"Bill" Clinton for VP?

[gully]

"The 22nd Amendment is often described as prohibiting an already twice-elected president, such as Clinton, from again serving as president. But the text of the amendment suggests otherwise. In preventing individuals from being elected to the presidency more than twice, the amendment does not preclude a former president from again assuming the presidency by means other than election, including succession from the vice presidency. If this view is correct, then Clinton is not "constitutionally ineligible to the office of president," and is not barred by the 12th Amendment from being elected vice president.

Clinton's public approval at the time he stepped down from the White House was remarkably high given the voter "fatigue" that normally accompanies a second-term president. Now, nearly six years later, his popularity appears considerable and is seemingly increasing.

Of course, Clinton's spouse, Sen. Hillary Clinton, is viewed as a leading Democratic candidate for president. She would surely have reservations about putting her husband on the 2008 ticket. But Bill Clinton might help energize the Democratic base and defuse arguments that Mrs. Clinton is too liberal.

In the event that Senator Clinton elects not to run in 2008, perhaps an alternate Democratic nominee will have enough self-confidence to consider sharing the stage with the charismatic Bill Clinton in the hopes of recapturing the White House. As for Clinton himself, although there are many reasons why he might decline an invitation to run for vice president, the thrill of another campaign and the lure of a return to the West Wing might be too tempting to resist."

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0613/p09s02-coop.html

[rodeodance]

1. I think a Clinton Clinton would be grand.

[Drum]

2. Kick!

:kick:

[jobycom]

3. Man, don't make me dream such dreams when I have to return

to a Bush-"led" America. My poor heart might break.

It would be amusing, though. A Clinton-Clinton ticket would do cool things to the psyche of the average Republican.

[cynatnite]

4. Just to see freep heads explode...

I'd love it. :)

As much as I like both of them, I don't want a Clinton in 2008 as Pres. We've already had bush/quayle, clinton/gore, and bush/cheney. I wouldn't care to have a clinton as the next pres just for the fact it makes it feel weird to have only two families running the country. I'm not comfortable with it.

Now, I'm all for Feingold, Gore, Clark, Kerry or a few others with Hillary as VP. I would be all for that.

[Webster Green]

5. It would be fun watching the freeper reaction to such a thing...

Talk about exploding heads!

[NYC Liberal]

6. Nope, he is Constituionally ineligible for the Vice Presidency as well n/t

[RB TexLa]

7. Little thing called the 12th Amendment

The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.

[NYC Liberal]

9. That's what I was thinking, but now I read it again...

and they're hinging on the fact that the 22nd amendment says that "No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice." They're saying that this means that one could be elected twice and then still succeed to the presidency by another means, ie., via the vice presidency on the death of the president.

Interesting, but I doubt it'd be held up.

[WePurrsevere]

16. When you amend the Constitution doesn't the newest then take precedence

over the older? It's been a few years but I'm pretty sure that's how it works. If this is true it's possible that the 22nd would take precedence over the older 12th but I'm no Constitutional "scholar" nor am I a member of the SCOTUS so.. :shrug:

As for it being a good thing or not... I like Bill Clinton and wouldn't cry if it were possible and done HOWEVER there are other diplomatic positions I think he would do even better in such as taking that SOB Bolton's UN Ambassador position perhaps. :)

[NYC Liberal]

23. True, but the 22nd doesn't mention anything about

eligibility for the Vice Presidency. So it doesn't really replace anything.

[rubberducky]

8. Gore/Clinton (Bill) `08!!

How Sweet!!!

[ThomWV]

19. Dream Team!

In my dreams.

Think about what it would mean for our grandchildren.

[bleever]

10. By the letter of the law: DeLay must run. Bill Clinton is not prohibited

"Rule of law! Rule of law!"


:rofl:

[OhioBlue]

11. During the '04 election, and the "who will be the VP

candidate" conversations, I remember an interview with Clinton, and he said that the way he read the Constitution, he did not believe he was eligible to be VP.

I cannot recall his exact language but essentially, he said the the Constitution stated that no person elected to 2 terms was eligible to become the President and that no person that was not eligible to become the President shall be elected to the office of Vice President. So, he was not eligible.

[patricia92243]

17. Notice that he didn't say that he WOULD NOT run, but that he thought that

he could not. This subject needs to be brought before the SCOTUS to make sure what it means.

I think his ego is secure enough to be VP. The job of VP is not what it used to be - waiting for the Prez to die. The VP has to actually be a part of the government and help the Prez run things.

Gore/CLinton - wouldn't that be fun! THe Republicans would just die of mortification/

[felman87]

12. If he can't be a VP

Just give him a staff position or something important. Like Bush is the president but we all know Karl Rove is the brain. Clinton could be the brain to some other shmuck.

[cigsandcoffee]

13. I doubt he'd want to. Once you've been a President, VP is a paycut.

I think he can do the most good as a global humanitarian.

[WI_DEM]

14. This has been discussed a zillion times on DU and he can't run for VP

either since he has served two terms as president. It has to be somebody who is actually eligible to be president.

[gully]

20. The article addresses this specifically.

"The 22nd Amendment is often described as prohibiting an already twice-elected president, such as Clinton, from again serving as president. But the text of the amendment suggests otherwise. In preventing individuals from being elected to the presidency more than twice, the amendment does not preclude a former president from again assuming the presidency by means other than election, including succession from the vice presidency. If this view is correct, then Clinton is not "constitutionally ineligible to the office of president," and is not barred by the 12th Amendment from being elected vice president."

Though it would certainly be complicated. ;)

[Hippo_Tron]

15. Stupid idea, he would outshine the top of the ticket

And it would make the Democrats look desperate. This is assuming that he can be VP constitutionally, which seems to be leaning toward the negative.

[gully]

21. We ARE desperate.

;)

[bowens43]

18. Complete nonsense.

Despite what the article says, The 12 Amendment CLEARLY prohibits it.

[gully]

22. Not so sure it's as "clear" as some feel it is.

Though, you can bet Republicans would claim such.

[Swamp Rat]

24. AL GORE/JOHN CONYERS 2008!

AL GORE/JOHN CONYERS 2008!!!

Bill Clinton cannot run. Period.