NYT: Dick Cheney, Palin's Role Model

Saturday's New York Times runs an editorial hammering Gov. Sarah Palin over her debate comments about expanding the powers of the vice president:

In all the talk about the vice-presidential debate, there was an issue that did not get much attention but kept nagging at us: Sarah Palin's description of the role and the responsibilities of the office for which she is running, vice president of the United States.

In Thursday night's debate, Ms. Palin was asked about the vice president's role in government. She said she agreed with Dick Cheney that "we have a lot of flexibility in there" under the Constitution. And she declared that she was "thankful that the Constitution would allow a bit more authority given to the vice president also, if that vice president so chose to exert it."

It is hard to tell from Ms. Palin's remarks whether she understands how profoundly Dick Cheney has reshaped the vice presidency -- as part of a larger drive to free the executive branch from all checks and balances. Nor did she seem to understand how much damage that has done to American democracy.

Here's the video:

The NYT continues, saying Palin's understanding the vice presidency "frighteningly wrong":

Mr. Cheney has shown what can happen when a vice president -- a position that is easy to lampoon and overlook -- is given free rein by the president and does not care about trampling on the Constitution.

Mr. Cheney has long taken the bizarre view that the lesson of Watergate was that Congress was too powerful and the president not powerful enough. He dedicated himself to expanding President Bush's authority and arrogating to himself executive, legislative and legal powers that are nowhere in the Constitution.

Any president deserves a vice president who will be a sound adviser and trustworthy supporter. But the American people also deserve and need a vice president who understands and respects the balance of power -- and the limits of his or her own power. That is fundamental to our democracy.

So far, Ms. Palin has it exactly, frighteningly wrong.

Comments

[123dee]

For weeks, I've been trying to get my sister to VOTE OBAMA,, well thanks to the VP debate
Palin pushed my sister right to Obama. My sister was simply turned off by Palin's cutesy
folksy approach along with the winking and blowing a kiss to the audience. My sister now
thinks of her as a low class ignorant hussy.

[GSMRaleigh]

First, Cheney should be tried as a criminal for the way he has usurped the Constitution.

Secondly, Palin should read the Constituti­on..

Third, John Adams, our first Vice President, struggled over his role and only in his second term did he have some personal resolution as to what the vice-presidential role really meant, (other than breaking a tie in the Senate and stepping in if the Prez should become unable to serve).

It wasn't until that criminal Dickhead Cheney came along that there was any question or confusion about the role of the VP.

Either the prez is the prez or he/she is not and relies on the vice prez to do the job.

Yes, Cheney has criminalized the office. Palin will take it further.

[Jingo]

If Sarah Palin aspires to be old, bald and generally disliked by the public? I wish her the very best of luck.

[Voting Must Happen]

Was Palin Wired For Debate and the Oct 4 Polling Update.
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=89&ArticleName=Poll+Update

Checkout my piece on Youth Voter Registration. For every 100 registered voters aged 18-24, the democrats accrue a 9 vote advantage.
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=85&ArticleName=Youth+Vote%3a+The+Power+of+Registration

[GSMRaleigh]

I don't doubt that Bush was wired. I think Palin is a pretty smart cookie who is able to retain information. So, she was well prepped and had notes. Wired, probably not.

[Chillinout]

If she had been wired, her hair would have been down to make sure she didn't get caught.

[GerryS]

every time I see that wink, I think I am looking at a "girls gone republican" video.

Halloween isn't the time for the GOP to show that smack-----­----------

[katedog]

Can she speak without reading her notes? Is it just me, or was it distracting as hell?

[ewa]

I'm a Vetnam Veteran that was the Commander of one of the largest VFW post in the State of Washington and was involved in the POW/MIA issue at it's highest levels,and McCain claims that he resolved the issue and got a full accounting of our POWs is just one of the biggest lies he has ever told,The truth is he was one of the biggest obstacle and stone walled all attempts to get a full accounting of are POW/MIAs.H­e openly attacked us in the halls of Congress and went as far as to physically assault one member in a wheel chair and brought many of the mother of the missing to tears.This guy is the biggest phony in the Senate and one of the least like Senators my Veteran,his rated at the bottom of Senators who have stood up for Veterans rights.Don­'t be fooled by this country first garbage puts out it's always been McCain first nothing has changed.He was a collaborator during the time he was a POW and d special treatment.­The guys is a fraud

[GSMRaleigh]

Just remember this: Now, when McClueless opens his mouth to speak you can rest assured that he is lying.

[Liberalforsure]

Thanks for the information. I've heard that before and it just verifies what we all knew, despite being a POW he is NO friend of the GI.

[Chillinout]

The Sarah Palin debate chart:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/3/43222/8057/718/618653

This is what she was reading. hehe

[JamesInDenver]

Wow, just a few weeks ago she admitted she didn't know what the Vise President did. Now of course, she want the job to seem extra big, so her resume looks good when she applies for her next job at WalMart.

[GSMRaleigh]

See above.

[SCHx]

Of course Sarah Palin is not familiar with the roles and responsibilities of the VPOUS. From earlier statements that she made during her Katie Couric interview and her response to the question during the VP debate, it is obvious that this person is not knowledgeable in regards to US history and the US Constitution.

Besides not reading newspapers and magazine, it would appear that Sarah Palin also does read the US Constitution.

Great Choice for a running mate John McCaine!

[bling]

oh Please get rid of those pics already...­they are making me sick!

[harriettubman]

I guess she may become the second most dangerous VP in history.

[CaptainStormfield]

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Activist_slaps_Palin_with_lawsuit_over_1004.html

Raw Story gets the scoop again :)

[nitram0244]

is this not the woman who asked, not long ago, "what does the vice president do-exactly?" wtf!

[suzycolorado]

OBAMA POST-DEBATE DONATION SURGE (HumeSkeptic's genius idea:)

Many Obama Supporters are joining together to send a message to the world. We intend to donate en masse after the debate in large enough numbers that it will reach the radar of the MSM.

We need YOUR help. Please participate and pass the word!

YES WE CAN!

[theyank]

She understands just fine and knows exactly of what she speaks. I am telling you this women
is dumb like a fox and just as dangerous !! Don't forget she has also said time and time again
how in "her administration" she would not hesitate to use the veto powers. Sound like another
administration we know. It is called dictatorship disguised as democracy.

[sharonh]

IN 2005 she, along with Mcc and many other republicans, joined Newtg's P*A*C. There could very well be something to what you say. That would make her a very dirty insider for the last 3+ years.

[grimp]

Palin wired. Check out the clear plastic ear TUBE piece in Palins left ear and attached to the stem of her glass. LOOK VERY CAREFULY IT MIGHT TAKE A TIME OR TWO.