Hillary would be Obama's best choice as Veep if....

Bill was not an issue.

But the fact is, he is an issue, because of his ego and his status as a former POTUS, his unwillingness to have the library donors vetted, etc.

He remains, unfortunately, a big issue.

I would bet money that if Obama was not worried about Bill CLinton and the oxygen he would suck out of the room, he would choose Hillary in a heartbeat.

FWIW, I agree with Obama's concerns: it's also the reason I have come to believe that Hillary is not a good choice.

Even though, on many levels, political, strategic and policy-wise, she would probably be the best Veep he could possibly have.

I think she and Biden are the two best picks for the counter-puncher and attack campaign roles. Both tough as nails and quick thinkers, but Bill's presence is enormous on so many levels.

Did the primaries teach us nothing?

Barb Boxer, that's the woman for VP.

constituency is going to be up for grabs.

please. First, her replacement would be appointed by a republican. That ends it right there.

But an old Jewish woman from Marin is unlikely to help Obama anywhere he needs help.

Sadly, my state induces eye rolls from many people in the country.

But I keep returning to that dream.
She's such a vicious lefty.

Not to get too fixated on this stuff, but don't forget that Schwarzenegger is Republican so picking Boxer could put any number of scenarios into play...at the end of the day, it's just not worth it.

he's term-limited as Governor, and the Senate is his next step.

The post-primary period has even emphasized the point.

if he chooses Hillary as a running mate.

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-veep12-2008jul12,0,3540067.story">LA Times

In the article, Obama had a phone conversion with ardent Hillary Clinton supporter. He tells that Hillary is on his short list for VP, but is worried about Bill's interference if Obama is selected President.

I'll support whoever Obama chooses for VP (hopefully, it not Sam Nunn that one will be hard for me to swallow), but whoever he selects there will be a number of people who be disappointed.

A lot of what makes Hillary unpalatable as VP is bills baggage. We just dont need to have to defend all that stuff.

I think hell just froze over.

Kidding aside, I still don't entirely trust Hillary, but Bill is the one with whom I feel the most unease. He's a loose cannon.

I don't think the problem is Hillary herself. I think it's the people she surrounds herself with.

People like Ickes, Wolfson, McCauliffe and Penn ruined her campaign. I know deep down inside her she's a wonderful person and genuinely cares about other people, but the outside influences she carries with her are her own worst enemies(Bill included).

As far as the ticket. It would be a shoo-in Hillary is a force to be reckoned with and we saw it in the primaries.

In an Obama administration she would be surrounded by better people so it might not be as bad, but Bill will still be there. Honestly she should just let Bill go.

Obama/Rodham 08. You heard it here first! lol

The Clinton name is not a net negative in a national election.

and the running of his administration. He doesn't want a former POTUS competing for the limelight. I would feel differently if Clinton had sat out Hillary's run and not been a major force in the campaign. There is no reason to think that he would not be a focus of the media and a distraction from the work that needs to be done in the general. I agree with you that Hillary would help Obama get elected. But, I think Obama is more worried about Bill's effect on the campaign and after the election.

the top opponents are both well funded to win something they dont have yet. Bill did what any spouse of a candidate would have done and he did a fine job.

There will be no significant power to make decisions given to Bill or Hillary unless it is approved by Obama. You have bought into another loony left fantasy.

If Hillary divorced Bill tomorrow, she'd be an ok choice.


Having Bill "hovering over" his administration is not something Obama should have to deal with.

n/t

Politically, she would be a liability and a detriment in terms of the general election; this is purely anecdotal, but I've heard enough independent voters say they'll vote for Obama unless Hillary is on the ticket to get a sense that it's not an uncommon view. The selection of Senator Clinton as VP might pacify some of her more embittered partisans who are still nursing the wounds of a bruising primary campaign loss, but the vast majority of Democrats are going to vote for Obama even though he may not have been their first choice, and even though they may not be enthusiastic about it, given that the alternative is McCain and a promised continuation of Bush's failed governance. The independent anti-Hillary sentiment, however, is probably strong enough that the loss of independent voters would be greater than whatever relatively small gains in Democratic unity were made. I don't see how this makes Hillary as veep a sound political choice.

Slim pickings:

Webb is out.

Clark is out.

Richardson isn't verbally adept enough.

Biden is in.

Dodd is in. (which is a sign of how slim the pickins are)

Schweitzer is too unknown and has a foreign sounding name.


Obama now has to seriously consider Clinton and Edwards b/c of the shortage of good VP candidates. I'd probably pick Edwards. I saw him on the Today show and he's very light on his feet verbally, good at expressing himself and staying on point. Clinton has the same strengths.

nice analysis man. :hi:

This B.S. about Bill is just that: B.S.

Bill won't hang around the WH. Does Lynn Cheney hang around the place while her husband is at work? Furthermore, Bill's passion these last few years has been his foundation and it keeps him out of the country a good portion of the time. Obama could do far worse than Hillary as his VP.

And it stinks.

So you go hire the wife of an ex CEO to run your company. How well would that work?

Scary thought, that.

Scary to have a brilliant mind, the only Democratic president since FDR to be elected twice, the man who lead the largest economic growth in US history, nearby to seek his advice if needed?

So you're the new CEO. Your #2 is the spouse of the the next to LAST CEO. Tell me you're not going to make decisions without looking over your shoulder first? That's some leadership model.

You'd be the first person to scream "ASK BILL!" methinks. Or, to hear Hillary supporters tell it, 15,000,000 people would be screaming "Tell Hillary to ask Bill!"

I wouldn't want to run a country like that.

Bill Shit. BS. And none of it smells like roses at the moment.

Besides, asking Bill wouldn't be a bad idea. The man is a damn good politician and a policy wonk, just as his wife.

P.S. It's closer to 18M than 15M. Just saying..........

Remember, I think she would make a better Prez than anyone who ran this year.

Veep under someone else poses different challenges, simply because of her husband.

Like it or not, the press would play it as two opposing camps: one in the WH and one across the street in Blair House. It would be a distraction.

They have done enough damage to too many people and don't deserve the importance that is given to them. Most of them are hacks anyway, objectivity left the house when 24 hrs. cable TV came into existence. The need to feed the monster all day and every day has created a bottomless pit of venomous pundits and fierce competition to have the "get" story, the more scandalous and destructive the better. All for the god of ratings......

:puke: