# Biden Getting Ready To Step Aside? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 10, 2008, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-getting-ready-to-step-aside/463023 "2008-09-10T23:39:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-getting-ready-to-step-aside/463023/1 "2008-09-10T23:39:27Z")
What a shock. Joe Biden is an absolute idiot who, on the same day he asked a wheelchair-bound state senator to stand up for a round of applause, is now admitting: “Make no mistake about this,” Biden responded. “Hillary Clinton is as qualified or more qualified than I am to be vice president of the United States of America. Let’s get that straight. She’s a truly close personal friend, she is qualified to be president of the United States of America, she’s easily qualified to be vice president of the United States of America and **quite frankly it might have been a better pick than me.** But she’s first rate, I mean that sincerely, she’s first rate, so let’s get that straight.” [http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/09/biden-hillary-a.html](http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/09/biden-hillary-a.html) The Obama camp has got to be in a panic ever since they were blindsided by Sarah Palin’s popularity, but is there a chance that they might be laying the groundwork for Biden to step aside to make way for Hillary? If so, this would be a rather clumsy way of going about it. I realize they only have 7 weeks or so, but wouldn’t “health reasons” really be the way to go here? Then Barack could “with sincere regret and reluctance” accept Biden’s resignation to allow Hillary to step in. At least that way there would always be _some_ doubt as to whether it was intentional or not. To float a trial balloon like this (_if_ that’s what this is) will only serve to make Obama appear to be an indecisive buffoon who royally screwed up his first major decision as a presidential candidate. But would Hillary’s popularity be enough to counter that? ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-getting-ready-to-step-aside/463023/2 "2008-09-10T23:42:47Z")
I don’t believe that Biden is preparing to step aside and I don’t think that anything you’ve mentioned indicates that that might be in the works. Not even the fact that he failed to torpedo himself by saying that Hillary is a stupid doodyhead who couldn’t be VP because she’s a _woman_. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-getting-ready-to-step-aside/463023/3 "2008-09-10T23:44:27Z")
Hes just kissing ass, nothing surprising about it. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-getting-ready-to-step-aside/463023/4 "2008-09-10T23:45:25Z")
Biden was being diplomatic. He is a _diplomat_. ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-getting-ready-to-step-aside/463023/5 "2008-09-10T23:45:39Z")
Not a chance. I think Biden is going to kick the shit out of Palin first time they debate. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-getting-ready-to-step-aside/463023/6 "2008-09-10T23:46:05Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Hes just kissing ass, nothing surprising about it. But isn’t he also effectively saying that Obama made the wrong pick? I mean, I guess there’s nothing “effectively” about it…that’s _exactly_ what he’s saying! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-getting-ready-to-step-aside/463023/7 "2008-09-10T23:48:39Z")
Biden is famous for having foot-in-mouth disease, but these things are nothing. He’s not stepping aside. That would do more harm to Obama than good. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-getting-ready-to-step-aside/463023/8 "2008-09-10T23:49:32Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > But isn’t he also effectively saying that Obama made the wrong pick? I mean, I guess there’s nothing “effectively” about it…that’s _exactly_ what he’s saying! Nope. He said she **might** have been a better pick, and that she is qualified for the job, and is **as qualified** or more qualified as him. Basically he’s calling her a peer and being humble. He’s not saying that he himself is unqualified for the job or that his own selection was a mistake. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-getting-ready-to-step-aside/463023/9 "2008-09-10T23:50:00Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > But isn’t he also effectively saying that Obama made the wrong pick? I mean, I guess there’s nothing “effectively” about it…that’s _exactly_ what he’s saying! Hes kissing a LOT of ass. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-getting-ready-to-step-aside/463023/10 "2008-09-10T23:50:37Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > But isn’t he also effectively saying that Obama made the wrong pick? What he’s doing is complimenting a friend and ally, and it’s best not to take that kind of smoke-blowing literally. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-getting-ready-to-step-aside/463023/11 "2008-09-10T23:51:02Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > But isn’t he also effectively saying that Obama made the wrong pick? I mean, I guess there’s nothing “effectively” about it…that’s _exactly_ what he’s saying! No, he’s saying had Obama chosen Clinton it would have been as good of a choice, if not better. Not that the wrong choice was made, only that either would be a good choice. He’s being humble and gracious to Hillary. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-getting-ready-to-step-aside/463023/12 "2008-09-10T23:53:37Z")
I would say that Biden is a better pick in terms of experience, but Hillary would have been a better pick, politically. But both are good. The idea that you have to pick the absolute best person as your VP is ridiculous. There are plenty of people qualified, but you have to pick someone you can work with and who maybe, just maybe, will help you politically. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-getting-ready-to-step-aside/463023/13 "2008-09-10T23:55:41Z")
> [@photopat](#): > > No, he’s saying had Obama chosen Clinton it would have been as good of a choice, if not better. Not that the wrong choice was made, only that either would be a good choice. He’s being humble and gracious to Hillary. I get that he’s being gracious and humble and what-have-you. I guess it might be better to ask whether or not this was a particularly _smart_ thing to say. I mean, when you’re being introduced everywhere you go as “the next vice-president of the United States,” is it really a wise move to say that “quite frankly” there might have been better picks out there? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-getting-ready-to-step-aside/463023/14 "2008-09-10T23:58:55Z")
Definitely getting ready to step aside. And McCain is forked and is really just going through the motions…as his pick of Palin clearly demonstrates! Also, it was the government who brought DOWN THE TOWERS!! Oh yeah, and let’s talk about those aliens… -XT ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-getting-ready-to-step-aside/463023/15 "2008-09-10T23:59:32Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > I get that he’s being gracious and humble and what-have-you. I guess it might be better to ask whether or not this was a particularly _smart_ thing to say. I mean, when you’re being introduced everywhere you go as “the next vice-president of the United States,” is it really a wise move to say that “quite frankly” there might have been better picks out there? Who cares? He’s got the postition now; he can afford to be magnanimous about it. And he actually can’t afford _not_ to be magnanimous about it: attacking Clinton in _any_ way would reduce his party’s chance to win the election, by making him look petty and alienating Clinton-fans against him and the man who picked him for the post. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-getting-ready-to-step-aside/463023/16 "2008-09-11T00:01:39Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > Definitely getting ready to step aside. And McCain is forked and is really just going through the motions…as his pick of Palin clearly demonstrates! > > Also, it was the government who brought DOWN THE TOWERS!! Oh yeah, and let’s talk about those aliens… > > -XT And don’t forget Dick Cheney’s hurricane machine!😉 ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-getting-ready-to-step-aside/463023/17 "2008-09-11T00:10:46Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > Who cares? He’s got the postition now; he can afford to be magnanimous about it. And he actually can’t afford _not_ to be magnanimous about it: attacking Clinton in _any_ way would reduce his party’s chance to win the election, by making him look petty and alienating Clinton-fans against him and the man who picked him for the post. I suspect that this is pure reaction to the surprisingly somewhat-positive reaction to Palin. I’d imagine that the Dems (like many of us) thought (still think) the Palin pick was a gamble, a reach, an obvious pander. Even now, I don’t know if evidence is in that Palin is generating great pro-GOP buzz _other than among the base,_ but to the extent they fear her popularity could propagate to the Dem or on-the-fence female HRC supporters (as obviously the pander was intended to do), **of course** Biden has to burnish his pro-woman credentials in this way. Oh, also probably not coincidental that this coincides with the “lipstick on pig” imbroglio – for the first time, people other than hardcore HRC fanatics may be looking at BHO and wondering if he’s a “sexist.” ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-getting-ready-to-step-aside/463023/18 "2008-09-11T00:16:14Z")
> [@Huerta88](#): > > for the first time, people other than hardcore HRC fanatics may be looking at BHO and wondering if he’s a “sexist.” Well, he _did_ refer to a female reporter as “sweetie.” My God, had he been a Republican that would’ve been the end of his campaign right there. But of course as a liberal Democrat he gets a total pass. [http://www.wxyz.com/news/story.aspx?content\_id=13d1f66a-488b-46d3-9d3b-6632e0a8f1f7](http://www.wxyz.com/news/story.aspx?content_id=13d1f66a-488b-46d3-9d3b-6632e0a8f1f7) ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-getting-ready-to-step-aside/463023/19 "2008-09-11T00:19:49Z")
My thought is that the Democrats have got to do a bit of fence-mending after the primary campaigns. Hillary has been making a point out of praising Obama – she’s kind of obliged to, to keep her party credibility alive – and Joe Biden has always seemed to me the sort of gracious, diplomatic, humble-for-a-politician sort of guy who would say and mean something like this, and do it gladly for the sake of party unity. I don’t read it as a trial; balloon for a switch in running mates; I read it as a gesture aimed at closing ranks among Democrats for the War Against the Evil Elephant Demons. If Hillary and the V.P.-nominee are making nice-nice, Clintonites take their cue to back the party nominee and wait for her turn. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-getting-ready-to-step-aside/463023/20 "2008-09-11T01:00:27Z")
Yeah, Biden isn’t stepping aside any more than Palin is. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-getting-ready-to-step-aside/463023.md?page=2)