Joe Biden: "I Would Have Been the Best President."

[CoffeeCat]

Source: US News and World Report

Though he doesn't regret taking a pass on the 2016 election, Vice President Joe Biden says he intended to run for the presidency – and considered himself the right man for the job.

"I planned on running," he told ABC's Robin Roberts in an interview that aired on "Good Morning America" Wednesday. "It's an awful thing to say, but I think I would have been the best president."

Biden's son, Beau, died last May at the age of 46 after battling brain cancer, a devastating tragedy the vice president said was a major factor in his decision. He was coy with his plans for months, but Biden announced in October he would not seek a promotion.

"It was the right thing, not just for my family, but for me," he said.


Read more: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/joe-biden-i-would-have-been-the-best-president/ar-BBsVn3n?ocid=spartandhp

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I find this interesting. Biden is being leveraged in the media, quite often. Many have speculated that if Clinton was forced to drop out, due to the FBI investigation, that Biden would be the person to whom Clinton would release her delegates.

We live in very interesting (and uncertain) times.

[silvershadow]

1. He's right. It is an awful thing to say. nt

[yellowcanine]

49. A very Trumpy thing to say.

[still_one]

5. Ask Anita Hill what she thinks

[The_Counsel]

15. Wait ... What?

...Or the women cleaning toilets in Kentucky who she thinks shouldn't get more than $12 an hour...

+ - - - - - + - - - - - + - - - - - + - - - - - + - - - - - +

Are you basing this belief on Hillary's suggestion that the national MINIMUM wage should be $12 an hour?

[SCantiGOP]

19. I don't know if $12 is acceptable

But it's 60% higher than the current federal minimum wage so it would be a tremendous improvement. As long as the GOP controls either house it won't budge above its current $7.25/hour.

[The_Counsel]

23. Read Your Quote Again, Please...

Your post suggests that Hillary thinks that a woman cleaning toilets shouldn't get more than $12 an hour.

You're basing this on her support for the national minimum wage being raised by 65% to $12/hr? How'd you come to that conclusion? It's a NATIONAL MINIMUM. Where does it say she doesn't think certain workers shouldn't get more, if possible? The federal minimum is a standard for the states to follow. A state's minimum wage could be more if it chooses, it just can't be less. That's what "minimum" means...

[still_one]

22. Was this OP about Hillary or Biden. I thought primary crap goes in the primary group

[McKim]

36. Thank You for Mentioning the Evil Done in Our Name by Hillary

Thank you for mentioning that millions of women's lives have been ruined by Hillary's vote for the Iraq War and her record of Sect'y of State where Syria was destroyed, causing the largest refugee crisis since WWII, and finally the Libya intervention which destabilized that country making it a playground for ISIS. There is little mention of this on comments on the net and in our "news" sources. These actions are not in line with women's values.

[MissDeeds]

11. +1

I agree completely.

Welcome to DU, oyster!

[Urchin]

13. I agree

I'm not crazy about Biden, but he seems like a good guy who would try to do the right thing.

Biden would have been my next choice for President after Sanders.

[yourpaljoey]

3. There will be widespread revolt if they appoint Jo

I would love the hear the conversations
Sanders and team are holding sub rosa.

[CoffeeCat]

10. You highlight an important reasons that Democrats need to discuss Clinton's FBI/email openly

Many on DU mock and make fun of Democrats when they bring up the subject of the FBI investigation into Hillary's email server.

This attitude--and it is bullying--does a disservice to Democrats. Good Democrats should be discussing this very serious issue, so we can be prepared for every eventuality and knowledgeable about our options. Being in the dark is not a good idea.

Maybe the FBI will provide enough evidence to the DOJ that will warrant an indictment. Maybe the FBI won't.

However--we're in the throes of a Presidential primary and election and our Democratic frontrunner and her email server have been under FBI investigation for a year. An announcement is likely very soon.

Good Democrats do not stand around like idiots, uninformed about such a serious issue. And good Democrats don't bully people into shutting up about such a serious issue.

Many Democrats don't understand that Clinton can do with her delegates what she wants. Those are her delegates. It's highly unlikely that she would release her delegates to Bernie. Maybe it would be Biden, if she was forced to release her delegates. We at least need to have a conversation about that and Democrats need to be informed.

[yourpaljoey]

14. I am guessing Sanders and CO are discussing options even as we speak

He knows the Primary is fixed and the DNC will not allow him to run.
He also knows if he can wrangle an Independent slot he will win.
He promised not do that but no one would blame him at this point in the game.


Biden is the epitome of the status quo people are railing against.
Can you imagine Trump debating Jo?
Trump will crush Biden like a twig.

[lark]

21. Oh, so not so.

Biden crushed by Trump, no way in the world. Biden would be great against that blowhard. He wouldn't have to hold back like he did with Palin, could just tell the truth and rip the lies Trump tells into shreds.

[yourpaljoey]

24. Running Joe will betray The People

If Bernie is not handed the win after Hill is indicted, people will not vote Biden.
The center will not hold.
Biden is horribly out of touch... a relic from an era that is, thankfully,
dying. The ultimate Third Way do nothing.
What are his stands on the issues?
He does not know because he has not been told yet.
Whenever he has to think on his feet he puts his foot
in his mouth.
Trump will shred him.

[lark]

26. Trump would absolutely not shred Biden.

Biden was the liberal in the Obama administration. He's the one that pushed Obama to publicly change his tune on gay marriage. He's the one pushing to get out of Iraq and Afghanistan. He's a great man and a great family man. That's who Biden is. Biden is also known for saying exactly what he thinks and not being politically correct. He can hang with Trump, no doubt.

Biden, however, will not run. HRC will not get indicted and we'll see who has the most delegates at the end of the primaries. Hopefully it's Bernie, but the game is rigged.

[yourpaljoey]

27. No bun fight for me

We absolutely disagree on Joe's 'greatness'
and his effectiveness. I will feel better when he retires.

[McKim]

37. Amen

Amen. Biden is a great person, way more morals than Hillary and he has always seen things from the perspective of working families.

[milestogo]

31. Biden is an awesome debater.

I can't think of any sense in which Trump could crush Biden.

[TipTok]

32. Trump's greatest strength is his perceived honesty and sincerity...

One of Hillary's worst weaknesses is her perceived lack of the same.

Even if you don't like Trump, folks are drawn by the fact that they believe him to be saying what's 'on his mind'.

Hillary goes to the opposite side. Even if she really did say what she actually believes, no one ever knows since her positions seem to shift so frequently.

Part of that is having decades of being active in politics and part of it is personality.

Biden has the same aura of sincerity that Trump does and would have been an excellent counter.

[yourpaljoey]

33. I think Jo would mumble and fumble... he is slow on his feet

And he is a Third Way politician.
Lots of bluster and no substance.
Trump could invoke single payer and Jo
would respond with showing off those pearly whites...
and shrugging. Other issues of import would be the same.

We need Sanders more than ever.

[TipTok]

34. You are describing Trump...

Bluster and no substance... It's a campaign of persona and absolutely no policy.

I just can't imagine that Biden would be as lacking as you suggest on policy and on his understanding of government after 8 years as the VP.

[yourpaljoey]

39. bankruptcy bill, anita hill, obamacare

This dud has no spark.
Shakes hands, cleans his teeth, does his hair.

[TipTok]

41. YMMV...

Some charm, some realism and experience, some authenticity...

That's more than we've got now...

[yourpaljoey]

42. Third Way must go away... let's put Jo out to pasture

[TipTok]

43. It's the future...

And the likely source of a new party or the new face of the Democrats.

[Scootaloo]

51. I think Biden would shred Trump like damp toilet paper

Mind, I don't want a Biden nomination. At all. But I know the man is able to throw people through a verbal woodchipper, and who better than Trump?

[yourpaljoey]

57. sad to hear you say that

you are wicked smart... I don't think lo blow jo knows anything.
Once elected they would tell him he was president of a country club,
and he would say... "cool!"
I have never respected a VP less.

[Scootaloo]

59. Again, it's not an endorsmeent for president

I just think he could kick the shit out of Trump in a wordfight.

[MisterP]

20. for two decades they've blamed all problems on the people pointing them out

those lefties are just giving the GOP ammo, you see!

and the party keeps on dumping voters, keeps on shedding seats, keeps on passing GOP bills "because we had no other choice," keeps on abandoning states to the Gohmerts of the country, because it's unable to realize it's doing anything wrong: it HAS to be those dang grumblers who PERSIST in pointing out these problems!

[scscholar]

54. The fact you use the word investigation...

shows your bias.

[CoffeeCat]

56. LOL!!

Yes, let's not call that FBI "thing" an investigation!

Let's instead call the FBI the Flower Beautification Initiative! Going forward, we'll refer to the FBI's business with Hillary as "landscaping initiatives".

🌺🌻🌷🌺🌻Everybody dig!🌺🌻🌷🌺🌻🌷

[still_one]

4. get off it already Joe. You keep spewing the same bullshit. You couldn't make a fu*king decision

to run or not. move on already

Hilary is NOT going anywhere

Also, this is NOT LBN

Where it should be posted is under sour grapes

[CoffeeCat]

7. Wow, that is really harsh

Biden wanted to run. He wanted the Presidency and he thought he would make a terrific President. He didn't run because he was grieving so deeply for his son who died of cancer.

Why so nasty?

[still_one]

25. He has repeated this in 4 or 5 separate interviews. It is tiresome

[jberryhill]

29. So, if he is asked the same question in interview #6, he should say

"I've answered that question already. Go look it up. Your question is tiresome."

That's what he should say if he is asked the same question in another interview?

[mac56]

47. So tragic that you are bored with it.

Deep apologies.

[Nihil]

62. Ah ... the Clinton avatar views giving the same response "4 or 5" times as "tiresome".

A *real* politician would have changed her mind every time to suit the audience ...

[Deb]

6. In a heartbeat

Another lost opportunity for the Dems, its getting tough to hold on.

[MBS]

28. " " " " n/t

[Boomer]

9. It would have made for an interesting primary

I think Biden and Hillary would have pulled at the same crowd, with Sanders winning over their divided base.

[Eric J in MN]

52. I agree.

The votes of people who wanted a candidate who had served in the Obama administration would have been split, and Bernie Sanders would have won the Iowa caucus.

[Urchin]

12. The right man?

Interesting wording, "the right man" for the job.

[GummyBearz]

30. Yes he is a man

His description of himself is accurate. I believe 100% he has a penis and not a vagina. If you have inspected his parts and have reason to believe otherwise let us all know.

[Sunlei]

16. I really like the way Biden is working on our Gov. and cancer research. He's interviewed 200

of the top cancer researchers in USA just in the past couple months.

[TipTok]

18. We should be so lucky...

Favorability alone...

Less baggage, less criminal investigations... etc.. etc..

Biden vs Trump would be a rout...

[tularetom]

38. Clarence Thomas

That is all.

[Attorney in Texas]

40. I think that this will be the Democratic Party's season of "might have been"

[potone]

44. I really don't understand why he is saying this now.

It seems that he is having a hard time coming to terms with the decision he made last fall not to run. There is a lot of ambivalence in stating that he would have been the best president and at the same time that he made the right decision. I remember that he stated earlier that he regretted his decision.

Whatever the case, it is not helpful to either Democratic candidate for him to state that now. Is he simply incapable of controlling what he says, or is he trying to influence the outcome of the Democratic convention?

[sofa king]

46. I think we may understand in a couple of months.

I used to be a Senate observer, keeping files and reporting on what they were all up to, and I can't stop watching even though I'm far away from it now. The Vice President is also a Member of the Senate. He presides over it when he wishes.

Previously President of the Senate had been a ceremonial position (a role, not an office) that was only occasionally exercised by the Vice President, usually only in joint sessions or on the very rare occasions when the VP had a tie-breaking vote.

But after Republicans regained the Senate in 2010, Joe Biden rolled in and took over.

Republicans were actually split among two deeply stupid factions which couldn't work together, so the President of the Senate suddenly became a very important person, managing the schedule, deciding who gets to speak and when, interpreting the rules, enforcing precedents, and so on.

Joe Biden is a procedural genius, and while he hasn't taken credit for it, it's his maneuvering that has made the broken appropriations process default to the President's budget every year, even though Republicans theoretically control Congress. America has begun to rebuild because Joe Biden has tossed a wrench into Republican plans to kill the economy, year after year.

Joe Biden is such a procedural genius that Hillary Clinton is certainly considering keeping him as Vice President. He's a great and energetic national campaigner, too, but it's his ability to pull the arm and make the Congressional machine come up all-cherries that makes him so important now. He may be our first three-term Vice President.

[former9thward]

55. Cool story bro

But it is just that -- a story. The Republicans did not take the Senate in 2010. They did not take it back until the November, 2014 elections and they assumed control in January, 2015. Biden has not been managing the Senate and "interpreting rules", etc. That is just fantasy.

[trudyco]

61. So was he behind ERISA getting cobbled?

So bus drivers in the midwest have him to thank for their reduced pensions?

[Adrahil]

45. I love Uncle Joe, but no.

I'm glad you decided not to, Joe. Retire in peace.

[StevieM]

60. I would like for President Hillary Clinton to name him as Secretary of State. (eom)

[yurbud]

48. I would be an awesome unicorn.

If I was a horse

And had a horn...

[closeupready]

50. Best President for banks, sure. For Americans, we'd be #2 on your list.

I like him, but that is the harsh reality of his record.

[xloadiex]

53. So, Boehner thinks this is the plan?

I realize this is coming from crybaby Boehner, but if this is their plan, judging from the comments on reddit, many of who have worked tirelessly on Bernie's campaign, the DNC will see an uprising the likes of which they have never seen before.
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/279701-boehner-talks-cruz-trump-at-salt-conference

[GoneOffShore]

58. I'd be more than happy to have Joe if HRC-WJC, Inc. drops out.

If Bernie doesn't get the nomination.

[ebayfool]

63. Question for anybody that can answer it ...

I keep seeing references to Clinton releasing her delegates. Exactly what does that mean. Surely they would be free to go where ever they pleased, yes? I can't see how they could be designated to a person that didn't run in the primaries and receive a single vote. But then again, the DNC has thrown some shitballs that surprised me as much this election!

So do they free range, or are they just shuttled into a different coop?