Obama Campaign Manager In Talks To Head Hillary Clinton Project

[brooklynite]

Source: BuzzFeed

Jim Messina and John Podesta, top former aides to Barack Obama and Bill Clinton respectively, are currently in talks to co-chair a board backing Hillary Clinton — a plan that, should it come to fruition, would be a dramatic early symbol of party unity behind the former secretary of state.

Three sources with knowledge of the plans said Messina, an Obama insider who ran the president’s campaign last year, and Podesta, a longtime advisor to Bill Clinton, are in discussions to join the board of Priorities USA, the multimillion-dollar super PAC that backed President Obama’s reelection effort last year.

The men would chair a board of former elected officials and donors who would announce their support for Clinton’s possible White House bid in 2016. Messina’s presence, in particular, would signal that key Obama loyalists have lined up behind Clinton and are ready to essentially forgo a primary.

But those close to the group, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, warned that the talks are still in progress and that the eventual outcome of the PAC’s “Phase Two” plan is still fluid and subject to change. One open question surrounds Vice President Joe Biden, who some worry would view Messina’s move to a pro-Clinton venture as a slight, sources said, explaining that Biden is one of several considerations still holding up the PAC from moving forward.

Read more: Link to source

[cantbeserious]

1. Universe, Please Spare Us From Another DLC President

eom

[brooklynite]

2. Perhaps instead of praying to the fates...

...you should get organized and make a serious effort to encourage an acceptable liberal to run? Seems to be what the Hillary supporters are doing.

[cantbeserious]

4. Warren For President 2016

eom

[brooklynite]

5. Doesn't want to run...wants HILLARY to run...

But you knew that, didn't you?

[cantbeserious]

6. Never Say Never

eom

[brooklynite]

7. Going back to my original point...

...are you going to actually DO anything to convince Warren to change her mind, or just sit and hope?

[cantbeserious]

8. We All Work In Mysterious Ways

eom

[Divernan]

15. Warren is free to change her mind, as are we all.

As John Maynard Keynes noted many, many years ago:

“When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?”

[pa28]

9. Acceptable liberal?

OK.

[Wilms]

12. You have your marching orders.

[pa28]

14. Yes. I will now go about drafting a very acceptable liberal.

[Divernan]

3. 2 political hacks selling out jointly to the Big Clinton bucks is no way "party unity"

Poor Joe Biden and I mean "poor" in the literal sense - the Clintons have more money than god. Biden is incredibly poor compared to the vast majority of Senators/Governors, etc. A lifetime of HONEST public service doesn't pay well. I've heard politicians ridicule their honest colleagues for failing to pile up personal fortunes: "Those idiots don't know how the game is played."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-502163_162-4445194-502163.html

Biden's Tax Returns Show Modest Wealth

The Obama campaign released 10 years of Sen. Joe Biden's tax returns today. You can see them here. As the returns show, Biden makes a relatively modest income compared to his Senate colleagues.

There are a few reasons for this: Neither Biden nor his wife, Jill, with whom he filed jointly, have enormous personal wealth. Jill is a teacher – not a high-paying job. And Biden has been in the Senate for almost his entire working career, unlike many of his colleagues who have worked in the private sector for a larger paycheck.

Joint income between Biden and his wife Jill rose from $215,000 to $249,000 between 1998 and 2006. These numbers reflect the total of Joe Biden's Senate salary, his Widener University School of Law teaching salary, and Jill Biden's teaching salary.

The Bidens make almost no money each year from dividends or interest. They deduct only state/local taxes, mortgage interest and what he donates to charity. 2003 was the last year they claimed a dependent child -- their daughter, Ashley.

By the starkest of contrasts, we have the wheelin', dealin' Big Dog - with no inherited wealth and no lucrative profession/businesses prior to holding elected office, Bill Clinton has socked enough sweet deals away since leaving the Oval office to have accumulated more than $50 million in personal wealth. He is now the wealthiest living American president/ex-president - eat your hearts out Bushes. It's the One Percent Way!

[warrant46]

10. Its 3 years to the election

I guess there will be no primaries ?

[Divernan]

11. Primaries? Hillary backers don't need no stinkin' primaries!

[davidpdx]

22. You are starting to sound like me

LOL

[Divernan]

28. In the words of Harry Belafonte, There Is Goodness In Togetherness.

[KoKo]

13. Recommend.

[billhicks76]

21. Unacceptable

So they are already teaming up to stop Warren and prevent 'actual change'. These carpetbaggers need to be stopped. They are acting like a gang and all they do is keep the wars going, the common people in prison and the bankers and financial elites free to do as they please. I know, I know they have made a few positive tweaks to the system but cmon...lets be real. The one bone they tossed us??? A republican modeled health plan. Wow. Thanks.

[leftynyc]

27. She has said she doesn't want to run

Here's the latest article on her not wanting to run:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/30/elizabeth-warren-president_n_4016319.html

Says IF Hillary doesn't run, she may change her mind. And you may want to look up what carpetbaggers means because you're definitely using it incorrectly.

[billhicks76]

30. Lol

I know about actual carpetbaggers and scalawags but I felt the same kind of exploitation happening. I'm sure Warren is afraid to run against Clinton but its just too obvious that Clinton represents the 1% as much as a Democrat can.

[leftynyc]

31. Not everyone

wants the headache. I can't imagine wanting to be President so I have no trouble believing people when they say they're not interested. I would love her as a candidate (although I think she would lose nationally) but I just don't think it's in the cards.

[billhicks76]

32. Obama

They never thought Obama could win either. Someone needs to cause the right wing hate machine extreme embarrassment.

[leftynyc]

33. Obama ran as a moderate

and governs as a moderate. Sen Warren couldn't credibly do that because it's not in her soul.

[billhicks76]

34. I disagree

Obama ran as a moderate DEMOCRAT...not a moderate republican which is how he governs although labels don't do description justice because there are many conflicting details. Obama ran as pro-transparency, anti-lobbyists, antiwar and anti- surveillance as well as pro civil rights. All I see now are tons of lobbyists, tons of secrets and suppression of civil rights. The things Warren is liberal on most common people agree with. I'm sure she can steer clear if divisive cultural issues and focus on economic justice.

[davidpdx]

23. Good point

I don't honestly think Biden will run and I don't think Warren will either.

It's clear the backroom deals are being used by those that are pushing Clinton's nomination. I'm not surprised at Podesta, but that Messina is going to do that this early surprises me.

I've had some private conversations with other DUers about this as well. I'm beginning to change my opinion about starting to recruit someone now. The more I see this, the more I think the party is getting railroaded.

[madrchsod]

16. i think i`m going to be ill.

after billy throwing obama under the bus the clinton`s can go back to where they came from.

[groundloop]

17. I'd take Warren over Hillary, and I'll damned sure take Hillary ove ANY repuke

Nothing in life is perfect, we'll just have to settle for the best we can get. If Hillary is the nominee I'll support her just as I did President Obama. Ditto if Elizabeth Warren by chance changes her mind and gets the nod.

[davidpdx]

24. I'm beginning to think it's time to put pressure on other possible candidates to run

I've been very resistant toward doing so, but it appears if we don't we may have no choice.

[peacebird]

25. I'd take Warren, Franken, Leahy, Sanders, Kaine or any number of others over HRC

Let's hope it does not come to Hillary as the DLC Dem candidate.

[blkmusclmachine]

18. More "Change" You CAN'T Believe In!

[rpannier]

19. Busy guy. Messina has also signed on with the Cameron campaign in the UK

[Beacool]

20. Good article.

[tridim]

26. This time "Inevitable" will be shoved down out throats for three f'ing years.

Nearly every day my support for the Clintons diminishes, because of the Clintons.

[bobGandolf]

29. How about all these big shots focus on mid-terms

We really need to make progress there.

[RandiFan1290]

35. Will they suggest more tax cuts for the rich?

[brooklynite]

36. Quick question: how many tax cuts for the rich did the Clinton '08 campaign suggest?

[RandiFan1290]

37. How many did Obama suggest in 2008-9?

[brooklynite]

38. How many did Obama add?

[RandiFan1290]

39. Add? None, because Bush's was good enough for him.

Thank god it passed,eh?