2 posts tagged “biden”
Joe Biden and Sarah Palin faced very different challenges in last night's Vice Presidential Debate (transcript here). Expectations for Palin were so low that she would be considered a success if she didn't trip and knock the podium down. She exceeded most people's expectations and provided flashes of the personality that made many people like her in the first place. That said, it was obvious that she was repeating memorized phrases, presenting it well, but it seemed to me that her knowledge was as thin as paper. There were no follow-up questions, as a result of the aggreed-upon debate format, and that saved her.
Joe Biden, in contrast, appeared knowlegeable, relaxed, able to address the topics contained in the questions, and ready with the rapier, not so much for Palin, but for John McCain. There were a number of memorable moments throughout the debate, and if you missed it, you should watch the whole thing (below) so you can make your own evaluation. My favorite bit, particularly relevant in this context, was Joe's response about the consititutional basis of the Vice President's powers:
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.
That nailed it. And this was after Palin said she hoped the Vice President's powers should be expanded. No contest. Here is the complete video from CNN:
Let's have a quick look at the people Obama and McCain have picked for their second in command. First, Joe Biden reacting to the first Presidential debate:
That says as much about the men who picked them as it does about the vice-presidential candidates themselves.
