[Vision2020] Palin STILL Doesn't "Get" the Role of a VP

[No Weatherman]

And we should believe everything Keith Doberman says.

He's fair and balanced.



On 10/21/08, Saundra Lund <sslund_2007 at verizon.net> wrote:
> Strike four for Palin on V.P. description
>  The governor is still clueless about what the vice president does
>  SPECIAL COMMENT
>  By Keith Olbermann
>  Anchor, 'Countdown'
>  updated 2:12 p.m. PT, Tues., Oct. 21, 2008
>
>  I suggested last night that until the election, we could very easily wind up
>  doing a Special Comment here every show.
>
>  It was in turn suggested to me that while events may warrant them, this
>  would certainly render that word "Special" for two weeks anyway inoperative.
>
>  Good point. So tonight, as promised, a Campaign Comment on the continuing
>  adventures of Governor Sarah Palin in the big leagues or "Are You Smarter
>  Than A Third Grader."
>
>  Q: Finally governor we've been trying to engage some local grade schoolers
>  for the last few elections. We do a feature called 'questions from the third
>  grade.' Brandon Garcia wants to know, "What does the Vice President do?"
>
>  PALIN: Aw, that's something that Piper would ask me, as a second grader,
>  also. That's a great question, Brandon, and a Vice President has a really
>  great job, because not only are they there to support the President agenda,
>  they're like a team member, the teammate to that President. But also,
>  they're in charge of the United States Senate, so if they want to they can
>  really get in there with the Senators and make a lot of good policy changes
>  that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom. And
>  it's a great job and I look forward to having that job.
>
>  Oh! I'm so sorry, Governor! The correct answer can be found in the
>  Constitution of the United States.
>
>  Article One, Section Three- "The Vice President of the United States shall
>  be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally
>  divided." So, the Vice President is not in charge of Jack, Governor, let
>  alone in charge of the Senate. And you are not smarter than a third-grader.
>
>  On the one level it is hilarious and entertaining that the Republican
>  nominee cannot correctly answer the question "What Does The Vice President
>  Do?" I mean, that first reference to the Vice President comes not 600 words
>  into the Constitution. And the other meaty references are pretty simple:
>
>  Article Two, Section One -"In case of the removal of the President from
>  Office, or of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the Powers
>  and Duties of the said Office, the same shall devolve on the Vice
>  President."
>
>  There's the 20th Amendment- you're done on January 20th and the 25th
>  Amendment -if the President's incapacitated, you're the acting Pres. It's so
>  simple, really, one could memorize those four points pretty easily wouldn't
>  take long.
>
>  Brandon Garcia could do it in the third grade. So, on the one level, this is
>  pretty damn silly. The Sarah Palin material, as Tina Fey might be able to
>  say, just writes itself. As it does, it makes stupid mistakes, but it still
>  writes itself.
>
>  Except there are two very serious aspects to this. Governor, do you really
>  think you'd be "in charge of the United States Senate?" Do you really want
>  to suggest that you think if you "want to"  you "can really get in there
>  with the Senators and make a lot of good policy changes?"
>
>  We're just wrapping up eight years of a Vice President who had no clue what
>  his damned job consisted of, couldn't even correctly find his governmental
>  branch with both hands.
>
>  The last thing anybody in this country wants, Republican or Democrat, is
>  another Buccaneer in there, making it up as they go along, and, in your
>  case, presuming you can stride in to the Senate and change policy if you
>  want to! Besides which, Governor, exactly how on earth could you not have
>  the correct answer by now?
>
>  It's not like this is the first time you've been asked about the Vice
>  Presidency and gone all Miss South Carolina on us.
>
>  LARRY KUDLOW: Is this police-flap state investigation going to disqualify
>  you from becoming Senator McCain's vice presidential candidate?
>  PALIN: As for that VP talk all the time, I'll tell you, I still can't answer
>  that question until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the VP
>  does every day? I'm used to being very productive and working real hard in
>  an administration. We want to make sure that that VP slot would be a
>  fruitful type of position, especially for Alaskans and for the things that
>  we're trying to accomplish up here for the rest of the U.S., before I can
>  even start addressing that question.
>
>  That was on the 31st of July on CNBC, Governor. Even giving you the biggest
>  benefit of the doubt, that your later claim that that was just a lame
>  attempt at a joke you couldn't come up with the correct job description on
>  the second try? What am I saying? The third try!
>
>  GWEN IFILL (OCTOBER 2, 2008): Governor, you said in July that someone would
>  have to explain to you exactly what it is the vice president does every day.
>  PALIN: In my comment there, it was a lame attempt at a joke and yours was a
>  lame attempt at a joke, too, I guess, because nobody got it...Of course we
>  know what a vice president does. And that's not only to preside over the
>  Senate and will take that position very seriously also. I'm thankful that
>  the Constitution would allow a bit more authority given to the vice
>  president if that vice president so chose to exert it in working with the
>  Senate and making sure that we are supportive of the president's policies
>  and making sure too that our president understands what our strengths are.
>  No! No, Governor, the Constitution does not allow "a bit more authority" "if
>  the vice president so chose to exert it in working with the Senate..." You
>  would not be some kind of Senatorial Hall Monitor. You would not be a Veto,
>  or a Censor, or a Balance.
>
>  And even if you think you would somehow obtain those powers from somebody,
>  don't pretend the Constitution will give them to you!
>
>  PALIN: That thankfully, our founders were wise enough to say, we have this
>  position and it's Constitutional. Vice presidents will be able to be not
>  only the position flexible, but it's going to be sort of those other duties
>  as assigned by the president. It's a simple thing. I don't think that was a
>  gaff at all in stating what the truth is. And that is we've got flexibility
>  in the position. The president will be directing in a lot of respects what
>  the vice president does. The vice president, of course, is not a member-or a
>  part of the legislative branch, except to oversee the Senate. That alone
>  provides a tremendous amount of flexibility and authority if that vice
>  president so chose to use it.
>  You're wrong! You've memorized everything else, Governor. You couldn't
>  memorize the job description in three months? Four tries? I mean, I'd like
>  my President and Vice President to have memorized the Constitution, and
>  abide by it. Or at least, I'd like them to know more about the Constitution
>  than I do. Or than Brandon Garcia does. Maybe I'm raising the bar too high
>  but at least wait until you achieve office before trying to seize power
>  extra-Constitutionally!
>
>  "The founders" were not George Bush and Dick Cheney! Gimme something to work
>  with here, Governor or go home! And don't forget to take your lovely parting
>  gifts with you. Including the Home Version of The Vice President Game.
>
>  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27310526/
>
>
>
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