Bob Woodward Revives Obama-Clinton 2012 Murmurs

[indimuse]

Source: The Huffington Post

Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward took it upon himself Tuesday to revive rumors of a potentially astounding White House scenario -- a Barack Obama-Hillary Clinton 2012 presidential ticket.

"It's on the table," Woodward told CNN's John King in an interview set to air Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET.

According to Woodward, there have been political calculations about the seemingly unlikely undertaking, which would allow Clinton to trade jobs with Vice President Joe Biden, making him the Secretary of State

Read::
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/05/obama-clinton-2012-woodward_n_751482.html

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/05/obama-clinton-2012-woodward_n_751482.html

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hmmm..

[Ken Burch]

1. Don't tell me...Woodward heard it from John Belushi, in gym class in '67

While Belushi was towel-whipping him in the locker room.

:eyes:

[babylonsister]

2. I find it hard to believe that a man who controlled so much

of his message during the primaries would share that with Woodward. Having said that, that ticket would make a lot of people mad, and a lot of people happy.

[indimuse]

3. I think your'e right

about making some happy and NOT... hehe.. ;)

[Ken Burch]

4. Which, in your view, would be the larger group?

The ecstatic or the enraged?

And does it not strike you that, in all this "Hillary on the ticket" talk, that there's at least a veiled threat(thinly-veiled at that) of mass refusal to back Obama in 2012 among HRC/DLC types if they DON'T get their way on this?

[leftynyc]

13. I don't see any threat there

Where on earth do you see even a veiled threat? (although you outted yourself nicely as part of the camp that would be pissed about it).

[No Elephants]

10. Nothing inconsistent about using a third party to float a trial balloon and controlling your message

Not saying that's what happened. Just making a general observation about your comment.

[karynnj]

15. It seems he referred to "Hillary advisers" as the source

So, that might indicate who is floating balloons.

[Hubert Flottz]

5. Why would anybody tell that right wing hack anything?

I trust Bob about as far as I would Dick Cheney.

[tulsakatz]

6. I'm reading Game Change (about the '08 election)

...when the democrats realized the nominee would be Obama, it was discussed that he might select Hillary to be VP. Her response was, why would I do that? I already had that job.....the point was that when Bill was President, she and Gore both did the work of VP
I don't know if her answer would be different now but it still gives people something to talk about for a couple of years...

[stlsaxman]

7. reflects on her hubris- that was Al Gore's job!

[wmbrew0206]

22. Pretty much in name only. Gore had the cerimonial duties but who do you think the last

person the Big Dog talked to about any major decision?

[tulsakatz]

24. yep! now we know why she claimed she had so much experience.....

...because apparently she had experience as VP although she couldn't claim that much experience because she didn't have the title of VP....

[karynnj]

33. That is rarely the VP's job. Most VPs are chosen for political reasons

They are close advisers only if the President respects their opinion.

[tulsakatz]

23. it was Gore's job......

...but the book makes it sound like Clinton consulted Hillary before Gore. It also said that it created some tension between Gore and the Clintons. I can see why, I wouldn't like that either if I were Gore.

[wmbrew0206]

27. I think the fact Bill and Hillary were so close was the reason Gore had a set of demands before

taking the VP spot on the ticket. One of them was a lunch with Clinton every week.

There was also a rumor of there being a dust up between Bill and Hillary about who would get the traditional office that belong to the VP. Supposedly Hillary wanted it but Gore refused to give it up and Hillary was not happy about it. Gore had to fight to keep to have the traditional influence that a VP normally has.

[tulsakatz]

28. that sounds right.......

I haven't read a lot of info about Gore's issues with the Clintons. This book has some brief info about it but only to state that there were various conflicts between Gore and Hillary. And it was one reason why Gore did not want to endorse Hillary's campaign.

[roesch]

20. balloons?

Actually I think this is a good idea as it prepares for a Palin ticket, and as much as I like Joe, he can go.

[karynnj]

32. Actually she didn't

The VP's job is to break ties in the Senate, to swear in Senators, to be part of the cabinet and attend meetings and to become President if the President can't - Hillary had none of these functions. Al Gore did.

[groundloop]

8. I just find it hard to believe Woodward anymore.

Once upon a time I considered him credible, but now he's coming across as a sensationalist. I just don't buy it.

[madrchsod]

9. ya right..

hillary`s ego and power is that large that she`d could biden and become vice president?

bobby is really craving attention.

[No Elephants]

11. Why would this be "astounding?" Mrs. Biden said on national TV

that Obama called Biden (then sitting in a dentist's chair, no less) and told Biden that he (Obama) was going to offer Biden and Hillary the VP and SOS slots and he (Biden) had first pick. However, she (Mrs. Biden) had objected to Biden's traveling as much as an SOS must (and Hillary has said how tiring the travel has been). Moreover, Biden said, while he was still in the primary debates, that he would not take the job of VP. However, when the interviewer asked, "How about SOS?" Biden said only "Oh, well, SOS....", as though SOS did appeal to him.

Mrs. Biden's relating that publicly at the time was considered a blooper.

As to what Hillary or Mrs. Biden or anyone said four years ago, things change (as witness, Biden is VP).

Not saying Woodward is honest, or that the switch will happen, just saying that, if it did, no one has much reason to be astounded.

[karynnj]

34. Your memory is a bit off - here is the account of the statement you are speaking of

Jill spoke of her husband having the choice of SoS or VP. There is NOTHING saying that Clinton would get the one he didn't choose. The fact is that if this was a real choice, not an early feeler to see what he would consider, it would have been asked at the point that Obama wanted him for VP. Clinton was NEVER vetted for VP, so it is very unlikely that she would have gotten it if Biden did not want it.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/01/jill-biden-tell.html

[bluestateguy]

12. There is a kernel of the possibility

I don't see it as likely, but I think it would be a good move, and I would be shocked if it never came up as an idea.

[INdemo]

16. No it would not be a good move..An insult to Biden and that will never happen

Its all about a f__kng Repuke mouthing off on a Right Wing leaning network...remember Woodward is making all the rounds selling his new book..
All these phony polls,all the speculation about how unpopular Obama is.....all the speculation about how the Democrats will lose the majority etc,etc..is all exaggerated and began on Jan 20 2009..

[zipplewrath]

14. Makes little sense

If they were going to do something like this, it would seem it would be connected to setting up the 2016 candidate. I don't see Biden OR Hillary as particularly prime candidates for 2016. Hillary probably won't stay in SoS forever, so a more likely switch would be to put Biden in, and bring in someone to be positioned as the 2016 candidate.

[Hokie]

17. Why wouldn't Hillary be a prime candidate for 2016?

I have thought this was the scenario that would play out from the day Barack Obama picked Hillary as SoS. If Obama's re-election looks like a slam dunk I think Biden may stay on the ticket then step down for Hillary to be appointed around 2014.

[zipplewrath]

18. To what end?

If it is just a case of Biden wanting a "real job", fine. But Hillary isn't going to be a strong candidate in 2016. She'll be too old. She'll be the person that lost last time. She'll be a walking reminder of "last century" not to mention blue dresses and a failed HCR effort. She tried, she lost, and it's going to be 8 years later. Too much young talent coming up, especially if the dems hold onto congress. Throw in some young govenors coming up, and she'd be a fairly weak candidate.

[DeadEyeDyck]

29. Hillary will challenge

Obama in 12

[wmbrew0206]

31. Hillary will be 71 in '16. There were all kinds of worries about McCain being too old at 72, so

you could expect the same worries about Hillary. There is also the unfair but widely mentioned idea that the country will vote for a "distinguish" looking 70 year old man but not a 70 year old woman who looks "old." Hillary's age in '16 was thought to be an issue about why she kept fighting so hard for the nomination rather than just dropping out and fighting another day. If I remember some rethug stated he believed that the Clinton's would campaign for Obama and then vote for McCain. The idea was that Hillary had a better shot of defeating a one term John McCain in '12 than a new field in '16.

There is also the issue of the historic trends where the White House normally switches parties after a two term POTUS.

[disndat]

19. Far fetched,

but it may help Woodward sell a few books.

[elleng]

21. Damn.

stfu, everyone.

(I repeat myself.)

[Iowa]

25. Franken, Kucinich, Grayson... in 2012.

32 years of corporate control of government is enough. No more Republican corporatists. No more DLC corporatists.

[aquart]

26. I'm very happy with Biden and I didn't think I would be.

[hollowdweller]

35. Really. He seems to the left of both Clinton and Obama

On the other hand he does seem to have a good grip on Foreign Policy.

[independent_voter]

30. in the oval office

Hillary: "Ok, I have the plans for the "Clinton Obama" banners

Obama: "Obama Clinton"

Hillary: "oh....uh....right.....Obama Clinton"

[pipoman]

37. When I saw your subject line

I thought the message was going to be something about a blue dress..

[pipoman]

36. Oh gawd...

[NashVegas]

38. What An Asshole