wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

@Ed:

I think people miss the Clinton years because the economy was strong and growing. Lots more people had jobs. And the Republican Congress was more focused on the sideshow attempt to destroy Clinton through the Lewinsky scandals rather than their current focus of destroying the nation through their failed broken-record policies and no compromise ideologue (IE more UNFUNDED tax cuts to grow the debt, more deregulation to protect the environment, more making good education only available to the nation's richest, more letting financial companies take bigger and bigger risks, since that didn't have any bad effects...).

Now those WERE the days ....

@Grunion Shaftoe:
Perhaps the dumbest comment I've read on WNYC. Clinton CAN run for president b/c she was not president, her husband was. This is the problem with our country, people don't know who is/was president and the laws around electability. So sad.

I wonder if you were confused the last 4 years of Bush junior's term, not knowing the difference between him and his father?

@ jgarbuz:
Just because Bush put on a "Mission Accomplished" jacket doesn't mean Iraq was any great success. And let's not forget the timeline to leave Iraq was put in place by Bush. Obama would've actually kept the troops there longer but couldn't get them protection from prosecution under Iraqi law, so he's bringing them home instead of risking politically motivated prosecutions.

I like both Biden and Hillary and would think is a very good election tactic but don't think Biden is up to the job for Secretary of State. And for the challenge the country is facing in the 21st century, that job is just too important. And really, VP is more of a nominal title than anything. Don't need to waste Hillary Clinton's talent there when she's doing a very job at the current position.

The Clinton-worship is beyond comprehension. Just what part of the Clinton years are people so nostalgiac for? "Welfare reform?" The bungling of health care reform? The battles over Whitewater, Vince Foster, etc.? Monica Lewinsky?

Now THOSE were the days ....

@marafw - I think Hillary would have continued Bush's policies in much the same way Obama has. She may be a "liberal", but she has authoritative leanings in some ways. Her greatest weakness is her fear of appearing weak (at the expense of doing the right thing). E.G. - her vote on the Iraq War.

IMHO the reason the glass ceiling hasn't been broken in the Executive branch is simply due to a longterm dearth of compelling female candidates. I can't think of one to be honest.

Re 'something may be going down' rather than being just lewd, also has the meaning 'something may be happening'!

Re Hillary, while, when Obama was elected, it was certainly world breaking news that we had finally broken the 'color barrier' at the highest level, how wonderful it would have been had we in the US followed the other enlightened nations and broken the 'glass ceiling' for women and elected Hillary. VP? In my opinion she would have made a fabulous president.

I will vote again for Obama most likely, but never for Hillary. She's extremely talented and dynamic, but she's also all the things conservatives criticize her for (conniving, opportunistic, disingenuous, political hack and so on).

It would be a retroactive move for America. Plus, she voted for the Iraq war. Brilliant.

Actually, I've been dreaming about Joe Biden having the commonsense to offer the switch. as well as thinking about the possibility of Hillery taking over after the Obama administration. So, JOE, JOE, LET IT GO! LET HILLERY come IN.

It wouldn't make any difference unless we get more Democrats in Congress. That's at least as important as who's at the top of the ticket.

And no, I won't pardon the expression "great white hope"! Seriously, caller, what the hell?

Under Obama and Hillary, Iran has become almost a superpower, with near nuclear weaponization, and can now close the Straits of Hormuz strangling much of the West's oil supplies. And the Left turned Iraq from a victory into a great defeat.

@jgarbuz -

So are you mad at CheneyandCo for outing Valerie Plame and taking down her cover organization whose SPECIFIC MANDATE WAS TO TRACK IRAN'S ATTEMPT TO ACQUIRE NUCLEAR MATERIAL?

The Left did not turn Iraq into a defeat. There can be no victory in a war that had no just cause.

Hilary Clinton is a great Sec.of State,in this position she is most effective. Somehow I do not think she would not have wanted to be VP. She could still run again in 2016 couldn't she? As for the President, I think that based on what he inherited he has done a very good job. How do we know what Hillary would have done? She had only been a senator before her current position.It was Bill Clinton who was President not her. I love Hillary, but i voted for Obama and i do not regret my vote;since when did compromise become a dirty word. If he had not been inclined to compromise he would still critized it is what we do best in this country especially since he did not snap his finger and create brand new vibrant economy in 3years.

The Clinton's do not have a great relationship with President Obama. From Hillary's stand point, why would she want to go from a high profile position as Secretary of State to the relative obscurity of the Vice President? If Hillary is considering the run for the President next time she will want the higher profile position for the exposure it provides.

@Nora Rocket from Queens: Exactly!

Firstly, there is no way nohow that Hilary would challenge Obama for the Presidency. Story over.
Obama & Hilary would be a very strong ticket. I feel that Hilary may have been a stronger president than Barack.
She has balls and his disappeared sometime after his election. Having said that, he has accomplished more than he's given credit for.
Joe Biden is consistently turned into a figure of fun (vice president syndrome) but I always respected him and thought he would have been a good president all those years ago when his run was kyboshed by charges of plagiarism. He would have been a good Sec.of State, having served long years on the Foreign Relations committee.
I liked the combination of his smarts, his experience, his realism, his earthiness and his back story is compelling also.
Is it realistic that such a bold change will be or could be executed in these days of political stasis?

Brian, as per your comment about Bill Clinton being in a position to (potentially) become president again -- that Constitutional amendment is open to interpretation and would probably go to the Supreme Court if challenged. When it was passed post-FDR, it wasn't thought there was a possibility because of the average life span. The amendment reads, "two consecutive terms" but does that mean if a person sits out for a term, could he/she be re-elected?

I think Hilary would have been even more "macho" and aggressive in continuing the wars we were embroiled in than Obama. I think Hilary would have wanted to prove how "tough" she could be even more than Obama wanted to. I didn't support her candidacy for President because I believe she would have continued the same neo-liberal (moderate Republican) policies of her husband. She's as beholden to the powerful financial interests as Obama. She and Bill are part of the 1%.

Am I very disappointed in Obama? Yes. Would having Hilary on the ticket make it a stronger ticket? No. Will I vote for Obama? Yes, what's the alternative?

Ridiculous Monday--no, it's later than that, it's more like Friday--morning quarterbacking at this point. It is an absurd proposition to say that Hillary never would have bowed or compromised to the jackass obstructionists of the GOP the way that Obama has; his utter capitulation has less to do with any personal weakness of his and much more to do with an opposition party dedicated to obstructing the entire government at any cost, against any objective, to get their way and to defeat the Dem executive. They've proven over and over that no cost is too high, up to and including government shutdown.

I'm as disillusioned with Obama as anyone - perhaps more - but I have zero illusions that things would have been any "better" or even "different" under Ms. Clinton. This entire segment is horrid alternative history indulgence.

Quoting from the NYT on Sunday (Book Review):..."a Democratic president who gets us health care reform and tough new financial protection for consumers, who guides the economy through its roughest period in 80 year with moderate success (who could do better?), who ends our long war in Iraq and avenges the worst insult to our sovreignty since Pearl harbor (as his Republican predecessor manifestly failed to do...), a president who aced an opposition of really spectacular intransigence and downright meanness...deserves a bit more credit from the left...." Michael Kinsley

What next for the 67th United States Secretary of State? This candidate has has national and international experience and may make a difference to the social and political climate -- it could get worse, so must surely get better. Hilary Clinton has been forged in the fire of experience, domestically, socially and by the misogynists that dominate Wall Street and Congress. Women are serving in the highest offices in nations in Third World countries and in Europe. Isn't it time we in America grew up?

Preident Clinton is ineligible to run for the Presidency again:

1. No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President, when this Article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.

Under Obama and Hillary, Iran has become almost a superpower, with near nuclear weaponization, and can now close the Straits of Hormuz strangling much of the West's oil supplies. And the Left turned Iraq from a victory into a great defeat.

All the pro-Hillary callers who cite her assumed ability to negotiate with a Congress dominated by Republicans fails to take into account that those Republicans refuse to negotiate with any Democrat, male or female. No doubt Hillary would have an even harder time, given many of the freshmen House Republicans' attitudes about the role of women in society.

Clinton back in the WH?...man

What is wrong with america. When Hillary was running in 08 they did not want her. Who are the flip floppers (the american people). I allways think that she would have been a good President back then and even a good VP now. How about if she run in 2016. Lets see if the american people will like her when that time come again. I say the current president wife Michelle and Hillary should run in 2016.

I like Hillary well enough, but I voted for Obama in the '08 primary and still support him, even if he's not all I hoped for. I just don't see how shuffling VP and secretary of state around would change the equation at all this year. I still think Hillary is the front runner for the '16 nomination regardless of which job she has, either in a second Obama term, or out of Government under (presumably) president Romney.

I do agree with many of the callers that Hillary Clinton would have made a great team with Obama, but one thing she absolutely would not have done is tackle Health Care her first year in office. This was a mistake the Obama administration made and lost a lot of support because of it

In 2016, Hillary Clinton will be 69 years old. She won't be running for president in 2016. That's not ageism...that's common sense. The campaign process will be more grueling, not less.

Firstly, I loved the Op Ed piece in the Times. Obama has been an outstanding president and Biden has been in a support role, and done that job well. It's Obama's show and he's done magnificently. Having said that, Hillary would be a good VP choice, but it's time for folks to stop doubting Obama and understand that he and his tema have been infinitely, successfully strategic throughout the last and soon-to-be campaign. We ain't seen nothin' yet!
He will win regardless.

monday morning qurterbacking

I want a do-over! We would have gotten 2 presidents for the price of one. Bill was an excellent president and Hillary's been a wonderful Secretary of State. Obama lost my support long ago ( when he took the public option out of healthcare).

I would like see Hillary as VP. I supported Hillary for president and would love to see her on the national ticket. I do not want her to replace Obama because that would bad for the party. However I would love to see Hillary as the first women VP.

Yeah, somehow could have taken Hillary's experience and bottle it, with Hillary herself.
What hooey, Healthcare would NEVER have passed.
Obama, no experience, blah blah blah, he showed down the repubs 1 against 250 and WON!
NO ONE would could have would have done it better.
NOW BUCK UP YOU WIMPS!

As much as I love Hilary, I would still have to vote against Obama.
His presidency has been a disaster for our ecomony and our country.

Hillary would be 70+ in 2016

Hello Brian, I had hoped this since the last Presidential Primary. I voted for her in that primary because of her experience, strength, and charisma, and voted for Obama in the election. To me, this would be the ideal 'power couple'.

If it wasn't for Obama's foreign policy, which has been his greatest achievement during his presidency, so having Clinton as VP would be great. Back in the election, much was made about her staying "too long" in her bid for the Dem nod but that ended up making Obama stronger in the general election. I think Obama owes her a debt of gratitude and would be smart to pursue her as his second in command.

Okay, let Hillary become Obama's running mate, and let Michelle Bachman become Romney's running mate. Obama lost me 3 years ago when he went to Egypt to make friends with the Muslims while telling Israel that it can't build apartments in Jerusalem.

Hillary was the first to call for a Palestinian state when she was still First Lady back in the 1990s. I'll accept a lady president, but not Hillary.
Not it "takes a village but to hell with fathers" Hillary!

I believe Bill Clinton let slip that Hillary is exhausted and may not want another four years as Secretary of State.

Adding Hillary to the ticket would be outstanding! It would bring all of the Hillary supporters back into the fold and Obama could definiately use some of the gravitas and political experience that Hillary would bring to the ticket.

A Hilary replace Barack secenario was suggested by Dick Cheney! That shows how foolish an idea that would be! Why don't you give the Republicans the presidency? Oboma and Hiliary would be an unbeatable combo. Drive the Tea Party up the wall.

I was an enthusiastic Obama supporter the last time around, and have found him to be completely uninspiring, essentially a fraud as someone who actually governs from a fetal position. I gave money to his campaign the last time—a first for me. This time around, I simply can't vote for him: as things are I'd probably just stay at home.

UNLESS Hillary is on the ticket (preferably at the top, but PVP might do), to give me something to actually vote for.

biden as sec of state would be a disaster with his foot in the mouth propensity. Hillary should wait for 2015

What's the diff. They're both war mongering, civil rights denying nutcases.

I donated time as well as money to Obama in 2007 & 2008. I wish I had supported Hilary then. I think she would have been a much better president. He's been steamrolled by finacial interests and parts of his Chicago team of vipers. I don't think any of the above could have derailed Hilary's presidency. But they have Obama's.

How about Hillary for president and Obama for vice president? Or sec. of state?

Remember when Hillary Clinton fixed health care in 1993?

Hadn't realized Keller was a Hilaryis44 partisan. The few times it's been attempted, switching VPs has gone poorly. And Clinton is doing a great job at State, let her keep a real job instead of stuffing her into figureheadery.

On my unrealistic wish list is a ticket of Hillary Clinton and either Colin Powell or Condolezza Rice - as an independent ticket.

I know it would not happen, but I think it could be a winning ticket.

Hillary is powerful, and she will certainly have the quiet support of Bill.

Much better of an option than any others.

I think Hillary would have less power as Vice President than she does in her current position (also, do you REALLY want Biden as our face to the world?) I also don't think it does her any good. Did Al Gore become President? No. She'd be better off running in another 4 years. I don't think adding her to the ticket would bring any more people on board either. Not a realistic idea in my opinion

I think it brings new energy to Obama's chances for re-election. It is a very worthwhile consideration.

Ms Clinton brings much more to the table at this stage than Biden does. He adds nothing while she will energize both the Democrat base, as well as the female and independent demographic.

You say upfront that no one is taking this proposal seriously,so by all means let's spend time talking about it.

This: http://nymag.com/news/politics/liberals-jonathan-chait-2011-11/

Do it. It would be the jump the shark moment for the campaign. It shows how desperate Obama is. Frankly Hillary will never do it because she would rather run against a Republican president than deal with Obama fatique which doomed Gore and McCain.

I thought a year ago an Obama/Clinton ticket would be the smartest thing to do in 2012 to galvanize the Democrats. Thank goodness for the disunity of the Republican party but Obama still needs all the help he can get and this would be a stroke of genius!

Noooo! Too many people hate Hillary for that to ever work. But I'd love to see Elizabeth Warren take Biden's place.

Well if Chris Krisitie is attached as a VP for the GOP then for sure it makes sense. Otherwise I don't see the point, Obama will be re-elected.

I have to say I do enjoy the idea of getting new VPs every cycle. But remember guys VP's are essentially powerless. Their tie-breaking vote also never gets used.

Imho, Hillary as the VP candidate would ensure the President's re-election. She'd re-energize his campaign - as a chance to make history, appeal to disappointed voters, and balance his record with her considerable experience, most notably as SoS. The real question is, would she do it?

It should be funny if my current Gov., his roundness, Gov. Christie tags along with Romney. While it would raise his national profile win or lose, I think it would actually hurt his standing in his home state.