“Why Not Joe?” — Part 2

 

Joseph R. Biden - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos 2003Wherever the room is where Joe Biden is sitting and contemplating his future — do they have a Dave & Buster’s in Delaware? — I wonder if someone isn’t placing this data in front of him accompanied by the question I’ve asked here before: “What, exactly, do you have to lose?” From Quinnipiac:

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are clear winners in the Democratic and Republican primaries in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, but Vice President Joseph Biden runs as well as or better than Clinton against top Republicans in general election matchups in these key swing states, according to a Quinnipiac University Swing State Poll released today.

As an aside, it bears noting that the numbers are bad for Democrats in all three of those states — unless Donald Trump makes a third-party bid.

Based on the evidence of two previous bids, we know that Joe Biden covets the Oval Office. Moreover, it’s not like getting into the race now would be a huge audible. He’s been thinking about this for awhile. And it’s either this or … well, whatever it is that former Vice Presidents do.

Here’s the bottom line: until just a few months ago, despite the fact that he was the sitting Vice President of the United States, the prospect of a Joe Biden presidential run seemed risible. Over the course of the past seven years, he’s becoming something of a national piñata, a trend surely driven in part by the fact that he’s the Democrat it’s kosher to make fun of in a media environment where poking at the president is still largely regarded as taboo.

And yet, Hillary Clinton and her hemophiliac campaign are in such disarray that he now looks plausible. In fact, his sunny disposition and unblinking (and probably unthinking) cheerfulness seem positively refreshing in contrast to the glowering commissar that is his party’s current frontrunner.

In other words, if Joe Biden was waiting for a sign from the gods, he’s got it. After a lifetime of striving, the fates have conspired to give him at least a fighting chance. How, exactly, does one turn that opportunity down?

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  1. Quinn the Eskimo Member
    Quinn the Eskimo
    @

    I think the question is whether Biden cuts into Hillary’s support or whether he cuts into the support for “not-Hillary.”  If he can win over Hillary’s supporters, he’s got a shot.  If he can’t, jumping in only helps Hillary.

    • #1
  2. Penfold Member
    Penfold
    @Penfold

    Yes sir, pigs are filing their flight plans as we speak.

    • #2
  3. Austin Murrey Inactive
    Austin Murrey
    @AustinMurrey

    Just imagine the Trump/Biden Presidential Debates.

    • #3
  4. The King Prawn Inactive
    The King Prawn
    @TheKingPrawn

    He’s only waiting for the right moment to announce. I suspect that it will coincide with the official Hillary implosion.

    • #4
  5. Rodin Member
    Rodin
    @Rodin

    Monic Crowley has a good article on this: Why Obama is torpedoing Hillary Clinton . The timing will be tied to when Obama thinks Hillary has suffered enough.

    • #5
  6. Tuck Inactive
    Tuck
    @Tuck

    Rodin:Monic Crowley has a good article on this: Why Obama is torpedoing Hillary Clinton . The timing will be tied to when Obama thinks Hillary has suffered enough.

    From that link:

    “…The Democratic ticket will be Joe Biden-Elizabeth Warren. That’s what Mr. Obama wants. And what Mr. Obama wants, Mr. Obama gets.

    “This is “Game of Thrones.” And Mr. Obama is winning.”

    It’s a good conspiracy theory.

    • #6
  7. Brian Watt Inactive
    Brian Watt
    @BrianWatt

    Biden’s announcement will coincide with Hillary’s departure. As soon as Hillary is forced to step down, then Biden gets in. The two-headed Obama-Jarrett mutant life form knows that the clock is ticking and the longer the FBI and the DoJ take to bring charges against Hillary the shorter the runway for Joe to take off and gain altitude in the polls. Of course, when this happens – then look for native American Warren to possibly get in. And there’s Nobel Peace Prize Recipient Albert Gore, Jr., Secretary of Appeasement John Kerry, and Army Tank Commander Michael Dukakis. No word as yet from the Barbara Streisand compound in Santa Barbara.

    • #7
  8. Brian Watt Inactive
    Brian Watt
    @BrianWatt

    And there’s no truth to the rumor that Monica Lewinsky is changing her gender and appearance to become an African American transgender and position herself as a potential prospect for Victim Vice-President on the Democrat ticket. None whatsoever. Move along. Nothing to see here.

    • #8
  9. Troy Senik, Ed. Member
    Troy Senik, Ed.
    @TroySenik

    Tuck:

    Rodin:Monic Crowley has a good article on this: Why Obama is torpedoing Hillary Clinton . The timing will be tied to when Obama thinks Hillary has suffered enough.

    From that link:

    “…The Democratic ticket will be Joe Biden-Elizabeth Warren. That’s what Mr. Obama wants. And what Mr. Obama wants, Mr. Obama gets.

    “This is “Game of Thrones.” And Mr. Obama is winning.”

    It’s a good conspiracy theory.

    Yeah, I read Monica’s piece and thought that she twisted herself in knots to make all the pieces fit together. Are there machinations within the White House to influence the race? Wouldn’t surprise me. But who knows which way they cut or whether they’d even matter. Hillary Clinton isn’t sinking because of Barack Obama. She’s sinking because of Hillary Clinton.

    • #9
  10. Troy Senik, Ed. Member
    Troy Senik, Ed.
    @TroySenik

    Quinn the Eskimo:I think the question is whether Biden cuts into Hillary’s support or whether he cuts into the support for “not-Hillary.” If he can win over Hillary’s supporters, he’s got a shot. If he can’t, jumping in only helps Hillary.

    Well, the “not-Hillary” supporters are basically Bernie Sanders people at this point (and one guy in Rochester who likes Lincoln Chafee). Joe probably gets the slice of those that are anti-Hillary protest voters (who might, without his entry, otherwise knuckle under and vote for her when the time comes), but not the diehard prog true believers.

    He also becomes alternative #1 for those who are currently backing Hillary even though they’re not that warm to her just because there’s a lack of feasible alternatives.

    Who knows how big those numbers are, but it’s not a terrible place from which to start.

    • #10
  11. Tuck Inactive
    Tuck
    @Tuck

    Troy Senik, Ed.: Hillary Clinton isn’t sinking because of Barack Obama. She’s sinking because of Hillary Clinton.

    True, but if Obama drops the criminal investigation she’s still got a shot.  The Dems have demonstrated they’ll put up with anything.

    If he goes ahead and prosecutes her she’s toast.

    He’s in the position of king-maker, at the moment.

    • #11
  12. Man With the Axe Inactive
    Man With the Axe
    @ManWiththeAxe

    Austin Murrey:Just imagine the Trump/Biden Presidential Debates.

    They wouldn’t have to bother doing the “Bad Lip Reading” video to make it surreal.

    • #12
  13. Troy Senik, Ed. Member
    Troy Senik, Ed.
    @TroySenik

    Tuck:

    Troy Senik, Ed.: Hillary Clinton isn’t sinking because of Barack Obama. She’s sinking because of Hillary Clinton.

    True, but if Obama drops the criminal investigation she’s still got a shot. The Dems have demonstrated they’ll put up with anything.

    If he goes ahead and prosecutes her she’s toast.

    He’s in the position of king-maker, at the moment.

    I agree that the criminal investigation is a big factor. But I thought that the underlying premise of Monica’s piece — that Obama is shopping for someone to maintain his legacy — was a stretch. And it’s not immediately apparent to me that Biden gets you any more on that front than Hillary does.

    • #13
  14. Tuck Inactive
    Tuck
    @Tuck

    Troy Senik, Ed.:

    But I thought that the underlying premise of Monica’s piece — that Obama is shopping for someone to maintain his legacy — was a stretch. And it’s not immediately apparent to me that Biden gets you any more on that front than Hillary does.

    Agreed, which is why I characterized it as a conspiracy theory.

    The notion of relying on Biden to carry on one’s legacy boggles the mind, but then my mind was thoroughly boggled when Obama picked him to be Veep for his foreign policy skills. (It’s hard even to type those words…)

    To elaborate on Crowley’s conspiracy theory: maybe Biden is Obama’s end game for running the American ship of state aground?

    • #14
  15. CuriousKevmo Inactive
    CuriousKevmo
    @CuriousKevmo

    In any just world, Uncle Joe would be setting pins in a bowling alley.

    • #15
  16. Chris Campion Coolidge
    Chris Campion
    @ChrisCampion

    Tuck:

    Troy Senik, Ed.:

    But I thought that the underlying premise of Monica’s piece — that Obama is shopping for someone to maintain his legacy — was a stretch. And it’s not immediately apparent to me that Biden gets you any more on that front than Hillary does.

    Agreed, which is why I characterized it as a conspiracy theory.

    The notion of relying on Biden to carry on one’s legacy boggles the mind, but then my mind was thoroughly boggled when Obama picked him to be Veep for his foreign policy skills. (It’s hard even to type those words…)

    To elaborate on Crowley’s conspiracy theory: maybe Biden is Obama’s end game for running the American ship of state aground?

    But, as the Iran deal evidence shows, Barry actually did choose Biden for his foreign policy skills.

    • #16
  17. Brian Watt Inactive
    Brian Watt
    @BrianWatt

    Troy Senik, Ed.:

    Tuck:

    Troy Senik, Ed.: Hillary Clinton isn’t sinking because of Barack Obama. She’s sinking because of Hillary Clinton.

    True, but if Obama drops the criminal investigation she’s still got a shot. The Dems have demonstrated they’ll put up with anything.

    If he goes ahead and prosecutes her she’s toast.

    He’s in the position of king-maker, at the moment.

    I agree that the criminal investigation is a big factor. But I thought that the underlying premise of Monica’s piece — that Obama is shopping for someone to maintain his legacy — was a stretch. And it’s not immediately apparent to me that Biden gets you any more on that front than Hillary does.

    That’s why I’m holding out for the Senator Pow-Wow-Chow. A socialist, a woman and a native American. A trifecta!

    • #17
  18. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    Tuck:The notion of relying on Biden to carry on one’s legacy boggles the mind, but then my mind was thoroughly boggled when Obama picked him to be Veep for his foreign policy skills. (It’s hard even to type those words…)

    To elaborate on Crowley’s conspiracy theory: maybe Biden is Obama’s end game for running the American ship of state aground?

    I always thought Biden was assassination insurance.

    • #18
  19. Mr. Dart Inactive
    Mr. Dart
    @MrDart

    Primary season is only 5 months away. Candidate filing deadlines are earlier, of course.  I suspect Biden and several others will be announcing within the next 30 days.  They all see that she’s done.  She peaked the day she announced.

    Biden’s speech in Chattanooga the other day was effective, moving and nothing that Obama or Hillary would ever say in a million years.  Slow Joe is runnin’. ridinwithbidenPicPHO

    • #19
  20. profdlp Inactive
    profdlp
    @profdlp

    RightAngles:

    I always thought Biden was assassination insurance.

    He might also be one of the few people alive who could plausibly make people miss the Obama presidency.  Not anyone here, of course, but maybe among those leftists who now view Obama as somewhat of a disappointment.

    • #20
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