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Biden His Time
In the incipient quest by Democrats to find an alternative to Hillary Clinton, the once unthinkable is now being seriously discussed:
Mr. Biden has not yet announced whether he will join the race for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, but reports over the weekend that the 72-year-old former Delaware senator was seriously exploring a bid reignited discussion among Mrs. Clinton’s advisers about what his potential candidacy would mean for the contest ahead.
When Biden was announced as Barack Obama’s running mate in 2008, there were countless tongue-in-cheek theories about his selection. My favourite was that Joe Biden as Vice President would make Barack Obama assassination proof: Even the most deranged of Islamists would shrink from the thought of a Joe Biden presidency.
Apparently it isn’t a joke anymore.
While the Republicans are preparing for an epic battle to select their nominee — one that will likely provide great drama and good headlines — the Democrats are experiencing Hillary fatigue a full fifteen months before the general. This is not a good sign for them. Nothing is so dull in political life as a coronation. Matched with Hillary’s impervious tone and robotic personality, the DNC is looking at a very hard and very long sell.
At this stage, admittedly, reports of a Biden candidacy are driven by a certain media desperation. With little else to talk about but Hillary — and a few Sandereques sidebars — the poor Beltway reporter must find fodder where he or she can. Talking about a President Biden, however unlikely, at least fills the hours until Donald Trump’s next piece of insightful commentary. But leaving aside the exigencies of a 24-hour news cycle, is the idea even plausible?
Joe Biden is famous for being America’s somewhat embarrassing crazy uncle. His poor turns of phrase and legendary wandering hands have been Twitter staples for years. We all know people like Joe Biden in our personal lives. This makes him eminently relatable. You can imagine meeting Joe and perhaps, if you were in a really good mood, kind of liking him. Though few of us would be quite as enthusiastic as Leslie Knope.
In contrast, few of us know a Hillary Clinton. Some of us may have worked for someone like Hillary Clinton, though none would look back upon that time with any fondness. Beyond whatever we may think of her ideas there is the woman herself: The mechanical lust for power, the rictus grin and the ability to make brazenly contradictory statements with shinning smoothness. If a brilliant satirist were to emerge from the ether, intent on discrediting the modern political process, he would invent Hillary Clinton and hope to be believed.
This means that even when we are talking about Joe we are really talking about Hillary. I don’t think we are in too much danger of a Biden presidency. His usefulness is as a kind of stalking horse. If candidate Biden could break into the double digits, rather better than he did in 2008 when he barely cracked the 1% barrier, it would prove beyond doubt that Hillary is vulnerable.
A strong Biden showing would quickly become a powerful incentive for big-footed Democrats to jump into the race. Andrew Cuomo, one of the few plausible Democratic Governors remaining, comes to mind. Perhaps if the stars align Elizabeth Warren — the George McGovern of the modern era — might deign to take a run.
Enjoy the Biden moment while it lasts: It’s best comic relief you can get at taxpayers’ expense. We can even start talking about “Joementum” and sorting through a list of possible running mates (I’m looking at you, Al Franken). It’s going to be a long election so have fun with it. We all know Joe Biden will.
Published in Politics
Joe Biden on the ballot would be good for at least one serious reason: he gives Democrats a reason to vote in their own primary, not ours.
At least he is a corvette man.
From Camelot to Gropealot. I love it.
if we pick Carly will they want Hillary?
I am not trying to be mean here but Joe is working on less than a whole brain. He has had two brain surgeries and was given less than a 50% chance of being normal. Well quess what, he didn’t beat the odds. I have known several people like him with brain surgery. They are never the same it seems.
Divide and conquer works for both sides of the issue. Biden, whatever his numerous gaffes and faults, is more electable than Colonel Bernie Sanders for a sizable wing of the Democrat coalition, albeit that the Colonel might get a lot of young mushy-headed thinking youth types who when thwarted won’t find it necessary to present themselves in the general election. By the way, not presenting themselves for the general election vote is okay.
Insiders have acknowledged that his announcement has been delayed by indecision over whether to “borrow” from Bill Clinton’s announcement in 1992, Al Gore’s in 2000, or go for a “blend” of the best parts of both.
Was Dr. Carson referring to Biden?
John, I think he was talking about all Democrats.
Run Joe Run!
If you had to pick, would you rather a Clinton or Biden presidency? I think I’d go with Joe.
I disagree with the OP in that I think lots of people, especially men, know a Hillary Clinton. She’s the mother-in-law of their worst nightmares.
I agree, even though I consider him to be of low character for his sneering condescension toward Paul Ryan.
However, I consider Hillary to be a wicked, power grasping megalomaniac and Bill to be a pedophile predator, whose title, should Hillary become president, would most aptly be First Genitalman.
I’m only choosing the lesser of three evils with Biden.
Biden’s behavior in that debate was simply disgraceful. It showed contempt for the voters, not just Ryan. It’s like he knew he couldn’t answer Ryan on the merits so he just filibustered. I could not believe how rude he was.
If Ryan had been the main event I think he would have pushed back harder — but he was the VP candidate. I suspect that after Romney’s strong performance he’d been asked to basically not rock the boat — so he didn’t. (If Ryan had run, there’d be a chance of seeing them facing off again on the main stage. That would be interesting.)
But, well, the Clintons…
Agree. A Clinton presidency would solidify massive overreach and cronyism. Biden, in my (hopeful?) analysis, would simply be bad. Essentially, he’s not as bad as Clinton cause he’s not as good. Er… Give me a drink. BTW… Here’s some good old gospel rock and roll to fit the mood. (language warning).
PC Cheese, not just Democrats.
Biden would never get the nomination, let alone be elected. But it would be great fun to see he and Hillary go at it in the primaries. The great gaffe machine would provide endless fodder for pundits and Ricochetti.
At least he’s not a corrupt, cronyist, sleazy liar.
I disagree, in the 2008 debates Biden was sharp, focused and sounded the most reasonable. He definitely has a good time but if he got in we would see a different man.
Nice shades.
Every time I see this thread, I die a little inside since I had to trade my ‘vette in on a baby limo.