Ticket Exchange (Rumors about Biden citing "Health Issues" and dropping out)

Snopes ^ | 22 Sep 08 | None

[SkyPilot]

Claim: Joe Biden is planning to step down from vice-presidential slot on the Democratic ticket in favor of Hillary Clinton.

Status: Undetermined

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/vpchange.asp

[SkyPilot]

hell how many minions have actually dropped [specifically from brain diseases] in the last few years, and havent given up their seats of power ??? Although I really try to NOT to enjoy the swimmer teds illness, what kind of 'person', wealthy and in their golden years, would choose partisan bickering over living out their remaining days with their family/friends...??? It must really be a bitter and lonely existence...

That is probably one of the most astute and clear observations I have read on FR in quite awhile.

I too have wondered why people who have wealth, fame, and every other blessing refuse to go quietly into the good night.

There is so much more to do with yourself than be a slave to the "power" of Washington DC.

If I was in my 80's, with millions in the bank, there is no way I would stay there until they carried me out on a gurney.

Go volunteer with your church. Go for a walk on the beach. Sit home and read.

Anything, but sit around in Washington until you are 90+ because you just can't give it up.

[SkyPilot]

Last year, during the course of my research on Mars, I was ambushed by a group of anal dwelling rebel Martians who inflicted great torturous pain upon my body with anal probes. After a few weeks of enduring the physical pain, they released me. As a direct result of this cruelty, I am now very ill with a ruptured uterus that has defiled all forms of medical treatment and which has been deemed to be inoperable by my Martian surgeons. I am writing this mail to you on a laptop from my hospital bed in the Martian capital of Zhwrong.

I have to admire the creativity.

[toomanygrasshoppers]

It’s too late for Biden to drop out. In fact it was too late the second after Obama selected him. I think that Biden was talked into it and now regrets his decision. If he dropped out it would be a mortal wound to Obama’s campaign. Even Hillary on the ticket now would show how weak Obama is. It’s going to be hard for Biden to keep up his fake enthusiasm. The VP debate will be telling.

[SkyPilot]

The VP debate will be telling.

Believe me, the MSM reporters already have draft stories on their laptops about how Biden won the debate. Not only that, Biden "undermined Gov Palin's credentials" and "exposed Palin as too inexperienced."

[MHGinTN]

The main reason I would agree with this scenario is that sinkEmperor clinton was on TV View saying Hillary never wanted to be Obama’s VP candidate. If she is tapped to take Biden’s place, even Lloyds wouldn’t issue life insurance for Barack Obama to cover the next four years.

[MHGinTN]

Early voting is already happening, so I’m wondering what is the cut off date for switching VP candidates? What happens to the election if one of the candidates is suddenly unable to take office just prior to election day? Can the dems or Pubbies pull a Toricelli/Lautenberg right up to election day?

[Miles the Slasher]

If Biden drops out...and especially if he drops out after the VP debate with Palin...Obama will look incompetent to more Americans. JMO BPE

Obama has too much ego to admit he made a mistake; and Biden has too much ego to admit *he* is the mistake.

However, should this come to pass, I would think that while Hillary would give Obama every reason to think behind the scenes she would accept the offer of the VP spot; I suspect she'd back out once Biden announces he's off the ticket - intentionally pulling the rug out from underneath Obama in order to sabotage him.

[MHGinTN]

So, you get the high class ones while I only get them from Petroleum exec’s survivors in Nigeria.

[Be_Politically_Erect]

I think your analysis of Hillary’s behind the scenes machinations is astute.

In the Clinton political world, you don’t just beat your political opponents you crush them.

Such a move as you describe would do just that and make 2012 alot easier for her return.

[Pilsner]

Early voting is already happening, so I’m wondering what is the cut off date for switching VP candidates? What happens to the election if one of the candidates is suddenly unable to take office just prior to election day?

Can the dems or Pubbies pull a Toricelli/Lautenberg right up to election day?

At this point the Democrats would be looking at a "Widder Carnahan," as Rush called her, scenario. If you recall, in 2000, Democrat Mel Carnahan was losing slightly in the polls in a race against John Ashcroft for US Senate from Missouri. Mel died in a plane crash three weeks out, after it was too late to change the ballot. The Governor of Missouri, a Democrat, promised to appoint Mel's widow, Jean Carnahan, if Mel "won" the election. Mel got the most votes, but being dead, could not take his seat, so the Governor did get to name Jean Carnahan to the US Senate.

In this case, Biden would almost everyehwere, is not everywhere, remain on the ballot. But Obama could say that he would instruct Democrat electors to Vote for Her Hienous for Vice President.

Of course, that would casue a lot of confusion. Some Deomocrat voters would look for Obama/Clinton on the ballot, and not seing it, give up. Others would try to write in Clinton, and spoil their vote.

Even if Obama/Fill in the Blank carries a state, that just entitles him to the right to select the electors from that state. Some states have laws that forbid their electors from voting for anyone except the candidate whose name appeared on the ballot. Are those laws an unconstitutional restriction on the discretion of the electors? Or merely a reasonable use of the power the Constitution gives the states to choose the method by which they select their electors?

Good questions, and ones that could easily lead to a Constitutional crisis. I don't BO care a lick about provoking a constitutional crisis -- provided he thinks he would win it. But I do think that, unless Biden shows up for the debate drunk and tries to grope Plain, BO calculates that dumping him hurts more than it helps, and that it therefore won't happen.

[A Strict Constructionist]

And the other 99.5% of the “press.”

[NFHale]

“...Although I really try to NOT to enjoy the swimmer teds illness, what kind of ‘person’, wealthy and in their golden years, would choose partisan bickering over living out their remaining days with their family/friends...???”

I’ll tell you what kind of person - A die hard, committed socialist POS who just might want to stick around long enough to see if the revolution succeeded, that’s what kind of person...someone who wants to see the crowning achievement of his life’s work succeed....

Agreed, bro - it’s hard NOT to take pleasure at the thought of someone so odious as “The Bloviator Of The Senate” taking the Big Dirt Nap and getting what’s due him in the Afterlife...but we have to be a little bigger than THEM sometimes.

Believe me - when I think of all the people that this walking, bloated, specimen of human amoebic dysentary has killed with his laws disarming innocent citizens - women who need not have been raped and murdered when they might simply have used a gun to protect themselves, elderly folks who were stripped of their rights, etc., when I think of everything that this odious load of diaper waste has done to subvert and ruin my country, well, yeah...I DO go down that road, and the world becomes a dark and ugly place for a little bit...

BUT - Teddy or not - there but for the grace of God go I, you know? That could be any one of us just as easily. And if we’re to be Christians, well, God values all souls, right? Especially those that repent.

I’m Just SAYIN’....