MSNBC's Chuck Todd is claiming that Hillary wants the VP slot

[sfam]

MSNBC Political Director Chuck Todd is claiming that the Clinton campaign's strategy now is to position Hillary to get the VP position. He fully admitted that this is different from what most previously thought - that they believed that Hillary would have wanted the majority leader position instead. Todd claims that both her strategy and the word on the street indicates that instead she would prefer the VP position.

Thoughts?

[GodlessBiker]

1. Insanity.

[maryallen]

69. A real loser for Obama ...

To pick Hil as VP, that is.

Remember her negatives, Barack!

[Coexist]

80. I think it would be a very bad idea

I think she and Bill would spend the entire time running for next term President. I think he would constantly have to be watching his back with her there.

[formernaderite]

83. i'm not a conspiracy follower

but I don't know if i'd want my back up to be Hillary. He'd have to double up security...lol

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

75. Why do you say that? I could see Hillary as a VP for WalMart.

[soleft]

2. I was thinking of a scenario for 20 year Dem presidency

Obama 2008-2016.
Clinton 2016-2020 - Edwards as her VP
Edwards 2020-2028

[sfam]

12. Perhaps we would just be satisfied making the VP position

Hillary seems to really revel in a sense of history. Being the first woman as a VP is not a small thing. Whether she becomes President afterwards is probably a later decision.

[ORDem]

52. I don't want Hillary on any national ticket, thank you very much.

I want Barack focused on his job as President and not having to watch his back or worry about reigning in Bill and/or Hillary. It would be a nightmare.

:dem:

[krawhitham]

54. which Clinton?

[THUNDER HANDS]

3. six weeks from now

she'll be begging for a Health & Human Services associate director of communications position.

[powergirl]

22. Thank you for making me laugh on this very difficult morning!

I am tired and need to bet my rear over to work. This made my day. Maybe she will be shilling for a "Senior Adviser" type position that sounds impressive but it's like some car parking job. :toast:

[grantcart]

67. how much is your rear worth in a bet?

:toast:

[VolcanoJen]

61. Oh dear god

I just spit coffee out all over my keyboard reading this!

:rofl:

:spank: MagicRat!! :spank:

[leftofcool]

4. He's an idiot and a poor political pundit to boot!

[sfam]

14. I find him far more credible than most pundits...

but that's just me. I'll take Chuck Todd over Tweety and most of the rest any day. If nothing else, the guy actually does the math on the delegates fairly accurately.

[NDambi]

17. I agree.

[joeybee12]

29. I started a thread on this a week ago because I agree...she's considering

that option because while she still wants to win, she sees the numbers...of course, irrational HIllary haters here can't see he strategy, just that she is evil...anyway, if BO brushes her off, he pays the price later on.

[VolcanoJen]

62. ChuckyT kicks ass.

I actually think he's the smartest guy on MSNBC (yes, I know, not much of a yardstick), and I think he might be onto something, here.

I'm not signing on, though. Hillary needs Obama a helluva lot more than Obama needs Hillary.

[GalleryGod]

70. I Agree, VJ.

:hug: Of course, ChuckyT and I both belong to the Vandyke Goatee Society:headbang:

[berni_mccoy]

79. Kill the messenger...

[SoCalDem]

5. She's had a strange strategy, if that's been her plan.

If I wanted someone to invite me to their party, I sure wouldn't go around talking shit about them before the party..

[NDambi]

9. Oh my ...I love it..and its so true..

Yeah, talk shit about me and then try to come to my party..ha haha NOT

[sfam]

10. The thought is that she would shore up his foreign policy experience

By dragging Obama down, the thought is that he would then NEED her to be seen as qualified.

[Adelante]

41. Possibly, but

He will have at his request the best foreign policy experience available for the ticket. She doesn't have significant foreign policy experience, either, so how could she be the one to make him look qualified in that area? They should think again if that's their thought. What I believe they are trying to do, is shore up HER foreign policy value (falsely) in order to sink him.

[tishaLA]

60. She can bring in lots of her foreign policy folks

like Rubin, Clark, etc. who are top notch and frankly deserve cabinet positions. One I don't want? Holbrooke.

[NDambi]

6. Yeah, I was watching it.. she knows she's done and will do anything to get back in the WH

[BeyondGeography]

7. He keeps pushing that angle and I happen to find him credible

so maybe there's something to it...it would surprise me, though.

[Medusa]

11. I think he's right

and I've never noticed him being that wrong on very much. I like him.

[ellacott]

16. I like Chuck Todd also

[SoFlaJet]

8. at this point

as much as I disagree with the idea, if a deal can be brokered where she suspends her campaign to help put an end to this divisiveness and focus on the republicans it would be a good thing for the party. Let's face it as much as we all fight back and forth here the bottom line has always been this; WE ARE ALL DEMOCRATS and would vote for either one because Obama or Clinton are a much better alternative to McCain. I know, I know, some won't admit it yet (that they'd vote for the dem regardless) but I'm pretty confident all will eventually come around.

[sfam]

13. agreed. Its gonna keep getting really ugly on both sides if this continues...

The surrogates on both sides are already ramping things up even more than prior to Texas. There is really only one way that Obama can respond to a scorched earth policy - he has to respond in kind. This just isn't going to be good for anyone on the Democratic side.

[SoFlaJet]

18. I'd take it just so DU can get back to normal

sheesh enough is enough. It's hard NOT to get sucked up into all the negativity here-I mean I've been here for 8 frickin years now and people I have always respected and enjoyed reading I find myself calling names and clicking them on ignore. I still blame the troll operatives starting around Thanksgiving for helping ruin this board. The propagandizing was a bit much and insulting to a lot of us who saw what they were doing in 10 seconds flat every time.

[shadowknows69]

15. Go for it, give it to her. Lets go after McCain.

[sfam]

19. Would be fairly interesting if Obama made the offer prior to Pennsylvania

Wouldn't that be a shocker if the race was over next week? I think the MSM would self-combust.

[Colobo]

47. He should offer it to her tomorrow.

[wndycty]

20. Why would she want to be VP for someone she feels is not qualified?

:kick:

[Bolo Boffin]

24. Why did Cheney? n/t

[sfam]

25. 'Cause that was just idiotic campaign banter...

Clearly she doesn't believe it. Considering both of them have more foreign policy experience than Carter, Reagan, Clinton and "W", this really shouldn't be an issue.

[NDambi]

27. Exactly!!!

Anything to get back in the WH for her and Bill. If I was Obama, I'd be very afraid with her as the #2.

[Freddie Stubbs]

50. To keep an eye on him

[Occam Bandage]

21. Do VPs usually try to torpedo their Presidents? Todd's talking out his ass.

[sfam]

26. Well again, if she doesn't do this, Obama has no compelling urge to take her...

If she can somehow make Obama looked slightly damaged in an area that she can "fix", her argument gets stronger.

[Occam Bandage]

34. Other than the fact that she has an enormous support bloc of committed voters who

Obama needs in order to win the Presidency?

[Bullet1987]

45. That's what Kathleen Sebelius is for...

[dchill]

86. "enormous support bloc of committed voters"

Yeah, they're called Democrats. Theoretically, they vote for the Democratic nominee - whether HRC is VP or not.

[renate]

55. Chuck's not saying she'll GET the VP slot, only that she wants it

At least, that's the impression I get from the OP--I didn't see first-hand what he said. Chuck has always seemed to know what he's talking about, though.

I agree with you that if Hillary really does want to be VP, she's going about it a bit... awkwardly. :)

[Bread and Circus]

23. That's actually a good way of looking at it and despite the protests here

it would probably be in Obama's best interests. There's a lot of women out there that have their hopes and dreams pinned on Clinton. Sending her packing would piss them off royally.

It would be pretty easy to "make up" after this season if they are both smiling and cheering each other on stage.

All the animosity would melt pretty quick except for the "take no prisoners" types.

I can happily vote for Obama/Clinton because I know people like wolfson and penn would have to fuck off. I hate those guys.

[HooptieWagon]

28. NO!!!!

We see what kind of person she is... as VP she'd be publicly disagreeing with Obama, and in private she'd be stabbing him in the back. We don't need that, the Party doesn't need that, and the Country doesn't need that. Let her go back to NY and be the junior Senator.

[sfam]

31. Be honest - if she gave up next week in exchange for the VP, wouldn't you take it?

I know I would, even if I don't think she would be the best choice. Lets face it, another 6 weeks of this shit is really going to damage our party. Another 3 months of this shit followed by a brokered convention all but assures McCain a victory.

[HooptieWagon]

36. No

If she continues to scorch the earth she won't last much longer anyway. People will become disgusted, SDs will start leaving her in droves (they don't want to see the Party destroyed), and she will be getting a Goldwater Visit (somehow very apropos) fairly soon. If she STFU and attacks McCain, then there is no reason she should leave, and perhaps might even salvage some dignity and respect.
In a word, I see no reason to reward her Tonya Harding behavior with a VP spot.

[meow mix]

48. yes!

ill take it! stop the madness!!

[meow mix]

57. wait, shes threatening us with scalia. f#$k her. no vp

[MadHound]

30. Not going to happen

Too much bad blood under the bridge for either one to serve as the other's VP. Besides, I imagine that Obama's going to want to shore up his liberal creds and foreign policy creds, and he can do both with Dodd.

[Life Long Dem]

32. Until she steps aside with the mud slinging she still is thinking of taking this from Obama.

[mckeown1128]

33. She has a funny way of trying to get the VP postition...

Reminds me of little kids playing in a school yard. Obama doesn't want to play with Hillary, so she responds by dragging out the kitchen sink and smashing it over his head. I personally think she has too many cooties(scandals) to be Obama's playmate.

[Crunchy Frog]

35. She would be absolute POISON on the ticket.

I pray to God that Obama doesn't make that mistake. There are so many good choices out there that would be an asset to the ticket.

[calico1]

37. I find this hard to believe.

I can't see how being VP would be good for her careerwise. She'd be 68 in 8 years. I think she has more influence staying in the Senate.

[helderheid]

38. If that were the case, why wouldn't she bow out gracefully?

[sfam]

39. Perhaps she's waiting for an agreement...

If she does bow out now, I think its a fair bet that they in fact have an agreement.

[saltpoint]

40. Can't say what Todd's sources have indicated to him, but if Obama is

the nominee, I think his close advisors will urge him to look elsewhere for a veep shortlist than New York's junior senator.

To win, he needs a significant % of the independent vote. Hillary Clinton isn't likely to draw support from that demographic.

[VolcanoJen]

66. Go West, Young Man

I'd like to see Obama put a western or southwestern politico on the ticket, someone who could help swing Colorado or New Mexico... someone diverse, with a lot of foreign policy experience... someone like, oh, I don't know... :-)

[saltpoint]

90. Right. If only there were a SW governor who was, you know, good with

foreign policy PLUS a go-to guy on energy and Hispanic outreach.

Well. We'll think of somebody!

[scheming daemons]

42. She would be absolute poison on the ticket... we need to keep the GOP crazies at home, disgusted ...

...with their choice of McCain.


Put Hillary on the ticket... and they all have a motivation to send checks to the GOP and to GOTV.


She's poison for our hopes in November.

[Dinger]

43. Fuck Chuck

[earthlover]

44. As long as Hillary continues the skortched earth policy it makes little sense

he should tell her that he would gladly appreciate her INPUT on who the VP should be.....

[Name removed]

46. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[debbierlus]

49. I think she does as well.

[ORDem]

51. Horse puckey. All her "unity ticket" garbage is just another way for

her to put down Barack. She's simply trying to offer a consolation prize to weaker Obama supporters. It's the same old triangulation politics from the Clintons.

Disingenuity thy name is Hillary.

[Sir Jeffrey]

53. Chuck Todd knows his shit...

If he says this is the plan, then it is most likely true.

If this really is her plan, then it would seem to imply one more thing: that Obama has expressly told her that he will not choose her. Otherwise, her scorched earth campaign would be pointless. That would explain why she is continuing on. She would be trying to smear Obama with the "If you don't choose me, you won't be electable this fall".

One more thing: if this really is her plan, then the Superdelegates need to step in and end this bullshit today. Obama and Clinton do not really help each other out as far as winning the GE. They both need either a national security VP or a popular red state moderate to put a state in play. Obama can offer Clinton another place in the cabinet or arrange a place as Senate Majority Leader.

[calmblueocean]

59. There is one way in which Hillary helps Obama as VP

Hillary could be helpful to Obama precisely because she becomes the primary focus of the right wing's flak attacks, instead of Obama. If Hillary is off the ticket, not only are her supporters alienated, but the right wing will focus 100% of their attention on destroying Obama, playing up the fear angle by painting Obama as a crypto-Muslim and an Obama victory as a surrender to Al Qaeda.

Will they still try that if Hillary is VP? Sure. But the Clintons have a way of sucking all the air out of the room. We've seen it for months now. Hillary as VP changes the entire attack dynamic from the Republicans in a way I think is ultimately positive for us. Let them seethe about Hillary, let them tear their hair out and rage on talk radio about her scheme to get back in the White House. She can take it. And I don't think most of the country shares the depth of their Hillary hate. Meanwhile, Obama's support quietly grows.

Hillary would be a great stalking horse VP for Obama, if they could find a way past some of the rhetorical barbs they've stuck in each other.

[mmonk]

56. I want all the cantankerous stuff to end.

So it would be fine with me though maybe perilous given the campaign at this point.

eom

[uponit7771]

58. She's kicking someone and then asking for a favor!?!? I don't know, she doesn't look like....

...she'll be a good VP to me.

I think Bill Richardson should be the nomination...

[Medusa]

63. A heartbeat away from the presidency

that's where she'd be. But damn if I'd trust her as my VP choice.

[NoFederales]

72. True. I can imagine my heightened sense of fear if she were behind me.

Has anyone ever been killed to further someone else's ambition, or to push an agenda that otherwise would be difficult to attain? Despite whatever someone's rhetoric might object to this POV, life is cheap where power, wealth, ambition, and fanaticism/ego are concerned. It's bad enough having the target painted on your front, but when the bullseye is on your back, you'll never see it coming.

NoFederales

[VolcanoJen]

64. My preference at this point would be for Clinton to go after the New York Governor's Mansion.

No time like the present.

[ieoeja]

77. Against a Democratic Lt Governor who just happens to be African-American?

I think that would be a bone-headed mistake for the appearance of the thing.

[VolcanoJen]

87. I only meant that it would be a graceful way to bow out of the presidential race.

And my preference would be that she'd lose the Gubernatorial race, too.
}(

[AtomicKitten]

65. She's desperately trying to staple her lame ass to the ticket.

[grantcart]

68. I don't think it makes any sense

She has $ 29 million in GE funds that she walks away with to put into her warchest. If she is on the ticket as VP I imagine that she has to spend it for the general election.

I think a lot more likely scenario is that she wants people to think that she is begginng for it when in fact she knows Obama isn't going to offer it and if he does she will put conditions on it that will make it impossible to agree upon. It is just another step in her effort to diminish Obama's General Election campaign while trying to come off as the good guy and walking away with $ 10s of millions in a war chest. If Obama loses in 08 she will start campaigning for 2012 immediately.

[GalleryGod]

71. If she plays NICE: She'll get SCOTUS

Where she can do the Death Duel with Scalia for the next 15 years:woohoo: :applause: :woohoo:

[Barack_America]

74. Seriously. She'd be better off there.

And that's certainly one position where her "fight, fight, fight!" attitude would come in handy.

[David Zephyr]

73. Completely makes sense. She can't win. She keeps dropping hints about the VP slot. She wants it.

I also suspect that because Obama hasn't even whispered he would give it to her that the Clintons are having the tantrum, dragging it out longer and longer..essentially extorting Obama to offer her the position. It's the only thing that makes sense as to why they are continuing on with this nonsense when they know they can't win.

I think Obama knows that the longer it goes on, the more desperate the Clintons will be and act and appear to the public (it's already begun) and that he will have a green light from Democrats to choose someone else.

[The Stranger]

76. At this point, please, just make her go away.

Make her the ambassador to Borneo, if there is one.

It's nice there this time of year, I understand.

[berni_mccoy]

78. Hillary should quit if she really wants the V.P. position.

She is damaging the party by staying the race. If she quit, then she would allow the party time to heal before the Convention and would give Barack the opportunity to make the decision. Anything else will be forced and destructive.

[loveangelc]

81. Chuck Todd said this on TV? I thought it was just a rumor.

[sfam]

88. Nope, he said it quite clearly in fact, and gave this as a rationale...

for her attacks on Barack.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

82. JFK? VInce Foster?

just say no. She is the baggage we wish to leave behind, not put one heartbeat away
from the presidency.

[book_worm]

84. She adds nothing to his ticket. He needs somebody who is ready to answer that phone at 3AM

[Az_lefty]

85. Oh, hell no! Obama would spend all his time watching his back...

:puke:

[TheDonkey]

89. No thanks!