During the last few weeks there was an almost palpable sense throughout the country that Vice President Biden should toss his hat into the 2016 presidential ring.
Indeed, the Washington Post on Tuesday accidentally published a premature, pre-written article saying that Biden was going to run for president.
However, by deciding not to make a run for the White House, Biden apparently wants to blaze his own trail post-Obama administration and communicate about the issues near and dear to him—rather than get tagged as a failed presidential candidate (again).
When Biden ran for president in 1988 and again in 2008 he barely registered as a blip on the media screen and even less so with the electorate.
He also has not lost his penchant for putting his foot squarely in his mouth.
On the day of his January 2007 announcement, for instance, he referred to fellow Democratic candidate and Senator Barack Obama: "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy, I mean, that's a storybook, man." Commence cringing.
Biden has a history of controversial comments, of course and was accused of plagiarism during the ’88 presidential campaign (link).
When it comes politicians spouting off, what one person deems controversial another might deem candid. But in a Twitter age, loose lips can be costly to all professionals, politicians in particular.
Either way, if he chose to run for president Biden most likely would have to muzzle himself for fear of saying something that—right or wrong—could sully his reputation and derail his candidacy.
The aura of inevitability surrounding Hillary Clinton’s march to the Democratic nomination notwithstanding, Biden made the right call.
From a communications standpoint, he’s better off being a free bird.
Post-White House, Biden can drive change and communicate about issues that he sincerely cares about, such as gun control and climate change.
Asked why they don’t run for national office, players who have made an impact on the political scene, such as Jon Stewart, usually respond by saying they could have a much bigger impact as a private citizen than a public official. That may disappoint some folks, but it’s true.
No one probably knows that better than Joe Biden. After he leaves office he can write his own ticket and—by already having a built-in platform—craft messages and campaigns that can facilitate political reform.
And if he makes a verbal gaffe post-Veep, it’ll just be Joe being Joe, rather than have the media painfully deconstruct the quote and how it will impact the free world.
Running for President is akin to being a monk, with very rich friends. That’s no fun. Better to be able to speak your mind and try to affect real change.
The ridiculously high prices Americans are paying at the supermarket might influence how—or if—they vote in November.
At a moment in history when there are so many conflicts among peoples here and abroad, let us put our differences aside and celebrate this wonderful season in a spirit of togetherness.
The news announcing the death of Henry Kissinger, the last of the prevaricating politicians and so-called statesmen who stole my future and that of thousands of other young Americans, got me thinking about Walter Cronkite.
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