my own drum

Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin was recently in Denver and she sat for an interview with a local station (KUSA-TV). That interview included a feature called "Question from the Third Grade." The interviewer asked our Veep-Want-To Be, "Brandon Garcia wants to know, What does the vice president do?"

"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's agenda, they're like the team member, the team mate to that president," Palin said.

"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," she said.

According to the constitution, the vice president's main duty is to replace the president if the president dies, resigns, is removed from office or can no longer carry out his or her duties for other reasons. The Constitution names the vice president as the president of the Senate but allows the vice president to cast a vote only to break a tie.

From Article 1, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution:
The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.

From Article 2, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution:
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, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.

From Amendment 20, item 3 of the U.S. Constitution:
3. If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.

From Amendment 25, item 1 of the U.S. Constitution:
1. In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.

Nowhere in any of that do I read where the Vice-President "runs" the Senate. If John McCain has not yet had any doubts about his choice of running mate, surely now is the time. I'm reminded of that fateful day when Alexander Haig was running around the White House declaring himself to be "in charge" To wit:

In 1981, when President Ronald Reagan was shot, Vice President George H.W. Bush was traveling in Texas. Secretary of State Alexander Haig responded to a reporter's question regarding who was running the government by stating, "Constitutionally, gentlemen, you have the President, the Vice President and the Secretary of State in that order, and should the President decide he wants to transfer the helm to the Vice President, he will do so. He has not done that. As of now, I am in control here, in the White House, pending return of the Vice President and in close touch with him. If something came up, I would check with him, of course."

Clearly Alexander Haig did not know the presidential line of succession any more than Sarah Palin understands the duties of the Vice-President. Thank you Sarah Palin for educating our third graders.

del.icio.us tags:
Sarah Palin

Technorati tags:
What does the Vice-president do?