/
I wish this exchange would get more play and discussion. In her answer Sarah Palin reveals her desire to continue to disregard the constitution and play the power-grab-at-any-cost game that the Republicans have played the past 7 years, seriously damaging the rule of law in this country in the process.
With her one answer, she summed up the current GOP philosophy on ignoring the law based on nonsensical misinterpretations of the Constitution.
Biden, of course, kicks ass in his response, as he did all night. It is an insult to an accomplished public servant like Biden that he had to decorously debate that power-hungry vindictive parrot-bimbo in the first place. Anyway, except follows. Emphases mine.
------
IFILL: Governor, you mentioned a moment ago the constitution might give the vice president more power than it has in the past. Do you believe as Vice President Cheney does, that the Executive Branch does not hold complete sway over the office of the vice presidency, that it it is also a member of the Legislative Branch?
PALIN: Well, our founding fathers were very wise there in allowing through the Constitution much flexibility there in the office of the vice president. And we will do what is best for the American people in tapping into that position and ushering in an agenda that is supportive and cooperative with the president's agenda in that position. Yeah, so I do agree with him that we have a lot of flexibility in there, and we'll do what we have to do to administer very appropriately the plans that are needed for this nation. And it is my executive experience that is partly to be attributed to my pick as V.P. with McCain, not only as a governor, but earlier on as a mayor, as an oil and gas regulator, as a business owner. It is those years of experience on an executive level that will be put to good use in the White House also.
(Me: What the fuck does that even mean? Give me unlimited power and trust me to do the right thing for America?)
IFILL: Vice President Cheney's interpretation of the vice presidency?
BIDEN: Vice President Cheney has been the most dangerous vice president we've had probably in American history. The idea he doesn't realize that Article I of the Constitution defines the role of the vice president of the United States, that's the Executive Branch. He works in the Executive Branch. He should understand that. Everyone should understand that.
And the primary role of the vice president of the United States of America is to support the president of the United States of America, give that president his or her best judgment when sought, and as vice president, to preside over the Senate, only in a time when in fact there's a tie vote. The Constitution is explicit.
The only authority the vice president has from the legislative standpoint is the vote, only when there is a tie vote. He has no authority relative to the Congress. The idea he's part of the Legislative Branch is a bizarre notion invented by Cheney to aggrandize the power of a unitary executive and look where it has gotten us. It has been very dangerous.Entire debate transcript available here.
/ Print this post
3 comments:
God- she was just painful to watch. This wasn't her only answer filled with complete complete circular nonsensical trash talking points in no particular order. One thing is for sure though- she sure does know how to pronounce the name of the president of Iran- we were counting how many times she did this like it is some sort of qualification for foreign policy.
Heavy drinking was necessary in order for me to be able to even sit through the whole thing.
Yep, and also she can obviously run a nuclear arsenal because she can pronounce NUCULAR oh wait....
Didja see the world's most bestest ad gaffe by the McCain campaign? I will fall asleep smiling from this one.
drdrA:
Agreed, it was painful. Even more painful 'cos I was unable to block out of my mind the realization that about 40 million voters were lapping that shit up. Can you say "Catchphrase Barbie"? Or, with the winks and "fersure"s, maybe Veep Throat Bimbo may be more appropriate.
DrJ: I had not seen that gaffe! All I can say is BWAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!
Seriously, I think Obama should run an ad with that gaffe and say something like "Look we didn't expect many specifics from this airheaded campaign, but don't you think this taking the generic catchphrase a bit too far?"
And maybe follow that up with "I am an extremely intelligent person and I approve this message".
After the painful debates of 2000 and 2004 (when I was screaming at the TV every time the crackhead alcoholic moron uttered some inanity) I could've sworn that the Repubs could not take the public discourse any fucking lower. Well, I would've been wrong---with Palin they have dragged the national consciousness and the discourse many times lower! This is what we have come to---one major party's rallying cry is "She didn't fuck up nearly as bad as you expected her to---vote for her!!!"
Post a Comment