Palin Claims Vice President "In Charge Of The U.S. Senate"

Think Progress:

Yesterday, Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) sat for an interview with KUSA, an NBC affiliate in Colorado. In response to a question sent to the network by a third grader at a local elementary school about what the Vice President does, Palin erroneously argued that the Vice President is "in charge of the United States Senate":

Q: Brandon Garcia wants to know, "What does the Vice President do?"

PALIN: That's something that Piper would ask me! ... [T]hey're in charge of the U.S. 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.

Read the whole story: Think Progress

Comments

[Pinkmarbles]

And just so you know... she was talking to a third grader, so an in depth, detailed explanation, probably would not have been appropriate.

[zendem1]

She was talking like a third grader. Much like yourself.

[reliant1]

from you:

The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.

The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the office of President of the United States.


For a 3rd grader:

Breaks ties in the Senate.

[innerpeace]

You should lie to kids in order to make yourself seem more important?

[alembic54]

so what does the VP do anyway? Runs the guvmint like Deadeye Dick Cheney, Gidget palin's hero? You betcha!

[disgusted48]

No she wasn't talking to a third grader. Palin was being interviewed by an adult journalist about her job as vp, and she brought up a conversation that she had with a third grader previously about what a vice president does.

[Pinkmarbles]

The VP does preside over the Senate. Preside would be another word for in charge of. You libs need to start doing a little research before you get on a blog and make fools of yourselves, yet again!!

Main Entry:
pre·side Listen to the pronunciation of preside
Pronunciation:
pri-ˈzīd
Function:
intransitive verb
Inflected Form(s):
pre·sid·ed; pre·sid·ing
Etymology:
Latin praesidēre to guard, preside over, from prae- + sedēre to sit — more at sit
Date:
1608

1: to exercise guidance, direction, or control2 a: to occupy the place of authority : act as president, chairman, or moderator b: to occupy a position similar to that of a president or chairman3: to occupy a position of featured instrumental performer —usually used with at
— pre·sid·er noun

The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.

The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the office of President of the United States.

[zendem1]

Um, nice try, but that "what she meant to say was" stuff won't work here. You cons just don't get it.

[amaycatbaker]

In other words, the VP is the man-in-waiting or lady-in-waiting, in the case of Palin. And they don't vote or get in there to write legislation.

The only time a vote happens, for the wait-er, is when there is a TIE.

IF the president is in a comma they can be "acting" president until the president recovers..­. Plus in case of Death, then the VP becomes President.

I think anybody with a brain understands this, but Palin wants more than what the constitution provides, when she stated-

PALIN: That's something that Piper would ask me! ... [T]hey're in charge of the U.S. 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.

[bdl0715]

Anyone that took high school civics class or knows anything about the Constitution knows what she said was stupid and this is the 4th time she has said it.

[zendem1]

She was just channeling her inner Dick.

[schicklett3]

Does anyone really want her in the White House? Do you really want her finger on the button??
Do you want her and McCain making decisions for our country?
I fear they will BLOW UP THE WORLD! Bomb first, ask questions later.

[amazinggrace]

Oh yeah, READY ON DAY ONE.......­..........­..........­.......

[haval2]

READ BABY READ!

[LiberTLover]

ROTFL!!!!

[Mariea]

Excellent!

[sloppyJoe]

Too funny!

[veganphoto]

I didn't want to believe it, because it sounds absurd, but this woman is insane.

[ming099]

..........­..anybody watch Olbermann last night/....­........he ripped her good......­.

[Myrell002]

I did! KO tore her to shreds...I loved it...I needed the laugh being that I've been under the weather...


she's not smarter than a 3rd grader lol

[RexPrimoris]

And to think there are still sane, intelligent people in this country totally enamored with Palin, who think she's presidential material..­.

McCain has opened Pandora's box -- if McCain loses, Palin is now going to jump to the head of the class as the frontrunner for the GOP nomination in 2012. Her ambition and the fact the GOP base loves her ensure this will happen...

[alembic54]

The GOP Base are a bunch of idiots if they believe this numbnutz is Presidential timber.

[RexPrimoris]

True enough...u­nfortunate­ly, they also thought G.W. Bush was presidential timber...i­f the last eight years proved anything, it's that even the dullest, most ignorant and incompetent knave can be elected as a GOP president.­..

[haval2]

Brandon Garcia for Vice President! But he's really the 3rd person to stump her on that deep question about the role of the Veep. After deep analysis following a blue ribbon commission it was determined that one must actually R-E-A-D the Constitution to know for sure ....unless it's just an all out power grab and the expansion of duties is supposed to match her new wardrobe.

[ssweet2323]

No, I am in charge of the Senate. Now that is about as stupid as comment as Palin made.

[PennLawyer]

Is there a "U. S. Constitution for Dummies" book at Barnes and Noble?
With thanks to a poster on another blog:
Q: Brandon Garcia wants to know, “What does the Vice President do?”
Palin: That’s easy, Brandon. The Vice President works behind the scenes with groups like PNAC, AIPAC and oil company executives to form self-serving energy policies, get no bid government contracts for your friends and start unjustified wars. The Vice President also gets a man-sized safe, a bank of paper shredders and get’s their house blurred out on the Google Earth. One thing that the Vice President NEVR DOES Brandon, is leave a paper trail. Oh, and if a pesky Congress tries to ask any questions, just claim “Executive Privilege”! Works EVERY TIME! Thanks Brandon…NO MORE QUESTIONS, PLEASE!

[Pinkmarbles]

My GAWD, you sound just like one of the Clinton's.

[zendem1]

Huh?

[huffnpuffn]

More dumb election cycle "news."

She's talking to children. Do you really want to get into the minutiae? "Presiding over" versus "in charge of?" What's the difference to a kid?

[Obama Biden]

Yet another idiotic rebuttal. If that were the case, teachers would all teach in a folksy voice and all our children would be bubbas. Like Alaska.

[LiberTLover]

She was talking to a reporter who asked her a question sent in by a third grader. And how hard is it to tell children the truth, that the VP takes over from the PResident if they are unable to fulfil their duties and also casts the vote to break a tie in the Senate?

[Pinkmarbles]

She told the truth. Look up the word preside in a thesaurus. It is the same as "in charge of".
And yes, if you cast the DECIDING vote I think that makes you "IN CHARGE".

[melvina1]

the point, you jerk, is that Palin did not know the answer. she has had months to learn it. it would take 5 minutes. and, in other remarks, she has unilaterally declared an expansion of VP powers to do whatever the hell she wants.

she is poison to the us constitution and a disgrace.

[kmich718]

ok. Huff... follow me on this: The Vice President sits in the same room as the senators when a really tough bill or policy is being voted on. If there is a tie, then the VP will vote too. Also, the VP is ready to take over in case the president gets real sick or has an operation or something like that when he/she can't make the decisions.

How tough is that? That is a 3rd grade level explanation that is true!

Nothing about how the VP is "in charge" of the senate. Nothing about helping the senate get things done....

[analisethis]

Next time your child tells you he /she does not understand what the teacher said don't worry about
it.Why should anyone teach or explain correctly to kids .Who wants kids to learn.Haha­hahahahaha

[GravitonX]

Wow! How did McCain managed to find someone dumber than Bush? That's an accomplishment. Then, he made that person his running mate. Now, that's maverick.

[rbspickles]

But she's so pretty and all with her sweeter than honey smile and those cute little winks. You just gotta love her dumber than dirt, REAL American, hockey mom ways.