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  1. Tommy De Seno Member
    Tommy De Seno
    @TommyDeSeno

    Biden’s chances were wiped out when he said racist things about Obama.

    Remember?

    • #1
  2. Matt Bartle Member
    Matt Bartle
    @MattBartle

    Wow – so the Democrats really do have all their eggs in one basket.

    We saw how they rallied around Bill Clinton when he was in trouble. They will do the same for Hillary.

    • #2
  3. zepplinmike Inactive
    zepplinmike
    @zepplinmike

    Matt Bartle:Wow – so the Democrats really do have all their eggs in one basket.

    We saw how they rallied around Bill Clinton when he was in trouble. They will do the same for Hillary.

    The difference is they loved Bill and detest Hillary. I can’t see her garnering much enthusiasm from the base. She might win the nomination, but it’d be purely for lack of a real alternative.

    Biden not running is great news. Had he run, I think he’d have stood the best chance of winning the general of the Dem options (which should tell you how weak their offerings are).

    • #3
  4. Paul Dougherty Member
    Paul Dougherty
    @PaulDougherty

    I am disappointed. I was looking forward to someone attacking HRC from the left. The right can do the attacking all it wants but the unintended effect is to solidify her support.

    • #4
  5. Valiuth Member
    Valiuth
    @Valiuth

    I guess Hillary doesn’t have to worry about the FBI. I always assumed that if Biden ran it would mean the FBI would bring charges against her. Now, I don’t see how Obama will let them given the consequences.

    But, maybe Biden just wasn’t into the idea. He is old, and maybe he thinks the comfort of retirement is more alluring than pride. Maybe the Dems are really screwed. Or maybe Obama thinks it is time for Sanders to shine.

    • #5
  6. David Sussman Member
    David Sussman
    @DaveSussman

    Good thing Hillary wont have to answer any scandals or legal problems between now and election day.
    …Oh wait

    • #6
  7. James Madison Member
    James Madison
    @JamesMadison

    David,

    Actually, this probably indicates the administration has a get out of jail free card for Hillary. These decisions are not made in a vacuum. They have a difference with a distinction between Hillary and Petraeus which is most likely “intent” to share information.

    All she is guilty of in their mind is wreckless behavior during a period they will claim the rules were kind of changing, sort of, maybe.

    • #7
  8. David Sussman Member
    David Sussman
    @DaveSussman

    James Madison:David,

    Actually, this probably indicates the administration has a get out of jail free card for Hillary.These decisions are not made in a vacuum.They have a difference with a distinction between Hillary and Petraeus which is most likely “intent” to share information.

    All she is guilty of in their mind is wreckless behavior during a period they will claim the rules were kind of changing, sort of, maybe.

    Let the admin. and Hillary campaign prematurely make assumptions. James Comey will have the final word.

    • #8
  9. Paul Dougherty Member
    Paul Dougherty
    @PaulDougherty

    Valiuth:I guess Hillary doesn’t have to worry about the FBI. I always assumed that if Biden ran it would mean the FBI would bring charges against her. Now, I don’t see how Obama will let them given the consequences.

    I would not be surprised if the only reason for the involvement of the FBI is to give HRC a clean bill of legal health. Well, clean enough at least.

    • #9
  10. Pilgrim Coolidge
    Pilgrim
    @Pilgrim

    Joe must have come pretty close to running-that statement was obviously written as his announcement speech. No way he was going to waste that speech, running or not.

    • #10
  11. Marion Evans Inactive
    Marion Evans
    @MarionEvans

    Biden may be gambling (or may have reason to believe) that Hillary will be indicted and that the Dems will then beg him to enter the race. Well played, Joe!

    • #11
  12. James Madison Member
    James Madison
    @JamesMadison

    David,

    “Let the admin. and Hillary campaign prematurely make assumptions. James Comey will have the final word.”

    Do you really believe they have no idea what is happening inside the FBI? There is a very discreet communication system which says nothing, but hints very well. Hillary is free! Or, may get a ceremonial rap on the knuckles. She will mea culpa and move on in a flash.

    ‘Wish it won’t so, but it be so.’

    • #12
  13. Mendel Inactive
    Mendel
    @Mendel

    I think the calculus was simple and non-nefarious:

    Hillary already locked up most of the major donors, the Democrats aren’t interested in nominating white men anymore unless the white man has (Socialist) behind his name, and Biden’s only real core constituency of blue collar Democrats now hates him for supporting TPP.

    • #13
  14. Valiuth Member
    Valiuth
    @Valiuth

    Paul Dougherty:

    Valiuth:I guess Hillary doesn’t have to worry about the FBI. I always assumed that if Biden ran it would mean the FBI would bring charges against her. Now, I don’t see how Obama will let them given the consequences.

    I would not be surprised if the only reason for the involvement of the FBI is to give HRC a clean bill of legal health. Well, clean enough at least.

    On the other hand maybe we are being too conspiratorial, and as it was once said “Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.” Certainly we have impressions of Hillary that are negative, built on what the interpretation of specific evidence. This dose not mean our interpretation is actually correct. It is hard to disassociate my personal and political antipathy against her from what my perception of reality is. I want there to be evidence that conforms to my view of her and that will allow me to convince others that she is the lizard person I think her to be, but how can I be objective about the evidence given my desires?

    Do we have any faith in the objectivity and independence of the FBI? If I don’t in this case why would I in any case? If that is the case why even participate in the political process?

    So sometimes it might be good to step back and tell ourselves it probably isn’t as bad as we think.

    • #14
  15. James Madison Member
    James Madison
    @JamesMadison

    Valiuth,

    You words are wise.

    There has been wiggle room from day one in this case. It turns on intent. Petraeus intended to hand top secret information to someone outside his circle and outside the government. It was marked top secret or he knew it was top secret. Guilty!

    Hillary did not hand top secret information outside her immediate staff (cleared) or if she did (Blumenthal), she will claim she did not know since the information by-passed the classification process and was not marked, top secret. It is tiny crack, but it is all they need. Her server and all the rest was a lapse in judgement.

    Follow the President’s mouth. He did not announce Hillary’s innocence on 60 Minutes without knowing. It is that simple.

    The FBI can’t find much of anything except a whole big bag of bad judgement.

    • #15
  16. Eric Hines Inactive
    Eric Hines
    @EricHines

    I think it’s more straightforward.  Biden milked his pseudo-dithering for all the attention-getting ego boost he could, and then he walked.

    Eric Hines

    • #16
  17. billy Inactive
    billy
    @billy

    Well he may not be running, but at least he’s going to cure cancer.

    • #17
  18. Mendel Inactive
    Mendel
    @Mendel

    Welcome back Pilgrim!

    • #18
  19. Fake John Galt Coolidge
    Fake John Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    Paul Dougherty:

    Valiuth:I guess Hillary doesn’t have to worry about the FBI. I always assumed that if Biden ran it would mean the FBI would bring charges against her. Now, I don’t see how Obama will let them given the consequences.

    I would not be surprised if the only reason for the involvement of the FBI is to give HRC a clean bill of legal health. Well, clean enough at least.

    That has always been my thoughts on the FBI.  The FBI are not involved to find wrong doing but to exonerate her from it.  If any wrong doing is found it will be blamed on a low level operative.

    • #19
  20. Fake John Galt Coolidge
    Fake John Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    Valiuth: Do we have any faith in the objectivity and independence of the FBI?

    I don’t, especially with political cases.  They are a tool of the establishment as much as any other. Just like the Justice Department, EPA, IRS, DEA, etc.

    If I don’t in this case why would I in any case?

    Not sure,  I assume that they operate sort of fairly unless they have reasons via politically pressure to do otherwise.  But I do not expect them to be fair.  I do not know why anybody would.

    If that is the case why even participate in the political process?

    It is the best option open at the moment.  There may come a time that other harsher options will need to be used but that will be determined in time.  BTW – this is the reason that many (known as LIV) do not follow politics.  Basically they have observed the system, realized it is rigged and do not spend time fighting against something that they are doomed to fail at.  It may be they are the wiser of us all.

    • #20
  21. Fake John Galt Coolidge
    Fake John Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    My assumption is that Biden is bowing out because he has cut whatever deal he wanted in order to do so.  It will be interesting to see what happens to Biden under a HRC or Sanders administration.

    • #21
  22. James Madison Member
    James Madison
    @JamesMadison

    If this means, Joe left because he learned the evidence against Hillary is scant, then that may mean she will get a reprimand and be able to claim victory.

    It will be like Obama’s birth certificate. It drew conservatives off-side and after years, he produced a “certification of birth.” He used it as bait and distraction. In the meantime, he made his critics look petty and foolish.

    She may be in a position to do the same. Does this mean she will be bullet proof from any charges going forward? Does this confirm her “great right wing conspiracy” thesis?

    Let’s hope Trey Goudy has something. Anything.

    • #22
  23. Aaron Miller Inactive
    Aaron Miller
    @AaronMiller

    Republicans might have dodged a bullet. Biden is cheerful, untouched by scandal, and doesn’t come across as nearly so ideological as Clinton or Sanders. He could have appealed to both progressives and swing voters.

    • #23
  24. Eric Hines Inactive
    Eric Hines
    @EricHines

    James Madison: In the meantime, he made his critics look petty and foolish.

    No, his critics looked foolish about his citizenship all by themselves.  The whole thing was a chimera, just like it is with Cruz’ alleged birth ineligibility.

    Too many in the Republican/Conservative camp are as easily distracted by squirrels as are Liberals/Progressives.

    As for HRC, it will be interesting to see what follows, although we already have a good idea of which way the Obama/DoJ/FBI is going.  It’s already been established that lots of emails on Clinton’s server (as many as 400 by some reports) had classified data in them and her passing them about and her lack of safeguards are acts of negligence that are felonies under the Espionage Act.

    Yet, she’s being shielded.

    Eric Hines

    • #24
  25. Frozen Chosen Inactive
    Frozen Chosen
    @FrozenChosen

    Well, so much for having some fun this election season!  It would’ve been very entertaining to have plugs and Hillary tearing into each other.

    I, for one, am very disappointed in ‘ol Joe…

    • #25
  26. CuriousKevmo Inactive
    CuriousKevmo
    @CuriousKevmo

    David Sussman:Good thing Hillary wont have to answer any scandals or legal problems between now and election day. …Oh wait

    She won’t.

    • #26
  27. CuriousKevmo Inactive
    CuriousKevmo
    @CuriousKevmo

    Valiuth: If that is the case why even participate in the political process?

    I ask myself this question every election

    • #27
  28. Man With the Axe Inactive
    Man With the Axe
    @ManWiththeAxe

    I’m not sure I follow the logic of the comments that suggest the FBI is in this to whitewash Hillary.

    The FBI did not have to get involved in the first place. If they hadn’t there would be no investigation other than the select committee. If the FBI does exonerate Hillary, given that there is already so much publicly known evidence of negligence at the very least, which in the context of classified information is a crime, and the purposefulness of the server to avoid scrutiny (no other plausible excuse is on offer) a whitewash would appear to the public to be just that.

    It would look like corruption, and no amount of inappropriate cackling will make it go away.

    • #28
  29. Eric Hines Inactive
    Eric Hines
    @EricHines

    Man With the Axe: I’m not sure I follow the logic of the comments that suggest the FBI is in this to whitewash Hillary.

    One logic is to apply the FBI’s imprimatur to Clinton’s…innocence.

    Man With the Axe: It would look like corruption, and no amount of inappropriate cackling will make it go away.

    Only to some.  To the Left it would look like vindication of Clinton.

    Eric Hines

    • #29
  30. CuriousKevmo Inactive
    CuriousKevmo
    @CuriousKevmo

    Fake John Galt: this is the reason that many (known as LIV) do not follow politics.  Basically they have observed the system, realized it is rigged and do not spend time fighting against something that they are doomed to fail at.  It may be they are the wiser of us all

    I dunno FJG, I’d like to think this is their reasoning but from the LIV I know, they haven’t really observed the system nor do they understand it enough (or at all) to even have an opinion.

    • #30
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