Will Hillary's VP be anything more than a figurehead?

[The Delegates]

One thing that worries me most about a potential Hillary presidency is that Bill may end up pulling the strings behind the scenes. Not necessarily telling Hillary what to do, but serving as Hillary's unofficial VP.

While Hillary/Obama would seem to be a dream ticket for most, a lot of Obama supporters might view that as using Obama for votes with no real intent to give any major consideration to anything Obama tells her if it conflicts with what Bill thinks.

Before people start calling this sexist, I'm not saying Bill would be powerful because he is a man, but rather because he is an ex-President with reason to want power again.

Is this a fair concern? Why or why not?

[dkf]

1. no.

[yorgatron]

3. no,i think Obama will have plenty of responsibilities...

:evilgrin:

[Texas_Kat]

2. No, there's so much cleaning up to do

it's going to be "all hands on deck".

[MrSlayer]

4. I believe Joe Biden put it best.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/05/biden.vice.president/index.html

DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) -- Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Joe Biden on Sunday ruled out the vice presidential slot altogether if Sen. Hillary Clinton is his party's nominee, saying her husband would overshadow the position.

"If I don't win the nomination, the likely nominee is going to be Hillary," Biden, D-Delaware, told CNN, "and I love Bill Clinton, but can you imagine being vice president?"

The former president "is such a dominant and powerful and positive force that I think the question is if you're going to stay in public life do you want to be a contributor ... I'm not looking for a ceremonial post," he said.

Biden said he would like to remain chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee if he does not win the Democratic nomination, saying that position would allow him to make "a much greater contributor to the security of the country."

[Tom Strong]

5. That's an awesome Clark pic. Hill's nuts if she don't pick him for Veep. n/t

[Maribelle]

7. I think Bill will need to go out into the world to help bring back some of the good relations we had

with other countries when he was president.

This one fix, is major, and will be full time.

[question everything]

6. Wes Clark should be Clinton VP (nt)

[Tom Strong]

17. Unbeatable. n/t

[Tom Strong]

18. Unbeatable. n/t

[aquart]

8. Gosh, I sure hope so.

I never want to see another Cheney.

And I don't think Hillary is stupid, so I know she will not ask Obama to be on her ticket, nor he her.

As for Bill Clinton pulling strings, yes, you ARE sexist. You have instantly negated the power of presidential wives in the decisions of state. Because they were only wives. So, of course their input was never anything to worry about.

And if you think Hillary Clinton plans to be Bill Clinton's puppet...ho! ho! ho!

Do you worry about Michele Obama's input, corporate lawyer that she is? Does it concern you that Michele didn't stop her husband from buying a too expensive house that brought his dealings with Rezko into question? Surely the house was HER province, yet she did nothing to prevent this questionable alliance.

Will Michele keep working during Obama's presidency? She can't. Hillary couldn't. So how will she direct her intelligent energies? Do you really think Michele and Obama don't talk things over? Yet you show NO concern over that.

So, yeah, sweetie. You are sexist to the bone.

[The Delegates]

10. Ugh...

Just shut up.

"

I never want to see another Cheney.

And I don't think Hillary is stupid, so I know she will not ask Obama to be on her ticket, nor he her.

As for Bill Clinton pulling strings, yes, you ARE sexist. You have instantly negated the power of presidential wives in the decisions of state. Because they were only wives. So, of course their input was never anything to worry about.
"

No, I negated them because they've NEVER BEEN PRESIDENT BEFORE AND HAVE NEVER HAD POLITICAL EXPERIENCE.

[Jane Austin]

9. At first, yes,

Then the old Clinton jealousy will take over.

[robbedvoter]

11. Yes.

[otohara]

12. Gore Was, Because She Was The Real

VP. http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/11/clinton200711

[okasha]

13. Al Gore and Dick Cheney have been atypical VP's.

They've come a long way since Eisenhower told a crew of workmen to go put a tinkling chandelier in the VP's office "to keep Dick Nixon awake."
That said, I suspect Clinton will choose someone who's strong, knowledgeable and able to complement her own talents and areas of strength. It's going to take not just a strong President, but an exceptionally strong Administration to pull us out of the trouble Lil Boots and his gang have gotten us into.

[otohara]

14. Gore Was Sent To His Corner

while Hillary stepped in as the real #2

[THUNDER HANDS]

15. why not, Hillary was more powerful than Gore was

[LaurenG]

16. No, but I think it would be the same of Obamas VP. nt

[TexasObserver]

19. No one is going to want to be Bill's personal valet.

I can't imagine anyone of substance wanting the job. I'm sure they'll line up for Cabinet spots, but VP? That's going to be a job no one wants.

Is Tom Eagleton still around? Or maybe Sargeant Shriver? Jon Lindsay?

I think it could be a real problem for Clinton if she gets the nod, because I can see Obama, Edwards, and Biden all taking a pass.

[Lucinda]

20. Hillary isn't looking to be a figurehead, and I doubt she'd want her VP to be one either.

Bill has more than enough work to do with the Clinton Global Initiative. I think he'd be an adviser of sorts, but nothing else.

I know a lot of people are seeing this as some back door way for WJC to get a third term. I think that notion seriously underestimates Hillary. She is at her core a problem solver. IMO thats why she wants the gig. She believes she can make a difference.