If Joe Biden wants to be the next president, the first thing he needs to do is to convince Barack Obama to appoint Hillary Clinton to the Supreme Court. And he’ll have to hope she accepts the honor. I don’t know whether or not one of the five conservative seats will open up in the next four years, but Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat almost certainly will. At that point, assuming Clinton isn’t already a declared candidate for president, she would be a very intriguing pick. I think that she would look great in the black robe.
I honestly do not think that Biden can beat Clinton in a contest for the nomination, and I think it will be painful for the party if we spend the last year of Obama’s presidency with his two highest-profile subordinates accusing each other of being doo-doo heads. However, if Clinton isn’t a candidate, Biden can probably rely on the loyalty and support of most of Obama’s army. Age is obviously an issue for Biden, but that’ll never stop him from trying. In any case, I leave you with Ezra’s sampling of Biden’s greatest hits from the Senate swearing-in ceremonies last week:
“Spread your legs!” He told Senator Heidi Heitkamp’s husband. “You’re gonna be frisked!”
“Mom, I’ll see you in a little bit,” he winked to Senator Bob Casey’s mother (he called all the mothers “mom”). “I hope I’ll sneak over and see you.”
Senator Tim Scott’s brother, a former football player, got this instant classic: “Need any help on your pecs, man, give me a call.” Senator Orrin Hatch’s granddaughter was advised: “No serious guys until you’re 30.” To the brunette alongside Senator Robert Menendez, it was: “You are so pretty. God love you. Holy mackerel.” At one point, Biden turned to the crowd in the gallery above. “Anybody else want to be sworn in as a senator today?”
I don’t always agree with Biden, but I can’t help but like him. He cracks me up.
