Biden To Significantly Shrink Vice Presidential Role

Joe Biden is laying plans to significantly shrink the role of the vice presidency in Barack Obama's White House, according to an official familiar with his thinking.

It's not just that Biden won't sit in on Senate Democrats' weekly caucus meetings - a privilege Republicans afforded outgoing Vice President Dick Cheney. He won't have an office outside the House floor, as House Speaker Dennis Hastert gave Cheney early on.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[CaptD]

I bet Biden will not shoot anybody either...
like "Deadeye Dick".

[leeman79]

You mean the VP won't run the country anymore?

[dukeitout]

The person that shrinks the role of the Vice President is not the VP, it's the president. I suspect the reason for VP's Cheney's considerable influence was because President Bush didn't suppress it.

[Gunga-Din]

Good news.

[NoSandwiches]

This should be titled: Joe Biden to return the Vice Presidency to the Executive Branch

[Yermammy]

Or "New Administration discovers the Constitution- Says it pretty good and they'll follow it!"

[Telemachus]

We can only hope there will be legislation to solidify these changes, instead of just "custom" or "tradition". Of course a Constitutional amendment would be ideal, but those are hard to pass ... unless the full extent of Cheney's crimes comes to light, in which case there might be the political will to do it.

[SparkyDash]

Lee wrote a reasonably good balanced story on Joe Biden...will wonders ever cease. I've read too many rumors or knee-jerk comments about a great statesman. This story of our VP role returning to what our constitution meant it to be, is not a surprising germinating with Joe Biden. Those who have read about Obama's choice for VP, and Obama's reasons of choice, and the extensive discussions the two men had on the true role of VP BEFORE Joe finally accepted, are not surprised either. Also discussed between Obama and Biden was the fact that Joe did not want to be tied down by a portfolio, but remain available with extensive experience and true desire to work for the president and our nation. Wow. We have an excellent VP-elect: multi-talented, passionate, transparent, highly intelligent, uber-experience. Joe has too much to offer Obama and our nation to not be involved, especially as a trusted advisor and counselor. He was my choice for President until he dropped out, I couldn't be happier now. Thank you Joe for respecting the US Constitution. I support you with gusto.

[johnnygoodwud]

servere shrinkage,,,,,,,,,,,,hmmm.

[Scottydontknow]

George Costanza comes to mind. "I WAS IN A POOL!!!!!"

[7crows]

I think Joe Biden is an honorable man. His intelligence and experience are going to be immensely useful to the new president. President Obama will certainly have no need of a hand to manipulate him like a sock puppet as Cheney did Bush.

[Mildmannered]

Bush is leaving so many problems, there will be plenty for Joe to do.

[Yermammy]

Bless them both for all the wreckage they have to mend.

[Bystander]

If anyone can do it, Joe can!

[totaldisbelief]

After having Cheney practically single-handedly drive the Hindenberg of State into the ground ;I guess Biden would have a smaller vice presidency.

[Paul]

This is the best thing Biden can do for the Constitution and for the country.

America does not need activist Vice President's. Rolling back Cheney's excesses and ignoring them as precedent is high patriotism.

Good going.

[Shieldmaiden]

YESSSSSS! The constitution is back in style again. Obama and Biden are going to make a great team.

[WmC]

Too bad he can't shrink the Veeper role retroactively--to at least 8 years ago. The world would be a different place today.

[beaupritchard]

"backslapping his way through union halls and firehouse chicken-and-dumpling dinners." ... That's rough. I've had one of those "chicken and dumpling dinners" ... the chicken you chew on for days. The dumplings sit in your stomach like lead weights ... then they clump together and start moving en masse towards a painful end.

You watch in agony as this softball size lump moves across your belly ... the man(Biden) deserves a medal.

Biden Kennedy 2016

[SparkyDash]

LMAO