Bill Clinton could be just the ticket for Kerry (BARF)

houston chronicle ^ | 3/2/04

[knak]

With John Kerry's success in Tuesday's primaries, the race for the Democratic nomination for president is all but over -- and speculation about his choice for vice president can now begin in earnest.

John Edwards, Kerry's closest rival [and who is expected to officially withdraw from the race today], is a proven campaigner and could attract Southern voters. Govs. Evan Bayh of Indiana and Bill Richardson of New Mexico have both regional appeal and executive experience. Dark-horse candidates include former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin and former Sen. Sam Nunn of Georgia.

Amid this conjecture, however, one name is conspicuously absent: Bill Clinton.

Clinton's strengths would compensate for Kerry's weaknesses almost perfectly. Not only is Clinton the most talented campaigner of his generation, but he is also a Southerner -- and since 1948, when Harry S. Truman chose Sen. Alben Barkley of Kentucky as his running mate, every successful Democratic ticket has included a citizen of a Southern state.

Besides, people might even pay to watch Bill Clinton debate Dick Cheney. So why not?

The first objection, the constitutional one, can be disposed of easily. The Constitution does not prevent Clinton from running for vice president. The 22nd Amendment, which became effective in 1951, begins: "No person shall be elected to the office of the president more than twice."

No problem. Bill Clinton would be running for vice president, not president. Scholars and judges can debate how loosely constitutional language should be interpreted, but one need not be a strict constructionist to find this language clear beyond dispute. Bill Clinton cannot be elected president, but nothing stops him from being elected vice president.

True, if Clinton were vice president he would be in line for the presidency. But Clinton would succeed Kerry not by election, which the amendment forbids, but through Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution, which provides that if a president dies, resigns or is removed from office, his powers "shall devolve on the vice president." The 22nd Amendment would not prevent this succession.

So much for the constitutional obstacles. The political ones may be more formidable. They can be summarized in two questions: Would Clinton want the job -- and would Kerry want him to take it?

We won't know until we ask, of course. But before asking, we might cite some compelling reasons for both men to consider a Kerry-Clinton ticket seriously.

For Clinton, the appeal of the vice presidency is both political and personal. First, he could help his party win. Yes, Clinton remains a divisive figure in American politics -- but not so much among Democrats. And surely many voters long for the strong economy and economic stewardship that was one of the hallmarks of his administration.

Second, he could burnish his legacy. In exchange for joining the ticket, Clinton could negotiate for plum assignments as vice president. Mideast peace? National health care? Racial equality? He could focus on any or all of them.

And from a purely personal standpoint, it might be especially gratifying for Clinton to be part of the team that defeats the man who four years ago promised to restore "character" to Clinton's own White House.

The only remaining question, then, is what Kerry thinks of all this. Judging from recent debates, there's little chemistry between Kerry and Edwards.

But Kerry and Clinton would seem to have much in common; they are nearly the same age, worked with each other in Washington for almost a decade and have a shared interest in foreign affairs.

For Kerry, the question may well come down to whether adding Clinton to the ticket would appreciably increase his chances of victory. A couple of polls should give him the answer fast enough. If the results are good, the course is clear: Bring him on.

Gillers is a professor of law at New York University.

[Euro-American Scum]

For Kerry, the question may well come down to whether adding Clinton to the ticket would appreciably increase his chances of victory.

No way Bill Clinton is going to get near this trainwreck in the making. The Clintons will feed Kerry to the sharks and ramp up for Hillary in '08.

[The South Texan]

I think I'll move to Hatti if this happens.

I'm calling out the Hazmat crew to clean me. I feel sick at the very thought of this "professors" fantasy.

[upchuck]

Thanks for the info! Specious article BUMP :)

[stylin19a]

Don't put words into the constitution that aren't the. The words of the 12th amendment are pretty clear...and it doesn't mention "elected".

I don't think Cleland is even close to being on the short list for Kerry's VP. Kerry needs fly-over states and i don't think Max can get him that.

Also, the old story about, if there had been TV when Roosevelt ran, he wouldn't have been elected, applies with Max Cleland.

[butthead]

hillary did what

turn 1000 into 100,000 or something like that.
Im just to ignorant to know the details. I tell you what,
if someone can do that , it qualifies for economic genius
in my opinion

[Texasforever]

if someone can do that , it qualifies for economic genius in my opinion

Or qualifies for an orange jump suit.

[Stewart_B]

The first objection, the constitutional one, can be disposed of easily. The Constitution does not prevent Clinton from running for vice president.: The 22nd Amendment, which became effective in 1951, begins: "No person shall be elected to the office of the president more than twice."

U.S. Constitution: Twelfth Amendment

Twelfth Amendment - Election of President "But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States".

This guy is high on something....

Clinton cant run for vice president because he is ineligible to be president according to the constitution..... I cant believe anyone is this stupid.

[bobo1]

You very well may be right. It would be a mistake on Kerry's part, but for that I am praying.

Blessings, Bobo

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Nothing like throwing a turd into the Kerry punch bowl, to make it more appealing.

[Terry Mross]

I think you're right. They can run Clelland around on his wheelchair and each time pont out that he left them limbs on the battle filed and the media will repeat it all facts. At the same time the press will point how this fine man was removed from office by war biggots. (That's a new word I made up to indicate race. Like the Jews, they need their own word. If you hate a Jew you're an antisemite. If you hate a warrier, you're a war racist. We must keep this things straingt for the upcoming election.

[capitan_refugio]

Professor Gillers is simply mistaken about the "qualifications" Bill Clinton might have to be Vice President.

The qualifications to be President are found in Article II of the main body of the Constitution, as well as in several Amendments. Amendment XXII (1951) states:

"No person shall be elected to the office of 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 President more than once."

So clearly, Bill Clinton can not be elected President again. He and Ronald Reagan are the only living people in the United States ineligible because of this clause (having each been elected twice before - Ford, Carter, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush have only been elected once).

But let's not stop here; there are other Constitutional eligiblity standards. Amendment XII (1804), which changed the way Presidents and Vice Presidents were elected, contains this sentence at its conclusion:

"No person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice President."

So it seems, if Clinton is constitutionally ineligible to be President, he is likewise constitutionally ineligible to be Vice President.

Professor Giller should stop mentally masturbating.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Clinton vetoes marriage penalty tax cut***EDGARTOWN, Massachusetts (AP) -- President Clinton vetoed the Republican-sponsored tax cut for married couples on Saturday, calling it "the first installment of a fiscally reckless tax strategy."

In his weekly radio address, Clinton ticked off economic successes of his seven-year administration and said the course he charted "is the right path for America."

"We can't retreat from this opportunity of a lifetime to keep our economy strong and move our country forward," Clinton said.

Clinton vetoed the legislation before his morning round of golf on the Massachusetts resort island of Martha's Vineyard, where the first family is vacationing this weekend. ***

[Cincinatus' Wife]

NVESTIGATOR: During a Senate Whitewater hearing in 1995, Sen. John Kerry held up the briefcase that contained Deputy White House Counsel Vincent Foster's torn-up suicide note. LUC NOVOVITCH/REUTERS/FILE

Kerry in Congress: an investigator's rise

[capitan_refugio]

Stephen Gillers
Vice Dean
Professor of Law
J.D., New York University
Email: stephen.gillers@nyu.edu

This is the author, if anyone would like to let him know the error of his ways.

[Squantos]

LOL ........ Kerry had better review Vince Foster , Ron Brown, etc etc....before he has Bubbafucco and his Big Itch as second fiddle. Clintonistas have a knak for disposing of problems and if you stand between them and the Oval Office I think Kerry's gonna have ketsup all over the place !

Stay Safe Dan and thanks for your efforts to defeat the socialist gun grabbers !!

[Fledermaus]

The author ignores other parts of the Constitution and the 22nd amendment. It says no ONE individual can be President for more than 10 years.

So if Kerry died, Clinton could legally only be President for two more years and at that point his appointed VP, Hillary?, would be sworn in.

[texasflower]

I agree. Way too much ego.

[texasbluebell]

It's sort of hard to tell, but I wonder if his herpes is showing as well in that photo as it does in this one.