General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsVice President: I believe Biden will pick Susan Rice for this reason.
Her experience is unmatched by the other candidates. I am in no way putting down the other candidates. They are all very good choices.
Rice worked for years with Biden and Obama in the Whitehouse. She knows how the Whitehouse works. She worked as the national security advisor to Obama. She was the ambassador to the UN. When it comes to national defense and foreign policy, she knows all the players. There is no learning curve with Susan Rice.
Susan Rice checks all the boxes and she would be ready to go on day one. Biden needs someone like her.
still_one
(92,219 posts)cwydro
(51,308 posts)ElementaryPenguin
(7,800 posts)Happy Hoosier
(7,314 posts)She is certainly qualified from the point of view of executing policy. I'm less convinced on her political skills, and I think Joe needs some who can deliver a great speech and work the Hill. Not convinced Rice can do that, personally.
Bayard
(22,100 posts)I see her as a fairly low-key individual. Non-political, and not making fiery speeches. Still a very admirable woman.
LexVegas
(6,067 posts)Mme. Defarge
(8,034 posts)And no senate vacancy to be filled.
LuvNewcastle
(16,846 posts)Shes definitely one of the most qualified and shes ready, a big plus! He could do a lot worse than her and this might be his most important decision of the campaign.
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)So obvious.
RockRaven
(14,974 posts)If that is true, I think adding another problematic adult child to the ticket would not be a good idea. Priority one is winning the race, everything else is secondary. It's not fair to her, but neither is anything else about life or politics.
She'd be a great SecState though.
shockey80
(4,379 posts)I think it's fair to say she will get a top position.
blm
(113,065 posts)and his support for Trump.
That is a certainty.
Sad, because I think she would be a great choice.
in2herbs
(2,945 posts)Klobuchar's chances at VP, I think Rice's son should sink her chances as VP. If anything happened to Biden she'd be Pres. -- with a RWNJ son getting media attention. SoS is one position she'd excel in, IMO.
2naSalit
(86,647 posts)why would that be a detractor for her? Klobuchar's issue is based on her own actions, someone' son is quite another thing. If that's what bothers you about a potential VP selection, I don't know what to tell you.
in2herbs
(2,945 posts)administration to deal with. We don't have to feed the RW media's talking points. There are plenty of other qualified candidates with less baggage. The right choice is critical as I see the next VP as being in a VP and Presidential position for 12 years. I don't see Rice with that kind of charisma.
2naSalit
(86,647 posts)This is not the same campaign world of any other election and charisma/TeeVee/rally isn't what matters here.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=13678041
blm
(113,065 posts)Her son will get far more attention for his disagreements with his mother and with Democratic policies.
2naSalit
(86,647 posts)People have become wary of the lies and the media biases and I suspect that teevee will have a lesser affect in that way. These are extraordinary times so I don't expect any of the normal bs to get in the way this time.
I'm afraid it would cause a lot of unnecessary distraction. I can see Rice in a prominent position in the administration, such as Secretary of State, but not as Joe's VP. Also I think he needs someone with better political skills for VP.
Solomon
(12,311 posts)I have more concern that they will "Benghazi" her to death.
blm
(113,065 posts)a narrative that will be adopted by the lazy mainstream media.
Every issue and statement will be run through the prism of that young mans political views.
2naSalit
(86,647 posts)And Beghazi should leave bitter taste in their mouths, perhaps they'll not bring it up.
BeyondGeography
(39,374 posts)(Hello, fellow EW stalwart!)
The son question comes up at the 2:50 mark in this interview on The View last fall; she really knocks it out of the park:
lame54
(35,294 posts)So her experience is a definite plus
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)If Biden goes for 2 terms. Plus being VP doesnt ensure the person will be elected President. Has only happened a few times in history.
lame54
(35,294 posts)Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)Blue_true
(31,261 posts)before making a decision about a second term. I believe that is wise given his age. I like the idea that he is saying, "people, I am willing to wipe myself out in the first term solving the big list of current problems, but I owe it to you to chose a person as my second who can step into the job of President at a moment's notice". To bad we lost that when President Obama left.
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)or something similar.
Gothmog
(145,321 posts)Senator Harris is my favorite but I would be very happy with Ambassador Rice. trump has destroyed the US standing in the world and repairing these relationships could be assisted by Ambassador Rice
2naSalit
(86,647 posts)She does have advanced experience with all the wolrd leaders and is quite familiar with the WH workings which have to be rebuilt immediately. She would be the best choice on all counts.
And I don't give a fuck about the pearl clutching campaign worries, they don't really matter in this election. This isn't a beauty contest, it's a matter of who will be able to pick up the pieces in a forward leaning fashion. She has great progressive ideas while following the parameters of her position. I admire her wealth of knowledge and calm demeanor in crisis. She was a primary diplomat and well versed in what needs to be done in these times, I'll take that over a politician whose voter retention is based on how they perform on the stump.
As for the others already in office, that's where we need them. Those not in office, should be appointed to posts where they will excel.
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)every other consideration is irrelevant.
Winning needs to be the only priority.
shockey80
(4,379 posts)2naSalit
(86,647 posts)That she sounds presidential when she speaks. If you've seen her in any interview lately it's obvious she has the speech and demeanor of a leader in high office. Last night she was on Rachel Maddow and her responses to questions were of an order higher than what would have come from a Senator. It's that obvious. I'll put my money on her being the pick for that. And she has a relationship with Biden similar to the one Obama has with Biden and they work well together. That is the other half of why she's the best choice.
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)Never has.
The boxes a VP candidate needs to check is who helps best to win the election. Because if they dont win, everything else is irrelevant.
BannonsLiver
(16,396 posts)cwydro
(51,308 posts)hamsterjill
(15,222 posts)Leave the Senate seats in place. Rice will do a great job and has the experience to hit the ground running.
Nictuku
(3,614 posts)Where Susan might be weak is in campaigning speeches. I think Kamala Harris has a more TV friendly persona. But to me, some if it seems kind of fake with Kamala (she laughs a lot in interviews and speeches, where I'm not seeing why she is laughing), but Kamala does seem more friendly.
The thing is, with Covid 19, there isn't actually a lot of campaign events going on. So this might make every TV appearance even more important.
But given current events, I don't think a good TV persona is necessarily what we need for the HUGE tasks ahead of us.
Not only are we facing incredible times with C19, Civil Unrest (justified), the economic disaster that looms (the dollar could lose value and then we are all even more fucked) but then we have threats from China, Russia, (cyber threats never stop) but there is so much damage done by the Trump administration that needs to get undone asap (Climate Treaty, NATO and other alliances) These will be Susan Rice's strengths. She can hit the ground running.
She knows from experience how our institutions are supposed to work, how they worked before (so they can be set right), what true diplomacy is. I just have nothing but respect for her achievements and her sensibilities.
Kamala Harris has many of her own strengths, but I feel they are more on the domestic side than international.
Truth is, I would be happy with either one. I can 'see' Kamala as eventual president more so than Susan. But I think our country needs leaders with the kind of experience that Susan Rice has as former Ambassador to the UN and former National Security Advisor.
If we lose Kamala in the Senate, I have no fear that she will not be replaced by a Democrat, so that is not so much a worry.
Kamala would make a fantastic Attorney General. Susan Rice would make a great Secretary of State.
I won't be unhappy with either one, but overall I still lean towards Susan Rice as VP, for what this country will need on Day 1 to get this ship of state back on course.
I hope he announces soon, but by holding off it does hold off the attacks on them we know are coming (Please, no more useless Bengazi investigations that show no malfeasance)
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)I believe that is one feature of her presentation that camoaign image makers should work with her on. She certainly has the intellectual weight needed to be President.
Kahuna
(27,311 posts)go off the reservation. She'd campaign for him, not herself.
maxsolomon
(33,345 posts)She might be the right person for the job, but I'm not convinced she's the right person for the campaign.
Val Demings is a Pol, she has to hustle every 2 years to keep that seat. She has to argue in the House with crazy motherfuckers in the Tea Party coalition.
2naSalit
(86,647 posts)Amb. Rice has far more international experience and I don't think Rep. Demmings has the background to be president on a moment's notice.
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)Its about winning the election. Everything else is irrelevant if they dont win.
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)especially if she resisted reform. However, I am not familiar enough with her record to say that it definitely will or not.
But she is from Florida so she may help put a key swing state in play.
maxsolomon
(33,345 posts)And are thwarted by their Cities or the Police Unions.
Every Dem still on the table is going to have drawbacks. Harris was City Prosecutor and State AG, Val Demings was a Police Chief, Rice participated in the Drone Strikes, Warren is a Soshylst Marksyst Comnyst, etc.
Dems are going to have to swallow hard and just fucking vote.
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)They all have pluses and minuses. The trick to weigh them and determine who puts the ticket in the best position to win.
RelativelyJones
(898 posts)Sneederbunk
(14,291 posts)So she is definitely in the running.
Corgigal
(9,291 posts)Shes a very smart capable woman.
SKKY
(11,811 posts)...candidates that have been mentioned in the press.
BluesRunTheGame
(1,615 posts)Shes never won an election.
If you watch her recent TV interviews she seems tough and competent but not particularly relatable. She doesnt connect as well as Warren or Harris whove both spent the last several months in front of the American People in a variety of contexts.
Biden was chair of the Foreign Relations Committee. He doesnt need someone with that type of experience for the campaign or for governing.
Id argue that Elizabeth Warren has a much better resume. Shes been extremely successful as a teacher, scholar, and attorney and was chosen to design a new government agency in the wake of the recent financial collapse. She literally wrote the book on middle class debt. She has run for and won a seat in the US Senate. Shes become an important public figure. Everyone knows who she is. She brings very little baggage to the campaign.
Her selection would excite progressives. African Americans have a good opinion of her. And Biden would benefit from her experience and expertise.
wishstar
(5,270 posts)Kamala Harris is more likely to be the VP.
Demsrule86
(68,586 posts)But...not happening.
mahina
(17,668 posts)Whenever Joe decides.
Lets think about that future with a recovered population rebuilding our economy sustainably with justice for people of color and opportunity for everyone
God help us