The Real Veep Stakes

Bill Clinton on the stump in Florida today for Obama/Biden, looks and sounds curiously like someone who wants the Democrats to win in November. Hmm, but I thought...oh, nevermind. Watch TPM's clip of Bill's speech and you'll see his really smart -- and really well-timed -- argument for why this year, moreso than any other presidential year, the choice of VP truly matters (and no, it's not a knock on Obama.)

You want further proof that this election is not JUST about the top of the ticket, take a look at John McCain's own words in his interview with NPR:

Given what you've said, senator, is there an occasion where you could imagine turning to Gov. Palin for advice in a foreign policy crisis?

I've turned to her advice many times in the past. I can't imagine turning to Sen. Obama or Sen. Biden, because they've been wrong. They were wrong about Iraq, they were wrong about Russia...

Ummm, and Sarah Palin was right about her neighbor to the west? Really?

Gotcha journalist Steve Inskeep keeps digging:

But would you turn to Gov. Palin?

I certainly wouldn't turn to them, and I already have turned to Gov. Palin, particularly on energy issues, and I've appreciated her background and knowledge on that and many other issues.

If that doesn't scare the hell out of you, I don't know what will.



Display:


WOW (2.00 / 1)

So not only has McCain chosen a complete moron for his VP choice he has said publicly that he would never turn to Joe Biden (a man he once considered a friend) for advice despite his 30+ years experience or to Obama who has consistently shown restraint and good judgment.

He might as well admit that he would never reach across the aisle at all if he would not turn to either of the Senators on our ticket.
 


Oh Mammy Dear, we're all mad over here livin' in America
by JDF on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 05:56:20 PM EST

Funny thing is... (none / 0)

I seem to remember reading this in the Washington Post:

Asked in 1999 what he would do on the first day of his presidency, McCain said he would "call in Joe Biden and John Kerry and Zbigniew Brzezinski and Carl Levin and like-minded Republicans" for a frank discussion about the need for a bipartisan foreign policy.


by noop on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 07:28:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Funny thing is... (none / 0)

Look how much things can change?

For instance a person can abandon all pretense of reason... and show himself to be a complete lunatic.


Oh Mammy Dear, we're all mad over here livin' in America
by JDF on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 08:17:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

REALLY? He turned to her for advise - right... (2.00 / 2)

PP_Thanks


I am Dyslexic, it is a battle (which I often lose) to write without error. Thanks in advance for putting up with my mistakes
by jmorton on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 06:02:18 PM EST

Energy Advice? From Palin? (2.00 / 1)

She probably got it from "first dude" Todd.

Drill, baby, Drill; and shoot the polar bears first to get them out of the way....


Rush Limbaugh, Sara Palin and Joe the Plumber...The Triad of Republican Irrelevancy.
by WashStateBlue on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 06:03:44 PM EST

Re: The Real Veep Stakes (none / 0)

Nothing like seeing a train leaving the station to focus somebody's attention on jumping aboard.

Anyway, glad he's hitting the rails. I hope he has fun and kicks ass.


by Bush Bites on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 06:04:45 PM EST

Last night a friend of mine called (none / 0)

from California.  I knew she was a huge Hillary supporter "Hillary's my girl!"

The first thing I said was "I'm sorry your girl didn't win."  She said "Oh, I was disappointed at first but after seeing more of Obama, I'm really excited he's our candidate."  Woot! So much for a divided Democratic party.

That was a little OT but well, you did mention a Clinton.


That One is the Right One for 2008.
by GFORD on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 06:06:04 PM EST

Re: The Real Veep Stakes (2.00 / 1)

Bill Clinton on the stump in Florida today for Obama/Biden, looks and sounds curiously like someone who wants the Democrats to win in November. Hmm, but I thought...oh, nevermind.

That's the problem.  Bill shouldn't be equivocating on major TV programs, he should be sounding like this all the time.  We shouldn't have to question whether Bill supports Obama, it should be a given.

That said, I'm happy he's on the trail, on the stump and being a strong advocate.


Change has come to America.
by the mystical vortexes of sedona on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 06:07:26 PM EST

Hillary must have kicked his ass (none / 0)

I will agree that this was much, much better than we have seen from Bill than the last two weeks.   Maybe it is possible that the SNL skit from last week bothered him.

I personally think that Hillary must have gotten on his case and told him to get on board.


by gavoter on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 06:11:41 PM EST

Re: The Real Veep Stakes (2.00 / 3)

I think Bill is in the unique position of being able to voice support Obama/Biden without sounding like a hyper-partisan in the process.  Being able to address McCain's strengths puts him into a more credible position to attack McCain's weaknesses.  

Indies and moderates don't want to see someone on the attack all of the time, and I think Bill's done a great job of positioning himself as a great messenger for the ticket in the last stretch of the campaign.


And so, may evil beware and may good dress warmly and eat lots of fresh vegetables.
by thatpurplestuff on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 06:31:36 PM EST

Re: The Real Veep Stakes (none / 0)

NPR replayed that same part of the interview with McCain on my drive home this afternoon, and you could tell McCain was very defensive about Palin (as opposed to defending her)- he knows he screwed up, but there's nothing he can do about it now.


"Who are you for? That is the wrong question. It should be who is for you?" HRC
by skohayes on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 06:32:33 PM EST

Re: The Real Veep Stakes (none / 0)

Not sure HE thinks he screwed up, he wanted Joementum or Ridge.

Steve Schmidt screwed up, though, to be truthful, after watching the pundits, even right wing hacks like Pitchfork Pat gush about Obama's speech at the convention I might have thrown the Hail Palin Pass .

When you are throwing the ball like that, you don't think of any consequences, you only think you need to change the game and fast.


Rush Limbaugh, Sara Palin and Joe the Plumber...The Triad of Republican Irrelevancy.
by WashStateBlue on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 06:39:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Real Veep Stakes (2.00 / 4)

"I've turned to her advice many times in the past."
the past is 5 weeks long???
The sleep of reason begets monsters. -- Francisco Jose de Goya
by joe in oklahoma on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 06:48:03 PM EST

Re: The Real Veep Stakes (none / 0)

I wonder if during the debate, she might ignorantly wind up making fun of Biden's stutter? She's certainly vicious enough to attack speech patterns, and I don't know if she is aware of that stutter.


"Hey, check it out. You just had yourself a glue OD. So you're learning another lesson. Don't do too much glue, or your night sucks."
by vcalzone on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 07:21:45 PM EST

Re: The Real Veep Stakes (2.00 / 1)

If we just make the Vice Presidential debates

Pay Per View

we can solve the nations financial woes.

http://www.wilytrax.com


by WilyTrax on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 07:57:58 PM EST

Re: The Real Veep Stakes (2.00 / 1)

This is Bill, doing what Bill does best, bringing in folks who might be turned off by a more partisan attack on the stump.  He's the king, and anyone who thinks otherwise is just not accurately remembering the CLinton era.  Obama has a lot of Bill in him, so much that it amazes me that the supporters of one person can ridicule the other.

There was an article on local news reporting that 30 people were treated for heat related conditions at the rally.  I'm really surprised that we haven't seen the anti Bill folks screaming that he didn't 'do enough' to treat them himself.  After all, everything else is considered his fault.

About Bill's remarks that Obama is the best choice for POTUS ..... over at dKos .....
crickets.  But rest assured, the next chance they get to villify him, the diaries will flow like sewage.


Hell's bells, even the GOP didn't have to crucify Eisenhower's record in order to make Reagan their 'saint'. We can have two great ones, you know?
by emsprater on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 08:54:05 PM EST

Re: The Real Veep Stakes (none / 0)

You just won "most straw men in a post" award.  Congratulations.


John McCain, maverick
by lojasmo on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 09:21:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Real Veep Stakes (none / 0)

Odd.....

I've seen evidence that should be awarded to diarists who write  "Bill isn't helping" diaries continuously.

Is it something I can hang on my wall, or can I take it to the local pawn shop and exchange it for an 8 track tape player?  An award and no mojo?  What kind of deal is that?


Hell's bells, even the GOP didn't have to crucify Eisenhower's record in order to make Reagan their 'saint'. We can have two great ones, you know?
by emsprater on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 09:52:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Real Veep Stakes (2.00 / 1)

Finestein's hairdo can tell you more about foreign affairs than Sarah Palin. The only advice that Sarah can give is simply directional.


by johnrarch on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 10:27:35 PM EST

Dammit, Bill! (2.00 / 1)

Why don't you start acting like the Clinton-haters (including me a few months ago) say you would?

Bill and Hill are going to help make our dream a reality. If they pull it off, they will be forever among the greatest Dems in history. And I will feel forever the fool for doubting them.


by Spiffarino on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 11:04:08 PM EST


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