Dear V.P. Biden, don't

[question everything]

I love you dearly and you were my choice in 1988 (yes, I am an old boomer) and in 2008 before you left.

But please do not join the campaign now.

Why? Because, at least since the days of FDR, sitting vice presidents do not win or if they do - like Bush Sr. - they last only one term. (Perhaps this is all you want, though).

Even when vice presidents ascend the presidency after sad circumstances - Truman, Johnson - they win on their own but then decide, under different circumstances, not to seek a second term knowing that they would lose.

You've had a wonderful life in public office, do you really want to end it with a very real possibility of losing?

There are so many things that you can do after your term ends. You can pick up where Jimmy Carter is leaving; you can be the U.S. or the U.N ambassador to try to resolve the refugees problems; you can - this is my favorite - travel the country and recruit young Democrats to enter public office and to be recognized nationally. Sadly, our current candidates, and this will include you, resemble a delegation of AARP (yes, I'd would be included..) I am envious of the Republicans with so many candidates in their 40s and 50s.

Yes, many here mention the Castro brothers, but how many voters, who are not political junkies, ever heard of them?

And, in your case, you really could retire to tend to your family. To be there for your grandchildren after the terrible loss of their father.

Affectionately,

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. You are absolutely right! n/t

[Dems to Win]

2. I like your idea that Joe should recruit young Democrats to run for office nt

[morningfog]

3. Biden, run and focus on SC.

Sanders can take Iowa and NH. A loss in SC would end Hillary's campaign and save us from what would come.

Let the chips fall from there.

[restorefreedom]

4. it is hard

to argue any points made here....he has earned a peaceful retirement. and i do believe he could jazz up the young dems

he could do a lot of good

my guess is he is not going to run

[Cartoonist]

5. I can't believe he'd run.

He's had eight years to think and plan for a run. Hillary's been busy doing just that, which is a good thing.

All of a sudden he's going to run? Only if the nomination were guaranteed, and it isn't.

[artislife]

6. Maybe he thought he would run, then Beau got ill...

Let's face it, it wasn't a sudden death but a slow one. This suckerpunched the whole family for more than a year...who knows how long. So he could have been planning all along to run after President Obama's second term.

[WheelWalker]

7. I completely disagree. He will win the nomination and the election.

It is time for Biden.

[longship]

8. Well, I don't think he's going to run.

The newsies are flapping their gums, but that is meaningless, as always.

[question everything]

17. Too much or too little association with the Obama administration

I should have added this in my original post.

The reason why sitting V.P.s do not win is that for 7 years they are in the background of the president. All of a sudden they have to come with their own agenda. And they have to decide how much they want to be associated with the current president.

Notwithstanding most of us here, many voters loved Reagan and voted for Bush hoping for a third Reagan term.

Obama's popularity is low now, and no one knows what crises will face him in the next year.

Now one reason why many speculate about Biden's run is that he has been traveling the country praising accomplishments by Obama and adding that he has been part of it. But at some point will he be sure that most voters, or even most Democrats, want an Obama third term? Or how much of a third term? Based on opinions here, many are disappointed with Obama.

[Garrett78]

9. Biden would hurt Clinton, Sanders and the Democratic Party as a whole.

Last edited Mon Sep 21, 2015, 05:55 AM - Edit history (1)

From a progressive standpoint, Biden is even more objectionable than Clinton and his entering the race isn't likely to enable Sanders to get the nomination even if he would undoubtedly pull more support from Clinton than from Sanders. It would just mean we end up with Clinton or Biden. Just look at where the first 30 or so primaries/caucuses are; Sanders will do well in a few and get blown out in most--with or without Biden in the race.

Furthermore, Biden entering the race sends the signal that even Democrats don't believe Clinton is electable, which could haunt the person who is still a heavy favorite to be the Dem nominee. This is why the Clintons have been reportedly agitated by the Biden talk, and probably why the Clinton campaign announced (as a show of muscle/invulnerability) their super delegate total shortly after the Biden talk began.

I suppose the only argument for Biden is that he may, in fact, be more electable (and is certainly less polarizing) than Clinton. But I have to believe that Clinton is still more likely to win than whoever the Republican Party nominates.

[Skwmom]

11. Biden more objectionable than Clinton?

Can the FBI refuse a FOIA request if there isn't a criminal investigation going on?

The way the FBI blew off the request.....

[Garrett78]

13. Supposed "scandals" aside, yes, Biden is arguably to the right of Clinton.

If you think Biden is more electable than Clinton, fine. If you think he's going to be more progressive than Clinton, don't hold your breath. And if he were to run, Clinton is still more likely to be the nominee...but she would be weakened.

[appalachiablue]

10. K & R. What a thoughtful, appreciative letter. I agree that Dems. must actively recruit

many more new members to seek public office since many in our party leadership are well into the mature age group. Suggestions that Vice President Biden continue work as an ambassador for needed global causes and spend invaluable time with his family are excellent and sensible. Many thanks to Vice President for his great service to the country and we look forward to seeing him many more years!

[fadedrose]

12. He's the only one who can beat or stop

another candidate most of us here in DU don't like, so please don't discourage him.

Our front-runner ran once and lost. Give others the same advice.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

14. Voters don't like more of the same

I think if a VP or Lt. Governor runs it becomes stale. I love Joe and he is 'huggable' but not this time.

[Bucky]

15. I liked him in '88, too, and supported him in '08. I hope he runs.

I would like to see half a dozen party leaders jump in and have a serious, low tech, party of the people dialog about where the country should be heading.

Make no mistake, the reason people are asking a 72 year old guy to jump into the race is because there is something offensive to democracy about the near-coronation that Secretary Clinton and her supporters have arranged. She and the Clinton team have spent the last 16 years trying to run everyone else out from the race. We've seen a whole generation of party leaders hectored into not engaging in the most important dialog a democratic (small-d) party can have.

I love the service the Clintons have provided to the country. But it's past time to rotate out our leaders. Corruption always sets in when the same passel of retainers sit on top of the pyramid too long. Our country was founded on a commitment to rotation in office. Ignoring that imperative now will, trust me, lead to a Republican takeover of the White House. That's one major misstep our country simply can't afford right now.

[Snotcicles]

16. I love folksy Joe the story teller too, and if I could talk to

him I would ask him, please Joe stay out of this race.This is no Norman Rockwell America anymore.
We need a candidate who's foremost allegiance is to the working class.
It's time to fight for a seismic power shift and I don't think your heart is in it.