Is Joe Biden on the Bernie Bandwagon?

[Punkingal]

http://news.yahoo.com/joe-biden-bernie-bandwagon-173821019.html;_ylt=AwrC1TE32JVWAy4AnV3QtDMD;_ylu=X3oDMTByNXM5bzY5BGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMzBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--

snip

it’s clear Biden remains torn about not running for president himself. Earlier this month he said he regrets his decision to stay out “every day,” even though it remains the right decision for his family in the wake of the death of his son and presumed political heir, Beau.

Of course, as we’ve noted in the past, Biden actually did run, after a fashion. He consulted advisers, dropped leaks to the press, and generally acted like someone engaged in the so-called “invisible primary” stage of presidential politics.

The problem was he lost, to Hillary Clinton. She’d locked up all the establishment support long before Biden began his explorations. It seemed clear to him that he had no path to victory. That played a large role in his final decision.

So it would not be be too surprising if Biden’s feelings towards Clinton were a complicated mix of support, admiration, and resentment. In contrast, Sanders is playing the role of an emotional, populist crusader. In that sense he’s probably much closer to doing what Biden envisioned doing himself.

[Skwmom]

1. Or trying to woo Bernie supporters for when he jumps into the race.

I don't think they understand how fed up with Washington people are.

[Punkingal]

2. I hope that's not it. i hope he just respects Bernie.

[delrem]

3. I don't think so. But he's being very even-handed for someone in his position,

and that's remarkable.

[mmonk]

11. +1

[senz]

4. Okay, this is going to be vague

but during the SOTU address tonight, Obama said something that struck me as unfavorable to the Hillary campaign -- it may have been his comment that the Big Banks were responsible for the financial crash of 2007-2008, but it could have been something a little further on, maybe the remark about getting money out of politics or an allusion to income inequality. Anyway, when he said it, I thought "Hillary won't like this," and then noticed that Biden was suppressing a smile with a twinkle in his eyes, and it occurred to me that perhaps he doesn't like Hillary.

So I suspect things are more complicated than they appear on the surface.

[Punkingal]

5. I can't help but wonder..Axelrod says Chelsea isn't being honest, Biden says nice things about Berni

Maybe Obama is NOT a Hillary supporter.

[fleur-de-lisa]

6. I think both Obama and Biden have mixed feelings about Hillary . . .

They have both seen her campaign tactics up close and know firsthand that she will say and do anything to win.

[senz]

7. I've long thought that the Obamas can't stand her.

Her racist undercutting of him in 2008, her obvious will to destroy -- there's no way they could forgive and forget what was done to them. When Obama gave her the SOS position, some commentators chalked it up to "keep your friends close and your enemies closer," and I've noticed that their upbeat cheeriness around each other has a brittle, forced quality. I suspect that Michelle cannot stand Hillary. But politics is politics. Certainly Bill was helpful to Obama in 2012. People trade favors, make deals regardless of personal feelings.

[MisterP]

8. the WH is very noisily denying her any primary favoritism

of course there's always concern about the "entryism" of the Dean/Biden/Obama types who were promised a little liberal stuff in exchange for a lot (and, eventually, nothing BUT) corporatist-Dem policies, that they're gunning for Cabinet and SCOTUS seats by saying "we really were liberal all along!"

[senz]

9. Good point. This is a time of transition

and these people have goals and are always thinking ahead. It's a bit unnerving for me to glimpse into the scheming that goes on behind the scenes, but we're talking about very high-level politics here. So of course their actions are going to serve some lofty long-run goals.

Eh, this stuff is exciting/nerve wracking. In the right mood, I suppose it's fun.

[LettuceSea]

10. He's in a tough spot. He's in the establishment, but the establishment screwed him over...

by telling him not to run. The sitting VP...

People don't realize that he and his supporters did Hillary a HUGE favor by extending his 'campaign' a DAY before the Benghazi circus. Diluted the news cycle and allowed himself to be chopped up by the press.

He is a team player, and one of the few with integrity and character on that Establishment bench. But those are two characteristics that do not mesh with Establishment politicians.