Tammy Duckworth - Biden running mate

[SerendipityJane]

Any thoughts ?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammy_Duckworth

As the whole Obama birther conspiracy was based on the loons claiming he wasn’t born in the US (Hawaii) but in Kenya then it would appear that Trump, several republican politicians and lots of Americans didn’t understand the whole ‘natural born’ thing either.

Yes - this is confusing if you aren't from the US - why was it such a big thing? Maybe in some ways the fact that he was born in Hawaii gave the story more legs, because there was no definitive judgement that place of birth is irrelevant?

To be eligible for the Senate you only have to have been a citizen for 9 years as far as I can see whereas to be President you have to be “natural born” as pp mentioned.

So there are rules in place, they did need clarifying and asking about them wasn’t racist .

Anyway my thoughts, knowing very little about her, are that I like her, but I don't know enough to judge whether she would be a good VP (or even what a VP does).

I still don't really understand why Biden won the primaries, but I didn't pay that much attention to American politics when he was VP.

I don't even know what a VP actually does, besides act as a spare.

@HeistSociety

I don't even know what a VP actually does, besides act as a spare.

I think Mike Pence does a whole lot more than previous VPs because Trump is dementing and delegates a lot of work to him. They usually involve themselves in particular policies and campaigns I believe.

Just a slight tangent, but I wonder how many UK citizens know that Boris Johnson was born in New York.

@HeistSociety

I don't even know what a VP actually does, besides act as a spare.

Pretty much the size of it (if you get a chance, give "Veep" a spin with the fantastic Julia Louise Drefuss - it's from the same stable as "The Thick of It").

They have some obscure role in the admin of Congress (I think they are allowed to address Congress, whereas POTUS can't).

However they can be used as a sort of POTUS-lite, to travel the world and meet foreign leaders. Obviously you'd never sent Pence - he'd get lost between his bedroom and the front door. But someone who clearly understands there is a "rest of the world" could be a powerful draw. Both for Biden and for people who might support him.

And while it may be distasteful - albeit realistic - to mention it, Biden is no spring chicken. If POTUS dies in office, it's VP that becomes president.

Age dims the mind now, but I think Reagans choice of George H Bush as running mate in 1984 was to allay fears of those afraid he could die in office and leave the US run by an idiot.

Happy days.

Referring back to "Veep", one of the plots was around a tied US Presidential election. Yes - it can happen.

Maybe the role doesn't have enough for Duckworth then? But yeah, I guess if Joe dies...

I really want to see VEEP! But it's never shown here for some reason, or it's on streaming services I don't have.

@andyoldlabour

Just a slight tangent, but I wonder how many UK citizens know that Boris Johnson was born in New York.

I did. And he's got Ottoman blood.

I am also very sceptical that he ever really renounced it, despite the publicity. He could actually become POTUS. And they'd be welcome to him.

Just a slight tangent, but I wonder how many UK citizens know that Boris Johnson was born in New York.

Place of birth doesn’t determine U.K. nationality at all, here it’s all based on your parents, so I guess we don’t have to care where anyone actually escapes the womb!

It bothers me that the rules differ from county to country - it’s feasible that some children could fall through the gaps and technically be stateless.

[quote SerendipityJane]She's already a senator.

Team Biden need to convince Americans they can repair Trumps trashing of the US brand abroad. Duckworth has been suggested (and shortlisted) as the VP running mate that could make that happen, being well up on foreign affairs.

edition.cnn.com/2020/07/06/politics/tammy-duckworth-biden-vice-president/index.html[/quote]
You don't need to be a natural born citizen to be a senator, that only applies to the president and VP.

You really shouldn't go around accusing people of being racist on spec.

@DuDuDuLangaLangaBingBong

Just a slight tangent, but I wonder how many UK citizens know that Boris Johnson was born in New York.

Place of birth doesn’t determine U.K. nationality at all, here it’s all based on your parents, so I guess we don’t have to care where anyone actually escapes the womb!

It bothers me that the rules differ from county to country - it’s feasible that some children could fall through the gaps and technically be stateless.

I think the point about Boris was being born in the US makes him a natural born US citizen (whether he likes it or not) and therefore eligible to run for POTUS.

When it comes to shifting rules in citizenship, the UK is a world beater. Look at the arguments over Shemima Begum (sp ?) and her father.

Only despotic regimes try to remove their natural born citizens citizenship. So the UK is in good company.

Because (last time I looked) only women can give birth, babies citizenship is always going to impact women more than men.

But I digress.

Incidentally the reason Boris is a US citizen is the 14th amendment. If that number sounds familiar, it's because Trump has tried to pretend it doesn't exist so he can deport children born in the US.

I am also very sceptical that he ever really renounced it, despite the publicity. He could actually become POTUS. And they'd be welcome to him.

I wouldn't put it past him to try.

As things stand right now, there is a very good chance that who ever is the VP after election day, Republican or Democrat, will be the President before the four year term is up.

Tammy Duckworth is my Senator, I enthusiastically voted for her, and those months ago when Biden declared his VP choice would be a woman, Senator Duckworth was my immediate thought, and personal candidate of choice.

Thank you OP for starting this thread.

I'm not American, but am I right in thinking Biden is pushing TWAW and changes to the law to ensure trans women/men are unable to be excluded from any same-sex spaces? I believe those laws exist currently at some state levels but not higher than that.

In this case, wouldn't he now be an even worse option for women's rights than Trump is?

prepares to be shouted at

@polkastripes

I'm not American, but am I right in thinking Biden is pushing TWAW and changes to the law to ensure trans women/men are unable to be excluded from any same-sex spaces? I believe those laws exist currently at some state levels but not higher than that.

In this case, wouldn't he now be an even worse option for women's rights than Trump is?

prepares to be shouted at

TWAW is fairly non-negotiable for Democrats I think. As for whether he would choose to push it, my sense is that he might but it's a bit outside his area. So on the one hand he doesn't get why it's problematic but on the other it might not seem deeply important to him.

As far a better option, as is often the case for Americans, there may be no good option. I think Trump is worse simply in terms of being so unstable, I think that's quite dangerous for everyone.

No shouting by me though, I think we should always be prepared to ask.

In this case, wouldn't he now be an even worse option for women's rights than Trump is?

But wouldn't a Trump win ultimately hurt more women (and men) around the world than a Biden win hurting women in the US ?

(If we're getting into a shouting match).

In this case, wouldn't he now be an even worse option for women's rights than Trump is?

Even if you are prepared to overlook Trump using tear gas on American citizens so that he could film a promotional video, he has already weakened laws that mandate that company healthcare schemes must provide contraception at no extra cost, so no.

I am also very sceptical that he ever really renounced it, despite the publicity.

The taxes make it quite an expensive thing to hold on to. I think the US is the only country that makes non residents pay tax.

@merrymouse

I am also very sceptical that he ever really renounced it, despite the publicity.

The taxes make it quite an expensive thing to hold on to. I think the US is the only country that makes non residents pay tax.

I think that's because under the hood, the US doesn't really recognise "non US" as a thing.

Either way, for all the publicity at the time, I bet Boris is still a US citizen, and has either paid the tax, or wangled an exemption as a head of state.

I wonder if it's not too late to crowdfund a "Boris for POTUS" campaign. Which would not only get him our of our hair, but possibly split the right-wing-nutjob vote Trump desperately needs.

Who knows, a three-way split between Trump, Boris and Kanye, and things could really look different for 2021 ?

My view is that if you do not have legal protection in law then you cannot consider yourself safe in anyway in that country.

Biden is very clear on Twitter that he means to redefine woman as a feeling but of course whether he would do it in office is debatable.

Scholarships, rape centres etc already losing out in the States due to this ideology. Having a president that supports this would be catastrophic in my opinion. I say this as someone who cried the day Trump was elected.

Biden is very clear on Twitter that he means to redefine woman as a feeling but of course whether he would do it in office is debatable.

Well Trump has made it clear he will do all sorts of things, until he hits SCOTUS (in the few cases he actually tries). Like our own great and glorious leaders, he's twigged how to govern by headline.

POTUS can do whatever they like across the US with respect to federal institutions (constitution permitting). But my understanding is they are shit out of luck in anything else.

Anyway, it's up to the good folk of the Land of the Free to decide. I just hope they don't make the mistake the UK did of allowing arguments over the least worst alternative to let the worst possible choice in.

I'm not American, but am I right in thinking Biden is pushing TWAW and changes to the law to ensure trans women/men are unable to be excluded from any same-sex spaces? I believe those laws exist currently at some state levels but not higher than that.

I'd rather deal with avoiding locker rooms than a back street abortion because the supreme court started rolling back Roe V Wade. Also no way Biden believes TWAW he is just saying what he has to say to be electable.

Sniffing young girls is fine, not acknowledging that Daniel Muscato is a woman is not fine. Welcome to politics.

It would be nice to get someone halfway sensible but apparently my options are Biden the maybe rapist and trump the definitely rapist.

My view is that if you do not have legal protection in law then you cannot consider yourself safe in anyway in that country.

The Republicans who support Trump also don't want women to have any legal protection in law and also believe absolutely in gender.

Just a slight tangent, but I wonder how many UK citizens know that Boris Johnson was born in New York.

Does that mean the wanker can claim American citizenship?