Can Democrats Dub their “Plan B” as “Hillary’s Revenge”?

Former Judge and Secretary of Education in Virginia and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden in Philadelphia in 2016 | Photo by Michael Candelori from Philadelphia via Wikimedia Commons

Part XXVIII of the “United States 2024 Election

To our limited knowledge, this column was the first to mention a “Plan B” for Republicans and Democrats to field replacement candidates for this year’s presidential election.

Will readers now allow this columnist to suggest further the identities of an ideal Democratic presidential slate? With the utmost due respect to her, we are not suggesting that Democrats draft their 2016 nominee, former First Lady, Senator, and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. But if this “Plan B” succeeds, will many Democrats, Lincoln Republicans, and Independents call it “Hillary’s Revenge”?

But this column discusses the First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden. Why? In this writer’s honest opinion, President Joe Biden may be more than willing to give way to his First Lady. Besides, this column described the Biden years as a “conjugal presidency.” Remember this article published on March 30, 2024, “Conjugal Presidency’ Pushes Perfect Easter Message?”

Vice President Joe Biden, as the 46th POTUS, relied on Dr. Jill Biden for moral support and political advice. Dr. Jill inspired him to do everything good for the American people. Remember the adage, “Behind the success of every man stands a woman”?

Perhaps Dr. Jill Biden may be dubbed the “American Joan of Arc.” The French lady warrior is revered as a martyr and viewed as an obedient daughter of the Roman Catholic Church. She was also an early feminist and a symbol of freedom and independence. She was canonized as a saint and patron of France on May 16, 1920, by Pope Benedict XV.

Voters do not need the Pope to canonize Dr. Jill or make her a “blessed” first. She has earned her spurs as a First Lady, a published author, a community worker, a military mom, and a brilliant teacher, having earned her doctorate in education. And, of course, as an unofficial co-president and a two-term conjugal vice president, right?

Political considerations will not permit the Democrats to field the honorable Vice President Kamala Harris or even the former equally talented First Lady Michelle Obama for the vice presidency.

However, Democratic policy and decision-makers may appeal for former President Barack H. Obama to become Ms. Biden’s running mate. Yes, the only POTUS who graduated a summa cum laude will be fitting contrast to former President Trump, who pundits and humorists call the president who graduated with “summons cum laude” (sic). Yes, Mr. Trump has many summons from civil and criminal law courts.

According to academicians and constitutional experts, Mr. Obama can run validly for the vice presidency. Here is an explanation lifted from a position paper by Dan T. Coenen entitled “Two-Time Presidents and the Vice-Presidency.”

QUOTE. Does the Constitution limit the ability of a twice-before-elected President to serve as Vice-President? This question, as it turns out, presents an intricate constitutional puzzle, the solution of which requires working through four separate sub-inquiries: Is a two-term President totally ineligible for the Vice-Presidency? Is such a person barred from election to the Vice-Presidency even if that person remains appointable to that office? Is a twice-before-elected President, even if properly placed in the Vice-Presidency, incapable of succeeding from that office to the Presidency? And even if such a succession can occur, must the resulting term of service as President expire after two years?

“This Article addresses each of these questions by laying bare the implications of the decisive constitutional texts — namely, Article II’s enumeration of Presidential qualifications, the Twelfth Amendment’s treatment of qualifications for the Vice-Presidency, and the post-service limitations placed on two-term Presidents by the Twenty-Second Amendment.

“To be sure, thoughtful analysts have argued that the Constitution forecloses the possibility that a twice-before-elected President can hold (or at least secure election to) the Vice-Presidential office. Close inspection reveals, however, that that view misses the mark. In fact, the relevant constitutional provisions, their histories, and their purposes all point to the same conclusion: A twice-before-elected President may become Vice-President either through appointment or through election and — like any other Vice-President — may thereafter succeed from that office to the Presidency for the full remainder of the pending term. UNQUOTE.

And talking again about Vice President Harris, she can be offered any cabinet position she likes. Or even as President Jill Biden’s Chief of Staff, who can promise her that the “Jill of Arc” will serve only for one term, as the latter is now 73 years young. It will establish quite a record of managing the Office of the POTUS for four years, which no American has ever served as Chief of Staff of a president — before herself running for the presidency in the 2028 election.

Or, here is the boldest move: a “Bold Biden,” as this columnist coined a moniker for the current POTUS. Mr. Biden can resign or take an indefinite leave of absence, making Ms. Harris the first female president in the annals of the American presidency.

If this suggestion is adopted, will Ms. Rodham Clinton have her presidential sobriquet of “Hillary’s Revenge” that will probably make Mr. Trump mad? Or perhaps be driven to a psychiatric facility wearing a straight jacket? Would not it be the perfect poetic justice for former First Lady Hillary? Another first lady soundly defeating Mr. Trump?