Horserace
October 22, 2008 1:04 PM

Would Palin Be "In Charge" Of The Senate?

Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin has been criticized for her response Monday to a question from a third grader concerning the role of the vice president.

"A vice president has a really great job because not only are they there to support the president's agenda, they're there like the team member, the teammate to the 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.”

Palin's claim that the vice president is "in charge of" the Senate has garnered the most ire, with critics casting it as reflecting a fundamental misunderstanding of the vice presidential role.

Ilya Shapiro, a senior fellow in constitutional studies at the libertarian Cato Institute, told Horserace that the only power specifically outlined in the Constitution for a vice president is to preside over the Senate and have a vote in case of a tie.

No further formal policy making roles were specified, Shapiro said, because when the Constitution was drafted, the vice president was the runner up for the presidency, and was expected to come from a different faction or party.

The vice president's role, CBS News Legal Analyst Andrew Cohen told Horserace over email, "might be relevant depending upon what the balance in the Senate is after the election."

"Some veeps, like LBJ, had extraordinary influence in the Senate because of their long time there," he added. "Palin, of course, doesn’t have that advantage."

But Shapiro is willing to give Palin the benefit of the doubt for saying the vice president is "in charge of" the Senate, suggesting she is using "her usual homespun language" to describe what could ultimately be a powerful position, as it has been for Dick Cheney.

"Governor Palin was responding to a third grader's inquiry," Maria Comella, Palin's spokeswoman, said about the response. "She was explaining in terms a third-grader could understand that the vice-president is also president of the U.S. Senate."

The scope and power of the vice presidency, Shapiro says, ultimately depends on how the president structures his administration. He notes that a Republican vice president can have a significant role in developing policy in Senate caucuses. Cheney, he noted, has been very active in lobbying senators and pushing President Bush's agenda.

"It depends what you mean by 'in charge,'" Shapiro said, noting that the vice president is the titular head of the Senate. "Is there anyone 'in charge' of the Senate? Is the speaker 'in charge' of the House?" He argued that at no point did Palin articulate a role for a vice president that overstepped the limits of the Constitution.
Tags:
sarah palin ,
in charge ,
senate ,
vice president
Topics:
Sarah Palin
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by miles1967-2009 October 22, 2008 1:27 PM PDT
Palin is a complete and utter idiot; a thief; and a hypocritical religious kook. The fact that McCain would put her one heartbeat away from the presidency speaks volumes about his judgment. To read about the REAL McCain and Palin, see the links below and pass them on to everyone you know:

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/23318320/mad_dog_palin

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain
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by armydog2 October 22, 2008 1:50 PM PDT
The woman should stay home and take care of her kids and soon to be grandkid. She doesn''t know anything else.
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by blublucollar October 22, 2008 1:54 PM PDT
No, no, no! Let her keep talking and in the process, digging her own grave. As it stands now, she''ll be back in Alaska facing impeachment.
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by leighg1 October 22, 2008 1:54 PM PDT
Palin filed reimbursement on her children''s trips to all kinds of events, including dad''s sports events. She would be fired if a regular state employee. I work in California, we have state employees fired for using government credit card to fill personal car gasoline for $600. This is abusing system, this is cheating - no different from shoplifting.
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by renonv5 October 22, 2008 2:01 PM PDT
This woman needs to GO HOME. She is an absolute embarrassment to women all over the globe.
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by anotherview2-2009 October 22, 2008 2:11 PM PDT
Isn''t "presiding" the same as "being in charge". This is a lame attempt to make Palin look dumb, where it is the media once again pushing the Obama Agenda. Here is
Article 1, section 3 of the Constitution.

President of the Senate
Main article: President of the Senate
As President of the Senate (Article I, Section 3), the vice president oversees procedural matters and may cast a tie-breaking vote.

She could replace Reid! Yeah!!!
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by shockolit October 22, 2008 2:20 PM PDT
I can just imagine the high tone Palin will add to the Senate floor as she presides over it. That screeching voice, babbling sentence structure, folksy speech forms, redneck diction, etc. that so many of her supporters find endearing, will send a lot of Senators out to Walmart for earplugs. If Obama, or any black person on either Presidential ticket, spoke with the slightest hint of a black inflection, pronunciation, or grammar, these same Palinistas would be screaming their heads off.
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by blindhowlin October 22, 2008 2:31 PM PDT
Sarah Palin took money from oil companies and spread it around to the citizens of Alaska, sending out thousand dollar checks to every person in the state. Sarah Palin is a SOCIALIST! Sarah Palin played ROBIN HOOD! Where''s my check Sarah?!? How about spreading some of that wealth my way???
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by antoniof123 October 22, 2008 2:53 PM PDT
She is like a high school cheerleader talking to her high school football boy friend.

Drill baby Dill!!!

Cheerleader maybe Vice President could become President not a payer in hel1.
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by mattcat25 October 22, 2008 2:56 PM PDT
Sara Palin isn%u2019t even in charge of her (many) own children, let alone the state of Alaaaaskah nor the US Senate???
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by singlasalil8 October 22, 2008 3:08 PM PDT
Even at this point of time Palin can''t stop herself from giving such statements.GREAT!!!!!

There have been many statements made by Palin before she was nominated for the VP role that she later flip-flopped on. There is plenty of video footage out there to show this. Go to http://dailysource.org/palinvideos
and you can see some of them.

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by sirvincent1 October 22, 2008 3:34 PM PDT
I noted that this CBS blog has been very fair and objective to Governor Palin of late. Her statement was clearly a defensible interpretation of Article I of the Constitution. While all the small minds maniacally search for a "potatoe" moment- it''s commendable that this Blog will not merely demagogue to appease 3rd grade mentalities.

Thanks for the forum.

Vin at www.wegotsarah.com
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by newslink October 22, 2008 3:38 PM PDT
Another one of Palin''s finest moments. Now she is lying to kids.
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by raheem44 October 22, 2008 4:59 PM PDT
The best advice Palin could ever receive! Just say NO!

But she said: " I don''t use drugs."

The said: Doesn''t matter. If someone should ask you any question, just say "NO".

If someone should ask you to drop your drawers, just say "NO."

Whatever you''re asked, JUST SAY NO. DO NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AT ATL.
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by kansas1946 October 22, 2008 5:38 PM PDT
It is really frightening to see how little she knows about the workings of our government. I am sure she would like to be in control of the senate, but I guess she hasn''t heard of separation of powers. Of course, she could have gotten her training from Cheney who also hasn''t heard of separation of powers. Very sad.
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by miaw77 October 22, 2008 5:45 PM PDT
***??? Is it too much to ask that after the $150,00 shopping spree and make-over, someone could have at least explained the role of VP to Caraboo Barbie??? Only 2 choices here:


1. Either she''s too stupid/uneducated to know anything about the Constitution


2. Or, she simply doesn''t care


After 8 years of a President and VP spitting on the Constitution and abusing executive power, the last thing we need is another crooked, egomaniacal leader looking to "expand the power" of her office!
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by yochilly October 22, 2008 6:13 PM PDT
She left out VP is also in charge of shooting defenseless animals/people in the face.

I can''t wait until we forget the name Sarah Palin, just like we did the last right-wing wack-job Hariet Myers!
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by ipublius October 22, 2008 6:14 PM PDT
This individual does not have a clue. If she spent more time trying to understand the Constitution than assiting those in her state who are attempting to overthrow it, she might get an inkling of what a Vice-President is supposed to do. I guess the word "presides" threw her for a bit of a loop.
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by jefflz-2009 October 22, 2008 6:17 PM PDT
She has made this statement on four sparate occasions on live camera. clearly she is too uneducated in the ways of government to be considered for national office. This is 5th grader material that she has not mastered.
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by thebob-bob October 22, 2008 6:35 PM PDT
I guess they don''t teach civics up there in Alaska. Maybe they don''t really want to be a part of the USA after all. Maybe they cab start sending back some of the welfare we send up there. They get almost $2 for every $1 they pay in taxes. paying Federal taxes is a money making deal for them.



Imagine Harry Reid''s surprise if in february, 2009, Bidin (or Palin) were to come down to the Senate chambers and insist that he was in charge of the Senate because (according to Cheney) he''s not part of the executive branch.
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by dothemath3 October 22, 2008 6:43 PM PDT
This is her third crack at that question in three months, and contrary to the comments quoted in this article, she has still not provided a correct response. No, a Vice President cannot "really get in there with the senators and make a lot of good policy changes" "if they want to." In the Senate, a VP can break a tie if there is a tie. Period. Perhaps she should reconsider accepting McCain''s offer since the position clearly does not wield as much power as she thinks. She probably wouldn''t even be able to fire people at will.
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by gundie2 October 22, 2008 7:01 PM PDT
I think it is horrible that Palin is allowed to speak in public. She has no idea what a VP does . Heck she probably doesn''t even know what the President''s job is. We need someone who can get in there and do the right thing for our country and help get our economy back on track, do something for the United States for once and not all these other countries. Palin needs to just back away from any microphone.
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by dutchlady1 October 22, 2008 7:24 PM PDT
Sadly, by the polls, it looks like nobody cares what she is saying, how much she knows or what McCain''s camp is doing. We may have another uneducated person in the White House following Bush, to be laughed at by our friends around the world. I guess nobody remembers the last 8 years. How sad for America. Believing the lies put out there about Obama, and possibly having him lose the race just because of the craziness of politics. Issues, please, in next election.
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by blackie93 October 22, 2008 7:38 PM PDT
Palin in her debate with Biden and Palin today are right on. She most certainly will be President of the Senate and she will be "in charge". The full extent of that power will depend on the vote count so Dems better hope for better than even votes, because she gets the tie breaker. You might be seeing a lot more of Sara real soon! Get used to it.
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by nyght81 October 22, 2008 7:42 PM PDT
Dutchlady1, you might want to backtrack a bit. Technically, the VP is THE president of the senate, with that said, according to the constitution, the only role is to cast vote to break a tie. Biden too has said he has big plans for the senate in policy making...this is no different from what Palin has said, but according to the left wing MSNBC it''s OK for Biden to say this b/c the president can issue the VP more roles, but when a republican says the same thing, it''s blasphemy
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by kopana October 22, 2008 7:50 PM PDT
IT IS VERY SIMPLE, PALIN DOES NOT EVEN KNOW THE WORKINGS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT--THERE IS SUCH A THING AS SEPARATION OF POWERS....EXAMPLES ABOUND LIKE: SHE COULD NOT EVEN NAME A MAJOR SUPREME COURT CASE ASIDE FROM ROE VS WADE..SHE WANTS TO EXPAND THE ROLE OF VP AS SHE HERSELF STATED IN HER VP DEBATE WITH JOE BIDEN. THIS WOMAN REALISTICALLY COULD BE PRESIDENT MY FRIENDS..MC CAIN WAS NOT A MAVERICK TO SELECT HER.. HE WAS STUPID....BUT SHE DOES NOT LOVE HER COUNTRY ENOUGH TO SAY TO MCCAIN... THANK YOU, BUT I DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH EXPERIENCE OR KNOWLEDGE TO TAKE ON THIS IMPORTANT MAJOR ROLE THAT IMPACT OVER 250,000 AMERICANS.
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by dogpound2u October 22, 2008 8:54 PM PDT
This is precisely why caribou should be left in their natural habitat and not let out to roam the city streets
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by raheem44 October 22, 2008 10:08 PM PDT
The best advice Palin could ever receive! Just say "NO!"

But she said: "I don''t use drugs."

The said: Doesn''t matter. If someone should ask you any question, just say "NO".

If someone should ask you to drop your drawers, just say "NO."

Whatever you''re asked, JUST SAY NO. DO NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL.
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by dbstevens October 22, 2008 11:22 PM PDT
Why in the world would anybody make EXCUSES for someone who is wanting to be a leader of this country, and doesn''t know what the duties entail? I''m referring to the people in this article who made excuses for her. Are we that stupid? Palin just doesn''t know what her job would be, on many levels. Stop making excuses, and insist on someone who knows what they are doing!
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by valforobama October 23, 2008 1:44 AM PDT
Palin in her debate with Biden and Palin today are right on. She most certainly will be President of the Senate and she will be "in charge". The full extent of that power will depend on the vote count so Dems better hope for better than even votes, because she gets the tie breaker. You might be seeing a lot more of Sara real soon! Get used to it.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Blackie93 at 07:38 PM : Oct 22, 200


-----------------------------------
Hey Blackie93

The VP has no power under the constution. You are just as dumb as Palin. Palin "I''m in charge over the senate." I wish she would tell that to Hillary Clinton,the orignal pit bull with lipstick. Hillary will chew her up and spit her out. I would suggest to you stock pile on prozac because it''s going to be a long 4 years.
Lo------ser--------! Obama/Biden08
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by thepitbull13 October 23, 2008 6:06 AM PDT
Here dimwits, Article 1, Section 3 of the Constitution states "The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided."

Source: Cornell University Law School. Google it see for your self.
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by emelder October 23, 2008 7:46 AM PDT
The next President and VP will have to be intelligent, build world-wide coalitions, and have the stamina to stay with a well-conceived vision for this country ... Barack/Obama can do that, McCain/Palin cannot. Our choice is clear this time, people. Go Obama/Biden ... let''s get out the vote, make this a mandate for change ... and make it impossible for the Republicans to steal this one in the courts (their lawsuits have already begun over voter registration issues).
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by sdcclay October 23, 2008 1:26 PM PDT
Palin will be technically called the "president of the senate" but that doesnt give her "any" power other than a tie breaking vote. She said that she could "get in there and make policy" which is absurd. She plainly doesnt know what the VP does. Shes been asked 4 times and she still cant get it right!
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by westwander October 23, 2008 6:20 PM PDT
This just highlights how badly the GOP campaign has been managed. After all that''s happened, why would you put her in a situation where she needs to explain government to a 3rd grader. She already looks stupid enough and now you''re asking her to talk cutesy wootsey? The Dems couldn''t write a script any better.
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by westwander October 23, 2008 6:22 PM PDT
This just highlights how badly the GOP campaign has been managed. After all that''s happened, why would you put Palin in a situation where she needs to explain government to a 3rd grader. She already looks stupid enough and now you''re asking her to talk cutesy wootsey? The Dems must be pinching themselves it''s gotten so easy.
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by westwander October 23, 2008 6:27 PM PDT
This just highlights how badly the GOP campaign has been managed. After all that''s happened, why would you put Palin in a situation where she needs to explain government to a 3rd grader. She already looks stupid enough and now you''re asking her to talk cutesy wootsey? The Dems must be pinching themselves it''s gotten so easy.
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by truthliesgov October 23, 2008 9:23 PM PDT
Here''s a woman who thinks, being "Elite" means thinking you are better then someone? Has nothing to do with money, power, or political position, just "thoughts regarding personal position"? Well there are people who think because they belong to a certain race makes them better, and I know some dilusional individuals who think they are better then everyone else just because? I would not be surprise if these medical records she does not want to release indicate some type of personality disorder. My question "Will her husband, The First Dude, be sitting in congress and the house whiles she is making policies, and will her children be handing out tissues to the members of congress and the house, so that they can wipe the tears from their eyes from laughing at her position or lack of knowlegde?".
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by sister125 October 24, 2008 12:47 AM PDT
Palin''s voice is really annoying, she asinine, she reminds me of the Edith Bunker character. I believe the third grader parents defined to him/her what the VP role is, and that same third grader probably looked at Plain as if she head two heads.
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by sister125 October 24, 2008 1:14 AM PDT
Well with all the hoopla pertaining to how uneducated and how little she knows about our government, who do we have to blame for her being in our mist. It just so sad, both candidates McCain/Palin should just throw in the towel. He''s Old and need to go home and retire; and she''s infantile.
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by hungry4goodg October 24, 2008 2:33 AM PDT
C''mon, considering that it wasn''t all that long ago that Sarah herself admitted not having a clue about the job of VP, this oddball interpretation is a start for Sarah.
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by blondegenes October 24, 2008 6:54 AM PDT
"In attacking Vice President *** Cheney, Mr. Biden said the vice president''s only role is to support the president and to preside over the Senate "only in a time when in fact there''s a tie vote. The Constitution is explicit."

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."
Thomas Jefferson wrote, "A Manual of Parliamentary Practice: for the Use of the Senate of the United States"
Gov Palin, who is a Newbie, got it right!
I would think that a guy like Joe Biden, who has been in the Senate for decades, and has to have a working knowledge of what role the VP plays in regard to legislation,,would know the role of VP.
Der.
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