October 7, 2015

The idea that Biden shouldn't run because he won't be able to answer the question "Why are you running?"

I think that's the point of this Slate article "Joe Biden’s Big Question/Why are you running?" by John Dickerson. Key paragraph:
But if Joe Biden runs, it will be a character campaign against Hillary Clinton. That doesn’t mean there won’t be specifics discussed about wages and health care and the U.S. role overseas. But at its heart what will have gotten Biden in the race and what will animate it will be character—both his own and the perception that Clinton’s isn’t strong.
And he can't come out and say that — right? — so when he's asked the inevitable question he'll have to use that story about his son's dying wish. But that's not a reason why we should vote for him. And Beau didn't tell him to get out there and destroy Hillary, but only to go ahead and pursue your decades-long dream. And that's not a reason that explains why we should vote for him — because he's always wanted it and his son, who died, backed him up. It has to be that Hillary's no good, and that will have to be his message, the message he won't be able to come out and openly admit. That's what I get from Dickerson's piece, which I read as pressuring Biden not to run.

And yet, I don't think it's obvious that Biden can't put together a campaign that's basically anti-Hillary but manages to keep a veneer of positivity constructed out of the death of Beau.

52 comments:

BN said...

"But that's not a reason why we should vote for him. "

There is no reason for either him or Hillary to run, except bland ambition. Both of them have been wrong on everything their whole lives--but they are so DRIVEN. Vote for me! I really really want it!

The Godfather said...

Let's remember that we're talking about JOE BIDEN.

BN said...

This is our best? What a country!

Tyrone Slothrop said...

Even Democrats will reason that the death of Beau Biden is a pretty thin recommendation for a Commander-in-Chief.

pm317 said...

It has to be that Hillary's no good, and that will have to be his message, the message he won't be able to come out and openly admit.

Are you kidding me? He has already started.

From here

Get ready for a Biden/Warren presidency.

BN said...

But wouldn't it be funny if Biden comes out as blunt as Trump saying, "she's a fat assed bitch wearing Chairman Mao pant suits who laughs like the Wicked Witch Of the East. Who wants to look at that for the next 4-8 years?!?"

BN said...

Pm 317, I think you're right.

BarrySanders20 said...

Biden: "I will steal less shit than Hill and Bill."

pm317 said...

@BN, yeah, this Biden

pm317 said...

OOPs.. what happened to the link?

OK Here it is

pm317 said...

Hillary is toast. You Republicans don't have to worry about her. I hope I am wrong but what Obama wants Obama gets (by hook or crook, mostly crook) and he does not want Hillary. Isn't this clear by now?

Rob C said...

"Bland ambition"

If that's not a typo then it's the best description of the two of them ever.

grimson said...

Joe Biden's continued exploitation of his son's death for political purposes would hardly "keep a veneer of positivity." It would, however, provide a good opportunity for a blunt Trump truth bomb about how reprehensible it is, and irrelevant to the issues facing the country.

rosignol said...

I can't wait.

Oppo researchers- have fun with this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c23RegP8lU

Bill, Republic of Texas said...

If Biden and Hillary fight over the middle left dems, that seems to be an opening for Sanders.

If my FB is any indication, Sanders is starting to get the idolization Obama got.

BN said...

Rob c: please tip the waiters.

M Jordan said...

John Dickerson is a complete hack. He wrote that Democrats, after the Obama win, should destroy the Republican Party. He's Shawn Hannity on the left ... except he gets hired at CBS News.

I hate the media.

BN said...

Bill in the great state/republic of Texas: I don't know anybody who voted for Nixon either.

William said...

I'm about Joe Biden's age. If I were given a choice between world domination and taking my afternoon nap, I would opt for the afternoon nap. Not even close. He does look fitter and peppier than Hillary though. He probably takes an afternoon nap before making any appearances. You can do that when you're veep. I wouldn't rule out that his fit appearance has something to do with spandex undergarments......If he chooses Warrn as his VP, his age won't be a factor. The Dems would take cognizance of actuarial tables and his family history and shrug que sera sera........He can run for the continuation and validation of Obama's policies. "Much has been done. Much needs to be done." Many here are barfing, but note that Obama won reelection.

Bay Area Guy said...

Biden & Hillary agree on 98% of the issues. The only question for the Left is who can win? If Hillary weren't tanking in the polls, nobody would give a hoot about Biden.

chickelit said...

Althouse wrote a silly double negative: And yet, I don't think it's obvious that Biden can't put together a campaign that's basically anti-Hillary but manages to keep a veneer of positivity constructed out of the death of Beau.

Translation: And yet, I do think it's obvious that Biden can put together a campaign that's basically anti-Hillary but manages to keep a veneer of positivity constructed out of the death of Beau. Call it the the "beaumort" raison d'etre.

traditionalguy said...

We need to find the Beau speech he is plagiarizing this time. An old Norwegian named Knute used it in a movie about Notre Dame, so it's fair Catholic use.

BN said...

"...note that Obama won reelection."

Yup. We're just waiting to splatter on the pavement below. How long do you suppose it will take? I hope it makes pretty art, at least. Pollack, eh, perfesser?

BN said...

The Republicans go after each other cut throat style. The dems just care who can lie the best and get elected. And then pen and phone and Supreme Court their agenda. Democracy schemocracy, eh?

Lewis Wetzel said...

maybe Joe can explain how his foreign policy record is better than Hillary's? Oh, wait, he can't. It's been the Democrat line, as it was when Hillary was in office and SOS.
He can always talk about growing up on the mean streets of Scranton.
Until he was eleven and his Dad moved him to a better neighborhood in Delaware.
Maybe he can tell people about his sky-high IQ?
They don't call him "slow Joe" for nothing.
But he does know how to pander. Every group that hands him money or votes is God's gift to America.

BN said...

Terry, but can he lie while smiling? Why, yes, yes he can. That's all that matters.

BN said...

Ok, sorry, I've become the drunk heckler...

Gonna take a potty break.

BN said...

I always try to figure out the theme for the day. Today it's dicks, right?

rcommal said...

Biden did commute back and forth, forth and back, between DE and DC, in order to be with his young sons, way back in the day. At *that* time, that was a big deal, as well it was and so it ought be.

---

The whole current "dying-wish" thing doesn't impress me, at all, and nor should it.

---

Just sayin'.

Mountain Maven said...

Joe will beat Clinton in a rout, if she's not forced to withdraw. 2 of the worst major candidates for president in a long time. Wait, check that, John McCain.

Smilin' Jack said...

And he can't come out and say that — right? — so when he's asked the inevitable question he'll have to use that story about his son's dying wish. But that's not a reason why we should vote for him.

Absolutely. Chelsea's dying wish, when it comes, would surely cancel it out.

rcommal said...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLOjhqvvBwk

Annie said...

Why is Hillary running? Has she answered that question?

Lewis Wetzel said...

Bernie Sanders is running so he can rehabilitate the reputation of Joe Stalin.

Bruce Hayden said...

I am still trying to figure out how Hillary! could answer this any better. As was pointed out above, it is all just blind ambition, and I think hers is greater than his. About all she could hustle say is that she needs the Presidency in order for her family to make anther $100 million or so, finally allowing them to get out of the grinding poverty that they have had to endure. And, maybe for her family to catch up with Bill's VP (AlGore) in terms of net worth. Think about it - Bill and Gore became unemployed at the same time, almost 15 years ago, and Gore seems to have done better, financially. How embarrassing.

Lewis Wetzel said...

Biden: How much can you donate?
Bad person: A half a million. Maybe a little more.
Biden: And you are?
Bad person: Child molesters of America.
Biden: Really? You're kidding, right?
Bad person: Nope.
Biden: Can ya'--can ya' change the name? "Mentors of America", maybe?
Bad person: Nope.
Biden: Well, I'm going to have you talk to my campaign manager. You people are God's gift to America!
Bad person: To the youth of America! God bless you too, Joe!

Chris N said...

President Biden...President Biden....any comments on what the Speaker Of the House said today about your hair, sir?

'You know what? Just before Beau died, he looked ol' Grampy in the eyes, here, with those eep blue soulful eyes, and he said: Make sure a good working Union man has a place to socialize after a long day in the mines, Dad'

*brief pause*

With that I direct you to Elizabeth's plan to give economic relief and free credit reporting to not just African American employees, but all employees, men, women, and transgender, black, brown, Muslim and Mexican, on the public transportation project to the Moon'

CStanley said...

It's quaint that they still pretend that he'd have to have a reason, and a narrative to sell to the public, when it's really just a matter of Obama deciding who he's going to support to take out Hillary.

Michael K said...

"If my FB is any indication, Sanders is starting to get the idolization Obama got."

That's OK with me. Sanders can't win the general, even against the worst the GOP puts up. Not even this country is that crazy.

Oh wait...

Bob R said...

Good pay. Great benefits. Indoor work. No heavy lifting. Easy question to answer.

traditionalguy said...

The issue for Socialism is hope that we the jobless can live in comfort. That is a goal that requires three be a labor force that works nearly free, which is slavery as the grand old Empire of Rome did it.

phantommut said...

Let's give the most powerful office on earth to a guy because his son died young.

Yeah, that works.

rhhardin said...

And yet, I don't think it's obvious that Biden can't put together a campaign that's basically anti-Hillary but manages to keep a veneer of positivity constructed out of the death of Beau.

I hesitate to say that I don't disagree with you.

dbp said...

The thing about Biden and IMO the reason he will beat Hillary, is not any kind of difference in policy. Hillary is a damaged brand, even Democrats think she is a crook--not that Biden isn't, it is just not so blindingly blatant.

I think even leftists would admit that it is corrosive to the republic to put someone in office that 2/3 of the public thinks is a liar. They could do it, but why? Here is a guy with the same center-left ideology and people like him.

Tank said...

Annie said...

Why is Hillary running? Has she answered that question?


Well, she's sold the goods, got paid, now she has to deliver.

Roger Sweeny said...

"Because we need a Democrat in the White House and Hillary can't win."

285exp said...

Biden told MoDo that Beau wanted him to run so the White House wouldn't revert to the Clintons and that the country would be better off with Biden values. If he runs and uses Beau's dying wish as his motivation then his campaign is based on questioning her character.

Larry J said...

There's a reason why Obama choose Biden to be his VP. The three words "President Joe Biden" strike mortal terror in any thinking human being. Biden makes for very good impeachment/assassination insurance. The left liked to ridicule George W. Bush as being ignorant, but compared to Slow Joe Biden, W is a freaking genius.

mtrobertslaw said...

All Obama has to do is authorize the Justice Dept. to serve a criminal complaint on Hillary alleging criminal acts involving her email mess. Instantly, Hillary turns into burnt toast. And Biden has the field all to himself.

Aww, but Obama would never do anything like that. Would he??

Rick said...

And he can't come out and say that — right?

Why not?

"Democrats have expressed that they want a candidate more interested serving their interests and I have that track record".

Sure it's a shot, but that's what it takes to win. Do you think he believes Hillary's oppo-dump threat was any different?

Michael said...

Has Hillary ever credibly answered the question: why are you running?

John Althouse Cohen said...

Has Hillary ever credibly answered the question: why are you running?

Her answer is: "I'm running to be the champion for Americans and their families, so that we can not just worry about treading water, but you can get ahead and you can stay ahead."

I'm sure Biden and his staff can write an answer at least as convincing as that. He's not a rookie — he was a Senator for decades, ran for president twice, and has been vice president for almost a full two terms. There's no way he's going to say that the reason he's running is that he noticed Hillary Clinton's poll numbers have been dropping, she's become surprisingly vulnerable, and none of the other candidates are viable. Reporters will keep pressing him on this, but he'll keep his answer positive — focused on his experience, policies, and principles. People think of Biden as a bumbling gaffe machine, but they forget that he was outstanding in the 2008 primary debates. He's going to anticipate the "Why are you running?" question, and he'll have an answer that sounds good. So I don't think this one question is going to hold him back from running.