There are people whose sensibilities keep getting out of joint when Hillary's name is mentioned as a replacement for Biden on the ticket in 2012. They tend to think of it as purely a fantasy of Hillary supporters and an insult to Obama. A recent opinion piece in The Washington Post suggested that people "put down the Obama-Clinton crack pipe." I don't think the discussion or idea is equivalent to smoking a crack-pipe, but then I don't know exactly what that means since I have never smoked one. I do believe it is more a strong desire to see the Democratic Party do everything possible to ensure that President Obama is reelected to a second term.
I am a strong and unequivocal supporter of the Obama/Biden ticket for reelection. In the interest of full disclosure I was a supporter of Hillary's before I endorsed Obama in 2008, but this year I have contributed to the Obama/Biden campaign and have connected the campaign with individuals that resulted in a big fundraiser.
Every Democrat should be working to see that as the campaign moves into full swing -- that the closer to the nominating convention we come -- the Obama/Biden ticket will be way ahead of what I assume will be a Romney/somebody ticket. I think that will be the case because the president will have made his case for a second term to the American people in a clear and strong voice. I once heard the president respond to someone who questioned the strategy of his reelection campaign by saying, "You forget, a little more than six years ago I was an Illinois state senator and today I am the President, I am a pretty good campaigner." That is absolutely true and I believe the Obama/Biden ticket will win based on both his campaigning ability and on what they have accomplished in his first term. Barack Obama came into office facing the worst economic crisis the world has seen since the Great Depression and the United States was fighting two wars. Since Jan. 20, 2009 he has made great strides in all areas, and we are seeing the results and the U.S. economy is on the road to recovery. He has kept his promise to bring the troops home from Iraq and is working hard to end the war in Afghanistan. Since January 2011, he has had to fight an intransigent do-nothing Congress whose Republican leaders would rather see the country slide back down into the abyss than give the president any new chance to claim success.
There have been complaints that the left wing of the party is too strident and too tough on the president -- that the calls from the base (women, Latinos, African Americans, unions and the LGBT community) that more should be done are too loud. But, this is something that every Democrat president in recent times has had to deal with. An example would be the LGBT community, while recognizing how far it has come in this administration including the signature accomplishments of passing the Matthew Shepard Act and the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, is still pushing the president for more and asking him among other things to fight harder for ENDA and to fully 'evolve' with regard to marriage-equality. No community should be expected to just sit back and be satisfied when they don't have full civil and human rights. There is the recognition in the groups that make up the Democrat base, such as unions, that if they don't continue to push and keep the pressure on that we will backslide and face policies like those of Governors' Scott Walker in Wisconsin or Rick Scott in Florida.
But that continued pressure doesn't mean the base won't be out in full-force campaigning their hearts out to reelect the Obama/Biden team.
There is, among the party faithful, the knowledge of the reality that in today's acrimonious climate, elections are often won and lost depending on who can get the biggest turnout possible from their base and then bring the most Independent voters into the fold. That is why one hears the continued chatter about replacing Joe Biden with Hillary Clinton on the ticket.
It isn't only die-hard Clinton supporters and it isn't a matter of not liking or respecting Joe Biden. But rather it is recognizing the outside possibility that there could be a need to create more excitement around the ticket if it isn't ahead in the polls and on a track to victory as the convention approaches. Even those who don't want this kind of discussion to continue must understand the kind of excitement that would be created by putting Hillary on the ticket would be like nothing we have seen in years. No one should ever forget that Hillary got 18 million votes in the primaries and since then her polling has only gone up. One person recently said, "Just imagine the excitement if the 'four shot' at the convention; the raising of hands after the President's acceptance speech, would be Michelle, the President, Hillary and Bill."
I for one want to see the president win reelection with Joe Biden as his running mate and truly believe that Hillary Clinton does as well. I think Biden has been a great vice president and a true partner with Obama and deserves to be on the ticket. But the bottom line is wanting the party to do whatever is necessary to ensure that Barack Obama is president for the next four years. The United States and the world are facing critical decisions and continued turbulent times. This election will help determine our destiny and we need President Obama there for another four years.
Out of deference to the Clintons, to keep Bill in check internationally, and to discourage them as political critics, President Obama gave Hillary an appointment as Secretary of State. Both Bill and Obama have now paid their debts to Hillary Clinton.
Who among other women leaders should we be discussing as possible presidential candidates in 2016? What can President Obama and VP Biden do in their second term to encourage them and help them further prepare and gain visibility?
I do not believe it would be wise to distract a tough re-election campaign by inserting all the Clinton controversy. He would also not be wise to try and "back door" Hillary into the presidency, but giving her the Vice Presidential slot. Hillary ran for president, lacked qualfication, could not lead a successful campaign, and the nation said "no thank you."
In the interest of electing woman as president, isn't it time to look beyond Hillary for 2016, identify the most promising female leaders, and encourage,support and promote someone who could unify Democrats and progressives?
If I don't have full rights, why should I pay full taxes?
First, Biden is the best person we have to be our VP, and second, Biden is already doing both jobs, VP and SoS extremely well. Biden has also handled everything Obama throws at him without blinking.
Enough of this. Joe Biden's accomplishments and position in the administration has never received the respect and acknowledgment from MSM and the likes of you, yet President Obama trusts him with highest level tasks and program leadership. He works hard and well under the radar.
There is no special role switch that will win this election for Obama. It will simply take hard work on the parts of Obama-Biden and their thousands of supporters...of which I am one. Stop the fantasies; We get boots on the ground and hands dirty...that wins elections.
President Obama would not be wise to put the Clintons and all their personal, financial, and political baggage on the Democratic ticket in a tough election year. She would alienate more voters than she would bring. Obama-Biden is a strong ticket.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-d-rosenstein/hillary-for-vp_b_980080.html
Hillary had her opportunity and could not lead a successful presidential campaign. It collapsed with staff and consultant end fighting and deep debt, even with an infusion of $13 million for the Clintons' private fortune. Asking President Obama to carry Hillary (and Bill) and the enormous weight of their corporate, financial and personal baggage, their egos and distraction into a challenging election campaign seems unwise.
For those who believe that giving Hillary the Vice Presidency in 2012 will assure her election as president in 2016, it is important to think again. Young voters increasingly essential are also increasingly aware of the financial burdens being left to them by Baby Boomers, including the economic collapse fueled by Bill Clinton and the GOP repealing Glass-Stegall economic protections. It seems highly improbable that in 5 years they will be eager to elect as president any Septugenarian Baby Boomer, particularly one named Clinton.
It is a compelling need to finally elect the first U.S. president who is a woman, ideally on merit, and not "entitlement." Hillary had her chance.
Who are the upcoming female leaders who deserve the spotlight, encoragement and promotion to become the Democratic nominee in 2016?
Hillay's failure to win the nomination was based on her lack of capacity as a leader. Her campaign failed to deliver a coherent, compelling message, and ended with bitter conflict among staff and advisors, and in deep debt, despite a $13 million infusion from the Clintons' large, recently acquired (wink wink) personal fortune.
Beyond that, it is a simpe fact that neither the nomination of presidential candidates nor the election of the president is not decided on popular vote -- based party rules and the Constitution respectively. The Cintons didn't complain about the process when it nominated Bill twice (the first time without a majority of the popular vote), only when it Hillary could not devise and lead a successful campaign.
Hillary had her chance and she technically got it, but of course the DNC disenfranchised Florida and Michigan. Resulting in her losing the nomination considering super delegates flocked to Obama. Hillary Clinton did an HONORABLE thing by not taking this case to court. She had a POWERFUL case and she could have fought this tooth and nail, but for the good of the party she conceded and let Obama begin the general election.
I am sick of people making claims that this idea is ridiculous and asking for the idea to be stomped. The 18 million people who voted for Hillary were angry and many are still angry. Her grassroots worked night and day. Trust me when you work for your candidate for months and months and they lose despite receiving the popular vote, it is unsettling. It made me question our democracy.
To be correct Hillary and Bill not once have mentioned her being on the ticket. It is her supporters who happen to be apart of the democrat party and voted for Obama in 2012. He does not owe anything to Hillary, but he owes something to the people who are making the request. The voters.... who voted for Hillary Clinton in 2008, which without, Obama would be nothing.
Do the votes counts include only primaries and ignore caucuses?
With regard to Michigan and Florida, those states violated Democratic rules by scheduling early primaries. The controversy was also fueled by Hillary reneging on a pledge by all the candidates not to campaign there, an issue of integrity.
Was Hillary surprised by the fact that the Democratic nomination is not based on popular vote, but delegates to the convention, including super delegates? Did she understand that the president is elected not on popular vote but by the proportionate Electoral College?
A campaign is not just about politics, it is a test of vision, values and LEADERSHIP. Obama’s win was a triumph of strategy investing resources in both primary and caucus states with an eye to winning delegates. In comparison, Hillary’s “strategy” concentrated resources on large, primary states, de-deemphasizing smaller and caucus states.
It is also important to note that the 18 million votes Hillary won is far less than the 61 million that elected Obama president. By the way they conducted themselves in the 2008 election, the Clintons alienated many Democrats, progressives and independents. In fact, a majority of Americans did not view Hillary as honest or trustworthy. GALLUP: Percentage saying that the candidate was NOT honest or trustworthy: Hillary Clinton (53%), Obama (29%), McCain (27%). http://www.gallup.com/poll/105097/perceived-honesty-gap-clinton-versus-obama-mccain.aspx
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Americans like loyalty, and that would look disloyal, and frankly like it's just pure pandering.
It would look like Something Was Going On in the White House that meant Biden had to go, which would be great campaign fodder for the Republicans.
I do not think that this duo will stand a chance in the next election. Just look how Mr Biden handled and still handles the Iraq Case. Let us hope and I do not think the Americans are that naïve to reelect Mr Biden to a second term.
Biden cannot even see that Mr Maliki is a dictator and he has been down to Iraq 10 times and still achieved nothing.
As for Hillary, she will not seek a new office even if Obama gets reelected as she has declared at least you should know this.