(CNN) - White House spokesman Robert Gibbs is pouring cold water on the red-hot speculation, fueled by journalist Bob Woodward in a CNN interview, that President
Obama may create a so-called "dream ticket" of Obama-Clinton in his 2012 re-election battle.
"No one in the White House is discussing this as a possibility," Gibbs told CNN Wednesday morning.
TRANSLATED: We have not discussed this while in the physical domicile traditionally known as the White House.
One of the surest signs that something big is happening in DC is that everyone denies its existence. Nixon's "Enemies list". The infamous blue Gap dress. One of the many reasons that the big eeeevil conspiracy theories pass the smell test is that they rely on this giant code of silence from the folks involved - and when it comes to the federal government, they are only slightly more able to keep a secret than Hollywood.
It's not hard to see what would be gained by Øbama taking on Hillary Clinton as his VP. He staves off a potential bloody nomination battle, adds a female to the ticket, and dumps "pottymouth Joe" from the ticket. It's a trifecta of win for Øbama. Granted, had George HW Bush dumped Dan Quayle for his 1992 bid, the media would have crowed about the "poor choice" of veep and how Quayle had "damaged" the ticket, and cast aspersions on Bush's judgement et al; since the press is demonstrably in the tank for Barry Ø it's a lead pipe cinch that all press would be fawning over the inclusion of such a strong, powerful woman.
Clinton wins, too - she really doesn't want to fight a nasty battle for the nomination, no matter how weak she may think Øbama is going into his re-election bid. If she fights him for the nomination, spending countless millions on a campaign and using political capital long before the general election, neither of them win - either Øbama wins the nomination and goes up against an invigorated Republican challenger, or Clinton wins and faces the same challenger with a divided party behind her (and a depleted war chest). If she joins the ticket, she spends four years as Veep gaining valuable executive experience and then is free to run unopposed in 2012.
If I were Joe Biden right now, I'd be watching my back *very* carefully...
That is all.
13 comments:
If I were Obama or Biden, I would be staying off of airplanes, and away from firearms if Hillary was nearby. Many of her professional rivals seem to become very accident prone.
Forgive my memory of recent history (or maybe my youth) but when has:
1) The party not nominated their incumbent for re-election to President?
2) Actually had anything resembling a tough nomination fight against an incumbent?
3) Dropped a VP for another between terms?
"No one in the White House is discussing..."
Not right then at that moment. Didn't even have to leave the domicile for that one.
I'll bet they've been discussing it. And the reason why Rahm left so quickly & quietly - without even a hint of scandal nor a peep from the traditional media.
Eye of a hurricane is pretty quiet, too.
Biden should just make the best deal he can and then resign next year so Hillary can move up into the position before the election. That way, she's VP going into the election cycle, she does a turn as a very visible VP, and is in place for 2016.
I didn't say I cared for any of this, just that if the Dems win the elections, I think this is what is coming.
Freiheit,
FDR had 3 VPs, changed them as he ran for reelection.
My opinion is there is still a long time to go on this one, while it is very viable nonetheless. It is the strongest current offering that the demoncrats can muster at this stage with out the party eating itself alive.. or perhaps scattering in to the winds after this election cycle.
I think that there are two huge factors that will play in to this.
1. If the Republicans can take control of congress, senate and such. If they don't take a majority, or if they do and fail to pass any meaningfull legislation, or repeal/defund any of the unpopular things then....
2. Yes a ClintonObamanation will come out, to fight the Retardagains. Then it would be viable because they can point and say, see they did nothing useful or you are all just as mad at them, we told you so!
Clinton will not make a move on this, shes a crafty one.
If the Retardagains stop being retarded with just about everything they have been and pass good solid legislation, or repeal things and are popular with the voters, In that case, No. Clinton will not marry up to Obamanation because that would be seen as political suicide for her and a needless waste of money. She will try to appear very much in the middle of anything so that she can play a conservative sort of card for 2016.
This I think will be the more likely of situations, pending the R's don't continue to be retardagains. If they remain in favor and she starts to show support for some of their programs and Obamanation keeps tanking, she will be in one hell of a good situation.
Same rumors about a Rice-for-Cheney switch were rampant in 2004.
I don't see Hillary giving up her current high profile spot for the less visable VP spot. Assuming a massive shift in the House and Senate in November, and the Possiblity of "One and Done", She won't challenge Obama or join him on the Ticket as VP.
She's looking at 2016, not 2012
Hillary will jump Ship next year, ride out the 2012 cycle to gather Money, and make her move against Romney's second term in 2016.
Let me know when you climb down off the ceiling from the phrase "President Romney", Jay.
Actually, Hillary's getting old, Bill ain't looking so good, so I think She'll come in as the "Savior of the Democrats" when EVERYONE (but the Commies and Michelle) will want Barry booted out in 2012.
Of course, that would mean the Republitards would have to put Sarah up, or face keeping the White House in the hands of the DemiCommies, but they have a long track record of snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory (McCain, Dole, Ford, Nixon in '60), so they'll put up Romney instead.
Of course, this does not apply if the IslamoFascists pull off a BIG "Man-Caused Incident" and the Anoited One gets his chance to declare Martial Law "for the Duration of the Emergency", as every True Marxist hopes for. But then, we'll see how many of the Mall Ninjas put up or shut up, right?
Hillary will distance herself from the remains of the the O Administration by resigning after election day. And even Barry isn't stupid enough to put himself one heartbeat from Lady McHillary.
+1 Stretch. Hilliary jumped from the sinking ship that was being a Democrat US Senator for the last two years. She'll jump ship after the 2010 elections and do the pundit dance with all the political shows. Then she'll throw her hat back in the ring for 2012 and beat Obama like a drum in the Primary.
I think most of the "Progressives" out there still see Hillary as the lost chance. (as in "Awww SHIT we should have voted for Hillary!") and I think she could fan that fire.
And unless the GOP pulls out a REALLY strong candidate (ie none of the dorks talking about 2012 right now) she'll be our next president.
Think about that? All the evil and disdain for America of Obama, but none of the stupid.
Be afraid!
Plausible, but I don't buy it. I saw Hillary on TV this morning. It looks like she has had considerable plastic surgery to get rid of those hound dog jowls, dewrinkle her face, and she's done something with her hair.
My guess is that after the mid terms, which are shaping up to be a disaster for the Democrats, she'll decide to resign as SecState.
Then, in the late Spring, she'll announce that she is going to challenge the increasingly unpopular Obama for the Democrat nomination. Remember that Teddy Kennedy challenged Jimmah Carter in 1980. He probably would have won the nomination (and the Presidency) that year of Carter hadn't brought up that pesky Chappaquiddick thing.
Hillary is 62, she'll be 64 in 2012. In 2016, she'll be 68 and plastic surgery won't help her enough in the age of HD TV. Plus she has Bill Clinton to campaign for her. He's 64 now, will be 70 in 2012, and 16 years out of office. I don't know how effective he'll be campaigning for her then.
I also agree with Jester that the Stupid Party has about a year to actually prove that they want to shrink government, cut spending, and be actual conservatives.
Obama will continue to be unpopular, more so in 2012. If the Democrats have a choice between a sure loss in 2012 or tossing him under the bus, he's done.
At this point in time I would consider Nancy Pelosi to be a more likely VP than Clinton. The Clintons and Obamanations hate each other by most reports.
I could be wrong but I don't see Hillary wanting to saddle up with Obama if his numbers keep tanking.
I think that she may want to stay totally clear of him until he is defeated or leaves office.
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