● Should Obama Replace Joe: Absolutely. Biden is a massive liability on all fronts. The man is a joke. He’s gaffe prone and his gaffes are offensive. Even when he’s speaking intentionally, as he was when he twice suggested that the Republicans want to institute slavery this week, no one takes him seriously because they assume he went off script. He adds no gravitas to the ticket. He bring no worthwhile policy experience. He’s no match for Paul Ryan. And frankly, he does very poorly against the latest Republican line: “could you imagine this man as President?” Indeed, Rudy Giuliani said yesterday that he even doubts Biden has the intellectual capacity to be President. . . and it’s not like the rest of us weren’t thinking it. Said Giuliani:
Personally, if I were Obama, I’d drop Joe in a heartbeat! Obama has until September 6th to push the reject button.“I’ve never seen a vice president that has made as many mistakes, said as many stupid things. I mean, there’s a real fear if, God forbid, he ever had to be entrusted with the presidency, whether he really has the mental capacity to handle it.”
● Who Would Replace Joe: This is where things get tricky. Sarah Palin yesterday suggested that Obama replace Biden with Hillary; John McCain echoed this last night. That would certainly make their base happy and it might even win back a couple moderates, but I doubt it would change the dynamic ultimately. And that’s the real problem for Obama. Who could he name that would change the dynamic? Hillary... maybe, but no one else.
And if the dynamic can’t be changed, then no one in their right political mind will want to be the wingman on a losing ticket! That’s a ticket to political oblivious and no one with a future will want to risk that. That leaves only people who are past their primes, ready to retire or truly questionable choices like Jon Huntsman, who may want to prove he’s not an evil Republican.
My money is on nothing changing.
But if I had to guess, I would say that Hillary would help the most. Andrew Cuomo would be the boldest choice. And nobody else would really matter.
Thoughts?
The WH is claiming it's Joe. I just can't see the Clinton's being V.P. To Bamster. Better to wait and hope Romney doesn't do well. If they lose the WH, a real possibility, and she is losing V.P. her career absolutely is over.
ReplyDeleteAs of today, Obama isn't replacing Biden, but it has got to be troubling him.
ReplyDeleteI still think Obama is thinking about Vince Foster every time he looks at Hillary. I don't Cuomo would be willing to take the chance of Obama losing. Still...
Andrew: I think you're right--it's too late to change. And for the very first time, I agree with Jay Carney--John McCain is the last one to be giving advice on veep picks.
ReplyDeleteIf joe goes, there also goes my daily laugh. DON'T GO, JOE!
ReplyDeleteJed, I can't see Obama wanting Hillary or Hillary wanting Obama. They clearly don't like each other. Also, Obama doesn't want to appear like he's been rescued and Hillary doesn't want to get saddled with the blame for losing.
ReplyDeleteJoel, I would think it bothers Obama a lot that people are talking about this because that's a sign of a failing campaign.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Cuomo would touch Obama with a ten foot poll at the moment.
Lawhawk, I would make a change if I were Obama, but then I wouldn't be in the horrible situation Obama is in.
ReplyDeletePatti, I would hate to lose our comic relief! I agree, Don't go Joe!! Leave Joe alone!!
ReplyDeleteYour Huntsman idea gives me pause. He's probably the one guy who would actually take the job. I don't know if he would help or not, but he would he a huge improvement for Obama, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteEd, The idea makes sense to me. Huntsman would be a lot more formidable in attacking the Republicans as out of touch. And I think he would take the job. But I'm not sure that ultimately Huntsman has any real appeal to anyone?
ReplyDeleteI don't think anything will change. I'm sure there are a lot of people in the campaign who would dearly like to ditch Slow Joe, but the very controversy he's aroused probably rules it out. They're likely worried his replacement would be seen as a sign of weakness, and that's the last thing they can afford right now.
ReplyDeleteT-Rav, I hear they offered the slot to you? ;)
ReplyDeleteAndrew, I don't see Huntsman having any appeal either, but then neither did Biden. I think the appeal of Hunstman is that he's not Biden, he's not a fool, and he can make the claim that he's a Republican who has realized how good Obama would be for the country.
ReplyDeleteAndrew and Ed - remember how Huntsman put us to sleep in the debates. Like watching paint dry.
ReplyDeleteT-Rav, I would bet that honestly every Democrat would like to ditch Slow Joe. The man is a menace... a walking liability. But I think for Obama, ditching Joe would be seen as weakness and his replacement would be seen as a savoir, which would go against Obama's narcissism. But the bigger problem is that I can't see anyone worthwhile wanting to take the job -- except maybe Huntsman. I can't even come up with names except for Hillary and Cuomo?
ReplyDeleteEd, That's a lie. No one at Commentarama has ever been invited the job of "Joe Biden II"!
ReplyDeleteEd and Jed, I think Huntsman would be a decent choice for three reasons only -- (1) he's not stupid like Biden, (2) he can claim to be a former Republican and (3) he would take the job. Beyond that, he's worthless. He was dull and uninteresting.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, I agree with that. I think Huntsman does offer that, but that's all he brings to the table.
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to think of up and coming democratic names and I can't. I get Hillary, who I think is too old, Pelosi and Reid who are bound the bounds, and Cuomo? Is there anyone else? There must be?
ReplyDeleteEd, I do think Huntsman would be an improvement over Biden, but it's hard not to be.
ReplyDeleteOn a related note, one thing I noticed is that the people who set up the debates made the host someone who covered foreign affairs. I assume they will try and make that the focus since, arguably, Joe would be expected to get hammered in that arena, nominally less, than if he had to pull out "my dad had dreams too" when discussing the economy.
ReplyDeleteDoc, I'm drawing a blank myself. It seems the Democratic cupboard is bare?
ReplyDeleteJed, I hadn't noticed that, but foreign policy is supposed to be Joe's specialty. And no doubt they'll spend the week telling us how Ryan has never even seen Alaska from his house while Joe has single-handedly constructed the New World Order.
ReplyDeleteHow about the guy who just won a Democrat primary only to be sued by the Democratic party for not being anywhere close to liberal? Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteEd, that's a filthy lie! It was offered to my evil alternate-universe counterpart, "Goatee T-Rav."
ReplyDeleteMaybe they could replace him with Romney's talking horse?
ReplyDeleteT-Rav, You have an evil counterpart named Goatee T-Rav?! LOL!
ReplyDeleteWell, we will see in the next few weeks. Hillary is forbidden by law to attend the Convention. So, if they did dump Biden for Hillary, she would have to resign as Sec't of State forthwith. It was reported that Barack, Joe, and Hillary had lunch today. Maybe they are planning for Joe and Hill to switch jobs! I can see it now. Sec't Joe cn go a-gaffin' his way around the world pressing the reset button on everything!
ReplyDeleteJed, You mean the guy in Tennessee they claim is a racist?
ReplyDeleteAndrew, I don't remember who, but someone on the radio yesterday was riffing on Biden and saying that even he was surprised when he heard he was being made VP. "Huh?...Really? You want me???"
ReplyDeleteHuntsman is a non-entity and always has been. I can't imagine anyone in the Dem camp is even thinking about him.
T-Rav, What happens to people who have goatees in our universe? Do they get a double goatee or an inverse goatee?
ReplyDeleteSoon this universe will be in my grasp. Submit, all ye.
ReplyDeleteEllen, LOL! Romney's talking horse!
ReplyDeleteAnd don't laugh, you have an evil counterpart who probably has a goatee, even though you are a woman.
Andrew, they replace the goatees with those waxed upturned mustaches. Even more evil.
ReplyDeleteBev, That's a recipe for a LOT of wars!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea she was forbidden by law? I think she should resign... then Biden resigns... then she says "psyche" and walks away. :)
Oh, and the women have felt goatees. Forgot to mention that.
ReplyDeleteT-Rav, Huntsman is a non-entity, but what better person to put into the job than someone who won't outshine Obama, can't become the presumptive nominee, and can't be credited with saving Obama.
ReplyDeleteAnd you've got to admit, he would be better than Biden.
Dear Goatee-Rav, Best of luck. You can have our universe, it's not worth the neutrinos it's printed on.
ReplyDeleteT-Rav, Ooooo, those upturned wax mustaches are evil!
ReplyDeleteLet me be the first, “Hell no Joe can’t go…!”
ReplyDeleteThey wont make a change, Barry’s to much of a narcissist, to accept being wrong. Also Biden is his life insurance policy.
Felt goatees? That works.
ReplyDeleteStan, LOL! Well put! I don't ever want to see Joe leave this ticket! He's one of our best selling points! :)
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be so sure Obama wouldn't change Joe if he didn't think he could blame Joe for his failures so far.
So they all need to wear felt goatees? I think I'll stay in this universe.
ReplyDeleteI really can't think of anyone they could replace Joe with. How did they manage to wipe out their entire seconday tier of candidates?
ReplyDeleteEllen, I think they never had a great second tier. And some of the ones they had, like Edwards, imploded. I think they just always had nuts like Kuchcinich, however you spell that.
ReplyDeleteEllen, I would stay in this universe too.
ReplyDeleteEllen and Doc, I think that's true. I think their second tier was never great -- Chris Dodd? Al Gore? And then they lost Edwards. Also, Obama seems to have done a great job of ruining people by pulling them into the administration and burying them. I think he did it intentionally to reduce the number of competitors, but it's ended up hurting them now.
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong, there are people, they just aren't prominent.
Andrew, I kept thinking, what about someone like Evan Bayh in Indiana. But then I don't think their party accepts moderates anymore.
ReplyDeleteAndrew
ReplyDeleteAs to the Goatee thing I think we should take a lesson from Doctor Sueuss. If we keep getting people to take of Goatees and add Goatees it will become utter chaos and there will be no way to tell the evil people apart.....
Madness
I feel some inspiration coming on . . . .wait for it . . . how about Howard Dean!!!! EEEEEEEEEEYAAAAAAGGHH!!!
ReplyDeleteI think that Obama should replace Joe with Jimmy Carter......
ReplyDeleteThey'd lock up the Islamist Palestinian vote, that's for sure......
Doc, I don't think they do. I don't think they could make it through the primary, nor would they attract Democratic voters. Otherwise you could look at Bayh or Joe Manchin.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that their famous set are people like Pelosi, Reid, Gov. Moonbeam in California, Biden. None of them are palatable and none of them really have a future... they are the past.
That leave Hillary (who is too old) and Cuomo. I just don't see anyone else on the horizon at this point.
Indi, That would be madness if we all started wearing goatees and then we had no way to tell who is evil? LOL!
ReplyDeleteJed, LOL! I think old Howard is done. BUT he would make a better choice than Biden, that's for sure. Interesting idea actually.
ReplyDeleteIndi, Jimmy Carter (or Nancy Pelosi) is probably the one person who would be worse than Joe Biden!
ReplyDeleteAndrew
ReplyDeleteShooosh! We want Obama's people to think that is a good idea....
Indi, I was joking! What I meant to say was that I HEARTILY ENDORSE JIMMY CARTER TO REPLACE JOE BIDEN!!!
ReplyDeleteIndi, That is an excellent idea!
ReplyDeletePlease? We have cookies.
ReplyDeleteDoc, I too think this is an excellent plan and I hope the Democrats don't do anything this brilliant!
ReplyDeleteDear Goatee-Rav, Well, if you have cookies...
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'm rooting for an Obama/Franken ticket. One's racist against whites, one's racist against Asians...seems like a good combination.
ReplyDeleteAndrew - I would gain a lot of respect for Hillary if she did that! She could single handedly save the country from more needless suffering at the hand of Ol' Joe.
ReplyDeleteT-Rav, Now that would be a great ticket. Even better would be Biden/Franken!
ReplyDeleteBev, LOL! That would gain her a lot of respect in my book, that's for sure! :)
ReplyDeleteBev, That would work for me! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat about Debbie Wasserman-Schultz? She could be just what the Dems need - a Jew on the ticket to prove Obama's not anti Israel and/or anti-semitic.
ReplyDeleteOoh, how about Biden/Dean?
ReplyDeleteBev, Even the Democrats aren't that dumb! Are they?
ReplyDeleteActually, they did make her DNC chair? Maybe they are that dumb?
T-Rav, Another excellent ticket! LOL!
ReplyDeleteOr Franken/Biden - That sounds like a really scary monster who could kill with one gaffe at twenty paces.
ReplyDeleteBev, LOL! Bravo! :)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely loved Joe's "correction" to his chains comment. He claims he meant to say "shackled." Because that makes it sooooo much better. "Romney wants to put you back in shackles." Yeah, no, I don't see what that changes.
ReplyDeletetryanmax, I hadn't heard that. But you're right, that's no correction. If anything, it's worse.
ReplyDeleteI think the fact he didn't "resign" after that gaffe tells us that Obama won't change VPs. Otherwise, that would have been the perfect chance.
Andrew,
ReplyDeleteMaybe we are going about this all wrong. To Democrats, Biden makes perfect sense.
Joel, That's a scary thought! But strangely, it makes sense. Maybe they're blind to the effect he has on the rest of the public?
ReplyDeleteAndrew,
ReplyDeleteI think Democrats treat Joe Biden like Blutarsky in Animal House.
Blutarsky: Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
Typical Democrat: Forget it, he is on a roll.
Joel, Very nicely diagnosed! That's exactly how they see him -- who cares what he says, he sounds good saying it... kind of like Obama.
ReplyDeletetryanmax, "chains" does sound exactly like "shackles," doesn't it? Totally plausible mistake.
ReplyDeleteI love how Drudge put this: "White House sticking with Biden, Hillary passed over again!" LOL! Talk about provocative!
ReplyDeleteT-Rav, You're assuming O'Biden knows both words. I think he was reading from the script.
ReplyDeleteTrrrraaaaaiiiinnnnnsssss.........
ReplyDeleteWhat he saiiiiiiiiiiiiiid......
ReplyDeleteI think you're on to something there, Joel. I mean, Dems think that addressing unpleasant realities is a gaffe, but sticking your foot in mouth is eloquence. Biden keeps his foot in to the knee, so to Dems he must sound like a frickin' genius!
ReplyDeleteDear Zombie Joe, Yeah... trains.
ReplyDeleteDear Zombie Democrat... yes we can... yes we can...
tryanmax, That's a creepy thought that anyone would consider Slow Joe a genius.
ReplyDeleteI just saw something over at Hot Air.
ReplyDeleteIt literally demonstrates the Decline of Civilization in Two Minutes.
All I know is my English teacher would have killed me.
Joel, That's uh... pretty sad.
ReplyDeleteAndrew,
ReplyDeleteNow, we know why some people aren't really upset with Biden's gaffes. That is obscene. Killing innocent books.
"Hillary passed over again!"
ReplyDeleteLove it when a progressive gets affirmative actioned.
Joel, Frankly, I doubt she knows he committed a gaffe. She has no frame of reference to judge anything he says.
ReplyDeleteK, I thought that was really clever. It really pokes them right back in their liberalism.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, Did you see that Romney is now ahead in Wisconsin? That's big in my book and it's all because of Ryan.
ReplyDeleteFun fact: There was a Romney fundraiser in Virginia today, attended by, among others, Bobby Jindal, Gov. Bob McDonnell--oh, and Doug Wilder, first black governor of the state and longtime Democrat, who's really busted on Biden for his "chains" comment. Nice going, Slow Joe.
ReplyDeleteEllen, I saw that earlier. I think that is because of Ryan. I don't think we fully know the bump he's given yet.
ReplyDeleteT-Rav, I heard that Wilder (a Democrat) blasted Biden, but I didn't know he was at a Romney fundraiser!
ReplyDeleteActually, I've got this these copies of Rules for Radicals and Dreams from my Father that I didn't know what to do with, so I think it's a great idea.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, indeed he did. Or at least, that's what most of the talk is. A few people are saying he wound up there by accident--was at the wrong hotel, or something. Sure.
ReplyDeletetryanmax, I hear they'll make great gifts to liberals in a couple years. :)
ReplyDeleteT-Rav, I do that a lot, set out to go to one party's fundraiser and just happen to end up at someone else's by mistake.
ReplyDeleteAndrewPrice said...
ReplyDeleteT-Rav, Now that would be a great ticket. Even better would be Biden/Franken."
Howzabout Franken/Weiner...Because Less Is More!
Hey, somebody had to go there. :^)
Or Franken/Furter from Rocky Horror!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I like Bev's suggestion of Franken/Biden... the monster.
Ben. LOL! Are you going to be on roll again??? If you are, I'll have to read it later, but then will miss all the fun :(
ReplyDeleteFrankly, that idea makes me furtive.
ReplyDeleteBen, At least it doesn't make you want to do the time warp!
ReplyDeleteJen, Don't encourage him... he'll be at it all night!
ReplyDeleteJen, that's my roll in life.
ReplyDeleteMine is a sad and lonely existence.
Andrew, I've done peripheral time warps and if they are anything like regular time warps then they are vastly overrated.
ReplyDeleteBen, LOL! You'd know if you'd done this one. It's just a step to the left...
ReplyDeleteLINK
LOL! Oh, THAT Rocky Horror Picture Show. Why didn't you say so?
ReplyDeleteBen, I didn't want to scare the uninitiated! ;)
ReplyDeleteI would donate money to the Obama campaign if he would promise to KEEP Biden. His daily gaffes are worth every penny.
ReplyDeleteIn all seriousness, even Hilary wouldn't take the bait to get on a losing ticket. I think she's going to enjoy watching him lose in a landslide.
Biden is an idiot, but dumping VPs midstream is a bad idea, so I doubt Obama will do it.
ReplyDeleteBesides, Biden is the same guy he was in 2008. The person the electorate has a problem with is Obama, not Biden.
Doug Wilder opposing Obama would be an interesting spectacle. I'm not sure how popular he is now (he's been very low profile of late) but he is a respected elder statesman.
ReplyDeleteWriter X, Me too. Biden is our best weapon.
ReplyDeleteAnthony, That's true. But sometimes, when you want to make a splash, you dump the underlings. That's how business does it a lot of times right before they end up dumping the head guy.
ReplyDeleteOn Wilder, I hadn't seen him in years, so I'm not sure what kind of political influence he still has. But it would be interesting to see what would happen if he did oppose Obama.