesting take on the stock market swoon.
America’s technology darlings aren’t exactly making good on Silicon Valley’s legacy. Microsoft, Cisco, IBM and a few other businesses of the old guard have a reasonable claim to being the companies that run the world, but Twitter and Facebook? Not so much – whatever their crazy valuations.
You see, as much as global financial concerns are going to hit tech companies harder than other sorts of enterprise, so too will their own lack of ambition. The ugly truth is that Silicon Valley has largely given up trying to fix big problems and has retreated into photo-sharing apps and productivity tools. That may sound harsh, but just look at some of the absurd and pointless startups that are getting vast checks written and tell me that founders don’t need a kick up the ass and a reminder that no one has solved batteries yet.
We have a diversity consultant economy and Biden is just the guy to ride it down.
"Machiavelli put it succinctly. "Never strike a prince unless you kill him." Does anyone think Biden is a killer ?
I fear we missed our chance in 2012 with Romney and the next one will be no better."
Biden doesn't strike me as a killer--if an indictment comes down, he may not have to be. Of course, his political career is effectively over if he doesn't become president either way, so maybe he doesn't see as much risk going up against Clintonite sleaze.
I don't think Obama will get openly involved in the primary--but if an indictment is about to go down, he may quietly inform Clinton so she has a chance to exit the race on her own.
damikesc said...
Biden's polling OK for a man with near universal name ID and that nobody has ever actually looked at for a possible President.
Actually, he's run several times and been quickly rejected by primary voters.
"We have a diversity consultant economy and Biden is just the guy to ride it down."
It was a great country we once had!
Though the optimist in me says we're just entering a churning out period, from which a new age may emerge. The decadance and corruption can often produce a reaction.
Joe Biden is not "a killer," but Barack Obama is.
All is proceeding as he has foreseen.
"Actually, he's run several times and been quickly rejected by primary voters."
He has, but these are different times. If Hillary is out of the race or mortally wounded, it's not like the Dems have any other plausible alternatives (Gore? Kerry?). Romney, McCain, Dole--they all had unsuccessful primary runs before eventually winning the nomination. Notice of course none of them could win the general election, and likewise that may prove a challenge for Biden (though not as much as for Hillary).
This is what "leading from behind" looks like.
"Joe Biden is not "a killer," but Barack Obama is."
I think Obama is better at "own goals" than anything else. He has this tower of fake accomplishments that is tottering. Maybe the law of gravity has been repealed but maybe not. Let's see what the stock market does for the next few weeks. A lot of those guys who are going to build Obama's library are guys whose money is in apps and Facebook-like stuff. Nothing that is real.
Yeah, because our record of former VP's who have gotten to the oval office has been so great!
T. Roosevelt
Truman
LBJ
Nixon
Bush
I left off Coolidge because he is the exception that proves the rule.
As have been the campaigns of former VPs
Gore
Mondale
Nixon (1960)
(Probably missing a few)
Why do so many people think that VP is a great jumpoff place for Prez? Based on experience, it should be an absolute disqualification.
John Henry
I forgot Ford
Brando said...
Seems like a no-brainer--
Yeah, that's pretty much my assessment of Biden too.
"Why do so many people think that VP is a great jumpoff place for Prez? Based on experience, it should be an absolute disqualification."
It's a double edged sword. On the plus side, in the modern age it means getting a lot of free press coverage, particularly during the campaign (where you're running for VP) including televised debates and prime time convention speech. It comes with name recognition, fundraising and campaign experience, the fact that the VP has (presumably) been fully vetted, and the presumed endorsement by the sitting president (who is usually the most powerful figure in their party).
On the negative, it is a true beta-male position, as you're constantly subordinate to the Prez with no perceived independence. Add to that the fact that you have no real power and can't really get any accomplishments on the job, and you can see why even today it can be hard to overcome.
"Yeah, that's pretty much my assessment of Biden too."
It works both ways!
Dumb as I think Biden is, he seems on a par with Hillary who has somehow used her aloofness and squareness to convince some people that she's "very smart." If she is in fact smart, she is smart in a way that has not translated to public service.
47% are going to vote Democrat regardless of any other considerations. All the White House needs is to assure another 4% that Biden will be safely guarded by a team of experts and prevented from doing anything really stupid - from the Democrats' point of view, that is.
"47% are going to vote Democrat regardless of any other considerations. All the White House needs is to assure another 4% that Biden will be safely guarded by a team of experts and prevented from doing anything really stupid - from the Democrats' point of view, that is."
I'd put the floor at slightly lower, but over 40%--same with the GOP (barring any bottom-dropping disasters). The Dems also start with about 240 electoral votes in the bag, at least 8/10 of the black vote and 6/10 of the Hispanic vote and over 5/10 of the women's vote. From there, they just need to paint the GOP as anti-black, anti-Hispanic and anti-woman, which the GOP may decide to bungle its way into doing the job for them. That, or Biden could try to improve a bit on Obama's numbers with the white male vote (it'd be hard to do worse, anyway). He'd be beatable, but he's starting from a position of strength.
Over the long term, the GOP is simply going to have to build its numbers in some of these groups and likewise, turn some blue states purple and purple states red. They've been operating at a disadvantage on the presidential level for two decades now.
Didn't Stumblin' Joe plagiarize speeches Robert Kennedy and Neil Kinnock last time he ran for president back in `88? This should be entertaining.
It does not matter. Biden is not supposed to do anything other than just sit there and occupy the chair. Others will do the work.
This is a big f**king deal!
Wording it like that makes me think of the Godfather movies where one of the lieutenants asks for permission to start his own mob family.
There are Democrats out there who have track records of reasonable competence, lots of experience, and whose personalities aren't grating like Hillary or flat-out stupid like Biden. People like Evan Bayh and Mark Warner. I still think Warner will get into this, as he could pretty easily beat any of the current contenders, and there's no such thing as a politician who doesn't want to be president.
Jeff: I don't think moderate Democrats dare paint a target on themselves by opposing both Obama AND Clinton. They're going to ride out 2016, maybe 2020 too if a Democrat wins in 2016, and hope that the party's flirtation with the far left burns it enough to recoil back to a more moderate, or at least willing to triangulate, stance.
"Isn't it much better for the Democrats to let the GOP "clown car" attract all the attention for a few months, during which the email thing will age — for most people — into the boring annoyingness Hillary's always wanted it to be?"
That's what Hillary is hoping for, and it could of course happen--but for Democrats who want to keep the White House, it makes more sense to get Biden in there as insurance--if the e-mail scandal keeps dripping along, giving voters and the media a constant look at how poorly Hillary handles this thing (she has amazingly gotten worse over the months, seeming aloof, entitled, snappish, out of touch, corrupt and incompetent all at the same time--it's like a How-Not-To guide for politics!), or worse, leads to an indictment--then she's seriously hobbled and the Dems are stuck with a bum nominee.
All that Biden needs is to be convinced that bimetallism is the key to the election for us to have the pleasure of one of his patented dramatic readings of the "Cross of Gold" speech.
Also, even if Hillary did get back into the White House--Dems who aren't delusional Clintonites must be aware that the Clintons have a very hard time not breaking laws. Eventually it will be one so bad it could hurt the whole party. Why risk it? Is the prospect of a Hillary presidency so terrific that it's worth this?
"Why risk it?"
-- It worked out just fine last time.
And this time, they've literally had a program ran so incompetently, weapons fell into the hands of terrorists that were used to then kill innocent people. The current administration has literally made a big enough mess that people died without any real repercussions, so a little e-mail trouble is not much to worry about in the grand scheme of things.
"WTF? Why in the world does this have to do with Obama? Why does Obama have to give Biden permission to run?"
O does not want his legacy tarnished. O is in charge and wants to remain in charge. He is planning a transformative post-presidency. The Dem candidate is his call. Slow Joe is not ideal, but obviously better than Hillary! Once the O machine gears up, Joe has a good shot. Trump looks likely to lend a hand. Warren is a potential wild card, as alternative power center and legacy risk, but may be necessary as VP.
Even before MSM started reporting on O's post-prez planning sessions, you read the unfolding scenario right here on the Althouse blog.
Tower of Babylon?
"47% are going to vote Democrat regardless of any other considerations"
Maybe not this time. I'm hearing support for Trump in the black community. They're not happy with the illegals either, and they like his Alpha Male swagger too. He is a wildcard that may just steamroll over the CV.
The ongoing Clinton investigation has Obama's (Valerie Jarret's) fingerprints all over it. It's not going away
during which the email thing will age — for most people — into the boring annoyingness Hillary's always wanted it to be?
Unfortunately for HRC, the email matter is now in the hands of the Inspectors General & the Courts, but of whom have their own internal processes & pace. The matter will not just "go away" as the calendar wears on. The Clinton campaign will struggle along towards its goal, knowing that at any moment an indictment may come & ---boom!--- the whole edifice will come crashing down.
@Michael,
Tower of Babylon?
Althouse is a perfessor of Constitutional Law, not Biblical Studies. Jeez, buddy, waddya want?
Sebastian- I get why Obama might want Biden to run, or even to tell him privately to run.
But I think it's weird that the press is reporting it as Obama giving his blessing, giving Biden the green light. As if they, too*, see it as Obama's permission to give. As if that's our traditional way of seeing it.
*of course, the press is oddly obsessed with reporting how Obama feels and is affected by all things. As if his feelings and fortunes are what have importance to the people of our nation.
Why are the Democrats getting themselves into this trouble? Biden is only interesting because he's not yet in. Once he gets in, it will be awful. What's he going to do, attack Hillary?
I wouldn’t underestimate Biden’s impending candidacy. Never forget that he’ll have all of the MSM to push his campaign and cover up any problems that may come his way. And always realize that the GOP candidate will be judged by a double standard.
The pundits worry about Biden’s lack of a campaign apparatus and the lack of time at this late date in which to create it. If Hillary were to pull out of the race in a tearful for-the-good-of-the-party announcement, ask her supporters to back Biden and turn her organization over to Biden the problem would be alleviated.
Why would she do that? Perhaps to keep herself out of jail. An Obama pardon could happen but wouldn’t really be necessary. All that would be needed is for Obama to delay the email investigation until after the election.
If a Democrat wins Hillary’s troubles gradually melt away under the label of “old news.” The MSM will ignore the controversy just as it does with the Planned Parenthood videos. No Democrat Attorney General would ever bring charges.
If a Republican wins any prosecution of Hillary would be considered political retaliation.
More importantly, it figures in the Rule of 72, which gives the number of years n that it takes for your investment at x% compounded annual interest rate to double in value. The rule is approximate and breaks down under Democrat-induced high inflation, like Carter's 18% inflation that led to the collapse of the S&Ls that depended on the Rule.
The Rule of 7 is n = 72/x, implying that funds invested at 4% will double in about 18 years.
This is shaping up to be the election with the lowest voter turnout ever, and the Democrats may well win simply with the big-city machines. It is doable and will stop any reversal of Obama's "transformation."
Althouse:
Don't forget the Rule of 72 which helps you calculate how many years it takes for an investment to double. Divide your rate of return [interest income or investment income] into 72.
So 6% rate of return will double in 12 years and 8% will double in 9 years.
You can also use it estimate how quickly guvmint spending will double. Annual increase in spending divided into 72 tells you how soon your taxes will double heh.
Hagar: I have heard anecdotal evidence that many casual voters and non-voters support Trump's message. So we could see higher turnout.
Run Joe, Run. Give the dems a choice.
@MayBee: "As if they, too*, see it as Obama's permission to give. As if that's our traditional way of seeing it"
They do, and tradition is out the door.
Obamacare centralization and mandate, amnesty by executive order, sicking the IRS on opponents, making nice to the mullahs while screwing Israel, climate change directives, dear-colleague clamps on college internal affairs, SSM on the side--the "traditional way of seeing" is going, soon gone. O is planning his post-prez, with MSM assistance, to make sure. That's one reason why the Trump infatuation is crazy and (self-)destructive. A populist temper tantrum will not stop the Progressive juggernaut.
That Hillary! is being brought low by an email scandal -- in the scale of things, an episode of minor venality for the Clintons -- and that the guy waiting in the wings to rescue O's legacy and Dem hopes is Joe Biden, is just more proof, if any were needed, that God truly loves America.
Putting aside VPs who succeeded to the big chair upon a President's death, we went from Martin Van Buren in 1836 to Nixon in 1960 before a sitting VP ran - and to GHW Bush in 1988 before one actually won. It is not as common as people might think.
Regarding a possible entry into the race by Biden, our gallant hostess, AA, asks:
"Why are the Democrats getting themselves into this trouble?"
Jeez, Althouse, you're confusing the solution with problem. The trouble is already there, because Hillary is a liar and a schemer, and has already damaged her candidacy. Who knows what other shoes will drop and when? Drip, drip, drip.
Worse than that, from the perspective of the Dem power brokers, she could actually lose the election. So, running Biden, or getting him ready to run, in their minds, is the solution to this problem. It will force Hillary to shape up or force her out. The bench is not very strong, sorry, but it's the best of some poor options.
I, for one, think it's great. Run, Joe, Run!
There's no law forbidding Biden from running, but if he gets those creepy hands too close to my wife I'm going to break his fingers.
"Hillary being indicted would be a great sign that the system works and the rich and powerful cannot just wiggle out of things"
Oh, please. It would be a great sign that those with their hands on the springs of power want it to happen. If Hillary was vulnerable to a "working system" she would have been wearing an orange jumpsuit long ago.
If Obama is serious about Biden's candidacy it means he has such total confidence in the GOTV machine he's built that the Donks could run my neighbor's dog and win. 2012 suggests that this is true.
So the Donks are going for their own Clown Car?
"Oh, please. It would be a great sign that those with their hands on the springs of power want it to happen. If Hillary was vulnerable to a "working system" she would have been wearing an orange jumpsuit long ago."
Admittedly my phrasing was poor--but if she got brought down by this it would be a step in the right direction. Her getting away with what has people's careers ruined and even jail time is just another middle finger to the concepts of law and justice, and the idea that the rich and powerful are still required to observe some standards.
Whatever Obama's motivations on this one (and frankly I think it has less to do with what Obama wants and more with what is going on at the ground level at DOJ, because he'd be nuts to stick his neck out to cover up an investigation for her sake) I'll still give him credit if his DOJ takes her down. Anything to slow our decline into banana republic, if that's even possible.
Michael and Fredo Corleone come to mind
"So the Donks are going for their own Clown Car?"
I'm surprised at the lack of even medium tier candidates on the Democratic side. It made sense earlier on when Hillary's numbers were a lot stronger, and the idea of crossing someone who plays dirty ball and can (and did) sink a political career or two could scare off a lot of current and former Senators and Governors. But by this summer it was pretty clear she's wounded, and even Sanders--Bernie MF Sanders!--is getting real traction and excitement among the Left. How this isn't making the sharks swarm is beyond me.
Meanwhile, on the other aisle, with 16 candidates declared, Jim Gilmore decided he needed to get a piece of the action.
Major Democratic fundraisers have been invited to meet with Vice President Joe Biden
"... Among the guests invited to the gathering are top bundlers who raised large sums for the Obama-Biden campaigns in 2008 and 2012, according to people familiar with the outreach. The sitdown is scheduled to take place during the week following Labor Day...."
So, insiders know that there is information that will sink Hillary. The calculation is whether the public will ever know. They assumed that such information would never see the light of day. Now, they are thinking it will. So, enter Joe Biden into the race. Then the current administration can just let the information leak out (where's Valerie Jarrett?). The Democratic establishment is now already lined up behind Biden.
King Obama gets to anoint the next nominee. Biden has always been loyal and will remain so as Spielberg defines Obama's legacy.
Biden has NO chance of winning. Deez nuts has a better chance of winning. But, please, add your name to the list Joe.
"Biden has NO chance of winning. Deez nuts has a better chance of winning. But, please, add your name to the list Joe."
Not that I'd want to see a President Biden (though if it were a choice of Prez Hillary or Prez Joe, no question I'd rather Prez Joe), but I would not dismiss his chances too easily. The Dems have the electoral advantage and certain democgraphics nearly sewn up, giving them a strong floor to start from and more paths to victory than the GOP does. Add to that the fact that voters often like divided government and may want a Dem to balance a GOP congress. If the economy isn't completely screwed next year, voters may not react too poorly to Obama's successor. On a personal level, he's gaffe-prone but none of those gaffes seem to have ruined him. He has the "embarrassing uncle" image going for him, and sympathy for having lost his son. He can take credit for things Obama did that are popular with the Left, and distance himself from anything inconvenient to win over the middle.
Going against him is the three term itch, a motivated and possibly pragmatic GOP, and the fact that he isn't a terrific national campaigner. But those problems would dog Hillary as well.
The Cracker Emcee said...
If Obama is serious about Biden's candidacy it means he has such total confidence in the GOTV machine he's built that the Donks could run my neighbor's dog and win. 2012 suggests that this is true.
I'm sure Obama and his crew think this is true but it's pretty clear from the Democrat losses in 2010, 2012, and 2014 at every level below POTUS that Obama's GOTV machine only works for him. Add to that his demonstrated inability to move the public opinion needle on any issue (including Obamacare), the fact that he's the only modern President whose re-election vote total was less than his first election, and the difficulty VPs have ascending to the top spot, and I wouldn't assume Biden will have an easy path.
I flinch when I see the phrase "late campaign start"; it's only "late" because of the insane arrangements we have made for presidential elections. As recently as sixty years ago there was no campaigning at all until the year of the election. Eleven months is certainly enough time to evaluate a dozen or so candidates. How did we get ourselves into this 18 month grind?
The Obamaites do dirty tricks, but that is because it is necessary to fight fire with fire. Their hearts are pure.
They do not think the Clintonistas' hearts are pure, and the Clintons might have ideas of which Obama will not approve.
So, if Hillary! fails to take the hint of the drip-drip about her e-mails, they will soon announce that some IG has requested that DoJ investigate some facet of the Clinton Foundation, and it will be discovered that Hillary! has a medical condition that regrettably will necessitate her withdrawing from the race.
And the party faithful will gather around harmless, if goofy, Joe Biden, who will have an excellent chance of being elected, running against Donald Trump.
"I flinch when I see the phrase "late campaign start"; it's only "late" because of the insane arrangements we have made for presidential elections. As recently as sixty years ago there was no campaigning at all until the year of the election. Eleven months is certainly enough time to evaluate a dozen or so candidates. How did we get ourselves into this 18 month grind?"
Money and media. It's sort of an arms race, no one wants to jump in after other candidates scooped up the best campaign staff, locked up early endorsements and donors, and are running around the country meeting voters and getting their name out. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw campaigning beginning before the previous midterms.
"So, if Hillary! fails to take the hint of the drip-drip about her e-mails, they will soon announce that some IG has requested that DoJ investigate some facet of the Clinton Foundation, and it will be discovered that Hillary! has a medical condition that regrettably will necessitate her withdrawing from the race."
Once they peel back the layer of this shady "foundation" it's going to get real ugly.
The Clintons have a very high tolerance for shameful behavior--it'll take a serious and sustained drop in poll numbers to get them to drop out. I don't think they've ever been shamed out of anything in their entire careers.
That will not be of public shaming; that will be a criminal investigation they will be threatening.
and Mr. Kendall will be allowed a peek at the evidence.
On Joe Biden being the smartest move Obama made: I kind of agree? A lot of people wanted him to pick Hillary Clinton as his VP.
How, exactly, would that have gone over? Internal turf battles, more than there were with his successfully plunking her down at Foggy Bottom and freezing her out. He didn't trust her or like her, so he picked someone fairly malleable, who he could keep in check and, who at worst, might cause the press to roll their eyes and say "Oh, Joe!"
Bill Clinton has been very quiet.
That tells me a lot.
He is disassociating himself from a losing candidate. Hard to do when she's your wife but he has the skills to pull it off.
"That will not be of public shaming; that will be a criminal investigation they will be threatening."
A criminal investigation would be enough to get any normal candidate to drop out. But a Clinton? As long as they have a chance at winning the election, she will campaign from jail.
Try to imagine Bill or Hillary in Nixon's shoes in August 1974. No way they'd ever resign--they'd fight it out and slime everyone they can to make the trouble go away.
I can't blame Obama for passing on Clinton for running mate. A zero campaigner, no electoral help. Also, what better way to be murdered than have your life stand between a Clinton and something that he or she wants?
"On Joe Biden being the smartest move Obama made: I kind of agree? A lot of people wanted him to pick Hillary Clinton as his VP."
It was a good move--Biden played a good second fiddle. Even where he speaks out of turn (e.g., gay marriage) it certainly didn't hurt Obama, and almost makes you think Obama put him up to it as a trial balloon. Plus, Obama was young and inexperienced, and needed someone older and experienced with relationships on Capitol Hill, which Biden had. A few gaffes and Obama ends up looking like the "smart one" of the two. I can't really say he made a mistake with that pick.
Picking Hillary would have been a disaster. It was risky enough making her SoS, but I think that was more to keep her under his wing so she couldn't publicly criticize him or threaten a run in 2012.
"Also, what better way to be murdered than have your life stand between a Clinton and something that he or she wants?"
That too. I wouldn't think it of even the most craven politicians, but I can't be certain that the Clintons would not have had Obama taken out if they could be absolutely certain of it working and never being traced to them.
The Democrats can let Hillary run for now. Next summer, if she looks like a loser, they can swap in Biden, like in that NJ Senate race from some years back.
"like in that NJ Senate race from some years back."
-- I doubt it. States that are purple or red would not stand for that, and states that are blue but with red legislatures/governors might also stop it. Doing that might accidentally cede multiple winnable states solely by the virtue of a Democrat not being on the ballot.
"Run Joe, run, run as fast as you can. I can't run, police holding me hand." 40s calypso pop song lyrics.
@Maybee- I would think that the press is publicizing this is because everyone knows that Biden would have zero chance unless he is seen as Obama's hand picked successor.
It might be also that smoke signals are being out out to the Clintons. Find a way to bow out now before we get the nod from Obama to really air the dirty laundry.
I remember when the GOP list of candidates was getting crowded, "liberals" (and by "liberals" I mean of course "tax-happy, coercion-addicted, power-tripping State fellators") joking about the GOP Clown Car. Talk about clowns: Genius Joe, Nurse Ratched, Liawatha and National Socialist Bernie. Great bunch of candidates you have there, State fellators.
They could swap Hillary out at the convention, if Hillary goes along with it. If she was clearly losing, she might go along. For a price. Maybe Chelsea in as Sec of HSS?
"Maybe Chelsea in as Sec of HSS?"
-- I think Chelsea does not want to be in the public eye; everything she's done has seemed begrudgingly [pseudo anchor, the Clinton foundation].
Obama plugs Biden
"Seems like a no-brainer--if you want to increase your odds against the GOP, go with Biden"
No-brainer..indeed. Tune up the Gaff-O-matic. Actually, I can see Biden tearily invoking his son's supposed request at every turn..attempting to make his age and determination for legacy an asset. Could be a big 'effing deal to some.
Hil won't be going down without a fight, though.
"I'll wipe him off the debate stage just like my server(s)."
Poor "racist" O'Malley (Who?). With summer closing, he will have to go South to flaunt his abs.
Can Bern Trump them all with free stuff?
Being nitpicky:
Although it's been a few years since I've used my amateur radio license, I'm quite sure that 73 is the radio term for "best wishes". 72 has no meaning that I know of in the radio world.
Hillary! looked a lot better before she started campaigning -- "inevitable", in fact. The more the public sees of her, the worse she looks. Biden will be much the same. People keep forgetting what extended exposure to Joe is like. He's run before, if you'll think back. He has the distinction of having made Dukakis look good (in comparison).
Hillary just lost Hollywood and Mo Do is on the case.
“Not since the Vietnam War has there been this level of disappointment in the behavior of America throughout the world, and I don’t think that another incredibly polarizing figure, no matter how smart she is and no matter how ambitious she is — and God knows, is there anybody more ambitious than Hillary Clinton? — can bring the country together.
Of course he thinks the Democrat will win, no matter who.
If he's right we are so screwed.
"Next summer, if she looks like a loser, they can swap in Biden, like in that NJ Senate race from some years back."
There are some thoughts of doing that with Romney. You heard it first here.
"Kick her fat ass, Joe, kick it good!"
I suddenly got this image of "Slow Joe" in a televised debate with Hillary absent-mindedly strolling over and massaging her shoulders the way he has done with recent cabinet nominees wives.
@Hagar has got it right. This email thing is going to EXPLODE if she stays in the race. Obama threw her under the bus, flattened her like a pancake, and then put the bus in reverse and ran over her again, for good measure.
Here's the clip of the presser; pay special attention to Earnest's exchange with Jonathan Karl. The message is clear and unequivocal. Obama is basically saying, "Hillary, you are dead to me." Or, put another way, "Pull out of the race or prepare for the pokey." That's a hell of a lot of leverage. She's a goner.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2015/08/24/earnest_adding_biden_smartest_decision_obama_has_ever_made_in_politics_he_can_mount_a_successful_campaign.html#ooid=9seGg2dzpYv6wX1mqFiilk7qyp-drApw
I suddenly got this image of "Slow Joe" in a televised debate with Hillary absent-mindedly strolling over and massaging her shoulders the way he has done with recent cabinet nominees wives.
Wasn't he handsy with some daughters also?
HRC would swoon, when's the last time a man touched her?
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