Playing for the No. 2 Spot (Novak on Hillary)

The Washington Post ^ | 6/6/08 | Robert Novak

[Clemenza]

Just when it seemed on the last Tuesday of the presidential primary season that Hillary Clinton would bow to the inevitable, she enraged Democrats who expected her to start strengthening Barack Obama as their party's nominee. During a conference call between Clinton and other New York members of Congress, Rep. Nydia Velazquez suggested that only an Obama-Clinton ticket could secure the Hispanic vote. "I am open to it," Clinton replied, according to several sources.

[Clemenza]

I found this the most interesting:

"This resentment is reflected in a private nationwide poll conducted this month by McLaughlin and Associates, which usually works for Republicans but is not connected with the McCain campaign. Poll-taker John McLaughlin found that John McCain had a 49 percent to 38 percent edge over Obama among all women. That is an extraordinary result, running counter to a longtime Democratic advantage."

[SAJ]

All right. I admit it. I simply don't get this talk of Hitlery as Osamabama's VP.

First, operating on the seemingly universal assumption that Hitlery will stick at virtually nothing to get into the White House as President, why the devil would she take the VP slot?

She has ONE, count 'em ONE, more chance at the WH, and that's in 2012. By 2016, she'll be too old (and look it) to be electable, even by the moonbat crowd.

If Hitlery takes the VP slot, and Osamabama wins (ghastly thought!), she will have to run in 2012 as a sitting VP against a sitting president. This has happened ONCE in US history, in 1940 when Nance Garner, disliking strongly Roosevelt's intended violation of the Washington two-term tradition, ran against him.

And got smoked, utterly smoked.

If Hitlery takes the VP slot, and Osamabama loses, she's damaged goods, a la Silky Pony Edwards. Very bad news for 2012.

Hitlery's only legitimate shot (well, if one can use the term 'legitimate' in the same sentence with 'Hitlery'...) is to sit out 2008, give lip service support to Osamabama, and work behind the scenes (which is the one thing she's competent at) to sabotage the Messiah's campaign. If he wins, she's toast in 2012 and knows it.

So, WTF is all this rubbish about Hitlery as VP? The only way it makes ANY sense at all is if she plans to have him assassinated after the election.

Now, while I shouldn't for a moment put this idea past her, it seems at best a VERY long shot with a great bunch of limbs in the way.

What am I missing out here? Or, have I got this spot on?

[misterrob]

Because the VP slot is the best she is going to do here. She was the invincible candidate who was ordained back in early 2007. Look at what happened, she was beaten by a nobody.

She can try to comeback in 4 years but she’s old news. People simply don’t like her and she made new enemies along the way.

[SAJ]

If she understood that she's ''old news'', we would not be having this discussion. My premise still stands: she can lose, but never gain, by accepting a VP nomination.

Therefore, why accept it?

[Alberta's Child]

I asked one Democrat, a longtime political worker and sometime candidate for public office, whether he actually would vote for Obama. He paused, then replied: "Let me put it this way. I would sleep better if John McCain was president."

That pretty much says it all.

[penowa]

"If Hitlery takes the VP slot, and Osamabama loses, she's damaged goods..."

No. She will have proved her point that she was the strongest Dem candidate and they should have gone with her instead of him. HE'LL be the damaged goods, not HER.

If he wins and she's the VP, I hope Michelle has a jagunda insurance policy on Barry, big enough to take care of her and the girls in the style to which they've become accustomed for the rest of their lives.

[Dante3]

Good points.

Also, I do not see Obama as having too much to lose by taking her.

[misterrob]

He has much to lose. She has too big of a personality to play #2. Heck, she poked her nose into too many things when Billy BJ was POTUS.

Plus, having her on the ticket means the repubs can replay anything and everything nasty her campaign said about him. That’s a big old flaming tire around the head that he will have to wear.

[okie01]

He has much to lose. She has too big of a personality to play #2. Heck, she poked her nose into too many things when Billy BJ was POTUS.

There's an even bigger personality lurking in her shadow. Can you imagine a President (or presidential candidate) being upstaged by the Vice-President's spouse?

See that puffy gray-headed guy in the background waving his arms and shouting "Look at me. Look at me."?

[af_vet_rr]

He has much to lose. She has too big of a personality to play #2. Heck, she poked her nose into too many things when Billy BJ was POTUS.

There was an article that made a comment along these lines - that if Hillary were offered the VP slot, it would be the second time she was the Vice President.

I don't see him offering it to her either - in fact, if he was going to, she wouldn't have been going public about wanting to be on the ticket.

Like you said, there's also the fact that her baggage would become his baggage. He has enough already without adding to it. She has no power left now that Obama is officially running the DNC - the DLC is fading fast and her supporters will latch on to him like good little democrats.

On top of all of that, Obama said the DNC would not take any more money from PACs or lobbyists - that right there is a warning shot to Hillary that she's not wanted, since she thrived on PAC/lobbyist money.

[Non-Sequitur]

That pretty much says it all.

Notice it was a 'he'? Clinton's female supporters will remain with Obama. Where else are they going to go? McCain won't protect Roe v. Wade with his judicial selections like Obama will.

[Non-Sequitur]

During a conference call between Clinton and other New York members of Congress, Rep. Nydia Velazquez suggested that only an Obama-Clinton ticket could secure the Hispanic vote. "I am open to it," Clinton replied, according to several sources.

What is she supposed to say, "Hell no?" If she is convinced that Obama can't win, and she's made it clear she is, then the last thing she will do is tie herself to a losing cause. But she can't come out and say that. Obama won't offer it to her, and she won't ask for it, and it'll remain like that.