Why Replacing Biden With Hillary Makes Perfect Sense for Obama
Sen. Joe Biden's a perfectly appropriate vice presidential running-mate for Sen. Barack Obama. He's got 36 years of Senate experience, is a true intellect, a foreign policy expert, and a genuinely nice guy. But ever since Sen. John McCain added plucky Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to his ticket, the old adage nice guys finish last is beginning to take on new meaning in this year's presidential contest. It's time to dump Biden and replace him with Sen. Hillary Clinton. I don't care how it's done. Campaign chief David Axelrod can figure that out. And the sooner the better. Because I'm starting to think that if Team-Obama doesn't do something dramatic fast, it's gonna lose this election. There's a worrisome shift in momentum and in the polls. The Palin phenomenon, while truly unfathomable to Democrats, has energized McCain's campaign and allowed him like Houdini to snatch Obama's "change" theme right out from under him. It's time to snatch it back.
Conventional wisdom says replacing Biden with Clinton can't be done. That it's too late. That it'll make Obama appear indecisive, impulsive and lacking good judgement. Many Democrats believe this would cause irreparable harm to the campaign, ringing Obama's death knell. But this couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, it'd be a freakin' coup for Obama, and would instantly melt Palin's undeserving outsize political ice cap.
To be sure, a Biden-Clinton switch would cause quite a stir in the media. They'd accuse him of all sorts of things, from being politically expedient and flip-flopping to being irrational and ill-equipped to be president. The talking heads on CNN, Fox and MSNBC would be locked in a non-stop frenzied orgy of derisive rhetoric. But we also know that it would make about 18-million Hillary voters ecstatic at the same time. So, honestly, who really cares what Joe Scarborough, Keith Olbermann, Wolf Blitzer or Brit Hume thinks? These pundits don't constitute an appreciable voting block. What they think and feel would be utterly dwarfed by the euphoria from Clinton's faithful supporters. It's a pretty safe bet that an Obama/Clinton ticket would capture virtually all of these loyal Clintonistas. It's also a safe bet that many of those highly coveted 18-49-year-old women who polls show migrated to McPalin this past week would drop the spunky little hockey mom in a heartbeat for Hillary. Lastly, it's an even safer bet that Obama's current voters would stick with him as well. So, where's the downside? Show me a Democrat, today, who'd dump Obama for McCain if Biden was replaced with Clinton? They don't exist.
Obama should do what the Republicans would do in this situation. In fact, he should do exactly what his opponent did. Shake things up. Be unconventional. Roll the dice. Out-McCain McCain. Who cares how it looks. Who cares what the media thinks. One thing's certain: there's an 18-million deep pot of gold out there waiting to be mined. An Obama/Clinton ticket would slam the door shut on this election.
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I'm sorry but thank God Obama did not have you as an adviser. Dear lord that would have been a stupid move. Now I'm not saying that Hillary wouldn't have been a good choice to begin with. I would have been happy had he chosen her. I also have no problem with Biden, I think he's an incredibly intelligent man who would do wonders for foreign policy and would be great as an adviser of sorts. If I had to choose between the two in the abstract I really don't know. But had Obama dumped Biden this entire election would be over. Palin and McCain were both hammering him on the fact that Hillary got so many primary votes yet she isn't on the ticket. They were baiting him and somehow you were foolish enough to fall for it. Obama already had a slight reputation of flip-flopping, of changing his mind on things. Finally, finally that tag has been transfered to McCain but you wanted to resurrect it for Obama? I mean my God it would be bad enough to prove Guiliani's convention speech joke correct ("I hope for his sake Biden got that VP thing in writing), but for the rest of the election everyone would talk about how Obama doesn't know what he's doing, he's flaky, young, inexperienced, he's unpredictable,etc. Once he made the pick that was it and it would be political suicide to do anything different.
I don't want to see Hillary Clinton as the Vice President. I want to see her on the Supreme Court. You should, too.
Two weeks later...y'all look pretty silly. The Palin bubble has burst and the Obama-Biden train is picking up steam http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/ The 'Clintonistas' have out-triangulated themselves. They are now without a candidate and irrelevant. This sort of political maneuvering is exactly why Clinton lost and yet you offer the same failed advice to Obama? Some people might think you want Obama to lose.
wonder what people think now that things have changed, like the people are awake now and seeing this election from a issue standpoint rather than a lipstick one
Ol' Joe needs to take one for the team, declare a medical emergeny, something just bad enough to bounce him off the tricket, but not out of the Senate and allow Hiliary to step up and push us over the top. This is too close to take chances. Inside word is Joe is out by 5 Oct.
So, do tell...why on earth would you want Biden in the senate?
That's exactly what Obama's campaign needs at this point. He should have done that in the first place, and if he had, he wouldn't be running neck and neck with McCain. His team totally discounted all those Clinton supporters like myself who Obama STILL hasn't won over. I saw Obama on 60 Minutes and he looked tired and beat and if he's tired now, then what is he going to be like 6 months into the Presidency. His campaign has lost considerable steam and this choice is an excellent one given what has transpired in the last week in the economy. We need someone who we can trust and who understands the enormous problems facing our country. She would give his campaign that trust and the boost that it so desperately needs right now. I wouldn't worry about what it looks like, they'll just spin it anyway.
I'd be ok with that if Bill Clinton would just SHUT UP>
He is the reason that Hil's not on the ticket. Geesh.
And Biden cant seem to stay on track, as we feared. I like Joe as our reps go, but
we DO need to win this thing.
Palins momentum has definitely deflated. But why take a chance?
Rumors are starting to float and some bloggers are claiming inside info from DNC that Hillary WILL replace biden. That Biden will drop oput just before VP debates siting health isues.
Hillary as Senate Majority Leader...perfect...there's also Attorney General, Secretary of State, you never know...she looked very happy at that convention...and Bill even looked relaxed.
Seriously, Biden is a fantastic choice...this man has done a lot of good...
Try: http://www.myspace.com/wakeupnowpeople
Six days later, and this post seems like one of more bizarre ever to appear on this site. Notice, we have no follow up,now that the polls are back to where they were when the conventions started, with even a slight edge to obama, but for a few minor, and shrinking exceptions.
I know right? It's so weird to still see this story on Joe Biden's page.
This is all part of the media-created and driven national myth of epic proportions about Senator Biden that only give more proof to the ineptitude and incompetence that continue to run rampant through the blogosphere (this site excepted, of course...) and media that, unfortunately, seem to be so easily taken up - hook, line and sinker - by a majority of the electorate.
Do you guys have any suggestions as to what we can do about that - the future and security of America rests in the balance, for God's sake!
Today they reported that Bill was praising Palin "as having natural ability" and saying McCain is a "great man" and oh yeah... Obama will win because he is using Hilary's very detailed plan --still think this would be a good idea??
Andy - LIVE IN THE NOW!!
This is the second article I've seen that has this ridiculous premise - GIVE IT UP!! Obama and Biden are going to mop up during the debates --haven't you been listening to McCain and Palin speak?? Every time they open their mouths --another ridiculous LIE or GAFFE comes popping out! Their lack of intelligence and qualifications should move people to make the right choice in the end.
Also, several polls already show that Palin brought white conservative MEN to the GOP --not Hilary supporters. White women have been moving to the Obama camp in droves. Obama currently leads with women voters 54% to 38% (CBS poll) And I'm sure the more women are informed of the extreme positions that Palin and McCain represent --they will continue to move to Obama. I actually cannot understand ANY woman who would support a ticket that has such a cruel stance toward women who've been raped or are victims of incest, not to mention that they are against equal pay for women and sex education. So, get a clue --and get behind Obama!!
You're right. I am sitting in the undecided column. I would move out of that undecided column immediately into support for an Obama/Clinton ticket.
What a shame Obama was too arrogant to set aside his feelings for the good of the party. It's too late. Once again, an election that should have been a cake walk is another opportunity for the Democratic ticket to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
If you are still undecided, you have no idea what your own political beliefs are. It's just that simple.
And, for the record, if Biden gets dropped now, I will vote third party (not that any of this would happen anyway, but there are just as many of us Obama could LOSE with such a foolish move as there might be "still undecideds" he could win - and I"m one he could lose).
Aldyth, like Ostroy is another sock puppet for McCain. No rational liberal could utter such nitwittery. Either that, or she's the deluded racist who still can't come to grips with her demons (in public).
We need to get past these people and take this country back, so thinking people can breath again without wondering what the weather is like in Toronto.
What a shame Bill Clinton is still too arrogant to acknowledge that Hilary LOST due to their own mistakes during the primaries! Interesting you question Obama's character - but don't have any expectations whatsoever for Bill and Hilary! I was a strong Clinton supporter until I saw their actions on the campaign trail. Bill, as of YESTERDAY, appeared on the View seemingly praising McCain and Palin and throwing lukewarm support to Obama. Talk about a SORE LOSER! I have lost all respect for Bill. He needs to think about the COUNTRY and stop thinking about HIMSELF! Is he a DEMOCRAT? or a CLINTON-O-CRAT?? This is not just any election year. This is a pivotal election that could SINK us as a country. Our country cannot take another 4 years of McBush and company. Think about that when you cast your vote!
I'm sorry, this argument is just stupid on it's face. The Re:pube trolls were out in force two weeks ago attempting to stir sh*t saying practically the same thing: "C|inton will replace Bid3n on the ticket". And almost no one rose to the bait.
It's ridiculous to claim all 18 million of those votes came from hardcore Hi||ary supporters. Most have long since thrown their support behind the Dem ticket. And any voter who has been convinced to vote M(Cain by the shiny object that is Pa|in would not vote O regardless.
Dumping Bid3n for Hi||ary would set loose a media firestorm that would NOT subside before Nov 4 and would drown out any other topic. I can't believe anyone but a dittohead and a "moran" would think this is a good idea.
I'll say it again; Selecting Sen.Hillary Clinton now would unleash a wrath of Media-Negativity, that Sen.Obama would have to ride until Election Day!
Which would be just like the amount of Media coverage for/of Sports Fans that were sitting in a Stadium watching a Baseball game, then a Tsunami effected that nice picture! The Media would be on the negative aspects of that type of situation/story for Months.
Which is something Sen.Barack Obama & The Democrats don't need by changing His Vice-Presidential pick to Sen.Hillary Clinton at this time or down the line.
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