Palin explains the vice-presidency

This from Crooks and Liars, channeling Keith Olbermann.


Quotes from Sarah Palin on the vice presidency.

1) "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 the 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."

Hmmm. Evidently Ms. Palin wouldn't want to be the VP if there was nothing of importance for her to do. She certainly wouldn't want to sit around all day, every day. And the really significant thing would be what the VP could do for Alaskans. Huh?


2) This is her response to Brandon Garcia, a third-grader, who asked "What does the vice president do?

"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 (sic) 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."

Olbermann responded thusly:

"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."


3) This is Palin's response to her first comment above where she admitted she didn't know what the vice president's job entails.

Gwen Ifill, on October 2, said to Palin: "Governor, you said in July that someone would have to explain to you exactly what it is the vice president does every day."

Palin responded: "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."

Olbermann says: "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!"

Olbermann might have also mentioned how Palin cannot speak in sentences that make sense; that her syntax is tortured to the point where she sounds like a falling-down drunk!

4) Palin goes on to explain our Constitution's take on the vice presidency:

"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 that 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."

Olbermann: "You're... wrong!"

"...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 partings gifts with you. Including the Home Version of the Vice President Game."