Because this is what we wanted, and this is what we’re going to be getting from here on in.
I guess that we know now why Biden took the day off – but not what the method is that the Obama campaign is using to keep this from happening again. I’m personally guessing electroshock, but that’s because I’m married to a mad scientist (well, mad engineer).
Moe Lane
PS: Never mind Allahpundit’s quibble. He’s happiest when he can get a quibble in.
Neil Stevens
Steve Maley
Palin is a genius
RedFlorida (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 2:48PM EST (link)I am so tired of the liberal media trying to make her look otherwise.
Awesome
Mike Friesen (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 2:51PM EST (link)Great video clip and I sure appreciate Gov. Palin’s plain spoken approach. I just wish she would have picked a different VP running mate. Seriously, I hope McCain/Palin hammer this Biden gaffe repeatedly because it is spot on.
Best regards,
Michael
right on!
ankGrandOlPartier Tuesday, October 21st at 2:52PM EST (link)she was a brilliant pick. so what if most of america doesn’t agree? that’s what they get for listening to biased liberal media. they’ll see when we’re living in a socialist paradise–forced abortions for all!!–if obama get’s elected.
Twitterpated...
Aaron Weatherford (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 2:54PM EST (link)I am completely twitterpated…
“My friends, it is coming to my attention that a great number of you are fearful of an Obama win. I must stress that you have nothing to fear from Obama winning the election as I have the greatest confidence he would be a most benevolent dictator.” – Hopefully John McCain
Waiting
JR Griggs Tuesday, October 21st at 2:58PM EST (link)I’ve been waiting a long time for someone man enough to finally call these guys out and get some energy out there. It ended up being a woman but that’s ok!
- Check out my blog!
and that's not even...
davidingeorgia Tuesday, October 21st at 3:00PM EST (link)…the Governor at her best (re: timing, technical speaking stuff), and she’s still great
if somehow or another, McCain/Palin pull this thing out, it will be because Sarah Palin picked John McCain up in a fireman’s carry and toted his lumpy senatorial body across the finish line.
If ya'll don't stop posting this stuff...
1SGinTN (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 3:02PM EST (link)I’ll never get my chores done. Thanks anyway.
Tu Ne Cede Malis
-Virgil
You had a good run, retread.
Moe Lane (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 3:04PM EST (link)I respect that enough not to delete your comments and replace them with He-Man videos in Spanish.
Blam.
The Kim Kardashian of blogging.
Check out my blog at http://moelane.com/.
http://moelane.com/filthy-lucre-filthy-lucre/
http://twitter.com/moelane
My (combined) wish list.
That genius
prose Tuesday, October 21st at 3:05PM EST (link)Just said to a reporter recently that the VP is in charge of the Senate and can set “policy” through the senate.
Face it – her stump speeches mostly just consist of reading bumper sticker slogans with a smug look on her face.
Gotta love Crisis #5, the one where:
streetwise (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 3:21PM EST (link)ah, that would be telling, wouldn’t it!
Kudos to the hockey mom!
You are on the wrong site buddy!
RedFlorida (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 3:22PM EST (link)Go back to the cesspool from which you came!
Mmmm...yes....
LiberalNutJob Tuesday, October 21st at 3:25PM EST (link)That was indeed an excellent performance, no question.
But then there’s this recent interview, in which she states that the vice president is “in charge of the U.S. Senate.”
This level of understanding of basic government leaves me a bit at a loss as to why your dance is quite so happy.
Article I Section 3
Steven Willis (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 3:27PM EST (link)The VP is President of the Senate.
While most VPs have ignored the position other than for the occasional tie-breaking vote, Palin could do otherwise.
The VP is much like a Committee Chair who can: recognize speakers, enforce rules, or even help set agenda, if not more. This is an interesting Constitutional theory and one I hope she pursues.
“Let it be said, I fought the good fight, I finished the race, I kept the faith.”
Paul, Second Timothy 4:7, The New Covenant.
Steve Willis
Professor of Law
University of Florida College of Law
You are ignorant.
RedFlorida (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 3:30PM EST (link)Your name says it all though. Why even waste your time here? Conservatives are smart, informed, and ready to speak the TRUTH!
Who sent you?
Gotta love Crisis #5, the one where:
streetwise (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 3:30PM EST (link)ah, that would be telling, wouldn’t it!
Kudos to the hockey mom!
You are going soft, Moe
Dan McLaughlin (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 3:31PM EST (link)heh.
“No compromise with the main purpose, no peace till victory, no pact with unrepentant wrong.” – Winston Churchill
1 & half hour wonder, Boy the RATS are fleeing the sinking ship
PaRep (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 3:33PM EST (link).
LiberalNutsinyourmouth.......You seem to be the one who can't understand the constitutional powers of the VP....
Attack Mode (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 3:33PM EST (link)See the comment by Steve Willis here.
“Land of the Free and Home of da Whopper” Peter Griffin…Family Guy
conform and celebrate diversity….or else!!!
Steel-Belted Radial Right Winger

“I’ll create 5 million jobs from out of unicorn farts and pixie dust” Justatron paraphrasing Obamessiah…yes I love it that much.
Tsk, tsk. I see that you're pushing that particular meme.
Moe Lane (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 3:34PM EST (link)Which is currently flooding Google Blogs, thanks to the independent spirit of a thousand lefty bloggers.
We expect better, LiberalNutJob. Particularly since it’s just that you don’t like our candidate’s interpretation of the role of the VP: yours doesn’t even know what part of the Constitution governs his desired job.
The Kim Kardashian of blogging.
Check out my blog at http://moelane.com/.
http://moelane.com/filthy-lucre-filthy-lucre/
http://twitter.com/moelane
My (combined) wish list.
I mean, seriously, LiberalNutJob: doesn't it embarrass you...
Moe Lane (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 3:39PM EST (link)…knowing that there’s no functional difference on something like this between you and this dweeb –
Oh, prose? We’ve already had this one. [And, yes, the Big Scary Woman is coming for you.]
Blam.
:thunp:
The Kim Kardashian of blogging.
Check out my blog at http://moelane.com/.
http://moelane.com/filthy-lucre-filthy-lucre/
http://twitter.com/moelane
My (combined) wish list.
Ahem. Couth. He gets points for not pretending...
Moe Lane (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 3:41PM EST (link)…and as far as I’ve seen he doesn’t name-call. Play nice.
The Kim Kardashian of blogging.
Check out my blog at http://moelane.com/.
http://moelane.com/filthy-lucre-filthy-lucre/
http://twitter.com/moelane
My (combined) wish list.
Is it just me, or did MSNBC overly blur that fight socialism sign behind Palin?
Tim_Schieferecke (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 3:43PM EST (link)That was quite interesting to me. I’ve seen plenty of stump speeches with plenty of signs behind the speaker, but I haven’t seen any where the signs were that illegible. Did that strike anyone else as odd?
Tim Schieferecke
Really?
MuskegonCritic Tuesday, October 21st at 3:44PM EST (link)I try. I really try to see what you guys see in her.
What’s up with this love of expanded executive power? That seems like it should run counter to the conservative ideal.
I so want to be her when I grow up.
Danielle Davis (ocleverone) (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 3:45PM EST (link)Well, okay, already grown up but man oh man she is GOOD!
To me, “consensus” seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects … There are still people in my party who believe in “consensus” politics. I regard them as Quislings, as traitors … I mean it. — Margaret Thatcher
Sorry Moe but I have had enough of these crapweasels....
Attack Mode (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 3:47PM EST (link)Can I at least get credit for creativity with screen names?…;^)
I will calm down now.
“Land of the Free and Home of da Whopper” Peter Griffin…Family Guy
conform and celebrate diversity….or else!!!
Steel-Belted Radial Right Winger

“I’ll create 5 million jobs from out of unicorn farts and pixie dust” Justatron paraphrasing Obamessiah…yes I love it that much.
Squint harder.
Moe Lane (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 3:48PM EST (link)NT
The Kim Kardashian of blogging.
Check out my blog at http://moelane.com/.
http://moelane.com/filthy-lucre-filthy-lucre/
http://twitter.com/moelane
My (combined) wish list.
Teleprompters make inexperienced people sound better
MiddleMan Tuesday, October 21st at 3:50PM EST (link)swings both ways
you are doing this all wrong
David Hinz (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 3:50PM EST (link)there is a HOW TO blog over to the right — read it and learn — you need a lot of help…
The Minority Report — The HinzSight Report — TMRB.tv — MFOB “Miss Tagart, do you know the hallmark of the second-rater? It’s resentment of another man’s achievement.”
5's
mbauer (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 3:52PM EST (link)Wow, I completely missed that.
tee hee!
2BlueStar Mom (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 3:54PM EST (link)ditto!
http://havestethoscopewilltravel.blogspot.com
Brilliant
itsonlywords (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 3:56PM EST (link)She’s a political genius.
Tu ne cede malis sed contra audientor ito. ~Virgil
Do not give in to evil, but proceed evermore boldly against it.
Why go all half assed middle man...Moe can we get a cleanup...
Attack Mode (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 3:58PM EST (link)If you want to say she is am idiot just say it….don’t just imply that all she does is read off a prompter…be a man and state your beliefs!!
Either that or don’t waste our time.
“Land of the Free and Home of da Whopper” Peter Griffin…Family Guy
conform and celebrate diversity….or else!!!
Steel-Belted Radial Right Winger

“I’ll create 5 million jobs from out of unicorn farts and pixie dust” Justatron paraphrasing Obamessiah…yes I love it that much.
MuskegonCritic , of course you don't see it.
Vegas_Rick (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 4:08PM EST (link)That is exactly why far left liberals are doomed to defeat in America. They don’t see things through the same lense as the rest of us.
They don’t like to say war and victory in the same sentence.
They can’t believe it when Joe the Plumber says he doesn’t want a tax cut if it means someone elses taxes go up.
They resort to statements like; “They cling to guns, God …..” because they simply do not understand what motivates real Americans.
“God is great, beer is good and people are crazy.”- Billy Currington
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” Calvin Coolidge.
i would rather
Gary (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 4:10PM EST (link)Lose with Palin than win with any of the other coices for VP.
She is awesome!
What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? ~Bible~
You know why there’s a Second Amendment? In case the government fails to follow the first one. -Rush Limbaugh~
Only half the patients who go into an abortion clinic come out alive. ~Unknown~
Well, Moe....
LiberalNutJob Tuesday, October 21st at 4:12PM EST (link)…I guess it just goes to show that people with big-mouth veep picks (um…that would be me) should pick the stones they throw rather carefully.
Good link, Moe. Interesting.
(Btw, I have a great link to a story on the history of both parties, quite even-handed, written during the last presidential cycle…I’m just waiting for the right topic to post it. It’s very “long view,” doesn’t paint either side as bad. Think you’ll honestly enjoy it.)
Man, this is an interesting game, isn’t it? What a trip.
Cheers all.
Palin rocks, but...
kweiss01 Tuesday, October 21st at 4:23PM EST (link)I wish she would have had time to mention that Razputin… excuse me, Vladimir Putin, actually ENDORSES Obama. Well, not an official endorsement — just a comment quoted in the Russian press (which Putin controls) that he hopes Obama gets elected, blah blah blah.
Hm. Wonder why Putin likes Obama? Could it be… because Putin, like Joe Biden, thinks Obama should be “tested” because Obama looks weak?
What if Obama put him up to it?
redalert (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 4:34PM EST (link)There’s one thing everyone is forgetting about Joe Biden’s remarks. They did not come in a candid conversation with a reporter,which might have reflected his true feelings. The remarks came in a speech. Since Biden doesn’t write his own speeches,somebody wrote this for him. Is it possible that this is NOT the blunder that we are all assuming that it is?
Could these remarks be a trial balloon being floated by Barack Obama himself,to let us know that if an incident occurs we are not going to like his response?
This “gift” from Biden is just a little too good to be true. Obama is very arrogant. By now he is certain he will win. Don’t be surprised if he wins,that 6 months from now he reminds us,” We told you you wouldn’t like our response,but it is the correct one. Time will prove it. I need your support,my fellow Americans.”
The best posts about Palin always lure the most trolls, don't they?
Mord (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 4:34PM EST (link)sorry if it’s a little off-topic, I just get a vague feeling Palin really scares the Liberals.
The only evidence they have to backup these accusations that Palin isn’t actually quite brilliant is a heavily edited interview with Couric. Edited footage hit the internet even before the interview aired.
Now every single time you post a video of Palin destroying Obama on the issues, liberals come here and mock Palin, wondering how we could be so happy to support some ignorant rube beauty queen who can only speak with a teleprompter. I almost like troll comments more than regular poster’s, haha.
————————————–
“Republicans never win polls, they win elections,” – Rudy Giuliani
————————————–
Thanks
Davo (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 4:49PM EST (link)What a great image!
Never Give In, Never, Never, Never
Moe, you're a link gunslinger!
kllyhlls (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 4:50PM EST (link)Fastest links in the West! lol.
Nice link.
KK
win or loose
Michael DeWeese (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 4:52PM EST (link)Either way, she can be run for President soon.
Brain Dead Republican
Contingency plan
Michael DeWeese (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 4:56PM EST (link)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZAuwjr8LqU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZAuwjr8LqU
Brain Dead Republican
Palin more than rocks, she rolls over...
Fallon (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 4:57PM EST (link)Biden like a steamroller. I sent another check to the campaign and… I figure Governor Palin needs a little more help dragging McCain over the finish line; so, I just volunteered today and am going to be deployed to a battle ground state for the first four days of November.
That my Democrat friends is what I see in Governor Sarah Palin. She is willing to get it done and inspire us to keep fighting the good fight. I’m not afraid to use the word “victory” when talking about the McCain/Palin ticket either, because she just encouraged me to signed up for something I never thought in a million years I would ever do. I am actually involved on the Republican side this time.
I certainly don’t worship Governor Palin but I respect her.
I started this campaign in Obama’s camp and I have completely switched over after I found out he was not born of a virgin but of Tony Rezko, Emil Jones, Bill Ayers, Reverend Wright and others. If you dig into Obama’s background, you will find that the more you learn, the less you really know about him.
well
Michael DeWeese (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 4:59PM EST (link)It would be nice if the trolls offered some intelligent observations, or based their remarks on facts. Then we could have a decent social intercourse. But all they seem to have are bad language and worse values.
Brain Dead Republican
agree with redalert
shift Tuesday, October 21st at 5:01PM EST (link)Biden does not write his own material, so if planted there,what responce would be so out of the blue as to elicit a negative reaction from the American people?
From what i have observed about Obama’s
personality and radical leftist leanings,
can anyone say……Martial Law?
…just a thought…
Partner, I will take....
izoneguy (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 5:05PM EST (link)… a strong – God fearin woman – over two limp wristed slack jaw mother*uckers – any day of the week!!
The point cannot be made often enough: Modern liberalism, as embodied in the Obama presidency, is the defender of the status quo. And the status quo is a road to economic ruin. Political forces cannot redistribute the wealth that the economic system does not produce.
That
Michael DeWeese (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 5:06PM EST (link)That deserves a cartoon made up for it.
Brain Dead Republican
Focul depth of field
Michael DeWeese (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 5:09PM EST (link)Is full depth on CNN and Fox, I dont often get to watch MSNBC. Do they have the depth of field in focus so short live?
Brain Dead Republican
John Adams
BlueLandRed (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 5:10PM EST (link)tried something like that. Didn’t work out too well.
Right now, the Senate does gracefully allow the VP to chair the meeting when he shows up to break ties. But that’s really symbolic. The power of the Senate has been codified into their rules and since about 1920′s the Majority Leader calls all the shots. Since the Dems will control the Senate, that won’t change if Palin decides she wants to sit in on some meetings. If she thinks she grabbing the gavel out of Reid’s hands, then she’s got a lot to learn about parliamentary procedure and Constitutional law..
I am not interested in any sort of "intercourse"
Mord (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 5:11PM EST (link)I just think they are funny…kinda like watching monkeys throw poo at the glass in the zoo. I know they really mean it, but it’s still a funny way to express their opinion of us.
————————————–
“Republicans never win polls, they win elections,” – Rudy Giuliani
————————————–
THAT IS RIGHT!!!!
McCain4Prez (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 5:19PM EST (link)Palin is the perfect choice for McCain! She will be the one to help McCain win the election.
Severe Mancard Violation...Level 10 Alert
speciallist (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 5:19PM EST (link)Micheal wants Social intercourse…
Well…he gets it…Everyone can treat Micheal Deweese like a Woman for 1 hour..
Carry on..
Is this your announcement of some sort of lifestyle decision? n/t :-)
janis (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 5:21PM EST (link).
Expanded Power
MuskegonCritic Tuesday, October 21st at 5:31PM EST (link)That’s fine, I’ll take the partisan gut punches. I’m on your turf.
But I’d like to know why expanded executive power is a good thing. Bush may just have pushed for unprecedented exec power just in time to hand the office over to Obama.
And why do you want the VP to have more power over Congress? Biden could be the next VP.
Why is MORE executive power a good thing?
Palin is no idiot
BlueLandRed (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 5:49PM EST (link)that’s for sure but I clearly think she’s out of her league here, and it shows. There’s a huge difference between intelligent and knowledge. She’s got the intelligence, but come on… her knowledge of non-Alaskan things is pretty weak.
There’s no reason that she can’t learn what she needs to know in 4 years, but right now she is just repeating a bunch of information that McCain’s team is madly trying to stuff into her head.
You mean kind of like...
RandomGuy (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 5:56PM EST (link)Barack Obama?
He’s frankly rattled off far more nonsensical crap that was obviously the product of hours long bludgeoning by policy advisers and political staff trying to hammer something out that makes sense when the Candidate doesn’t have a clue what’s going on.
Anyhow, I’ve seen zero evidence that she’s less “informed” and less beholden to advisers then any other politician.
So far, from what I can gather, the rap against her is that she couldn’t randomly rattle off Supreme Court decisions she didn’t agree with, and she “didn’t know what the Bush Doctrine was.
Well DUH, she’s not a Lawyer, and even most Lawyers couldn’t do that. I could probably rattle off 2-3, but I’d have to think about it for a few minutes before I came up with more. Most reasonable people who don’t work with it every day would be, at best, saying “You know, that once case about that one thing?” I’d be concerned if she was spending her time randomly reading SC case law. It would be a total waste of her time.
She wasn’t wrong. The Bush Doctrine is what you want it to be and there is no definitive definition except in the warped mind of the media. If you are a liberal (AKA Media hack), it’s a blank check to kill anybody who might at some point do us harm. If you are a conservative, you are more likely to say it means we won’t treat terrorist supporting regimes any differently then terrorists. There are probably definitions in the middle, but she was still right.
Draft Mitch Daniels for President ’12
Nonsense
Steven Willis (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 6:02PM EST (link)The Constitution is clear: the VP is the presiding officer. What all that entails is unclear; however, it at least means control of the gavel.
I would love to see Sarah wrestle with Harry. We both know who would win.
This is not a justiciable issue; hence, initially the majority would side with Reid. But Sarah is a great communicator. Ultimately, the people would decide. They are smarter than you think – and much smarter than most Democrats think. They can read. The Constitution is clear.
Regarding parliamentary procedure, perhaps you should read a bit more about it and the traditional role of a presiding officer.
Also, read the Constitution: Article I trumps the Senate rules. Thus, who really cares what the rules are: if the democrats want to violate the Constitution, let them. They will not last long.
Now, I agree, most VP could not pull this off – they lack the communicative skills necessary to speak to the people over the heads of the media. Sarah can do that.
If you care to lecture me about parliamentary rules and about the Constitution, please state your credentials or background.
“Let it be said, I fought the good fight, I finished the race, I kept the faith.”
Paul, Second Timothy 4:7, The New Covenant.
Steve Willis
Professor of Law
University of Florida College of Law
In that case
Michael DeWeese (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 6:03PM EST (link)It’s Michelle to you. Actually, Michael sounds like Michelle if you say it fast in German.
Brain Dead Republican
In any interview not on ABC or CBS, she is impressive.
Vegas_Rick (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 6:09PM EST (link)Anyone can be made to look bad in a gotcha situation. Especially when she has been instructed not to rock the boat.
I saw campaign Carl ask her many of the same questions as Catie cutie, and she answered them all quite well.
“God is great, beer is good and people are crazy.”- Billy Currington
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” Calvin Coolidge.
This is legislative power
Steven Willis (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 6:10PM EST (link)The VP role is legislative, not executive. I do not assert any need for greater executive power and thus I do not need to defend it.
I support applying the Constitution. If you do not like it, then seek to change it. But, please, do so by a Constitutional Amendment, not by extra-constitutional Senate Rules.
Yes, I would argue the same if Biden were VP. It would matter much less whenever the executive and the Senate Majority are of the same party, but that would still be the VP role.
Also, whether I like it or not is irrelevant. That is the Constitution we live under.
“Let it be said, I fought the good fight, I finished the race, I kept the faith.”
Paul, Second Timothy 4:7, The New Covenant.
Steve Willis
Professor of Law
University of Florida College of Law
I think you pretty well shut him up Professor
Vegas_Rick (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 6:16PM EST (link)Out classed, out matched and out gunned. Good job!
“God is great, beer is good and people are crazy.”- Billy Currington
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” Calvin Coolidge.
I see no evidence of that
Steven Willis (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 6:19PM EST (link)whatsoever. Indeed, she is best on her own. Her instincts are wise. Yes, some experience will help, which is true for most people.
For now, she has significantly more experience than Obama: a few years campaigning and ignoring his Senate duties is unimpressive. Voting present in the Legislature is unimpressive. Working with Ayers and Acorn as a community organizer – whatever that is – is unimpressive. Sitting in Wright’s church and not noticing what was going on is frightening. The Harvard Law degree is impressive to many people – but I know and work with too many of them to be impressed.
Of course, if you would like to be governed by the Harvard Law Faculty (or any law faculty, that is), be my guest. I would prefer the telephone book – just pick any ten pages from almost any city and we’d be better off.
“Let it be said, I fought the good fight, I finished the race, I kept the faith.”
Paul, Second Timothy 4:7, The New Covenant.
Steve Willis
Professor of Law
University of Florida College of Law
They have to regurgitate talking points?
alchemist17 (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 6:25PM EST (link)They’re fatal if they stay in too long, and their “Messiah” hasn’t figured out the whole resurrection thing yet.
Sarahcuda.......strikes.....she rocks!
JadedByPolitics (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 6:31PM EST (link)nt
Unified Patriots – How-To:
Activists Taking Action
Biden and Cheney
MuskegonCritic Tuesday, October 21st at 6:58PM EST (link)Indeed, the VP is president of the Senate, but part of the Executive branch. Certainly we don’t want Joe Biden hiding secrets from us declaring executive privilege and then ignoring orders required of the executive branch declaring he’s part of the legislative branch.
Where is the wisdom of continuing to expand the legal exemptions of a government office? I’m sure we don’t want Joe Biden to enjoy the level of secrecy the VP office has claimed for the past eight years.
Or is that something we DO want to continue? Do you advocate for Joe Biden as you’d advocate for Cheney?
My Only Concern
rj1913 Tuesday, October 21st at 7:04PM EST (link)is that in the event she’s needed to lead, what then say she?
No Public Scrutiny for the VP
MuskegonCritic Tuesday, October 21st at 7:07PM EST (link)Is it possible for you to simultaneously argue Cheney was right to withhold information by declaring executive privilege while saying he’s part of the legislative branch. Are you advocating for an office exempt from public scrutiny?
I, for one, will never
redneck_hippie (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 7:15PM EST (link)get enough of this woman, Sarah Palin.
Thanks for the link!
Well
BlueLandRed (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 7:30PM EST (link)The Constitutionally speaking the VP is the “President of the Senate”, not the “presiding officer”. There’s a difference you know. A big one. And you’d think they’d cover stuff like this in law school. I’m guessing (well hoping) you’re more of civil lawyer and not a constitutional one… right?
Since the Senate is a “continuing body” (maybe you should look that one up too) and the rules are and will be heavily tilted towards the majority leader. So come January Reid will still be calling the shots. Palin could try and get the rules changed, but it’s unlikely Reid would ever recognize her motion. Since the Republicans aren’t in the majority, there isn’t much they can do to demand that VP Palin be made the Presiding Officer. They’re just not going to win that vote. And no court is going to step in tell the Senate how to manage their own internal rules. Nor would the Senate majority listen to any court. I suppose the Republicans could filibuster, everything… but given the expected loses coming in Nov 4th, that’s going to be to much harder to accomplish.
I need a shower..,
Putter (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 7:30PM EST (link)an ice cold shower. I may have to lift some car bumpers as well.
Friends help you move. Real friends help you move bodies…
Constitutional reminders
maestro7 Tuesday, October 21st at 7:40PM EST (link)Steven_Willis: You are the man (OK, hokey butt-kissing out of the way)!
A few other observations from a libertarian-leaning conservative (that would be me):
The whole “unitary Executive” argument that Ted Kennedy, IIRC, made is also bunk; I believe George Will once posted something back in 2000 or thereabouts talking about how James Madison, I believe, theorized that if the Executive did not encompass “energy” to get things done, things might not get moving.
Remember that the Executive, Legislative and Judicial are separate but completely equal powers that all have equal rights to interpret the Constitution. It’s only very recently in our history that the Legislative (and Executive, by being passive) has effectively delegated such power/authority to the Judicial for all things Constitutional.
Having the VP exercise more power/authority by way of their Office wouldn’t be unconstitutional, just unconventional and very political. According to Robert’s Rules of Order, the President does have the authority to delegate the power of the Chair to another individual, in the same way that, say, the Majority Leader or the Speaker can delegate their being in the chamber to someone else.
My favorite: Get this and get it good. All Federal office-holders have certain and specifically enumerated powers and authority, but they have zero rights! All rights are reserved to the several States or the People.
-Phil
After Sarah was picked
RepMom_in_CA (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 7:47PM EST (link)I put up a McCain Sign. This is exactly why – she says what needs to be said, but with a smile. She made me excited about this race and the Republican Party. No other pick IMHO could have done that…so yeah Moe, turn the Music up & lets boogie!!!
My grandmother always said you could attract more flies with honey than vinegar!
I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crises. The great point is to bring them the real facts.
—Abraham Lincoln
The reason Palin scares them so
Jack_Savage (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 7:50PM EST (link)Is that she reminds them (especially people like Andrea Mitchell) what they might have been.
She is also a walking, talking rebuke to their
janis (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 7:57PM EST (link)perception of their own power. No matter what they have thrown, Sarah keeps smiling, keeps talking and keeps drawing crowds that the MSM keeps under-reporting.
And then she just does it some more. I think she has the same potential that Donald Rumsfeld had–she will confound them, disregard them, and ultimately, make them cry like girly-men.
Translation: "Ow! Ow! Quit it! Quit it!"
Moe Lane (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 7:59PM EST (link)Well, at least you didn’t go after her family. This is actually a significant step for his sort: little by little, we see Obama supporters approach a standard of behavior that might almost be called “civil.”
The Kim Kardashian of blogging.
Check out my blog at http://moelane.com/.
http://moelane.com/filthy-lucre-filthy-lucre/
http://twitter.com/moelane
My (combined) wish list.
I agree
MuskegonCritic Tuesday, October 21st at 8:16PM EST (link)I agree with all these things. Especially the last one…federal office holders have no rights. As a citizen we should work to LIMIT the over-reach of power by our office holders…Federal Officials Are Our Employees, and as such effective oversight is absolutely essential where insight into their activities doesn’t immediately and directly harm national security.
I WANT Biden to have less power than Cheney did. I feel the past eight years has been a conservative push to create an office exempt from public oversight…the vice presidency.
Sarah Palin is a great campaigner
Jill1066 Tuesday, October 21st at 8:19PM EST (link)Gov. Palin is an amazing politician. I was nervous when she was chosen because she hadn’t completed a full term yet as governor, but she’s definitely grown on me. She makes a great case for Sen. McCain and herself. I really want to see them win. It’s not in the overall interests of this nation to have Barack Obama become president with a completely unrestrained Democratic Congress to back him up.
In case you need a link to it.
naraht Tuesday, October 21st at 8:29PM EST (link)Moe,
In case you need a link for that
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD2pq1yCncI
Wrong again
Steven Willis (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 8:57PM EST (link)Your grammar is horrible. Please fix that.
Your sarcasm is unwelcome. Speculate as you wish about me, or examine my CV . . . unlike you, I hide nothing. Constitutional law, by the way, is part of civil law (as opposed to criminal law); hence, your supposition shows ignorance of the law . . . which demonstrates to all that you are no lawyer.
President of the Senate and presiding officer are the same. When the VP is in the Chamber, he/she presides. This does not occur often in modern times; however, when he/she is there, he/she presides and takes the gavel when he/she so desires.
I care very little about Senate rules which violate the constitution. As I said in another post, I’d be pleased to have Palin wrestle Reid for the gavel . . . though I mean this more figuratively than literally. Ultimately, only the people could decide. Yes, the majority would appeal any ruling of the Chair and, as you say, the majority would rule for the moment. But the Chair could then appeal to the people who ultimately hold all the power. The Second Amendment helps guarantee that, at least for now.
I can read. So can most voters. The VP is President of the Senate, which is the presiding officer. What else could it mean? If the Democrats want to violate the Constitution in such a basic manner, why have a Constitution at all? If such a simple declarative rule cannot apply, then none of it applies. Unfortunately, I see a small, but real risk of that being our future.
Anyway, you bore me now. Go read the Constitution and a book on grammar.
“Let it be said, I fought the good fight, I finished the race, I kept the faith.”
Paul, Second Timothy 4:7, The New Covenant.
Steve Willis
Professor of Law
University of Florida College of Law
More SP Posts, Moe--
McPALINation Tuesday, October 21st at 8:58PM EST (link)this one is great, and thanks for the link. She’s the non-invisible that we need to pass the videos on at least daily for 13 more! –break– I know what the public “reason” is, but given the fact that he seems to lie about nearly everything, does anyone find it a little terrifying that BHO headed out to Hawaii today? What’s up with that?
I AM (very disappointed) JOE
I do not follow your arguments.
Steven Willis (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 9:13PM EST (link)The VP’s only powers appear in Article I, which deals with the Legislative Branch.
Article II, which deals with the Executive, grants power to the President, but not to the VP. It provides for election and removal of the VP, but no powers.
If a VP assumes executive powers, he/she is then an executive. Otherwise, his/her powers are legislative, limited by tradition.
Of course, the President may delegate whatever he/she wishes to delegate to whomever he/she wishes to delegate to. Hence, a President may invite a VP to become effectively part of the executive branch.
Similarly, Congress frequently delegates legislative powers to the executive. Generally, I am not a fan of this, but I teach a huge number of examples in my courses, so I am quite familiar with them.
I know of one tax case litigating the issue regarding whether the VP is a part of the legislative branch. The decision was that he was not (Bush was the VP). I consider that incorrect, but I acknowledge the rather old decision from the 1980′s. It did not involve an appellate court and carries very little weight.
I do not understand your questions or other comments. Sorry, but I must go now.
“Let it be said, I fought the good fight, I finished the race, I kept the faith.”
Paul, Second Timothy 4:7, The New Covenant.
Steve Willis
Professor of Law
University of Florida College of Law
SLUG
Putter (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 9:33PM EST (link)Based on informal review of numerous posts. Hinz Rule?
Friends help you move. Real friends help you move bodies…
Mechanism?
birdwing7 Tuesday, October 21st at 10:53PM EST (link)Professor Willis, I too am a lawyer (though a practitioner, not a professor). I wonder how Governor Palin’s alleged communication skills would play a role in the arm-wrestle with Harry Reid. She could go over the head of the Senate to the people. What would “the people” then do? You mentioned the Second Amendment; are you suggesting armed citizens storming the Senate? Governor Palin calling on state militias to enforce her right to preside over the Senate? Leaving aside the Second Amendment, do you envision a letter-writing campaign that will convince a Democratic Senate to yield to Vice President Palin? If not, what mechanism do you foresee?
If you think the role of the Vice President would become a make-or-break issue in future Senatorial races, I disagree with you. Do you really think most voters care about the niceties of Senate procedure, whether Constitutionally mandated or not? Senate races are unlikely to turn on the issue.
I also think you over-estimate Governor Palin’s power as a communicator. Perhaps as Vice President she will improve. But right now, I think the majority of Americans think she lacks gravitas.
By the way, I thought your comment to the other poster about you being bored was rude.
Thank you, naraht. BTW, Diane Duane fan?
Moe Lane (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 11:03PM EST (link)NT
The Kim Kardashian of blogging.
Check out my blog at http://moelane.com/.
http://moelane.com/filthy-lucre-filthy-lucre/
http://twitter.com/moelane
My (combined) wish list.
Could you clarify?
flyerhawk Tuesday, October 21st at 11:24PM EST (link)The Constitution certainly does state that the Vice-President is the President of the Senate.
However the only powers enumerated to the the VP is the power to vote in the case of a tie.
So what other powers does the President of the Senate have?
The Constitution explicitly states that the Senate may choose their own officers. It also stipulates that the President of the Senate pro tempore is the President of the Senate when the VP is not there. Are you suggesting that Senator Byrd is the one who should be calling the shots?
Presiding over the Senate is not really going to get you much. It is not the House of Representatives and there is no one with the power of the Speaker. You can’t control which bills are presented and which are tabled.
The rules of the Senate are rigid and encased in tradition. If a VP were to try to assert their will they would almost certainly need to violate those rules which would be politically disastrous.
So while it is ostensibly true that the VP is the highest ranking member of the Senate it has no real meaning except in the case of a tie vote.
There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why … I dream of things that never were and ask why not. – Robert Kennedy
to be clear
flyerhawk Tuesday, October 21st at 11:40PM EST (link)I don’t much care about Palin’s comment.
Talking to kids about the nuances of Senatorial protocol seems to be completely irrelevant to me.
I am simply curious about this argument because it seems to fly in the face of 220 years of Senate operations.
There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why … I dream of things that never were and ask why not. – Robert Kennedy
Ah, back to your old passive aggressive self
Neil Stevens (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 11:53PM EST (link)If you don’t care, let it drop. Don’t waste our time arguing in bad faith. For crying out loud.
But don’t play that game of telling us you don’t care, in order to gain immunity from any feedback, but then pressing the issue as though you did care.
RS contributing editor, technical administrator, and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.
“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
Immunity from feedback?
flyerhawk Wednesday, October 22nd at 12:14AM EST (link)Is that why I’m doing?
I am discussing the claim made HERE that the VP has real power over the Senate.
I’m not here to attack Sarah Palin. It would be pointless to do so, would anger people here, and isn’t really something I want to do. Even on the Lefty blogs I don’t really attack her.
But I am curious to hear Professor Willis’ argument that the VP has real power in the Senate. I don’t think is unreasonable and I fail to see why you chose to come in here and attack me.
There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why … I dream of things that never were and ask why not. – Robert Kennedy
Return to the Axelrod-addled arm of the Internet from whence you came you unscrupulous dolt.
29Victor (Diary) Wednesday, October 22nd at 12:28AM EST (link)This is a ThinkProgress blatant distortion that has spread across the Internet like the plague today. Google “Brandon Garcia Palin” and you’ll see what I mean.
She never said that the V.P.
like you so dishonestly claim. She said that:
She didn’t say anything at all about “set[ting]” policy, she was obviously talking about effecting national policy by interacting with Senators. She said “get in there with the senators” she never said anything about ordering anyone around or exercising any authority, you pea-brained liar.
Go peddle your HuffPo talking points somewhere else, somewhere where the readers are as ill-informed, dishonest and kool-aid sotted as yourself. Return to that mutual-masterbatory hate-spewing self-righteous cult of government from whence you were spawned.
Well he told you he was bored with you
Neil Stevens (Diary) Wednesday, October 22nd at 12:36AM EST (link)So quit pestering him. He’s a professor but he’s not your professor.
And if that’s not your reason for your behavior, where you persistently insist you don’t care about the very issue you’re arguing about, you might want to stop doing it so much.
Because we all know you wouldn’t be here talking about it if Palin hadn’t said what she said.
RS contributing editor, technical administrator, and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
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“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
I'm no professor, but I know how to use Google
29Victor (Diary) Wednesday, October 22nd at 12:43AM EST (link)I found this at senate.gov. I figure they’d know about this kind of stuff.
So it looks like the VP can assume more power than they have in the past few decades.
But, as I commented below, Palin didn’t say anything about exercising any newly-discovered powers in the Senate. That’s another Lefty lie.
Heh, Adams
Neil Stevens (Diary) Wednesday, October 22nd at 12:46AM EST (link)My understanding always was that Adams personally grated on enough Senators that they eventually wrote the VP out of their rules.
Adams essentially being something like a Coburn of his day, as I understand the two, he didn’t go along and get along, heh.
RS contributing editor, technical administrator, and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.
“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
Dunno.
29Victor (Diary) Wednesday, October 22nd at 12:52AM EST (link)Honestly, until I read the article at senate.gov I was under the impression that the only thing the VP ever did in the Senate was break ties.
The article gives the impression, however, that they (even those after Adams) sometimes exercised quite a bit more authority than that.
What are you talking about?
flyerhawk Wednesday, October 22nd at 7:17AM EST (link)He hasn’t replied to me. My first post was the one you decided to get hostile with.
There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why … I dream of things that never were and ask why not. – Robert Kennedy
Yes, More Please!
NC_Red_State (Diary) Wednesday, October 22nd at 7:47AM EST (link)The best thing going in the GOP is “Good Ole Palin”
She Rocks!
There are few things in life that please me more than pissing off liberals.
Ah, so you're right there. My mistake
Neil Stevens (Diary) Wednesday, October 22nd at 9:09AM EST (link)It’s still your mistake though to hop in to a thread to start harping about a tangential point.
Don’t threadjack.
RS contributing editor, technical administrator, and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.
“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
No
flyerhawk Wednesday, October 22nd at 9:23AM EST (link)There were several people talking about this topic and I asked for a clarification from Professor Willis because I didn’t understand his argument.
He could respond or not and that would be the end of it. But you decided to jump in and pretend that I was causing trouble when I was not.
There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why … I dream of things that never were and ask why not. – Robert Kennedy