Joe Biden said to be considering one-term presidency--Carl Bernstein Speculates

[KoKo]

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Joe Biden said to be considering one-term presidency

By Nick Gass

8/14/15 8:19 AM EDT

If Vice President Joe Biden makes the leap into the Democratic presidential race, he could promise that he would serve just one term in the White House, journalist and author Carl Bernstein said Friday.

“And one thing that I keep hearing about Biden is that if he were to declare and say, because age is such a problem for him if he does, I want to be a one-term president. I want to serve for four years, unite Washington. I’ve dealt with the Republicans in Congress all my public life,” Bernstein told CNN’s “New Day.”

“I think there’s a conversation going on to that effect among his aides and friends,” he said. “It could light fire to the current political environment.”

Bernstein suggested that the vice president stands to benefit the most from the current political environment as Hillary Clinton struggles to stem the tide of the ongoing scandal over her use of a private email server while at the State Department and poll numbers about her honesty and trustworthiness decline.

“He’s looking at it right now. His people believe he may do it. Some say yes, some say no. But the distrust factor with Hillary Clinton, the whole Trump excitement and bubble that will probably burst gives a great opportunity to Biden to capture the imagination of the press, of this race, of Democrats who don’t want to see Hillary Clinton, who are worried about the distrust factor with her,” Bernstein added.
The comments follow reports from The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times this week that cite Democratic allies playing up the credibility of a third Biden presidential run. (The former Delaware senator ran in 1988 and 2008.)

Dick Harpootlian, the former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party, told the Times that Biden did not indicate whether he was going to run during an hourlong conversation. According to the same report, Biden has been calling supporters and directed Harpootlian to get in touch with Mike Donilon, one of Biden’s longtime advisers.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/08/joe-biden-possible-2016-presidential-race-promises-one-term-121359.html#ixzz3inv9sMDc

[Mass]

1. Political reporting has become a huge guessing game, where people are reporting things that they

have heard with several level of separations as if they were verified facts. In the main time, they simply refuse to report on son some candidates.

We have reached a place where reporting on elections is a sort of reality game, so no surprise Donald Trump does not seem out of place.

[KoKo]

3. I thought it bizarre.........

but, then again, maybe Carl Bernstein knows something that we don't yet know about the e-mail situation. But, it does seem wild speculation for Biden to say "Hey Vote for Me...I will leave after One Term!

And, surprising he wouldn't mention that Sanders is also running.

[Historic NY]

2. Sounds like a lot of crap....who promises to serve one term...

last guy that did that retired from the presidency and then spent the next ten years wishing he kept his mouth shut,

[ibegurpard]

4. anyone who thinks Joe Biden will light a fire under anyone

Has probably not left the NYC to DC corridor for decades.

[underthematrix]

6. I love Joe Biden. He would make a great president.

[underthematrix]

5. This makes no sense

Biden and Sanders are the same age, 72. Did Bernie agree to a one term presidential run? White America elected Ronald Reagan at 69 3/4 years. He turned 70 years, two weeks after he was inaugurated. I've read several books on the Reagan presidency and the assessment was he had a poor grip on reality and saw his presidency as a role. It also appears Reagan suffered Alzheimer's during both terms. Both BIden and Sanders are smart and well-read. Biden is better educated (I like my presidents to be lawyers and senators) and has demonstrated the temperment to handle the presidency. I don't have that sense with Sanders.

[askew]

9. Personally I think that Biden, Sanders and Hillary are all too old.

Sanders seems to have the most energy. Hillary only seems capable of campaigning at 1/2 speed.

[underthematrix]

19. She seems pretty active to me. I don't see any difference in activity level

i think they have very similar policy agendas which builds on President Obama's agenda. I think they have different oratory styles.

[Romulox]

7. Trial balloon anybody? Interesting times. nt

[askew]

8. He should just run. The 1 term pledge is a stupid gimmick.

I don't see Hillary being able to fix her huge trust deficit while we go through months of email releases, FOIA lawsuits, etc. She is just too damaged.

[global1]

10. Biden Should Get First Shot At The Nomination As He Will Have Served As VP For 8 Yrs....

In a way - he is the heir apparent. As a member of the Obama Administration - in effect it could almost look like an extension of the Obama Administration as I'm sure that Joe would bring on some of his own team - there might not be a need to re-invent the wheel and that many of this administration might be asked on to stay. The Repugs will use that against him though. Last thing they want is another Obama term - and that is just how they would frame it.

Now the question of Hillary. The Hillary camp feels that this is her time and that she deserves to be the nominee. She ran pretty strong against Obama. She served in his administration and bided her time and it's her turn. She's poised to make history and become the first woman president. Having to wait another 4 to 8 years for another shot - she will probably be too old. As Bernstein indicated - she is not without controversy - and should any of the issues that are being thrown at her stick or blow up in her face - the Dems stand a chance of losing the presidency altogether. Biden throwing his hat in this race - could be the Dem powers that be - hedging their bets here. I know I brought that up the other day here in one of my posts and took some criticism. Mainly saying that Biden is his own man and it's his decision and the Dem powers that be don't play into this. My response would be - they better be thinking strategically on this - because there is too much at stake if the Dems lose the WH. Don't be naive that there isn't this type of strategery going on behind the scenes.

Now the question of Bernie. Bernie speaks truth to The American People and his message is resonating. He's building momentum every day. However, the powers that be both Dems and Repugs, the Corporatists, the Bankers, Wall Street are all afraid of him. What if he does win? If he does the gravy train can be over for them. He'll have the backing of The American People. He might even pull some Senate and House wins along with him - and he could change things and rock the money laden apple cart. That's why right now the Right Stream Media [RSM] (my new name for the Main Stream Media) is blacking him out and putting out the message that he is not a credible candidate and has no chance of winning. Maybe just a show or a place. In a way I call him the 'invisible candidate'. He's the horse in the race with the biggest odds and a come from behind win would be a game changer. A lot of people betting on the sure thing - could lose big - but The American People that place their bet on him could win big.

Bernie is the question mark for 2016. Like Trump they don't really know how to deal with Bernie. Unlike Trump - Bernie has the truth behind him and doesn't need to change based on focus groups. He just needs to keep speaking truth to power. He's been on the same mission all his career and doesn't need to flip flop - he has his convictions and he sticks with them. All the other candidates need to think first before they talk so they don't trip up on themselves for something they did or said throughout their political careers. I think he'll be formidable in the Dem debates. I think they know that and that is why they are limiting the number of Dem debates.

In my estimation - Biden would siphon more votes off of Hillary than Bernie - though he would be a tough one to compete with given his record, his service as VP and maybe a bit of a sympathetic ear based on the recent loss of his son and how the RSM plays that card.

At any rate - this 2016 race is shaping up to be very interesting and will make a very interesting book when its all done and over.

The Making Of A President 2016.

[KoKo]

15. Recommend: For an interesting and thoughtful read.....Thanks!

Who could have imagined that Bernie Sanders would run as a Democrat and manage to draw such huge interest and crowds by delivering a Populist Message. That the bloviating, narcissist Donald Trump could become a Repub front runner by making outrageous statements against anyone he wants to take to task and even grow in popularity when attacking "War Hero" RW John McCain and Fox News darling Megan Kelley in the most vile way and survive and thrive way longer than anyone thought possible.

Plus, we have 17 Repubs running in a frenzy known as the "Clown Car." Not much policy difference between most of them but the media loves the show.

As you say:

At any rate - this 2016 race is shaping up to be very interesting and will make a very interesting book when its all done and over.

The Making Of A President 2016.

[Metric System]

11. That's ridiculous. I think Bernstein is engaging in creative speculation.

[DanTex]

12. I don't like the one term thing. I want another two-term Dem.

[Peacetrain]

13. I posted on that at the end of July..

I have been hearing rumblings on this for the past month or so..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=482862

[KoKo]

16. Very interesting that you've been hearing this proposed before....

I'd much prefer Sanders/O'Malley. I think they could work well together. It would be a great ticket.

I'm not a fan of Joe Biden because of Clarence Thomas appointment and other things. His public image is endearing but, his gaffes often lead to problems and could be more harmful to his image if he is President. At his age when one makes a gaffe people start thinking one is senile. BTW: I personally don't have a problem with age for Hillary, Sanders or Biden.

[underthematrix]

21. You are not going to get two whites guys on the ticket. That's just not going to heppen.

O'Malley is a very smart guy as is Webb and Chaffee, the two conservative Dems. All of the Dem candidates are great.

[Maedhros]

14. DO NOT WANT.

http://www.propublica.org/article/bidens-cozy-relations-with-bank-industry-825

With Sen. Joe Biden joining the Democratic ticket, there’s renewed scrutiny of Biden’s connections to the credit card industry. Biden has been particularly cozy with MBNA, a financial services company from Delaware, and now a subsidiary of Bank of America.

Over the past 20 years, MBNA has been Biden’s single largest contributor. And as the New York Times and Wall Street Journal note, Biden’s son Hunter was hired out of law school by MBNA and later worked as a lobbyist for the company.

The Times also details just how helpful Biden has been to MBNA and the credit card industry. The senator was a key supporter of an industry-favorite bill—the “Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005”—that actually made it harder for consumers to get protection under bankruptcy.

That bankruptcy bill was egregiously heinous.

[KoKo]

18. And, his participation in getting Clarence Thomas on Supreme Court....

Many of us older DU'ers remember his dealings with the hearings on that too well. He has some other stuff "behind the scenes" that are concerning also.

[underthematrix]

20. Yes I watched the hearings from start to finish. Bush and Thomas turned it into a racial issue

even though Thomas denied that race played a role in his life. Now mind you at one time he had been head of the civil rights division. That;s when I fell in love with Joe Biden in how he handled that very difficult situation.

What other stuff are you referring to from "behind the scenes"?

[KoKo]

22. It was Biden's calling a close to hearings before Anita Hill's witness could testify.

She could have proved what Anita Hill said was true about his sexist predatory behavior. Biden manipulated the hearings so that they went on late into the night and then didn't allow her to testify.

[Armstead]

17. I don't think that one's gonna fly

Raises too many red flags. (remember Reagan in his second term?)

[ellisonz]

23. Biden isn't running. n/t