Biden’s Moment
2nd July 2015
The postulate that nature abhors a vacuum seems to apply in politics as elsewhere. There is a vacuum in the Democratic field of candidates for president. Like Gene McCarthy in 1968, Bernie Sanders is in the process of demonstrating the existence of the vacuum. Again, like McCarthy in 1968, there his utility ends. Sanders would not be a viable Democratic candidate for president.
If that is so, then the Republican Presidential race must suck real bad (e.g. Trump).
Hm. Come to think of it….
The vacuum is the space for a plausible alternative to Madam Hillary. Such a candidate would have to be liberal and able to recite the regnant shibboleths with conviction, of course, but he would also have to be likable and honest in his own way in order to distinguish himself from Madam Hillary. This candidate would instantly slow and have a good chance of interrupting the Clinton death march to the Democratic nomination, which seems to be enacting a variant of what Leo Strauss called the joyless quest for joy. In this case it is the joyless quest for power.
Considering how much Democrites lust for power even on their slowest days, the present dearth of candidates would seem to undermine the premise.
Will Joe Biden fill the space created by Hillary’s candidacy?
Probably not. To Quote Joey the Hit Man, speaking of Nixon-McGovern: ‘I had a choice between a fool and a crook. Naturally, I voted for the crook.’
Biden, let it be noted, is 72. Because Barack Obama ended the careers of so many younger Democrat officeholders only the geriatric contingent like Biden are plausible alternatives to Madam Hillary. We know Biden is possessed by the ambition to be president. He would be a fool not to challenge Madam Hillary. He’s not the brightest bulb in the room, but he’s no fool.
Well….