In this thread about what would happen if Obama was assassinated before the election, it was mentioned that Biden could be chosen by the party as his replacement on the ticket (I know there is a greater chance of Hillary being the one but I am hypothesizing here). If Biden was put forth as the Democratic candidate, how many of you would still vote Democrat?
I realize that this could be an IMHO thread but I have a feeling there will be a lot of debating about the relative value of Biden versus McCain. If this thread needs to be moved, please do so.
I would. I wouldn’t be very happy about it, but I think he could do a good job, if he could learn to keep his effing mouth shut. I expect the Obama people have had more than one discussion with him about that very issue though, so hopefully he is already working on it.
Depending on who the Republican choice was, I would probably not vote for Biden. He’s the opposite of everything that gets me excited about Obama. Literally, everything.
Dealing with this these types of hypotheticals is something that would be more useful when looking at McCain’s choice. McCain is much older and presumably more frail than Obama…I understand the whole - what about assassination stuff…but asking who would vote for Biden is a little too much on the hypothetical side for me.
I would vote for Biden in a heartbeat. Aside from the bankruptcy bill, he matches my opinions on education, Iraq and assorted other issues much more closely than Obama. So while I would mourn the loss of Obama deeply, I wouldn’t hesitate to vote for Biden.
Biden comes from a state that has given a license to cheat to finance companies. They are among the biggest employers in the state. It is a problem to judge a politician by whether he will vote against the financial interests of his own state. I am sure he would not have wanted to vote for the crappy bankruptcy bill. But it would have likely caused him to lose his job.
He has not gotten rich in public service. He is at the bottom 2 in Senatorial wealth. He is very smart and is deeply involved in the inner workings of the system. I have heard long interviews with him several times and find him very impressive.
I didn’t consider Biden in the primaries. But, if Obama was not able to be the nominee at this point, I’d vote for Biden. I’d want experience in the White House.
I can see a few ways in which they are different, but “Literally, everything”? Really? On most issues they are fairly close. Both are big believers in multilateralism for example. Both have taken on causes dear to their own states’ constituencies (be it ethanol for fuel or the financials). Both have a reputation for reaching across the aisle. I could go on and on. The main way in which they differ is that Biden has been around in Washington a long time and Obama claims to be a “change agent” … but come on … most of us recognize that he is a politician too - our excitement about him comes more from the belief that he is an exceptionally effective politician who articulates a vision of the future that we can sign on to. Yes, he does that better than Biden does, but they are not “opposite” that way. Obama is just much more skillful at it.
Are there other ways in which they are polar opposites than age and Beltway experience? And are those really the everything that you care about?
I’d vote for Biden. With less thrill than for Obama but with satisfaction that he is better than McCain, way better than Bush, and better than Kerry. On par with Gore I think. I’ve come to not dislike Hillary and would certainly vote for her too.
Hells to the yeah. Why on earth not? Do I agree with him on everything? Certainly not, but I don’t agree with Obama on everything either. Biden’s vote against FISA almost makes up for the bankruptcy bill stupidity, and he’s already acknowledged his mistake in his 2002 Iraq resolution vote. Otherwise he’s a solid Democrat with compassion, intelligence and fucktons of experience. Sure I’m far more of a lefty/liberal than he is, but I’m also more of a lefty than Obama. I’m also a realist, and know my chances of getting a true progressive/liberal on the ticket are slim to none. At least unless Gore were chosen.
So yep, Biden would be a worthwhile candidate I could proudly vote for. After all, in this hypothetical his opponent is still McCain! For that matter, even if this hypothetical assassin also knocked McCain out, his replacement would still be a Republican. I can’t think of a single GOP member who would even make me think twice about such a vote, except maaaaybe Chuck Hegel, and even that’d be a stretch. (Plus there are realistic hypotheticals and fairy dust, rainbow-colored unicorn hypotheticals; Hegel getting the nomination is in the latter category. He’d only get the nod if a nuclear blast killed every other Republican senator, representative and governor!)
Likewise. And may I say, with all due respect to the OP, that it troubles me to even consider the hypothetical. It would be a terrible, terrible thing for the country, let alone his family, if Obama were to be assassinated.
I could vote for him. In fact, back in the early days of the primaries, I’m pretty sure I said in one thread or another that I thought he was the best candidate that the Dems were fielding, and I just couldn’t fathom why he had so little support.
Now, that is not to say that I would vote for him. That would depend on who he was running against, what the campaign was like, and which party was in control of Congress. But I could see several scenarios under which I’d vote for him.
I do not wish him ill. He seems to be a decent guy. While I might not agree with his politics, I believe that he believes that he has the country’s best interests at heart. I would not vote for him at this time, maybe after he’s seasoned a little.
The only way that I could see him not being in the election this fall would be if he was no longer amongst the living. He’s young and healthy so I don’t see him keeling over from a heart attack. I mean just look at him playing basketball (and please don’t watch him bowl). So, instead of saying that he is assassinated, would you prefer that I said he was hit by a meteor? He had an allergic reaction to Hillary’s pantsuits? He got his head stuck in a one gallon can of Van Camp’s Pork and Beans and asphyxiated?
These hypothetical exercises always raise the “ick” factor. What if the Chinese government had been able to assassinate the Dalai Lama before he could escape Tibet? What if Reagan hadn’t survived his shooting? Asking the questions don’t mean we wish it had happened or would happen. I hope Obama has a long healthy life with his family.
[Isaac Hayes]Who’s the cat that won’t cop out
When there’s danger all about?
BARACK!
Right On!
They say this cat Barack is a bad mother…
SHUT YOUR MOUTH!
I’m talkin’ 'bout Barack.
THEN WE CAN DIG IT! [/IH]
