Sarah Palin Still Doesn't Understand the Vice President's Role
Said Palin in an interview with Colorado's KUSA, in response to a question from a third-grader about the role of the Vice President:
"That's a great question, Brandon, and a Vice President has a really great job, because no only are they there to support the President agenda, they're like a team member, the team mate 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."
Of course, the Vice President is not "in charge" of the Senate, but only presides on ceremonial occasions and in case of a divided Senate, casts a vote.
Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...
Palin Claims The Vice President Is ‘In Charge Of The U.S. Senate [think progress]
Me fail civics? That's unpossible! [daily kos]
Posted Oct. 21,2008 at 7:15 PM EST by Andy Towle in News, Republican Party, Sarah Palin | Permalink
sarah palin is CORRECT:
the VP "presides" over the Senate.
Main Entry: pre·side
Pronunciation: \pri-ˈzīd\
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Form(s): pre·sid·ed; pre·sid·ing
Etymology: Latin praesidēre to guard, preside over, from prae- + sedēre to sit — more at sit
Date: 1608
1: to exercise guidance, direction, or control
2 a: to occupy the place of authority : act as president, chairman, or moderator b: to occupy a position similar to that of a president or chairman
3: to occupy a position of featured instrumental performer —usually used with at
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Posted by: john butri | Oct 23, 2008 7:51:28 AM
Yes, JB, the veep does indeed "preside" but with Constitutionally limited power, viz., to vote only in the event of a tie. It is more than a tad ironic but, more importantly, wrecks violence upon Constitutional jurisprudence that those preaching the gospel of "original intent," see Scalia, et al., have deliberately ignored the plain language of the Constitution in order to expand the powers of the Executive Branch. Cheneyism is an internally inconsistent interpretive methodology. I do not, however, believe that La Palin subscribes to such philosophy; rather, she is demonstrably dumb, devious, and arrogant. That is a logically fatal combo.
Posted by: rudy | Oct 23, 2008 8:09:05 AM