Don't know if anyone has considered this Biden angle yet, but...

[EarlG]

Sen. Biden is 65. That means that if Obama wins two terms (touch wood), Biden will be 73 in 2016. That's probably too old to run for president. Which means that like this year, the Democratic nomination in 2016 would be wide open. Hillary Clinton will be 68 in 2016, not yet too old to run, and at that point will have 16 years of experience in the Senate (assuming she chooses to stay there).

If Obama had picked a younger VP, and then went on to win two terms, that person would presumably be the favorite in 2016. A Biden vice-presidency pretty much ensures that Sen. Clinton will get one more chance to run for president (if she wants it), whether Obama wins or loses.

Of course, anything could happen between now and then, this is all long-term speculation. But I wonder if this will help smooth over some of the "unpleasantness." I gather Sen. Clinton was very positive about Biden today.

[jakem]

1. when did we assign an arbitrary 'best by' date for president?

if Biden is coherent, and has done well, why the hell not?

[EarlG]

3. Like I said

Just speculation. McCain is currently going for the record of oldest president, and he's 71.

[jakem]

9. fair enough. I think we are approaching an era when age is acknowledged to be a perception-

ill take a spry 75 year old over a decrepit 60 year old any day.

McCain looks like he is about to turn to dust and blow away!

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

8. We have a problem with our older citizens in this country.

We don't place a hell of a lot of value on the wisdom that comes, to some, with age. I think that this is part of the business culture that cycles people out of employability well before retirement age, choosing instead young people who are more easily "trained" to eat the sit they are feeding their workers.

If a person is demonstrably smart and wise, I see no problem with a few years under their belt. In fact, their experience and wisdom is an incredibly valuable resource, one that should not be wasted.

[bobbolink]

26. Air America radio is getting a lot of mileage out of all the things that are younger than McCain.

Like mac and cheese.

Aren't you glad that we're so totally different from the RW and able to stay on point and stick with the issues?

"We have a problem with our older citizens in this country."

From what I've been reading, the fastest growing group of homeless people in this country is seniors, over 65.

Where's the concern?

Where's the outrage?

[Island Blue]

2. Or maybe Chelsea could run.

She'll be 36 years old by then. :crazy:

[tridim]

18. Will she run on her hedge fund experience?

I don't get the impression that Chelsea has any political asperations. Probably because she has seen what it did to her parents.

[JohnnyLib2]

4. I'm holding my breath to see if you are called a PUMA for this one!

But the thought is appreciated.

:evilgrin:

[SoCalDem]

5. Or Biden may have agreed to serve one term

and after 4 successful years, he might drop out and allow Obama to choose a younger vp who would run at the end of 8 yrs..

[LiberalFighter]

27. That thought was brought up at our Democratic breakfast meeting.

[madfloridian]

6. The only thing that will ease the unpleasantness...

is for the prevailing sense of entitlement to be dispelled. That can only be done by the ones involved.

Don't mean that to be ugly, but where I live there are still dark shadows from the primaries because Democrats were not honest about what they did. They broke rules and let someone else bear the blame.

[MiniMe]

7. That's true, but we have to win this election

And I think that Joe helps the ticket.

[lonestarnot]

10. Yes, have considered it. But that is as far as it went. You said it,

long-term speculation. :P

[wuushew]

11. Biden is 66 not 65

He has a January birthday and therfore would be 75 by time he would be sworn in.

[susu369]

16. Actually,

he was born Nov. 20, 1942 in Scranton, Pa

[wuushew]

19. I stand corrected

n/t

[wisteria]

12. I wouldn't hold your breath. I have been waiting around in hopes that

someone I admire and support would run again- not likely though. And, besides 2016 is a very long way off. To far in the future to predict anything.
I do agree though, Clinton's statement was kind, however she has been hit with accusations that she is not being supportive enough of Obama.

[EarlG]

20. Like I said

Just speculation. I'm not trying to predict anything, nor will I be holding my breath. It was merely an angle of the Biden pick that I wondered if anyone had considered.

[tridim]

13. The Clinton era is over.

This primary season was proof of that.

I appreciate Sen. Clinton's positive statements today, but IMO it has nothing to do with what happens 8 years from now. The Clinton era will still be over in 2016.

[Breeze54]

14. McDim will be 73 next week.... I am sort of surprised that

Obama didn't pick a woman and not just HRC. There are a lot of smart capable women that could
serve as the VP. I thought he'd learned something from the primaries but Biden is stronger than
anyone in Foreign Relations and I think that's why he chose him. As far as HRC and running in 2016?
That's a long way off, as you stated and a lot can happen in 8 years.

[TexasObserver]

15. Hillary definitely prefers Biden, an older guy, for Obama's VP

A younger pick would have elevated a potential rival to Hillary for 2012 or 2016.

I believe she would have picked Biden for Obama, assuming Obama was not going to pick her.

Hillary has to be happy with this choice for that reason.

[Virginia Dare]

17. She'll be back...n/t

[Gold Metal Flake]

21. Can we just get this damn election won first?

Obama/Biden. That is the ticket. It's a strong ticket. Time to win this thing.

Hillary for Senate Majority Leader, if people need something else to to do in their spare time.

[LibDemAlways]

22. I think rather than worry about what will happen after

Obama completes two terms, I think attention at this point should be focused on getting him into the WH for a first term.

8 years ago I figured Gore was a shoe-in. He was running against a moron, a moron who is now nearing the end of his second term.

One thing at a time.

[EarlG]

23. No offense to you

or Opposite Reaction above, but I doubt that my minor observation is going to distract anyone from the election.

[LibDemAlways]

24. No offense taken, and I do understand your

point. I'm just seeing a great deal of optimism in general on this board re. the outcome of the election, which I think is going to be a brutal, ferociously fought contest with the r's doing everything in their power to hang onto the WH.

[Midlodemocrat]

25. Actually, I had considered that.

Given that Hillary got so many votes this time around, I think if Obama's Presidencies are stellar, which I have no reason to believe they won't be, that she would be a natural choice in 2016. Joe Biden is such a strong family man, I could see him packing it in after 8 years as VEEP to play with the grandchildren that might be on the horizon.

[LiberalFighter]

28. We don't know what Biden's health will be in 8 years time.

Biden might not be an option in that time. But then again he might be better medical condition than Cheney. But being VP doesn't have the same pressure as being President either.