Hillary Clinton
Related: About this forumI was at a bar tonight (Hillary Group)
sitting between a Trump supporter (and I need a shower after that) and a lot of us Hillary supporters.
One floated the idea of Bernie as Hillary's VP.
I'm completely open to that idea, although I love Elizabeth Warren as VP too. What do you think?
I don't get on this board often so if this has been addressed ad nauseaum, forgive me.
Firebrand Gary
(5,044 posts)Sanders and Warren should both remain in the Senate, they have a lot of power and influence there-we need that. I'm comfortable with either Julian Castro or Cory Booker.
complain jane
(4,302 posts)Castro, but I like Booker. Thanks for your reply
BlueMTexpat
(15,369 posts)Congratulations to Bernie on his win in MI tonight!
Bernie as a VP for Hillary if she succeeds in her march towards the nomination?
1. I don't believe that he would accept, even if asked. Based on his long political history, he is not one to accept second place, implicitly meaning teamwork.
2. Hillary is already in her late 60s. Bernie is significantly older. There would likely be no possibility for him to be a standard bearer in future elections and that is often a consideration in VP selection.
3. Bernie is an excellent Senator and would be able to continue his role there in a more meaningful way than as VP, where he would only get to preside - not introduce legislation - and cast a deciding vote in case of a tie.
4. Except in the case of a cynical candidate, e.g., Bush I, who chose a lightweight like Quayle to ward off assassination possibilities or McCain, who chose a total idiot like Palin ostensibly because she would attract women voters who had been Hillary supporters (which worked out so well - not), one usually tries to choose a running mate who is not only compatible with the principal candidate's goals and philosophy but who adds another dimension and can appeal to the electorate in a way that the candidate may not.
5. There are other possibilities who are younger and more compatible with Hillary's goals and philosophy and who are very attractive to Hillary's base, but who can still add a dimension and philosophy of their own that can attract additional voting groups.
6. Perhaps most importantly, the most radical of Bernie's supporters would never accept that their candidate would enter into what they would see as a "compromise" with Hillary and would likely desert him altogether.
It is the fourth area where one might make a best case for Bernie, considering his appeal to young voters and independents. But independents are exactly that and change their minds more often than not; they are not known for their unwavering support. There is also reason to suspect the motives of "independents," especially in situations like NH and MI where they were able to offset Hillary's strength and may only have voted for Bernie to do exactly that, rather than to support him.
complain jane
(4,302 posts)Thank you for taking the time to give your thoughtful and reasoned reply - full of info that I wasn't aware of and hadn't considered.
BlueMTexpat
(15,369 posts)SharonClark
(10,014 posts)BlueMTexpat
(15,369 posts)IdaBriggs
(10,559 posts)A VP should also be supportive of the Presidents values and stated mission so that in case the worst should happen, the MISSION can continue.
Although both candidates agree with generic "core values", they have vastly different perspectives on the HOW to achieve those goals. The VP will need to have credentials such that they can carry out the MISSION in the manner that would benefit any potential legacy.
I think Obama's pick of Biden was brilliant. Biden both knows Washington (ran before he was of age!) and has a stubborn independent streak with "take no prisoners" credentials. His pulling in another rival (Hillary) and using her established relationships with world leaders to make her Secretary of State was well done and a good note for the history books for both of them.
Candidly, while both Hillary and Bernie are in good health, neither are "spring chickens" so the picks for VP are going to be EXTREMELY important (a Sarah Palin type pick would cause great angst - lol!). I look forward to seeing how this plays out.
BlueMTexpat
(15,369 posts)Iliyah
(25,111 posts)riversedge
(70,215 posts)to think of Bernie as Hillary's VP choice. In fact now that I write this out--it is even less inviting. Castro, --maybe Warren, others are better choices.
HappyinLA
(129 posts)was Sherrod Brown. Senior Senator from Ohio, who's survived a ton of attacks from the GOP. But one of the biggest reasons was his wife, Connie Shultz, who is a force of nature.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)fleabiscuit
(4,542 posts)Her Sister
(6,444 posts)the president he is VP with
Her Sister
(6,444 posts)by following a link there and they seemed to be horrified at their own elections from last night with Trump's continuing winning.
One of them said this: " Open primaries are flooded with Democrat voters. Trump himself notes that this is happening but calls it a sign of cross over appeal. More likely is that they are taking advantage of our unique predicament and saddling us with a horrifc nightmare of a candidate for the general election."
Many also said "never Trump" and many mentioned their friends holding their noses and voting for Hillary.
LisaM
(27,811 posts)For VP, I'd float a progressive like Russ Feingold or someone from a mid-Mountain state to get some regional coverage (or the southwest). I remember thinking in 2008 that it was interesting that there were candidates from both Alaska (I know) and Hawaii, I think for the first time in either state. I think it's important to pick someone from a state where a seat is safe - remember when Janet Napolitano went to work for the Obama cabinet, and that put Jan Brewer in as governor of Arizona? I think it's important to avoid blunders like that, Arizona still hasn't recovered, so I'd say ditto on going with a Democratic governor like Jay Inslee.