After she concedes the nomination to Obama...

[Galvatron]

...can we expect Hillary to actively endorse and campaign for Obama despite all the mud she's slung at him over the past months? Can she bury the hatchet and soldier on for the Democratic candidate if only for the sake of party solidarity?

[CaptainZoidberg]

...can we expect Hillary to actively endorse and campaign for Obama despite all the mud she's slung at him over the past months? Can she bury the hatchet and soldier on for the Democratic candidate if only for the sake of party solidarity?

Yes. Obviously, she'll still want him to go down so she can save the party in 2012. But if she's to do that, it won't work for her to not endorse Obama - because then people might blame his failiure on her.

She's going to endorse him, I have no doubt about that.

[Sidewinder]

...can we expect Hillary to actively endorse and campaign for Obama despite all the mud she's slung at him over the past months? Can she bury the hatchet and soldier on for the Democratic candidate if only for the sake of party solidarity?

Every successful politician learns to bury the hatchet and cooperate with people they were flinging mud at the day before; he/she wouldn't get any of their pet programs passed if he/she didn't. If Hillary doesn't, we'll have evidence that she didn't deserve the success she's had so far.

[CmdrWilkens]

...can we expect Hillary to actively endorse and campaign for Obama despite all the mud she's slung at him over the past months? Can she bury the hatchet and soldier on for the Democratic candidate if only for the sake of party solidarity?

Dude if McCain could do it in 2000 (even if he didn't personally vote for Bush) then Clinton certianly can because Obama hasn't been out pushpolling the idea that Chelsea is the illegitimate daughter of Bill and Gennifer Flowers. So there is a LOT less hostility and Clinton also knows that if she wants ANY influence in an Obama presidency then she better get off her ass and put the best smiley face on having lost.

[The Yosemite Bear]

...can we expect Hillary to actively endorse and campaign for Obama despite all the mud she's slung at him over the past months? Can she bury the hatchet and soldier on for the Democratic candidate if only for the sake of party solidarity?

I thought she had already burried the hatchet in his back a few times.

[Edi]

According to this week's Time Magazine the Clintons, especialy Bill, think that Hillary should get the VP nod. Fuck that, they've torpedoed their own campaign, WTF do they think making her a VP would do to Obama's?

[Darth Wong]

If Clinton got the VP nod, she would try to expand the power of the VP.

[Vaporous]

that would seem to go without saying, but is it still possible after eight years of Cheney?

[Jaevric]

If I was Obama I sure as hell wouldn't want Hillary as my VP. I'd never trust her not to backstab me at the first opportunity if she thought it would make her look good for the next election cycle.

[Tanasinn]

I was of the impression that the president decides how much the VP gets to do. A problem when an idiot like Bush is in charge, but with someone more competent?

[CmdrWilkens]

I was of the impression that the president decides how much the VP gets to do. A problem when an idiot like Bush is in charge, but with someone more competent?

Yes and no. The problem with an Obama/Clinton ticket is that now she KEEPS her influence in the party. If she can spend the next 4years repeating to everyone the idea that it was her on the ticket that got Obama over the top then she will wield enourmous power within the party as all of her supporters will continue to back her and the Obama folks will not be able to wrangle the party the way they need to for an effective presidency. She can basically blackmail Obama with her party connections from the number 2 spot all while being shielded by the fact that by law she has no real duties.

The reason Bill wants Hillary on the ticket is that otherwise she loses her cred with the top tiers of the party because she no longer has the ability to run the apparatus or at least influence the apparatus. Obama as the President without Clinton would be able to build on the Dean coalition and essentially force the old Clinton-era folks out through attrition and party deal making. Neither of the Clinton's want this so they will take any chance to demand that they be part of the governing team ("we've earned it") so that they can retina their power, influence, and ability to keep a hold on several core constituencies at the DNC.

[Kanastrous]

Does a VP serve at the pleasure of the President?

Is there a mechanism for dumping a troublesome VP, or is it only possible on the grounds of HC's and M's?

[CmdrWilkens]

Does a VP serve at the pleasure of the President?

Is there a mechanism for dumping a troublesome VP, or is it only possible on the grounds of HC's and M's?

Nope, VP is elected in their own right and can only be removed due to death, resignation, or impeachment.

[CaptainZoidberg]

Isn't the Vice-President basically the speaker of the senate, sort of the equivalent of the parliament's prime minister?

[CaptainChewbacca]

Isn't the Vice-President basically the speaker of the senate, sort of the equivalent of the parliament's prime minister?

I believe (and I may be wrong) that the VP merely presides over the Senate, and only votes in the event of a tie.

[Rogue 9]

The VP presides over the Senate, but doesn't have a vote in it. In practice, the Vice President rarely actually does the presiding; the Senate's president pro tempore does most of the day-to-day work of presiding in the Senate chamber, though his powers are more limited than the Speaker of the House's.

[Rogue 9]

Ghetto edit: The VP doesn't have a vote in the Senate except in case of a tied vote, I should say.

[Galvatron]

If Clinton got the VP nod, she would try to expand the power of the VP.

Didn't Michelle Obama already ixnay that possibility? Nice to see Hillary on the receiving end of a power-tripping first lady's ire.

[Gerald Tarrant]

The reason Bill wants Hillary on the ticket is that otherwise she loses her cred with the top tiers of the party because she no longer has the ability to run the apparatus or at least influence the apparatus. Obama as the President without Clinton would be able to build on the Dean coalition and essentially force the old Clinton-era folks out through attrition and party deal making. Neither of the Clinton's want this so they will take any chance to demand that they be part of the governing team ("we've earned it") so that they can retina their power, influence, and ability to keep a hold on several core constituencies at the DNC.

I would have figured that as a Senator she'd have more influence. Republicans are going to lose seats this election, which means Senator Clinton essentially gets a big bump in seniority. In the 2008 or 2010 Session she could have some expectation of a committee chairmanship or two.

[Illuminatus Primus]

Funny definition of having "earned it"; I didn't know that included kicking and screaming your way to the loser position.