2016 Postmortem

Onlooker

(5,636 posts) Sat Jul 2, 2016, 11:29 AM Jul 2016

Why isn't Joe Biden being considered for VP?

I think from a political point of view, Biden would be a great choice. He's obviously experienced, he's likable, he's honest, he's not wealthy, he's smart, he's a known entity, he's not particularly controversial, and he appeals to a broad cross section of Americans, including some groups with whom Hillary might have trouble, such as veterans and blue collar workers. While the fact that he's 73 is a drawback, it's not much of one. After all, Sanders is 74 and Trump is 70.

18 replies

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Why isn't Joe Biden being considered for VP? (Original Post) Onlooker Jul 2016 OP

Eight years was enough bigwillq Jul 2016 #1

We need a VP that can go on to become president. grossproffit Jul 2016 #2

A VP becoming president is rare yeoman6987 Jul 2016 #13

Been there, Done that? randr Jul 2016 #3

Beat me to it. brush Jul 2016 #4

I would certainly hope not. randr Jul 2016 #6

Why would Biden want to play second fiddle for 8 more years? MineralMan Jul 2016 #5

Given Clinton's age, woolldog Jul 2016 #7

I think she's better off choosing a younger woman L. Coyote Jul 2016 #11

Hillary should pick someone in his 40s or 50s who can serve two full terms starting in 2024. Nye Bevan Jul 2016 #8

How about Biden for Secretary of State and someone younger as veep? Gidney N Cloyd Jul 2016 #9

Excellent idea. I like the idea of Biden serving for four more years as Secretary of State. StevieM Jul 2016 #12

Trump is seventy and he already has obvious dementia, and might not be the nominee. L. Coyote Jul 2016 #10

Maybe after 8 years as VP he wants to retire? If he wanted to continue book_worm Jul 2016 #14

"he's not wealthy" wyldwolf Jul 2016 #15

Among other things it's too weird La Lioness Priyanka Jul 2016 #16

I could run down a whole lot of reasons, but the top one probably is "it just isn't done" Warren DeMontague Jul 2016 #17

Because Hillary doesn't need a VP even older than she is. Reagan at 69 was the oldest pnwmom Jul 2016 #18

bigwillq

(72,790 posts)

1. Eight years was enough

Reply to Onlooker (Original post)

Sat Jul 2, 2016, 11:31 AM

Jul 2016

Time for new people.

grossproffit

(5,591 posts)

2. We need a VP that can go on to become president.

Reply to Onlooker (Original post)

Sat Jul 2, 2016, 11:31 AM

Jul 2016

yeoman6987

(14,449 posts)

13. A VP becoming president is rare

Reply to grossproffit (Reply #2)

Sat Jul 2, 2016, 04:04 PM

Jul 2016

randr

(12,417 posts)

3. Been there, Done that?

Reply to Onlooker (Original post)

Sat Jul 2, 2016, 11:31 AM

Jul 2016

brush

(53,922 posts)

4. Beat me to it.

Reply to randr (Reply #3)

Sat Jul 2, 2016, 11:39 AM

Jul 2016

Don't think Joe Biden wants to do it again.

randr

(12,417 posts)

6. I would certainly hope not.

Reply to brush (Reply #4)

Sat Jul 2, 2016, 11:44 AM

Jul 2016

MineralMan

(146,338 posts)

5. Why would Biden want to play second fiddle for 8 more years?

Reply to Onlooker (Original post)

Sat Jul 2, 2016, 11:43 AM

Jul 2016

woolldog

(8,791 posts)

7. Given Clinton's age,

Reply to Onlooker (Original post)

Sat Jul 2, 2016, 11:52 AM

Jul 2016

I think she's better off choosing a younger man to add some balance to the ticket. Love Biden, but the ticket would be too old with him as VP.

L. Coyote

(51,129 posts)

11. I think she's better off choosing a younger woman

Reply to woolldog (Reply #7)

Sat Jul 2, 2016, 01:38 PM

Jul 2016

or man. I wouldn't want to come off as sexist.

Nye Bevan

(25,406 posts)

8. Hillary should pick someone in his 40s or 50s who can serve two full terms starting in 2024.

Reply to Onlooker (Original post)

Sat Jul 2, 2016, 12:19 PM

Jul 2016

A youngish, vigorous incumbent VP at the end of a successful Clinton presidency will have a huge leg-up on the competition. Biden is a great guy but his time is past.

Gidney N Cloyd

(19,847 posts)

9. How about Biden for Secretary of State and someone younger as veep?

Reply to Onlooker (Original post)

Sat Jul 2, 2016, 01:27 PM

Jul 2016

StevieM

(10,500 posts)

12. Excellent idea. I like the idea of Biden serving for four more years as Secretary of State.

Reply to Gidney N Cloyd (Reply #9)

Sat Jul 2, 2016, 01:46 PM

Jul 2016

And I think Representative Xavier Becerra of California would make an outstanding running-mate for Clinton. He is 58 years old.

Then again, if Elizabeth Warren ran for president in 2024 at the age of 75 I would happily support her.

L. Coyote

(51,129 posts)

10. Trump is seventy and he already has obvious dementia, and might not be the nominee.

Reply to Onlooker (Original post)

Sat Jul 2, 2016, 01:36 PM

Jul 2016

Of course, Republicans have nominated an Alzheimer's candidate before to win the election, with Reagan in 1984. But Reagan wasn't being sued for raping a 13-year-old either.

The Dem convention follows the Republican one, so don't expect an announcement until we know who the R candidates are. If Trump's dementia removes him, age may be a big issue.

book_worm

(15,951 posts)

14. Maybe after 8 years as VP he wants to retire? If he wanted to continue

Reply to Onlooker (Original post)

Sat Jul 2, 2016, 10:25 PM

Jul 2016

he would have sought the nomination himself.

wyldwolf

(43,870 posts)

15. "he's not wealthy"

Reply to Onlooker (Original post)

Sat Jul 2, 2016, 10:32 PM

Jul 2016

La Lioness Priyanka

(53,866 posts)

16. Among other things it's too weird

Reply to Onlooker (Original post)

Sun Jul 3, 2016, 12:21 AM

Jul 2016

Warren DeMontague

(80,708 posts)

17. I could run down a whole lot of reasons, but the top one probably is "it just isn't done"

Reply to Onlooker (Original post)

Sun Jul 3, 2016, 06:41 AM

Jul 2016

Generally new administrations want to convey a sense of freshness, even when following a popular administration of the same party.

Beyond that, Biden probably is a little tired of holding the world's most boring job for the past 8 years- AND "not particularly controversial" isn't necessarily the case either. I like the guy, I wish him well in his next endeavour, but I wouldn't have supported him if he had been a primary candidate, because of his long history as architect of the drug war.

The idea that the ONLY people we can find for leadership positions are East Coast pro-drug war baby boomers is ludicrous.

pnwmom

(109,001 posts)

18. Because Hillary doesn't need a VP even older than she is. Reagan at 69 was the oldest

Reply to Onlooker (Original post)

Sun Jul 3, 2016, 06:48 AM

Jul 2016

President to enter office. Just because Bernie was running at 74 doesn't make it a good thing.

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