Biden meets with Democrats, stoking 2016 chatter
Source: AP
BY BY KEN THOMAS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON (AP) Joe Biden in 2016?
The vice president is stoking speculation that he may be laying groundwork for a presidential campaign with a series of meetings with Democratic supporters throughout the long weekend of inauguration festivities.
Biden was meeting with delegates from the Democratic National Committee during a private reception Tuesday following a DNC meeting. The vice president held events at the Naval Observatory over the weekend, invited New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan to his swearing-in and dropped by an Iowa inaugural ball, prompting interest in his plans.
Biden told CNN in an interview Monday that there are a whole lot of reasons why I wouldnt run but that he was focused on helping President Barack Obama. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton remains a heavy favorite if she decides to run.
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Read more: http://www.salon.com/2013/01/22/biden_meets_with_democrats_stoking_2016_chatter/
iandhr
(6,852 posts)That would be amazing. It would take me a long time to choose. I am huge fans of both of them.
gateley
(62,683 posts)ardent Hillary supporter.
I wonder if Hillary will have second thoughts after this medical incident. Maybe it's not as serious as I'm thinking, and it won't be an issue.
For the both of them, why they would want more of the pressure, scrutiny and criticism is beyond me, but that's why they're in politics and I'm not.
elleng
(130,126 posts)Hillary's my #2 (at the moment.)
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)when the demographics say the strength of the party is not old white people but younger diverse people.
We have a real problem with Biden and Clinton crowding out the next generation of leaders.
elleng
(130,126 posts)Dems have a deep, young bench, and we'll make use of it in time. We have some well-experienced folks, and we can all benefit from their experience.
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)Obama won by energizing young people. I realize some people here at DU like the old-timers, but they are of the generation BEFORE Obama. To the voters we need, Clinton and Biden mean nothing.
Trajan
(19,089 posts)But, let's face it - Joe is a fighter ... a scrapper with an instant recognition that very few 'young' Democrats can aspire to ...
Tell you what: YOU (and others) promote a younger candidate in such a way that they 'catch fire' and become legitimate contenders, then it's all yours ....
Until then: The Anti-Biden diatribes are hardly endearing, considering ole Joe is quite beloved in these here parts ....
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)I like Joe too. But he cannot win the next election, and bullying will not stop me from saying so.
Trajan
(19,089 posts)Where ?
Joe can take care of himself, and most decent citizens see him as standing up to the party that has insulted us for so long now ....
We LOVE his chutzpah .....
You don't like it ? .... Not much you can do about it ....
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)Or to put it another way, who died and left you in charge of DU?
You said "The Anti-Biden diatribes are hardly endearing, considering ole Joe is quite beloved in these here parts" That sounds like a threat to me.
I knew there were Hil-bots, but I guess we'll also have to deal with Joe-bots for the next 4 years.
Hey look. If either of them wants to run, that is fine with me. As far as I know, Both Joe and Hillary are citizens over 35 years of age, so it is their right. But I am not ready for a coronation.
Trajan
(19,089 posts)Nobody but me wants Joe .... and yeah, I run this joint ... what of it ? .... (sheeesh ...)
Let's put it this way - You are saying you want a Democrat to NOT try to achieve office, and I am saying I want a Democrat to try to achieve office if they have the energy and ideas and wherewithall to do so ....
I say 'Let the best man win' .... (paraphrased)
You say 'Let only the man I want to win, win' (paraphrased)
You insist Joe has no support ? .... Fine - The voters will speak for themselves (once they get past your intransigence and your stern words here) ....
I/we will vote for Joe ... I/we will vote for Hillary .... I/we will vote for ANY Democrat who emerges the victor (most of us here will) .....
That will be the reality, which is largely out of your control.
sheshe2
(83,320 posts)He was energized!
I would love to see...Biden~Warren 2016!
elleng
(130,126 posts)Love Warren too, would like to see her in the Senate for a while, politely kicking ass. Sure looking forward to a woman getting closer to the WH, but not my chief issue.
Think Biden/Clinton, followed by Clinton/??? LOTS of possibilities, imo, which is why I said Dems have a deep bench.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)Democratic Party is an "inclusive, big-tent party." You can't leave out white people if you want diversity. There are many "OLD Black, Hispanic, Asian and Native American Voters" who also vote consistently."
BTW...what's your definition of a number for the age do you consider "old?"
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)Old voters rarely switch party affiliation. In the case of Hillary, she would pick up some older white women that would otherwise vote Republican, but that is not nearly enough to offset the lost opportunity with youth.
Basically, this is an insane idea, which could only be conceived by the same tired old Beltway DLC Democrats who, left to their own devices, lost 7 elections in a row for us when you consider the totality of POTUS, Senate, House, Governorships, and state legislatures.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)can you put this bullshit out there? BTW...Bill Clinton was DLC Dem and so is Obama...so that's two ---Two-Term, DLC Dem elected Presidents. And, I'd count Al Gore in there if the Bush Crowd hadn't stole that one which would have meant at least a One Term for Gore and Possibly a Two-Term.
And, to include .."Senate, House, Governorships, and state legislatures" into Elected Presidencies of Democrats shows your utter lack of understanding of State and Local Elections run by Repug Big Donor Money, Chamber of Commerce and other Outside Special interests.
PLUS what has happened in States in the past 30 years with corrupt voting machine software, (installed by Repug Operatives) and denial of citizens rights to vote through state legislatures run by Repugs making sure the "Citizens were Denied their Rights" along with other fraud with Campaign Finance Deregulation and Voter suppression through long waiting lines due to Repugs limiting access to voting locations and throwing eligible voters off voting through claiming all kinds of fraud by them, which time and time again proved to be false.
The new issue in last election was Gerrymandering of Districts by Repugs who with Huge Donations by Koch Brothers and Many Others (including Wall Street) managed to get districts Gerrymandered into such slivers that Dem Candidates were cut out leaving only Repug "Chamber of Congress or Millitary Complex supporters/Repugs) in the race to be elected.
You need to catch up on Politics.
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)solid control of the House, lost our working majority in the Senate, declined in Governorships and steadily lost control of state legislatures -- you know, the people that fixed the Congressional districts so that we can win by a million votes and still not even be close to controlling the House. These are the people that put us in a position to lose everything until the next redistricting cycle in 2020 at the earliest.
I want no part of these people. The only way we win going forward with with true progressives that aren't afraid of their own damn shadows.
And by the way, Bill Clinton wasn't exactly a win for the idea of progressive leadership. He talks a fine story today, but was happy to sell us out on trade deals, banking deregulation, and safety net items. That is what "New Democrats" do. Junior Republicans. That is and always will be a loser. Even when we win with people like that, we still lose.
BainsBane
(53,001 posts)quite obviously. Hillary is extremely well qualified. If she runs, I'm backing her.
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)BlueStater
(7,596 posts)I'm burned out on the Clintons and find it extremely sad we still haven't found any strong alternative choices to lead the party even after 20 years. Yeah, there's Barack but now that he doesn't have to run anymore we're immediately looking back to Hillary again. How much longer are we going to keep relying on these aging 90s figures? Aren't there any fresh faces out there?
Deval? Schweitzer? O'Malley? Anybody?
antigop
(12,778 posts)Fearless
(18,421 posts)Hillary is more of a strategic politician. Neither type is better than the other, but I prefer the strong voice. It inspires people to strive for better. I like that quality. His debate with Paul Ryan is a good example. He has a strong command of the "sound bite" that is very useful in today's media driven world.
Kingofalldems
(38,360 posts)Who would be the favorite repub? Tagg Romney? Paul? Beck?
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)Jeb Bush. Chris Christie.
Either of them would be formidable, and putting up a geriatric politician against them is a guaranteed loss.
Our base is youth and diversity. You don't go after youth and diversity with a couple of old white people.
Katorama
(48 posts)I'm not sure Rubio isn't too polarizing, at least in this climate. The GOP has driven itself into the toilet, they will attempt to moderate.
I also thinK Christie might just break with the GOP and go rogue.
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)I have a hard time believing that Christie could make it through the primaries. They are much more conducive to that fundie lunatic like Huckabee.
However, I have also believed for a long time that the electorate is really pretty dumb, or at least apathetic. Only about 5% are actually knowledgeable about the issues, and they split between left and right. The rest just don't want to invest any effort into being part of the process. They make their judgments using SHORT CUTS. Many simply go with the party they have always been with. others go with single-issue things like abortion, gay rights, the debt, guns, or whatever. Those people are pretty predictable, and more-or-less divided 50/50.
The real swing voters mainly vote based on swagger. They don't have a clue what policies would actually be in their best interests or the nation's best interests. They are going to vote for the guy (or woman) who seems to have a real passion and conviction about hos or her positions.
This is how Reagan got elected. Polled on Reagan's policies, people didn't really support him. But they liked his swagger. It worked for W, Clinton and Obama as well. It didn't work so much for GHW Bush, but he essentially inherited a term from Reagan.
Say what you want about Christie, he has the swagger thing down cold. Most New Jersey-ites do, but Christie is way above average in the swagger department. And the thing is that, to most people, he comes across as being pretty sincere -- not just a big-talking jerk. Can that overcome the Christian fundie bias in the GOP primaries? I think it might.
HomerRamone
(1,112 posts)Despite Biden being a lot more liberal and intelligent, I don't think we want to go there...
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)He is a true progressive and he just balanced the California budget that Ahnold left in seemingly impossible shape.
BlueStater
(7,596 posts)He'll be too old. I would not feel comfortable with a 74 year old man as a first term president, even an energetic and youthful 74 year old.
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)If she is in good health, that isn't medically too old to do the job, but for practical purposes, it is way too old.
Obama was 47 when he took office. That was a little on the young side, but we saw the advantage of being able to inspire and mobilize young people in the last two elections. Clinton and Biden can't do that, period. And without that, we lose, period.
The only possible asterisk to that would be the historic nature of the first female President. On that basis, I could see a (weak) argument for Clinton, but Biden -- never. That is electoral suicide.
Kingofalldems
(38,360 posts)BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)We cannot win with an old-timer. The chances of winning with Biden are damn near zero. With Hillary, more like 10% if the Republicans continue to be as thoroughly inept as they were in 2012/ I would not bet on that. We have about 2 years to cultivate the next crop of candidates, so we'd damn well better get busy at it.
There are some who make sense. Andrew Cuomo. Deval Patrick. Martin O'Malley. Beau Biden. Antonio Villaraigosa. Amy Klobuchar. Kirsten Gillibrand.
But they all need some time in the spotlight in the next 18 months.
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)Michael Bloomberg. I like him for many reasons. He has genuine business acumen, unlike the vulture capitalism that Romney brought. And he has some bone fide progressive credentials. I know there are things to criticize here, but I like what he brings to the table. Now, he would be 74 upon taking office, but he is not regarded as one of the old war horses, as Biden and Clinton are. I could definitely see a ticket of Bloomberg and Julian Castro, for example.
Kingofalldems
(38,360 posts)Christ (Crist) is an ex repub.
You gotta be shitting me.
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)Democratic Party (until 2001)
Republican Party (20012007)
Independent (2007present)
And in many ways, he is more progressive than either Bill Clinton or Barack Obama have proven to be. That is no guarantee he would, in fact be more progressive as President, but I bet he would be less of a pushover.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)You make no sense in that you trash "Old White Guys" in your original post and yet now want two "Old White Guys" to run for President?
You are seeming kind of mixed up in your reasoning...
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)It isn't as much about chronological age as it is about "freshness".
KoKo
(84,711 posts)That's what you said. Now you backtrack into "Freshness?"
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)I did not list them on my likely list. As far as I know, neither Christ nor Bloomberg has indicated any interest in running.
I'm just saying that if we don't give a shit about appealing to young diverse voters and instead want to go backwards a generation from Obama, then I'd rather do it with Jerry Brown, Charlie Christ, or Michael Bloomberg. Our chances of winning with Biden or Hillary are damn near zero.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)After preaching that old white guys are just not electable....
I guess old, white and formerly Republican is tantalizing to the 25 year old voters, but Clinton and Biden 'mean nothing' to the same voters?
Clearly you are in this thread to promote right wing candidates. Such candidates will fail to win votes from the youth because they are too conservative.
So you are fine with old, white, extremely wealthy men. As long as they are not Democrats. Got it.
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)I have already addressed that and won't waste my time doing it again. Go read the thread.
ebbie15644
(1,208 posts)KoKo
(84,711 posts)ebbie15644
(1,208 posts)BlueStater
(7,596 posts)Yeah...no.
ebbie15644
(1,208 posts)amount or more as President Obama
kjackson227
(2,166 posts)but I think Clinton has a better chance at winning. The possibility of the first woman president would be hard to beat.
adieu
(1,009 posts)Joe for Prez, Hillary for VP.
Eight years later, Hillary for Prez, someone else for VP. Maybe Jill Biden!
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)Hillary would be 77?
Katorama
(48 posts)for the Dems, prolly.
If Biden runs for the nomination, I'd support him and vote for him as President
denbot
(9,894 posts)Moderate or not I prefer another Democratic president. The fact that another Clinton in the Whitehouse would completely devastate and demoralize untold numbers of freeper types would be a sweet bonus.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)You Say:
"...another Clinton in the Whitehouse would completely devastate and demoralize untold numbers of freeper types would be a sweet bonus."
You think this is about SPORTS? Beating the "Other Team" and not about what what a Candidate Stand for in Priniciples and what their Goals are to Achieve as President?
denbot
(9,894 posts)I do think it would be a bonus, but my main reason is that I perfer an ELECTABLE Democratic candidate to an easily defeated firebrand.
I dont recall you ever being this touchy. Do you need a hug?
RC
(25,592 posts)And that is the problem.
It doesn't matter what the popular person's policies are, if they that (D) by their name, no matter how far to the Right their policies are, they will have a cheering section on DU. War Crimes? Only if G.W. Bu$h did it. If our side does it, it must the legal and OK.
Policy dependent on the (D) or (R) by the name is always bad policy.
denbot
(9,894 posts)Hillary will solidify healthcare reform, and is the most likely person to launch a single payer system.
GeorgeGist
(25,294 posts)denbot
(9,894 posts)Evolution is founded on competition of individuals, species, clades, entire taxa. To live is to compete. There are no alternatives.
RC
(25,592 posts)Besides she had her chance at health care.
The Democratic Leadership will select another group of 3rd Way, DINO's or otherwise non-Liberals for us to fawn and fight over, for President for 2016.
We only made gains in Congress this last election because the other side is so damn bad. 2016 will not be so easy. We need to start running AND governing from the Center or we will lose the mid-terms.
LiberalAndProud
(12,799 posts)I don't remember that as part of the dialogue when she was doing her healthcare study way back when. I do remember Rush on the tv at the time with charts and graphs. That was not enlightening. She didn't talk about single payer during campaign '08, either.
I'm curious why you believe she would be a champion for that cause.
denbot
(9,894 posts)Hillary was the FLOTUS during her first attempt at universal health care reform. As president, with health-care reform already the law of the land, she can move the ball forward to the next logical conclusion.
R Governors are helping move the nation towards single payer by abdicating their role of setting up insurance exchanges, from the state to federal level. I believe that President Obama will build on the vacuum, but it will take another Democratic president to finish the job. I can not think of anyone better for that role then Hillary Rodham Clinton.
WheelWalker
(8,943 posts)senseandsensibility
(16,712 posts)A healthy male (or female) who has received excellent healthcare for his or her entire life could easily live into their nineties. Either Biden or Hillary could have more than twenty years left to live. Both of them are completely there mentally and bring a wealth of experience to the table. Doesn't that count for anything?
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)The core of the Democratic Party, the reason for Obama's success, and the key to the next election is youth and diversity. It is not ageist to observe that Hillary Clinton and/or Joe Biden mean nothing to a 25-year-old Hispanic voter.
Nostalgia is fine when it comes to reminiscing over a nice glass of brandy. But that isn't going to win any elections.
senseandsensibility
(16,712 posts)I work with them and live in their neighborhoods. Many of them have been here for generations and are well aware of who Hillary and Joe are. Many are big Hillary fans already. In fact, the biggest Hillary fans I know are young Hispanics. The ones that aren't familiar can learn. They are interested in issues. Just as women are not going to vote for Palin because she's a woman (unless they're already repugs), Hispanics aren't going to vote for Marco Rubio if they are progressive. In addition, I find that culturally Hispanics are more respectful of age, not less.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)are saying? Such a 25 year old could not be 5th generation American? You seem to think they don't speak English, read the paper, watch the news.
For one very obvious thing, Clinton and Biden have been integral parts of our government for the last 4 years and the next four. But you say that 'hispanics' would not know that, not care about it, not relate to the work, to the people, would not care about excellence? They'd have no idea about any current events for the 8 years preceding the election in question? Ask them about the VP of the United States and they will say 'I don't know, it means nothing to me' because Joe is not 25?
Not going to type what I think of your post. Here are some people who have been 25 year old hispanics: Sonia Sotomayor, Juan Castro, Martin Sheen, Senator Robert Menendez, Xavier Beccera and 16 others in the House of Representatives.....just saying. They were all 25...
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)I never said any of that. I simply used that as an example. Young people in general are not going to have the same enthusiasm for a person old enough to be their grandfather or grandmother that some folks here express.
If you are trying to argue that Latinos wouldn't have more enthusiasm for a person that shares their background, you are nuts.
My point, simply, was that we are not going to win by attracting a few old white people away from the Republicans. The key is to maintain energy in the young, diverse population, and we need candidates who are more like that.
BeyondGeography
(39,277 posts)He'd wake up every day feeling like he'd been in a car accident. "Time left" is a great thing. Spending it on the most demanding job in the world, something else.
To me, Hillary still makes the cut at 69, barely. Biden, at five years older, forget it.
hopemountain
(3,919 posts)it make create a huge conflict for president obama. suspect he may have "promises to keep" in return for bill's support.
musical_soul
(775 posts)Make a big deal out of him if you want, but he won't even win the primary.
He's not rational enough. This guy said the Taliban wasn't our enemy.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2076564/Taliban-enemy-says-Joe-Biden-US-negotiate-deal-end-Afghanistan-war.html
I almost didn't vote for Obama because of that malarky. I had to remind myself that the Vice-President doesn't do much.