Posted on 12/28/2011 6:16:11 PM PST by blam
ROBERT REICH: Get Ready For A Obama-Clinton Presidential Ticket
Robert Reich
Dec. 28, 2011, 7:08 PM
My political prediction for 2012 (based on absolutely no inside information): Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden swap places. Biden becomes Secretary of State — a position he’s apparently coveted for years. And Hillary Clinton, Vice President.
So the Democratic ticket for 2012 is Obama-Clinton.
Why do I say this? Because Obama needs to stir the passions and enthusiasms of a Democratic base that’s been disillusioned with his cave-ins to regressive Republicans. Hillary Clinton on the ticket can do that.
Moreover, the economy won’t be in superb shape in the months leading up to Election Day. Indeed, if the European debt crisis grows worse and if China’s economy continues to slow, there’s a better than even chance we’ll be back in a recession. Clinton would help deflect attention from the bad economy and put it on foreign policy, where she and Obama have shined.
The deal would also make Clinton the obvious Democratic presidential candidate in 2016 — offering the Democrats a shot at twelve (or more) years in the White House, something the Republicans had with Ronald Reagan and the first George Bush but which the Democrats haven’t had since FDR. Twelve years gives the party in power a chance to reshape the Supreme Court as well as put an indelible stamp on America.
According to the latest Gallup poll, the duo are this year’s most admired man and woman This marks the fourth consecutive win for Obama while Clinton has been the most admired woman in each of the last 10 years. She’a topped the list 16 times since 1993, exceeding the record held by former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who topped the list 13 times.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
Also in the meanwhile, we are here sitting and making statements like “If so and so is the candidate, i would not vote”. Wake up you people ! If we give this election, it is going to few more years before we take the presidency. May be even in 2020 or 2024 ! Country would be changed for ever !
Hope your candidate wins if not, just jump into the nominated candidate and work for him.
"Barack, let's go for a walk through Fort Marcy Park. It's such a lovely place this time of year..."
LOL, put on your glass slippers and scuttle off to your adoring BlockHeads, Mr Emperor!!
Unlike other loser NYT columnists, Reich could head up a good circus act. He’s certainly no better at being a political pundit than he is as being a (snicker snicker) economist.
bookmark
There was a time when no sane man would have a Clinton as VP, the implications being obvious.
There is plenty of time for this scenario to play out. This switch can be the surprise at the Dem convention allowing it to overshadow the Republican convention. Plus Hillary can hit the campaign trail spewing class warfare and lies while Obama stays in the White House (for a change) pretending to be a bipartisan statesman above the fray. The PR spin might just swing enough independents, particularly women.
For Hillary there is both big risk and big reward. If the ticket wins, and the economy improves, she is a slam dunk for the nomination in 2016 as well as the favorite in the general election. Of course this assumes there will be an election in 2016. By that time we may have a dictatorship, particularly if the Republican opposition in Congress remains inept and continues to cede power to the executive branch.
The risk for Hillary the VP is a total economic meltdown of such magnitude the government can neither fudge the statistics to deny its existence or take sufficient action to ameliorate widespread suffering. A collapse of the dollar would result in the breakdown of the entitlement safety net. A real unemployment rate of 30% combined with starvation and social unrest will result in a loss for any Democrat remotely connected with the administration. Of course if Obama declares a national emergency and takes on dictatorial powers, she also loses her chance to rule. Finally, if she runs as VP, and the ticket loses big in 2012, the Dems will be looking for fresh and untainted faces in 2016. Hillary has never lost an election and there is a definite handicap going into 2016 having been number 2 on a losing ticket in 2012.
Hillary’s safest path may be to stay in place as SOS. If Obama loses the election, due to the poor economy, Hillary can tour the country for four years supporting Dem candidates and promoting her book about her many foreign policy accomplishments. As long as she doesn’t bash Obama directly she’ll have the black vote going into the 2016 primaries. In 2016 she can be the “historical” candidate, potentially the first female President. She can run as the experienced candidate touting her foreign policy and legislative accomplishments (whatever the spinmeisters choose to tout). Plus the press will have spent 4 years tearing down the Republican incumbent who may have the misfortune of holding the bag when the dollar collapses.
Should Hillary remain SOS and Obama win reelection, she will have the option of staying on the team and claiming to be part of the turnaround if the economy improves. She will also have the option of gracefully exiting her position and distancing herself from Obama if the economy continues to decline. Running in 2016 as former SOS she can claim no involvement in Obama’s economic policies.
In 2016 she will be 69 years old so she likely won’t be considered a viable candidate in 2020 unless she is the incumbent. 2016 is her last chance so she should only take the VP slot if she is confident the ticket will win and that the economy will improve greatly or Obama won’t complete his second term.
The safe play is for Hillary to stay SOS. If she moves to the VP slot in 2012 it likely signals she believes the ticket will win with her on it and she knows Obama will leave his post early in the second term. The Clinton’s certainly know all of the dirty secrets.
Perhaps the fix is already in. The party elites may have already told Obama he will lose his reelection bid based on current trends. With Hillary on the ticket he will almost certainly win, thereby saving face. Hillary’s price to run is Obama resigning early in the second term, perhaps to move to the Secretary General of the UN or Ginsberg’s slot on the Supreme Court. If Obama chooses not to play the Clinton’s, with the blessing of the powers behind the curtain, will release the real dirt on Obama and he will go down in disgrace. He and Michelle can choose between ruin or the good life on someone else’s terms.
Michelle has definitely been behaving as though she is very unhappy while she’s been enjoying the perks of the office like there is no tomorrow. Barack has been behaving more like a figurehead than someone truly engaged in his role. Perhaps we are seing two egos who have been backed into a corner and have been told to swallow the medicine. If so they are just going through the motions as puppets while their masters move the real players into position. If Hillary is the VP candidate a vote for Obama in 2012 is likely a vote for Hillary in 2013.
Trial balloon...
I predicted this two years ago, Bobby.
Naah, frame the first Wookie. Frame her up good and tight. Can't you see how unhappy and disturbed she is?
I guess you call that the Alinsky,Marxist Dream Team Ticket
What is the protocol/rules on someone challenging a seated POTUS?IOW can Hillary still challenge Obama or is it too late?
Exactly now tell the hillbuzz Hillary worship wackos this.
It would be a disaster - Biden blundering around the world like Goofy on a drunken rampage, making gaffes which actually will matter.
People vote the top of the ticket, those who vote for Obama/Clinton would also vote for Obama/Biden. The VP does not control the Pres. Only hardcore Dems like Reich think this would make a differenc to Obama’s unpopularity.
If Obama loses and Hillary runs in 2016, she will be a tough challenger to any incumbent. However if Bambi’s popularity drops even more over the next four years Hillary would have no chance, she would be seen as part of the reason for al lthe malaise.
Also sprache Giftzwerg.
I think Reich’s analysis comes up a little.... ummm..... Short?
That ain't elderberries, FRiend.
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