What if........Joe Biden wins the election in November.

[OAITW r.2.0]

Then, after a few days of celebration, he announces his immediate retirement. Kamala is now President. Who does she pick as VP?

[leftieNanner]

1. It would have to be someone who could be approved by the Senate

Interesting thought experiment.

I'm gonna say Pete Buttigeige, just because it would make the righties' heads explode!

[HighFired49]

5. Love it!!!!

Not "just because". Would serve two purposes at once: Explode Righties heads and be a great pick for VP.

[OAITW r.2.0]

9. I wish I had a heart to give you.

Had a 100, but can;t remember who I gave them to. Anyways, you need more hearts, so here's my attempt.

[Retrograde]

10. Needs approval by both houses

Needs a majority vote of both houses. If it's the current Congress (i.e., he resigns before Jan. 3) I can see any proposed VP getting through the Senate but getting stuck in the House (unless a few of them come to their senses by then). After Jan. 3 - who knows?

[OAITW r.2.0]

4. I don't think so, at all. I want Joe to lead the Democrats in 2024. He'll run a great campaign and lead us

to solid wins in Washington and State elections. At that point....I would gladly thank him for his service - a fucking lot - and would not blame him in the least if he decided that, "you got it now, Kamala".

She's everything that Haley is not. And she's got the skill set to be a great President in her own right. LOL, and we could get a 12 year run of Kamala Harris as our President!

[OAITW r.2.0]

11. The average voter doesn't read DU.

Otherwise, they would be an above average voter.

And I'm not talking down to "average voters", I'm talking to Democrats on this board. Now, since you understand the average voter's mind so well, tell me what problem the average voter would have with Kamala Harris as POTUS?

[brooklynite]

23. Perhaps the fact that Kamala Harris wasn't popular with Democrats?

She dropped to single digits as far back as August 2019. Her Presidential campaign folded before voting started.

[OAITW r.2.0]

27. Fascinating post.

[calguy]

30. brooklynite makes a valid point

She's wildly popular in California, and she was a superb Senator. But she fell flat on the national stage, and didn't even last until the first primary. I don't think that perception her has changed. I love her, but we have much better candidates on our bench than she'll ever be.

[OAITW r.2.0]

34. Nope. do not buy. KH has played the VP role Biden has asked.

She has the the experience - read her resume - to be the best VP -> POTUS. She is this good. Pure speculation, of course, but I'd love to see this scenario play out. Because it's now KH against who exactly? Donald Trump. Jr.?

[calguy]

58. I don't think we'll get a chance to find out for another four years

We can have a friendly disagreement, but the scenario you laid out is purely hypothetical, with almost zero chance of happening, so a little speculation doesn't do any harm.

[ITAL]

20. No, she couldn't serve 12 years

If a VP takes over from a deceased or retired President, the most they can serve is ten.

[OAITW r.2.0]

28. So we'd have an off-year Presidential election?

[ITAL]

37. No

Part of Section 1 of the 22nd Amendment:

No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.

Basically if a President dies or resigns within the first two years of their term and the VP becomes President they can only serve one full term of their own. However, if the 2 year mark has been passed, then two full terms of their own can happen.

Hypothetical Example: Biden takes office January 20th 2025 and dies July of that year. Harris can serve out remainder of the term plus one more.

However, if the Biden makes it to January 21st of 2027, then Harris can serve the remainder of that term plus two more of her own.

[OAITW r.2.0]

38. Thanks, This is why I love DU.

Smarter people always set me straight.

[calimary]

3. Hmmmm... dunno.

But I think at least he’ll win in November.

[brush]

7. Fascinating. I like the thought. Republican heads would explode.

Last edited Tue Feb 13, 2024, 11:16 PM - Edit history (1)

Maybe AOC as VP? No, that would be too much as heart attacks on the right would be nationwide.

I'd go with a white, male Dem from a battleground state.

[OAITW r.2.0]

15. Makes you think, though, hey brush?

Maybe 2 women...because abortion rights are human rights and I trust women to run this country competently into the future. Would be an awesome statement to business and that culture as well.

71 YO white guy with a lifetime of observations.

[brush]

16. I'm not against that, but I wanna hedge my bets a bit so we're sure we win in Nov.

[calguy]

32. There's an excellent woman governor in Michigan I'd rather see in the Oval Office.

[Polybius]

8. Historians would say that he deceived the public by not telling the American people before the election

I don't want his legacy tarnished one bit.

[ecstatic]

12. Oh that's easy... Gavin Newsome for sure.

OR she could really make magat heads explode by choosing Cory Booker. I call that the double down ticket.

[Celerity]

29. Newsom is not an option, (unless he was going to challenge Harris in the 2028 midterms), as he cannot

recieve any of CA's massive amount of Electoral votes for VP ( because if he runs as Harris's VP in 2028, they are from the same state so electors cannot vote for both, and they will obvisively choose POTUS).

We would end up with a Rethug VP, more than likely, as they likely retake the Seante in 2024.

[Wounded Bear]

13. If at all, not before 2025, after the mid terms...

That way, Ms Harris could get two full terms herself.

[tritsofme]

14. I might as well say that she should just pick my wife. Pretty silly, Biden would never do this.

God willing, Biden will serve a full second term.

I look forward to a competitive Democratic presidential primary in 2028.

[OAITW r.2.0]

18. What if Joe really wants to retire?

Are you demanding that he serve his term out? Gotta problem with Kamala? I don't.

[tritsofme]

31. I don't believe President Biden would deceive voters in such a way.

I don’t think he would run if he did not intend to serve an entire term.

I think Harris has done a great job as VP, but there are other Democrats I would much prefer to serve as our 47th president.

[OAITW r.2.0]

35. You think it's deception? I think it is Joe leading us to the 2024 World Series....then decides to call it a career.

You are only deceived if you don't consider this a reality option for Joe.

[tritsofme]

46. Has he not stated publicly multiple times that he intends to serve a full term?

[OAITW r.2.0]

47. I would think so.

And I will believe it until he decides to retire.

[tritsofme]

48. Unless there is an unexpected health issue that forces his hand, I see no reason he would leave the presidency.

I’m not even sure what the point of such a discussion is? Assuming that President Biden is lying about his intentions? Why?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

17. Me!

[Takket]

19. okay hear me out on this.......

medical science combines Pete Buttigieg and his husband's DNA to make fertilized egg. that egg is implanted in Hillary's womb and she carries and gives birth to the child. THAT child is made VP next year.

Every rethug dies in horror lol

[OAITW r.2.0]

21. I am not nearly drunk enough to understand your point.

But keep the comments coming!

[Retrograde]

50. Have to be at least 35

to be VP, so no

Then there’s the question whether a child conceived and born this way is a “natural born citizen”: I can see Republican heads trying to find a way to disqualify this child before it takes its first breath

[brooklynite]

22. Why would he?

[OAITW r.2.0]

24. Why wouldn't he? He goes out on top. Then exits knowing Kamala Harris can handle the Office,

Lead us to victory, Joe and then enjoy a well deserved retirement. Republicans tried to destroy you, but you were so much better than these sick fucks.

[brooklynite]

25. Why wouldn't he? Because he believes he's the best person to be President for the next four years.

If he didn't, he wouldn't be running. And "owning the conservatives" isn't a thing serious Democrats do.

I'll go one further. Biden won't endorse Harris for 2028. He'll support an open field of candidates.

[OAITW r.2.0]

26. OK, point noted.

[highplainsdem]

33. Really don't like the idea. It would be viewed as a cynical trick. Only acceptable to

most who wanted Biden if he learns he's very ill, between election day and inauguration, and IMO that would be tragic.

[OAITW r.2.0]

36. OK, so you don't want to pitch a VP option?

Total speculation on my part, but wondering who'd we'd like KH to bring on for VP?

[highplainsdem]

41. Then you're looking ahead to 2028 and assuming she'll be the nominee. And she might be.

But that's just too far ahead to speculate, especially about who might be best for VP.

If you have to have a name, Andy Beshear could be a very appealing candidate. Including at the top of the ticket.

[BootinUp]

39. Excellent bait you are using these days. lol.

[OAITW r.2.0]

40. No baiting, pure discussion, "What if"

Under my "what if" who would you like to see KH pick?

[BootinUp]

42. I honestly am not prepared to answer. Just tired but happy rt now. nt

[OAITW r.2.0]

43. Fair enough.

[limbicnuminousity]

44. Is there an option for the Clone Wars

in which AOC, Greta Thunberg and Taylor Swift are cloned and equipped with drone armies which they in turn use to ruthlessly hunt down the MAGAts before delivering them before the Hague?

Newsom would make sense but would he take it? It's hard to see him being content with the VP slot.

[OAITW r.2.0]

45. That's quite a fantasy.

AOL->Thunberg->Swift. Triple fucking play!

[limbicnuminousity]

52. I like to play.

It's a sanity-preserving technique as much as anything. Which is not to make light of your question. It may well be one of the more pertinent questions to consider moving forward. Biden stepping down immediately after being elected wouldn't go over well.

But, being realistic, he could feasibly experience a stroke or a similar debilitating condition and have to step down. It's a concern with any leader but it becomes more ominous when you're talking about an octogenarian.

It's kind of dreadful to consider. The infighting, frankly, would be horrible. The generational, economic, and ideological divides in the country and within the party do not lend themselves to an easy selection. I'd say AOC if she were 10 years older, more experienced. Really liked what Jasmine Crockett brought to the impeachment hearings. I'd like to see someone under 65 if it comes to that. Right now, that looks like Newsom or Buttigieg.

[niyad]

49. Are you really that bored?

[applegrove]

51. Way to give the Trumpians a talking point. Now you paint

Biden as a fake candidate. Biden's legislation and foreign policy has been masterful. They are his strong suit: policy. I doubt very much he would do what you say. But you do you.

[claudette]

53. Gavin Newsom?

[bottomofthehill]

54. Newsome would be a great choice but

Could not run with her 4 years later unless he changed his state of residency while I’m office. The electoral college can not vote for 2 people from the same state and the Democratic Party would have to be pretty confident it could get to 270 electoral votes before they could give up on California which is the Dems mother load of votes.

[claudette]

56. I didn't know that

I really like him and even fantasized that Biden would pick him as VP this time. Even though i kniw he wouldn't. I really like Kamala too.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

55. That's RW talking point, but Biden is honorable enough to not pull a bait-and-switch

Please don't push it here, even speculatively or joking.

J.P. Morgan Analyst Predicts Timing of When Biden Will Drop Out, How He Will Be Replaced
2024-01-08, · 30 of 30
Soul of the South to SeekAndFind
The pardon of Joe and Hunter, and its timing, also has to be dealt
with. Perhaps Joe resigns, Kamala assumes office. She pardons Hunter,
Joe, and possible others who may be in jeopardy under a Republican
administration (Majorkas, Wray, Garland). She then announces she isn’t
running. The DNC puts Newsomeforward as the POTUS candidate and a
minority or female becomes the VP candidate. Here’s a long shot on a
historic “bipartisan” ticket — Newsom for POTUS and Nikki Haley as VP
to run against Trump.

Democrats don't have many options if they want to replace Biden
2024-02-10, · 27 of 29
FlingWingFlyer to MinorityRepublican
Barry Soetoro already has his option made up and he’ll be running Big
Mike, his main squeeze.

[Shrek]

57. Hillary Clinton

Once she's confirmed, Harris resigns and Clinton becomes the second female President.

Clinton then nominates Harris to be her VP.