Will President Obama Pick Hillary Clinton as His VP Running Mate?

Politics US Politics
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This May 25, 2012 article from the Huffington Post is a bit dated and contains references to a likely Supreme Court repeal of ObamaCare (the author was thankfully wrong), but otherwise contains several good reasons for President Obama to pick Hillary Clinton as his running mate. Do you think it’s a good idea? Do you think it’s likely? Note that Secretary Clinton has repeatedly denied it will happen, though that doesn’t mean much.

[quote=“Arthur Bruzzone, of the Huffington Post”]Let me be clear, there will be no change to the 2012 Obama-Biden ticket unless polls in July show that the president has lost significant strength in 13 swing states.

Those swing states are Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin – all considered too close to call for the November election. (Several the above states are not listed as “toss ups” at the Huffington Post 2012 Dashboard, including Pennsylvania and New Hampshire.)

Obama has already lost strength in one key swing state – Florida. A recent Quinnipiac University poll released showed Romney now besting Obama 47 percent to 41 percent among likely Florida voters.

So it’s time to ask why would President Obama ask Hillary Clinton to be his vice presidential running mate, and transfer Joe Biden to Secretary of State. I suggest 10 reasons:

  1. “The Agony of Defeat.” Barack Obama won’t accept being the first African American to win the presidency and to lose re-election. He’s a cautious and deliberate political practitioner. While a risk taker, he won’t risk a loss in November. It’s out of the question. Hillary Clinton’s stratospheric favorability ratings (65 percent versus Joe Biden’s 41 percent) and her core following guarantees an emboldened campaign, unlimited funds, an army of volunteers, and in Obama’s mind, an insured victory.

  2. “War on Women II.” The carefully choreographed “War on Women” that hovered over the GOP primary season can be brought back in full force. In April, Obama held a 49 percent share among women, with Romney at 43 percent. The latest CBS/New York Times poll shows Romney leads with 46 percent, and Obama trailing at 44 percent. Hillary Clinton restores Obama’s core constituency and enables a renewed negative campaign against Romney focused on women’s issues.

  3. “Occupy Supreme Court.” With the likely rebuke by the Supreme Court of Obamacare, and dozens of other key decisions that have enraged Obama and the Democrats, the President wants control of the Supreme Court. One more justice with the ideological slant of Justices Sotomayor and Kagan, and Obama will move the Court for a generation to his side on prime social issues. By setting the stage for Hillary Clinton’s presumed run for the presidency in 2016, he increases the odds that, together, they’ll determine the next two to three Supreme Court justices.

  4. “Progressive Succession – Pass the Baton.” In the later part of the last century the “feminist revolution” followed the rise of “Black Power.” Obama understands history. It would be appropriate that the first black president would create the political environment for the first woman president in U.S. history – a natural historical succession.

  5. “Memories, Previous Prosperity.” Hillary Clinton would provide the incumbent president cover for a sluggish, lethargic economy and monstrous deficits. Former President Bill Clinton is associated with several years of a booming economy and, several balanced budgets that yielded surpluses.

  6. “Divert Attention Overseas.” President Obama’s war on terrorists has been robust and relentless. Drones patrol over Asia and Africa. He ‘terminated’ Osama Bin Laden. He withdrew U.S. combat troops from Iraq. Unlike the economy, he knows these are his tangible victories. She has served as his Secretary of State, and symbolizes his overseas achievements.

  7. “Wag the Tail 2012.” We should expect an international crisis or two before Election Day. It could be Israel taking threatening military steps against Iran. Having the former Secretary of State as a running mate would ease the stress of a worried electorate. Especially if Mitt Romney chooses a vice presidential candidate with strong fiscal credentials and little foreign policy experience.

  8. “Trending, Women Presidents.” Obama wants to be on the side of history, part of his legacy. There’s a worldwide phenomena of women winning national leadership – in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Europe. Women hold top leadership positions in Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, India, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, and Thailand. Hillary Clinton would be America’s first woman vice president.

  9. “Rock Star Ticket.” With her loyal following, high favorability ratings, and a former president husband stumping on the campaign trail, the media would devour the dream ticket for the final three months remaining in the 2012 presidential campaign. Matched with negative ads against the GOP ticket, an Obama-Clinton ticket would dominate the media. The vice presidential debate would be as anticipated as the first Obama-Romney televised debate. Romney’s would be media challenged.

  10. “Lame Duck Legacy”. Finally, if he wins, Barack Obama’s inauguration will be his last. He’s a lame duck president almost immediately. But the programs and policies he’s instituted in his first term – especially health care reform, even if rejected by the Supreme Court – will survive if he empowers his successor. It won’t be ‘four more years’. It could be 12 more years, if Hillary Clinton manages to win two terms as president. That’s domination, and that’s legacy.

So, the scenario is set. President Obama will avoid replacing his vice president at all costs. If he must, he’ll spin it as an appropriate switch, giving Joe Biden a post he’s always wanted, and rewarding Hillary Clinton for service as Secretary of State. [/quote]

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Doubt it. She and Bill said some pretty harsh things against Obama (and he, her) during the primaries period of the last election. Romney (or his surrogates) have already aired snippets of her old commercials attacking Obama.

Is Biden stepping down?

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Do you think America is ready for a woman in such a powerful position?

Maybe in 2032. :neutral:

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Hillary is not even trying to look glamorous anymore. I think she will retire and write a book or two.

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:hand: They always let themselves go once they become Secretary of State.

Remember Madeleine Albright? Or Martin Van Buren? :noway:

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Dr. Rice and Colin Powell always looked great.

7

Will Rmoney pick Palin? Or maybe Bachmann?

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We can only pray…well, in our godless liberal kind of way.

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[quote=“Mucha Man”]

We can only pray…well, in our godless liberal kind of way.[/quote]

Be careful what you pray for!

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And hopefully they will again, soon.

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We can only pray…well, in our godless liberal kind of way.[/quote]

McCain said that the reason he choose Palin was because she was a better candidate than Romney.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

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That would seem like a desperation move. Hillary is an easy target for Republicans, and anyway I’m not sure Obama really wants her that close. As Secretary of State she had a prestigious position that kept her busy running around the world doing stuff Obama doesn’t want to do. As V.P. she’d have a prestigious position that involves sitting up the street with not a lot to do. Obama may view that as risky, even if this is the last time he’ll have to worry about election.

As for Hillary, I have a hard time seeing her want on a job like V.P. A Secretary of State has ample opportunity to build a legacy worldwide, and do some meaningful work along the way. A V.P. has ample opportunity to be the butt of a lot of bad jokes, and in return gets maybe enough recognition to make a serious run at the Presidency. Hillary doesn’t need such recognition, and I can’t see her wanting the role of laughingstock in chief.

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If Obama was going to pick Hillary as his VP running mate, he should have done it in the last election. Yes, I know that Hillary said some bad things about him, but an emotionally mature adult would see that as “just politics” and rise above it. Instead Obama picked Biden, and for me (and many others, I think) it was like “Who the Hell is Biden?”

At this point I see Hillary as a spent force. She’d be wasting her time as VP - I can’t see it as a stepping stone to the presidency in 2016. But who knows? Politicians astound me with their stupidity. Hillary’s ego may demand that she run.

And despite what some say, I don’t see Obama as a sure winner in this year’s election. If the Republicans are dumb enough to choose Romney (they are) then it will be a close race. If the Republicans could ever find it in themselves to choose an honest candidate (I won’t hold my breath) they could walk away with the election, because quite frankly about half the Democrats see Obama as a total corporate sell-out and will refrain from voting this November.

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:bravo: :pray: :thumbsup:

Awesome! That makes me so happy to hear. By all means liberals, please stay home and iron Che Guevara t-shirts or something. :smiley:

Obama can’t kick Joe Biden out without admitting he made a mistake. And putting ol’ Joe even more in the national spotlight was one of the few good things Obama did. If I could buy any Democrat a beer, it would be Biden. That guy’s a hoot.

[quote]“His mom lived in Long Island for ten years or so. God rest her soul. And- although, she’s- wait- your mom’s still- your mom’s still alive. Your dad passed. God bless her soul.” --Joe Biden, on the mother of Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen, who is very much alive, Washington, D.C., March 17, 2010

“I wouldn’t go anywhere in confined places now. … When one person sneezes it goes all the way through the aircraft. That’s me. I would not be, at this point, if they had another way of transportation, suggesting they ride the subway.” --Joe Biden, providing handy tips to protect against the swine flu and freaking us out, “Today Show” interview, April 30, 2009

“An hour late, oh give me a f**king break.” –Joe Biden, caught on a live mic speaking to a former Senate colleague after arriving on Amtrak at Union Station in Washington, D.C., March 13, 2009 (Watch video clip)

“You know, I’m embarrassed. Do you know the Web site number? I should have it in front of me and I don’t. I’m actually embarrassed.” –Joe Biden, speaking to an aide standing out of view during an interview on CBS’ “Early Show,” in the midst of encouraging viewers to visit a government-run Web site that tracks stimulus spending, Feb. 25, 2009

“If we do everything right, if we do it with absolute certainty, there’s still a 30% chance we’re going to get it wrong.” --Joe Biden, speaking to members of the House Democratic caucus who were gathered in Williamsburg, Va., for their annual retreat, Feb. 6, 2009

“Look, John’s last-minute economic plan does nothing to tackle the number-one job facing the middle class, and it happens to be, as Barack says, a three-letter word: jobs. J-O-B-S, jobs.” --Joe Biden, Athens, Ohio, Oct. 15, 2008 (Source)

“When the stock market crashed, Franklin D. Roosevelt got on the television and didn’t just talk about the, you know, the princes of greed. He said, 'Look, here’s what happened.” –Joe Biden, apparently unaware that FDR wasn’t president when the stock market crashed in 1929 and that only experimental TV sets were in use at that time, interview with Katie Couric, Sept. 22, 2008 (Watch video clip)

“Stand up, Chuck, let 'em see ya.” –-Joe Biden, to Missouri state Sen. Chuck Graham, who is in a wheelchair, Columbia, Missouri, Sept. 12, 2008 (Watch video clip)

“Hillary Clinton is as qualified or more qualified than I am to be vice president of the United States of America. Quite frankly, it might have been a better pick than me.” --Joe Biden, speaking at a town hall meeting in Nashua, New Hampshire, Sept. 10, 2008 (Source)

“A man I’m proud to call my friend. A man who will be the next President of the United States — Barack America!” --Joe Biden, at his first campaign rally with Barack Obama after being announced as his running mate, Springfield, Ill., Aug. 23, 2008 (Watch video clip)
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You may get your wish Johnny, but watch what you wish for. After four years of Romney, you neocons will have to share campsites in the tent cities with unemployed liberals. The tents, of course, are already made in China. Ditto for the Che Guevara t-shirts (and the irons) you mentioned.

Not that it will all be Romney’s fault, mind you. I’m afraid that when Romney gets to the White House, he’ll be disappointed to discover that Obama has already given away so many trillions to Wall Street that there will be hardly anything left to steal. But Romney is a resourceful individual, and I’m sure he’ll come up with some great new income tax cuts. The only problem is that you need income to qualify, which will eliminate the 99%.

I realize that Conservatives believe that giving trillions in welfare to rich people is good for the economy since the money will “trickle down” to common workers. However, I think that concept is outdated - I suppose it was at least partially true when yachts were still being manufactured in the USA, but alas that industry has moved to China. Even Learjet got sold to Canada. But some things are still made in the USA - lettuce from California, for example. There could be work opportunities for you there, if you learn Spanish.

Obama or Romney - all the same to me. Just a matter of who can funnel public cash into Cayman Islands’ offshore accounts faster. In short, I am very optimistic that no matter who wins the election this November, we Americans living in Taiwan will have every reason to stay here and never go back.

cheers,
DB

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Don’t get your hopes up. Dog’s assertion isn’t supported by the polls. There is more enthusiam for Obama among Democrats than there is enthusiam for Romney among Republicans.

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I read it on the Internet that Romney is going to pick Exxon Mobil for VP. Because corporations are people.

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I have no idea what’s going to happen in the election. But, I don’t think it matters that Dems like Obama more than Republicans like Romney. The Republicans hate Obama. That’s motivation enough for them to vote.

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I have no idea what’s going to happen in the election. But, I don’t think it matters that Dems like Obama more than Republicans like Romney. The Republicans hate Obama. That’s motivation enough for them to vote.[/quote]

Really? Perhaps in your view, that is motivation. In fact, for many, you are probably right. But I think that many repub voters don’t hate Obama enough to get out and vote, especially if they have no great desire to vote for Romney. Anyhow, we’ll see. The economy may tank before the election and change the dynamics considerably.

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I have no idea what’s going to happen in the election. But, I don’t think it matters that Dems like Obama more than Republicans like Romney. The Republicans hate Obama. That’s motivation enough for them to vote.[/quote]

I disagree. Whatever it is you Repubs hate it isn’t Obama. Any conservative who bothers to take his head out of the echo chamber knows he is a centre right politician who supports many ideas that were once standard goals of your party.