Comments | obama_2008: For at least the second time, Palin says that as VP, she will be in charge of the Senate

cieldumort in obama_2008

For at least the second time, Palin says that as VP, she will be in charge of the Senate

Oct 21, 2008 16:48

Talking to a camera for a group of third graders...

Click to view

Or as Chris Matthews said just a bit ago on Hardball, talking like a second or third grader.

sarah palin, i still don't know what a vp does

Comments 16

ex_lost_kit October 21 2008, 22:03:53 UTC

Isn't that technically true? The VP has some kind of deliberative power in the Senate, but it's custom that it's never actually exercised?

chessdev October 21 2008, 22:13:56 UTC

Only in the event of breaking a tie. Otherwise, not really...

cieldumort October 21 2008, 22:40:43 UTC

Which happens like.. almost never

cieldumort October 21 2008, 22:44:48 UTC

Not really even "technically true," no

George Bush in drag.

Thread 13

midniterose63 October 21 2008, 22:47:20 UTC

It seems to me as though Governor Palin - ambitious as ever - plans to rewrite some of the rules to give herself a more powerful position in the government when (LOL!) she wins the election.

Delusions of grandeur, much?

fannyfae October 21 2008, 23:35:32 UTC

I think we should just have her quit being coy and simply declare herself as Empress of America.

Cancel the elections! Sarah is the boss of all of us now! ;)

http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Vice_President.htm bloomingtulip October 22 2008, 00:06:25 UTC

Maybe one hundred years ago or more you could have had more influence over the Senate (other than that pesky matter of not being able to vote yet...), but now you are just the ceremonial head who votes in the case of a tie.

"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."

"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."