I knew it ---with Biden and Dodd out of the race - here comes Bloomberg

[jillan]

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/04/bloomberg-weighs-in/

nothing official yet - but he said this
"Mr. Bloomberg continued to assert that the leading candidates for president had failed to be specific enough in their proposed solutions for the nation’s problems. He also discussed a University of Oklahoma conference he plans to attend this weekend, at which participants expect to call for the candidates to renounce what the mayor called “partisan bickering.”


The truth is, we don't have a chance in November. If nothing else, maybe Bloomberg will keep the three stooges on track.

[gateley]

1. Well he's right about that -- other than Joe, the candidates haven't been

specific about their solutions -- just enough to "sound" good.

[jillan]

2. I know - so maybe Bloomberg running will force them to talk in some details.

I noticed that Edwards is doing a Kerry trick that used to drive me crazy.
A book with all his plans. So when you ask him about what he is going to do about this and that - all he has to do is say
"my detailed plan is in here".

sigh!

[murbley40]

3. I wonder

if Joe will now be invited to this Oklahoma thing?

[jillan]

4. That is hard to say.

Between you and me, I am praying that if Obama wins the nom, that he will ask Joe to be his VP.

I still believe those two compliment each other really well.

[youthere]

5. and I'd like to believe Joe would do it for Obama.

[dsmmom]

or at least for the Democratic party

as Obama would need Biden's experience.

[dsmmom]

14. *duplicate*

as Obama would need Biden's experience.

sorry.

[frogcycle]

18. it is an interesting thought

I don't believe Joe would go take the job that was once described as "not worth a bucket of warm spit" vs. his position in the Senate...

But with the way this admin has transformed it - the Office of the Vice President evidently running foreign policy, almost like a co-presidency...

For those who are not baseball fans there is a role that was created some time in the past decade or so called "bench coach." It typically is someone who has been in baseball forever - probably a former manager - who advises the manager. His job is to sit in the dugout right next to the manager and basically mutter advice in his ear. Mostly it is how to deal with tricky situations; whether a squeeze play might work considering who the 3d baseman is, etc. The manager's job is demanding; he has a lot to deal with, might be distracted by a variety of things; the bench coach just stays focused on the game, stays out of the limelight and makes the manager look brilliant.

If Obama were to position the Veep job as one with some authority, and acknowledge that he wanted and needed Joe's experience and insight... maybe Joe would see it differently. If that job was one where Joe believed he could have more influence, could save the world, could free up the funds and attention to address the domestic agenda - well, why would he not take it? that's why he decided to run for Pres - not because he wanted to BE pres.

[gateley]

21. But Joe would have to self-censor somewhat because he'd be speaking for

The Administration and not himself. I don't think he'd take too well to that, and I think we need his no holds barred comments regardless of WHO is in office.

Regardless of the power bestowed upon him, he wouldn't have true free rein, so ....

But we'll see.

[frogcycle]

24. agreed

he would have to weigh the pros and cons

if he trusted whoever the pres was to respect his opinion, then maybe being an administration insider would be a better "bully pulpit" even if he had to temper his comments sometimes.

As you say though, from the senate he can speak on the floor, introduce legislation, go on sunday talk shows and "tell it like it is." And if he were respected by the admin, then he might be back and forth to the WH a lot, kind of eating his cake and having it too. Veep would be closer to the power center though - or could be.

And he sure as HELL would strengthen the ticket of any of the three musketeers. I think HRC won't have much room if she's the one though. The Big Dog kind of dominates a room. Can you imagine the situation of there being some crisis, a NSC meeting is held, and Bill has to wait til after dinner to hear what happened? I can't see that working.

[WheelWalker]

6. You got it, Pirhana...that's our last

best hope. Do you think Joe would accept? The nation still needs him, as near to the POTUS as we can get him.

[gateley]

7. I think Joe might overshadow Obama -- he's an awfully strong personality to

be relegated to second place. I don't think he has the capacity to "shut up in public" like Cheney does.

[PatSeg]

8. And we really need him in the senate

There is no one to fill his shoes.

[WheelWalker]

11. He'd preside over the Senate. With a Dem

majority, the Senate would ROCK. The Big O would rely on him heavily and I think Joe would have great influence in the WH and in the Senate. Hell, it's not our first choice, but we're into making the best we can with what we've got.

[nyc 4 Biden]

9. if Joe was made VP. . .

. . .with him in the spotlight, America would surely fall in love with him.

Would it be too crazy to think he could make another run in 2016??????

How old will he be then...65+8=73,

73 yrs old when he takes office after Obama, 73+8=81,

81 yrs old when he gets out of office in 2024. Is this crazy talk???

[gateley]

12. I don't think he'd do it again -- he initially wasn't interested this time. It was

his family that talked him into it.

[WheelWalker]

10. Personally, I hope he DOES

overshadow the Big O; but, I think Joe's a soldier and he'll be what he needs to be to get the things done that he knows need to be done.

[PatSeg]

13. He is very gracious

He would step back and give the president the limelight. He did that with Clinton.

[KingOfLostSouls]

15. Obama/Biden is the ONLY viable matchup

not to sound TOO cynical or sexist or racist, BUT. a black man could be president. a white woman could be president. but a black man with a white woman could not be president and VP. I know I'm stirring the pot with this, but likewise a black man with a latino VP couldn't do it either. its tragic but if Obama is the nominee, he's going to have one helluva fight on his hands against the GOP establishment. they'll pull out every racist, xenophobic thing possible against him. he needs a strong VP with lots of knowledge and experience who will help erase the color barrier on top of it. joe biden fits all of these. it would also provide much needed foreign policy experience to the campaign and wouldn't leave any doubt that we're here to kick ass and take names.

[1corona4u]

16. I don't see Obama

choosing a white person or any other race for the VP. I think he's going to choose black person. I'm not sure who though.

[KingOfLostSouls]

17. he's not stupid

he's not gonna go with hillary. if he did, thats political suicide.

he needs either biden or dodd as a VP choice. I really like the idea of Dodd as majority leader, and biden is the obvious choice for VP. I can't really think of anyone else who'd make a good VP choice. Byron Dorgan, maybe? he doesn't just need name recognition, he needs a seasoned veteran whos not a DLC'er. someone who can really lay into the republican VP choice. something john edwards failed to do in 2004 when he should have destroyed cheney but didn't. something I won't ever forget and why I don't think edwards is a good choice at all.

[gateley]

22. I don't think anyone would go with Hillary because with Hillary, you get

the Clinton Machine, and there's not room enough in the WH for that unless she's the Prez.

[WheelWalker]

19. Ophra

[jillan]

27. -----

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[frogcycle]

20. Oh I disagree

that would be suicide and he would know it

[gateley]

23. It DOES bring up an interesting debate....who would he choose?

Maybe Edwards? They're KIND of sending out a similar message.

[frogcycle]

25. can't see edwards repeating in that role

he might, though. Frankly, if you care about accomplishing things, not just want to be pres to be pres, and you know you aren't getting the nomination, how could you turn down the #2 spot?

[gateley]

26. I've always felt that Edwards was running for his EGO. I'm sure he'd like to

accomplish what he says, and I'm sure he is a caring person, but I don't think that's his primary motivation. That's always been my impression of him and I freely admit I could be way wrong.

[Jennifer C]

28. I am praying for that too, pirhana nt