Countdown Special Comment: Gov. Palin, Are You Smarter Than A Third Grader?
By Nicole Belle Tuesday Oct 21, 2008 6:30pm
Making good on his assumption (or was that a threat?) that the waning days of the election may result in a Special Comment every day, this time Keith Olbermann reminds Sarah Palin that actually understanding the responsibility of the Office of the Vice President would not make you a liberal elitist.
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.[..]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!
Transcripts below the fold
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 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.
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 2, Section 1, "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 10/2/08: 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.
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I still can't tell whether a lot of this is her ignorance or part of some strategy the GOP has to try to create some sort of culture war all over again? It just seems eerie that Bachmann, Robin Hayes, "real america", etc. all coming up at the same time. Makes you wonder if this is all planned?
http://demockracy.com/the-end-of-conservatism...
As Steve Martin would say on the various Theodoric of York skits on SNL: "Naaahhh!"
I haven't heard that Rove is no longer calling shots for mcC*nt.
It's just not working out for the ticket
The Repubs want us to make us believe the vp has authority over the Senate. then, if palin ends up vp, they think we will stand by and allow her to push around a democratic-controlled senate. it's a transparent attempt at an end run around a senate controlled by the democratic party. if they can fool even just the 20% dead-enders out there into thinking the vp has this power, then they can pretty effectively eliminate the dems ability to act on the authority the dems will constitutionally have because THEY WON THE ELECTION.
to cover cheyney's ass. Smells like a pr campaign to justify his unconstitutional behavior. She could be his lawyer.
FrIsT!!!
Tomorrow can't come soon enough!
She's a parrot. A gaudy, shrill, parrot.
She barely knows what she's saying, and if she manages the trick of comprehension, it's only because of weeks of coaching.
Caribou Barbie... the only white house you should be allowed to step into, is an igloo.
Palin, it's not a joke if nobody is laughing....
Just say "Great Country" a lot and the rubes in Republicanville will simply ignore all the incredibly imbecilic patter Palin confidently spouts.
She's not smarter than a third grader, but she is better dressed:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/148...
How many hockey moms go on that kind of shopping spree, over $75k just at Nieman Marcus?
nice perks
Remember Edwards’ $400 haircut? It was used as “evidence” that Edwards was a “librul elete” and out of touch with mainstream Amurka. NBC in particular pounded this ridiculous talking point as if they had just scooped an interview with Jebus. Now the GOP, in dressing Caraboo Barbie, has just spent $150,000. I hope this included the sunshine beach-gear!
Now look, presidential campaigns at this level are pure marketing. The candidates, for the most part, have given themselves over to the advisers and dress as they are told, appear where they are told, and say exactly what they are told. There aren’t just one or two guys controlling the talking points at the top, but a myriad of marketers all intent on selling their brand.
But it’s not quite like selling breakfast cereal, is it?
Cheerios can buy commercials all day long on the Cartoon Network telling kids how much *FUN* it is to eat those oats. Special K will target grandpa and tell him he can run around with baby-Lynne, if he only eats their corn. We’ve learned to live with it. But there is still a thing called “truth in advertising” that these brands must theoretically conform.
Not so with the political campaigns.
Can you imagine if Special K ran ads telling grandpa that baby-Lynne *WILL DIE* if she eats Cheerios? Or Cheerios telling the kids that Special K is *ANTI-AMERICAN* and you’ll get NIGHTMARES if you see gramps eating them?
Where does the negative political campaigning cross that “truth in advertising” line?
To the extent there ever was a plan with Palin, I think the plan was to market an image of her that combined with a scorched earth campaign would be just enough to win by the narrowest of margins.
Instead, the economy intervened rending that tactic meaningless. We should be grateful considering the damage a McCain/Palin administration could do on top of the past 8 years.
How can a woman spend $75k on clothes??
Ha!!
Well, figure one nice silk/satin skirt with matching jacket at Neiman/Marcus or Saks Fifth Avenue is around $2,000, plus throw in maybe 4 new pairs of black pumps at about $600 a pop. Let's do the math here:
$75,000 divided by $2,000 is 37.5. Figure about 36 new suits and some shoes (plus a little Guerlain makeup, some new lingerie...hosiery etc.) Yep. That oughta just about get Sarah through Election Day.
As Olbermann quipped tonight in his special campaign comment: "Once Election Day comes and goes and McCain/Palin lose, will Palin say, "Do I get to keep the clothes??!"
Geez. The United States has to be the butt of so many jokes internationally right now. How pathetically sad.
P.S. Dear Site Monitors: How do we get to use the cool BOLD and Italics and ----- functions again??
Nicole: For bold, type < strong > text < /strong > (remove spaces). For italics, type < em> text < /em >. As a registered user, you should see buttons that do the same thing when you post.
Forget TLC's What Not To Wear, I'm sending my wife's name to the RNC!
..you are complete and utter dolt.
Observation:
Morons add words like "Also", "Know what I'm sayin'?", "The fact of the matter is..." in order to fluff up their sentences and try to hide their limited intellect. Case in point: The Mooseburger just can't even help herself. Every thing is "altso[sic]" and "altso[sic]" that.
Lady, we don't need another snarky, evasive, undereducated, barely literate, incurious moron anywhere near the White House. Go. Away.
Egad, Nov 5th can't come soon enough (though I am sure Foxnews will try to shove her down our throats for a few months afterwards).
She is just such a terrifying person. I wish somebody would put those three clips of her talking about the VP job together on youtube. It's easier to get idiot republicans to listen to just the words of their candidate without adding in Olberman's histrionics. Not that I don't agree with him 100%, of course.
Do you think Palin is smart enough to conive all this or does she actually BELIEVE the BS she spews?
told she can do any damned thing once in the VP slot. After all, the Constitution has been shredded doncha know?
the COTUS!
BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
Bimbo the Veep!
not going to happen.
WTF???...And she's supposed to meet and discuss issues with the other world leaders should she wins???...This is preposterous.
The American people should NEVER vote for her lest we end up being the laughing stock of other countries, even the developing ones.
I am terrified to the point of mindless violence that the Repugs are out there, right now, stealing votes in order to get this Baked Alaskan and her doddering running mate into the WH.
Man....maybe it IS all just an illusion, this democracy. Maybe it doesn't matter one fig who is in the WH as the real decision makers would be pulling their strings no matter what.
Wait, I want to modify that:
It doesn't matter which REPUBLIC[sic] is in the WH. Those tools answer to their oil & military industrial complex masters. I still hold out hope that Obama would still have some say in the decisions he makes in leading our nation.
Did you know...
...that it's possible for a developed country to undevelop?
Obviously.
check out this message from Eli at Move On Dot Org!!!!!!!!
https://pol.moveon.org/give/oct08_3v.html?id=...
Thank you for this pointer. Let's hope we reach this magical number and get a real chance at implementing a more responsible future.
Re: her aides' advice on watching the reports:
"Usually they're like 'Oh my gosh, don't watch. You're going to, you know, you're going to get depressed.'"
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/20...
It gets funnier, especially how she begged them not to make her say "Joe the Plumber."
Maverick turned Puppet. Now where are those pins....
A neocon bragged today that Moose girl drew record viewers on SNL. He was to dumb to realize that they tuned in to laugh AT her. I compaired it to a 3 mile traffic jam because of people slowing down to look at a fender bender. Go home lady, and read the part about what the VP does in the Constitution. You'll never get the chance to take the oath to uphold it.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27297183/
I have a hunch Palin feels the same way....
This woman may be a moron, but she is **DANGEROUS***
the meaning of "The Separation of Church and State":
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-storie...
Can you imagine this woman as Prez? I can't.
Palin’s Advice: Put MORE Vice in the Vice Presidency
http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=3752
I made this video yesterday in Orlando. I think it is beautiful and symbolic as the sun is setting on this campaign.
My job depends on the housing market in Florida, and I got sent home yesterday morning by my republican bosses for lack of work. So I drove to the polls on the first day of early voting in Florida, then I drove 2 hours to see this speech.
I never thought I would get to cast such a historic vote in my lifetime. So to actually see a presidential candidate in person on the same day that I vote is truely unbelievable.
I will forever remember this day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWFAbXVJ4Ug
and funny too. Loved the laughter from the tv crew in the background! Hah!
We love you Keith, keep up the great work.
All these comments alone should disqualify her immediately from becoming VP.
"in charge of the Senate"??
"so if they want to they can really get in there with the Senators and make a lot of good policy changes"
"tremendous amount of flexibility and authority if that vice president so chose to use it"??
Seriously what the hell is wrong with her!?
The VP is NOT in charge of the Senate! The VP can NOT get in there with the senators and change policy! The VP has NO authority! Theres NO flexibility in the Constitution!
The VP should stay the hell away from the Senate unless called upon in that one super rare instance of breaking a tie 50-50 vote.
Yet they assert 'flexibility' in interpreteing the scope of powers given tp the president and vice president???
What kind of B.S. answer would we get if someone asked her about the separation of powers? "We send oil to a refinery and get gas..."
Her ignorance, whether willful or not, is stunning.
There is the flexibility in the Constitution. Learn your frickin history. So embarrassing to be shown up by an idiot like Pallin.
From the Senate website [http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Vice_President.htm#4]:
"Under the original code of Senate rules, the presiding officer exercised great power over the conduct of the body's proceedings."
"The first two vice presidents, Adams and Jefferson, did much to shape the nature of the office, setting precedents that were followed by others. During most of the nineteenth century, the degree of influence and the role played within the Senate depended chiefly on the personality and inclinations of the individual involved. Some had great parliamentary skill and presided well, while others found the task boring, were incapable of maintaining order, or chose to spend most of their time away from Washington, leaving the duty to a president pro tempore. Some made an effort to preside fairly, while others used their position to promote the political agenda of the administration."
A nice attempt, but this is now the 21st Century.
It certainly is the 21st Century, but the text of the Constitution regarding the VP has not changed since the beginning.
To reiterate for the morons like you, the Constitution says the same thing it did about the role of the VP as it did when Adams presided over the Senate on a daily basis and made substantive decision about procedure and rules.
The standard practice of what the VP does has definitely changed, with the Senate duties delegated to the President Pro Temp of the Senate. But that's not because the Constitution changed.
The limited role of the VP in the Senate is clearly spelled out in the Constitution. Theres not a "tremendous amount of flexibility and authority" in the Senate for the VP to exercise if he/she so chooses which Palin seems to think. The only power the VP has in the Senate is to break ties. Thats it. 200 years ago Adams certainly tried to impose his "authority" in the Senate but the senators finally got sick and tired of him and put him in his place. And sure Palin could try the same stunt if she wants but you can be sure senators Republicans and Democrats will have none of it
With that said its often hard to really understand what Palin means when shes talking about these things. The scariest part is perhaps when she talks about "flexibility" its Cheney she looks to as a role model
"The only power the VP has in the Senate is to break ties. "
Read the Senate rules before you continue to sound like an idiot.
"original code of Senate rules" an actual part of the Constitution?
I can't find my copy in this messy office of mine, but the Senate rules, I believe, are made by the Senate - not enumerated in the Constitution. So, the VP may have had some discretion under those initial "original" rules, but I thin you'll find the Senate has operated under a totally different set for many, many decades.
You can find the rules of the Senate online:
http://rules.senate.gov/senaterules/
These rules spell out the responsibilities of the "Presiding officer". Modern VPs (basically since Nixon was VP) havent bothered to spend much time presiding over the Senate, so the President pro tempore acts as the presiding officer. But under the current rules, if the VP wanted to to spend most of his or her time hanging out with the Senate, the VP would be the presiding officer with responsibilities as described in these current rules.
Reminds me of that old Beverly Hillbillies episode where Jed is made Vice President of the Bank. Granny doesn't know what Vice means so she looks it up and has a fit. Tells Jethro to go over to Jed's office with a paint can. He looks at the door where it says Jed Clampett - Vice President and with one paint stroke he changes the V to an N.
Sarah needs the tape SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK to understand how the US Govenment works. Look Sarah doesn't read but does read the Starbuck cups so this cartoon would fit her to a tea. She and husband Todd can watch it will the kids and the next time a 3rd grader ask her what is the job of the VP, she will have the right answer.
...distance of Barack and Joe is that a lot of stupid, ignorant, book-hating, beer-swilling, animal-killing, women-beating, pork-rind-eating redneck assholes are thinking only with their little head. Ignoramuses who show up at rallies with the letters M A V E R I C K painted on their scrawny, flabby, white bare chests.
Palin is an insult to people everywhere -- not just women.
I swill beer, you insensitive clod! (Ok, Pacific Northwest microbrews.)
He really gets his hate on when he goes after the women, doesn't he.
I find him revolting.
What's revolting is that a supposedly major party would put someone so ill-equipped as Palin on its ticket. That's what we should hate.
One letter: W
It's time to get angry. This choice for VP is a complete and utter disgrace.
The world is laughing at her, and in turn the US. She is paper thin to anyone with the slightest ability to analyze what she's actually trying to put into words.
More people should be angry. Furious in fact.
Damn. If that is what you net from KO's comments, you are too damn dumb to breath.
Thank you.
Had you been paying attention you might have noticed that Olbermann had a nightly segment on his program where he ranted about the dreadful stupidity of whoever that nights target female was. He stopped during the primary so he could focus his hatred on Senator Clinton in the other segments of his program. Now he is using his not so special comment section to get his hate on over how dreadfully stupid Sarah Palin is.
While that is not what I "net" from three years of Olbermann's nightly displays of misogyny, and his self righteous rants, it is one of the things I have observed.
Dumb ta Dumb Dumb.....
WTF is wrong with this woman?
WTF is RIGHT with that woman?
That was scathing. Too bad it was necessary.Even worse, it shouldn't have been necessary. This woman is Cheney in a skirt.
No she's not. Cheney is devious.
Have you been listening to all the hate she has been spewing?
Have you noticed how she has been dividing the country?
Not to mention she is in wayyyyy over her head.
How do you know he doesn't?
Maybe he shops at Flabby Francesca of Florida.
You could saftely sail a boat using one of their extra large panties.
There is something rather hooveresque about him.
National disgrace.
Just when you thought the Rethuglicans couldn't make our nation a bigger laughing stock after Bush, they nominate Palin.
Why does the GOP hate America?
JUST WHO IS THE "WE" SARA PALIN KEEPS REFERRING TO?
DOES SHE HEAR VOICES?
You nailed it.
The best line was "the founding fathers were not Dick Cheney and George Bush".
Keith teased it our until the very end.
There is nothing comical about this woman. This is the third time she has made this statement -- it is no error, or goofiness. She means it.
She understands what Dick Cheney has achieved in corrupting the separation of powers, and wants to go him one further.
Sarah Palin fully intends to grab power over the Senate, either to pacify it, or use it as a legislative apparatus for pushing through the plans for the final destruction of the Constitution and our American way of life.
This is one VERY ambitious woman.
She fully intends to seize power.
She's playing for keeps.
She may be ignorant, but she's very smart.
Underestimate her at your/our peril.
If Palin is 'smart,' it's the same kind of bumbling 'smart' that George W. Bush evinces. Can't talk in a complete sentence, everything's layered with folksy interjections, but - for some reason - far too much of the public buys it as 'charm' and 'plain folk.'
Her agenda, framed as 'making America better,' means turning it into a Christian theocracy. Get used to hearing that the dumbest things are an expression of 'God's Will,' so, y'know, we should pray for that. And how dare you question GOD, of all people. GOD is always right, and if you question GOD, you must be one of those anti-American terrorist-loving socialists who doesn't FEEL THE SAME WAY as we do.
....as in intelligent or knowledgable. But, your comparison to GWB is on target. Miss Sarah has glommed onto god and religion as her crutch, just like Georgie. And, she is very arrogant and ambitious, like W, trying to prove that she's "better" than whoever it was in her childhood who told her she was worthless.
So, she's the perfect puppet - just like W. The neo-con puppet masters are using her (and McCain, too) to do their dirty work - and they're both too stupid (and ambitious, like W) to realize it.
Too bad we're the ones who have to suffer.
Palin is not intelligent, but has one trait that does make her dangerous, she is RUTHLESS. The reason people like Cheney and Rove are so capable, is not a measure of intellect, but the willingness to do what no one with a functioning conscience would even THINK of doing. She is an idiot, but one that has no problem swindling, lying, and generally taking advantage of other people. Frightening on every level.
...every time Palin opened that Pandora's Box she calls a mouth, I wanted to scream. Everything she proposes...horrifying doesn't near describe it!
Besides her cluelessness, I'm wondering how many third graders do know the meaning of "agenda"? I'm actually wondering if Mrs Naive knows it herself, of if she's just snapped it up somewhere... ;)
So, shouldn't "Supermom" be a bit more sensitive in dealing with children's language?
This wasn't a Special Comment, KO changed it to "Campaign Comment" until Nov 4th because McCain and Side Show Barbie are doing so many crazy things that he feels he has to call them out on it every single night.
Just a weigh in on the idea of Sarah Palin tromping into the Senate and trying to make some changes there for the good of everyone. Why don't we start a petition to impeach her before the election as a hedge? I know it makes as much sense as a credit default swap, but what the heck?
That, AND protect the space-time continuum! Read the Constitution!
LOL!! In the dark!
She talks like a train wreck! In that very short explaination, Palin used the word "AND" 6 times. Listening to her my head revolves in "loop" form.
Secondly, I looked up McCain/Palin compliance funding and came across 4 letters, all written by Pain to her supporters asking for donations.
The strange thing is, EVERY letter had a p.s. to it, like she doesn't plan her letters before writing or...best of all, doesn't anyone use "word perfect" anymore?
p.s.- these people are dunces!
with 13 days it just gets worse out there for Obama in the attacks against him. This is criminal.
Nobody as yet has discussed the bear cub that was shot and left with an Obama sign wrapped around its neck. This happened on a university campus.
Hey, I'm Canadian and I'm writing 5 major papers in both Missouri and Virginia to deliver my disdain and embarassment to the McCain party,
If these states have any principles, they should send a message to voters....never again will the pride of the USA ...their Presidential Elections.....have campaigns run like this.
The world is watching and Democracy is at stake. What is the image you are showing here.
Is it any different from all the third world countries you are trying to convince...your way is better?
It's worse.
That is what we all should be doing....witing letters to newspapers and telling their readers to take a step towards the human race!!!!
You have to see this list of supporters. 3 are founders of different "Health Care" companies. Then there are insurance, bankers and investment CEO's.
But the one that stands out the most is......PAT BOONE!!!!
His vocation????? Get this...........
"Whitens Black Music"!!!!!!!
Religion???- Born Again Christian.
I wanna be one of them mommy!!
There are a lot of little things her handlers are overlooking in her education because they are so basic no considers she doesn't know them.
But she doesn't.
The bar's too high for me.
I keep passing out, slipping from my stool, and hitting the floor.
Y'all know that adage about teaching a man to fish and he eats the rest of his life?
In Alaska, they say they rather wear muffs than go muff diving.
)O(
I don't think her "mistake" was an accident.
This would fit into the pattern of continuing expansion (by force) of executive branch power. I think they're trying to use the whole "maverick" schtick to try to create the public perception or belief that she can actually go in there and do what she claims she has the power to do: control the senate.
Think about it - best case for the Republicans at this point is that they'll have lost control of both houses and they squeek into the Whitehouse by luck, or by stealing the election.
I'm sure the hawks would love to expand power into the senate right about now.
She's trying to squeeze even more illegitimate control than has Cheney.
These people...McCain and Palin...cannot be allowed to win...it would be the end of this country.
I don't know...to say that the Vice President is "in charge" of the Senate when the Constitution says the Vice President "shall be President of the Senate" doesn't strike me as a big contradiction, especially given her audience was a child. The word President implies some sort of authority over the presided, so I can't get excited about this.
The Constitution only states that the Vice President's only function as president of the Senate is to break tie votes.
Although now with regularly broadcasted State of the Union Addresses, the VP sits behind the prez with the house speaker, basically representing the senate.
But the Constitution only requires such addresses to be regularly sent to Congress, and it can be by letter.
)O(
"The Constitution only states that the Vice President's only function as president of the Senate is to break tie votes."
False. The Constitution states that the only VOTE the VP has is in the case of a tie. The functions of being President of the Senate are not described. Our first VPs, who were Founding Fathers, understood the function to involve being the presiding office of the Senate including being in charge of rules and procedures.
Pallin is an idiot, but the liberal blogosphere is making itself look more idiotic on this issue.
You're referring to the senate president pro tempore and/or the majority leader.
All the constitution says regarding the VP as Senate President is:
The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.
The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.
However, things can change from the stated power with custom and usage.
"You're referring to the senate president pro tempore and/or the majority leader."
I made no reference to the majority leader.
"All the constitution says..."
I know what it says.
"However, things can change from the stated power with custom and usage."
Bravo. Ranting against Pallin by saying she should read the Constitution just makes us liberals look like idiots since the text of the Constitution does not contradict her comment.
Both you and palin are trying to continue the chainey argument that somehow the VP isn't in the executive branch when it suits him and is in the executive branch when it does, like claiming executive priviledge; which, by the way, is not found in the constitution nor the congressional oversight.
Her statement to little Brandon indicates that she thinks that being President of the Senate somehow means that the VP has particular authority to "make a lot of good policy changes" - in other words, to act as a legislator BEYOND merely casting the occasional tie-breaking vote.
The Constitution does not suggest any such authority in the vice-presidency. In fact, such authority would be inconsistent with the carefully crafted balance of powers by creating a sort of "super-legislator" who is elected differently than, and is less responsible to the people than, an ordinary legislator. If the Founding Fathers had intended the VP to have such extraordinary power they would have come right out and said so.
I rarely disagree with Olberman, but I still can't stand him.
He's a pompous and patronizing blowhard just like Bill O'Reilly.
I think it's sad more fellow liberals don't object to this kind of of broadcasting on principle.
B ut he's noting like O-Reilly...BOR is full of shit, hate, and self loathing, and can't help but lie lie lie...
Olbermann speaks the truth, and as far as I can tell, hasn't lied once on his show.
Can't say that about BOR now can ya?
I agree that Olberman isn't a big fat liar.
But I was talking about style, not content. As I said, I agree with the content, generally every single word. I just think it would be more powerful if it was delivered without the mugging, the eye rolling and the screaming. Then it might sway people who don't already agree with him and who haven't already read about every story he has on the blogs during the day.
Good point.
But I think his reporting style, can be refreshingly funny...though sometimes a bit much with the mugging, etc.
I tend to agree with you on the "2 wrongs don't make it right" analogy.
Still Olberman is a bit more tolerable and does have a better research team than O'Reilly.
As our current VP has reshaped the office, the current contender/s (both parties) will inherit these powers and in the case of the Republicans, further create a VP position that resembles a Deputy Presidential position. The job that for much of the past century was "not worth a bucket of piss" will indeed be altered to fit the agenda of increasing the powers of the Executive government. What many of us see as mistakes, are a shift in the balance of powers.
Power in the office has shifted through history, and it does so again. While KO is technically "correct" in the structure of his argument, it is an argument of a strict Constitutionalist and not recognizing the new Federalism - if we can even call this move that old name - or perhaps more accurately a "Corporatist" ideology.
http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/c...
Source posted before and worth posting again.
I think a debate between her and the pornstress who plays her in that now infamous movie would be her speed, intellectually. Come to think of it, the pornstar would probably be smarter...and less supportive of dismal policy failures such as 'abstinence only' education.
Remedial though it may seem, still it is necessary to explain to the undereducated (like me) why the "president of the Senate" does not preside over the Senate. How is it that the word "president" means practically nothing in the context of defining the role of the vice president, while for president of the nation it appears to grant practically dictatorial powers?
I am asking for a real explanation, not snark.
One can preside symbolically without having actual day-to-day power. Depending on the country they have a president in charge and a prime minister, or a prime minister in charge followed by the president.
Keith is going to burst a blood vessel, before this is all said and done.
Silence is Deadly
Watch the Video
An artistic political statement expressing the blinding FEAR of an other Republican administration.A graphic vision for the new, young and seasoned voters to place in their minds eye.Tears of pain for a President named McCain and a heartbeat away our HOPES, DREAMS and FUTURE Palin would Betray.
Think of the present and painful past as this graphically portrays and VOTE with your mind, heart and soul for America's future rests in your hands.
Thank you,
Harvey Edwards
harveyedwards.com
[Deleted. Spamming with BS-Sitemonitor]
Kindly take your canned posts elsewhere troll.
Clearly whoever wrote this is obviously an idiot.
If you think Obama has too many skeletons in his his closet...think of how many McCain has stashed away in his 7 houses.
Oh...and as for Condi...she has lot's more experience than those you mentioned, sure...at failing, and not gettin shit done.
She's as useless as the Popes balls.
To Governor Palin - its not much of a joke if you have to explain it - Do'h !!
What a total nitwit this woman is!!
Why is it that dumb people are far more powerful than their smart, well-reasoned, and well-informed counterparts??
Maybe Palin is confusing the VP position to the queen on the chess board, since that figure has the most flexibility in the game.
Still, why is such an idiocracy looming like in that Luke Wilson movie, "Idiocracy"? I just don't quite understand why stupid people have all the power while their smarter counterparts don't seem to have enough backbone to speak up.
You could stand there and recite the Constitution regarding the duties
of the Vice President to Sarah Palin. She would look at you with those
huge uncomprehending eyes, turn around, and voice the same ludicrous
notion that the VP is "in charge" of the Senate and go on her merry way.
John Nance Garner said he office of the vice presidency was, "not worth a bucket of warm piss."
It's usually repeated as spit.
That's Texan politics for ya.
)O(
to find out what the vice president does is to rent the DVD set of the HBO series "John Adams." It showed just how limited the powers of the of the office truly are, not what Cheney made them. (If you tell Palin she'll get extra credit, maybe she'll watch.)
Joe Biden is actually the one who made the gaffe regarding the role of VP. Just because recent VPs have not presided over the senate in the authority that the constitution grants them, that does not mean that they haven't previously and that they wouldn't be able to if they so choose.
See link:
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/10/03/biden-g...
And here is an excerpt:
Stephen Dinan notes that modern practice has led to historical and Constitutional illiteracy:
The Constitution, though, actually says the vice president is always president of the Senate and legal scholars say he has the right to preside at any time. Early vice presidents, such as Thomas Jefferson, actively exercised that role, the vice president still keeps offices at the Capitol, and scholars say it wasn’t until the middle of the 20th century that the vice president had an office at the executive office building.
The president pro tempore, usually the senior senator from the majority party, takes over only when the vice president is absent. In recent practice, as the vice president has taken a bigger role in the executive, that’s meant the Senate operates almost all of the time without the vice president in the chair.
Maybe Biden should take the time to actually read the Constitution. He can borrow Robert Byrd’s pocket version if he can’t find a copy on his own. Who knew Sarah Palin was a more competent Constitutional scholar than Joe Biden?
An excerpt from senate.gov
"Under the original code of Senate rules, the presiding officer exercised great power over the conduct of the body's proceedings. Rule XVI provided that "every question of order shall be decided by the President [of the Senate], without debate; but if there be a doubt in his mind, he may call for a sense of the Senate." Thus, contrary to later practice, the presiding officer was the sole judge of proper procedure and his rulings could not be turned aside by the full Senate without his assent.
The first two vice presidents, Adams and Jefferson, did much to shape the nature of the office, setting precedents that were followed by others. During most of the nineteenth century, the degree of influence and the role played within the Senate depended chiefly on the personality and inclinations of the individual involved. Some had great parliamentary skill and presided well, while others found the task boring, were incapable of maintaining order, or chose to spend most of their time away from Washington, leaving the duty to a president pro tempore. Some made an effort to preside fairly, while others used their position to promote the political agenda of the administration.
During the twentieth century, the role of the vice president has evolved into more of an executive branch position. Now, the vice president is usually seen as an integral part of a president's administration and presides over the Senate only on ceremonial occasions or when a tie-breaking vote may be needed. Yet, even though the nature of the job has changed, it is still greatly affected by the personality and skills of the individual incumbent."
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