What would we do without vice-presidents? Almost all organizations have someone at the top and another someone one level below. That person is supposed to support the leader on issues and do work the leader doesn’t want to trouble with. Most often these second level folks are called vice-presidents and many hope eventually to move up to the top spot in their organizations.
One such organization is the executive branch of the United States government. Historically, being vice-president there has been an unenviable role. Until relatively recently they were a powerless entity whose main job was not to embarrass the president. Until the president died in office and the lower person was catapulted to the top.
That has changed lately so someone like Kamala Harris is experienced in many of the intricacies of the presidency. Thank goodness. Because in some sense she has been catapulted, just not in the conventional way.
Which brings me to discussing the vice-presidential candidates of the current election. They recently had a debate. The current wisdom is such debates should be used to advance the campaign of their leaders with perhaps a smattering about themselves, all without saying something embarrassing.
We hoped Walz would tell us more about the experience and policies of Kamala Harris as opposed to Joe Biden. And just maybe, apparently unrealistically. Vance would put our minds at ease about the train wreck that would follow a win by Trump.
I think Walz did a pretty good job of fulfilling that goal. Vance did a pretty good job of escalating my fears.
What I don’t think got much attention at the recent debate, or any such debates in the past, was a discussion of what would happen if either candidate was forced into the presidency. This was probably more important to consider for Vance since his boss seems to be a candidate for a heart attack or a slip into dementia.
The trouble for us is, you never know the future. After all, of the 45 presidents we have had, eight have died in office and hence opened the door to their vice-presidents. Also, Gerald Ford became president after Nixon resigned. So that’s nine total, meaning vice-presidents were called to step up 20 percent of the time.
Therefore, it’s not unreasonable to look at the vice-presidential candidates as potential presidential ones (which they may very well be eventually).
What if Walz became president someday? Maybe not too bad a situation. He has executive experience. Seems to have his head screwed on right. Takes his job seriously, but not himself. Yeah, I could probably live comfortably with him as president.
What about Vance? He has no executive experience. He seems to be a devotee of his boss, achieving an excellent propensity for lying. And he shares the same abysmal moral commitment. Is he a budding Trump? I think one could make that argument. But there is one big difference. Vance is a lot smarter than Trump and would undoubtedly do a better job of ruining our country. The hints he is buddying up to Project 2025 certainly supports such a conclusion.
So, as we decide between Harris or Trump, we also have to consider a similar decision between Walz or Vance.
It doesn’t take much to determine that Walz wants to build our country while Vance is itching to tear it down.
One such organization is the executive branch of the United States government. Historically, being vice-president there has been an unenviable role. Until relatively recently they were a powerless entity whose main job was not to embarrass the president. Until the president died in office and the lower person was catapulted to the top.
That has changed lately so someone like Kamala Harris is experienced in many of the intricacies of the presidency. Thank goodness. Because in some sense she has been catapulted, just not in the conventional way.
Which brings me to discussing the vice-presidential candidates of the current election. They recently had a debate. The current wisdom is such debates should be used to advance the campaign of their leaders with perhaps a smattering about themselves, all without saying something embarrassing.
We hoped Walz would tell us more about the experience and policies of Kamala Harris as opposed to Joe Biden. And just maybe, apparently unrealistically. Vance would put our minds at ease about the train wreck that would follow a win by Trump.
I think Walz did a pretty good job of fulfilling that goal. Vance did a pretty good job of escalating my fears.
What I don’t think got much attention at the recent debate, or any such debates in the past, was a discussion of what would happen if either candidate was forced into the presidency. This was probably more important to consider for Vance since his boss seems to be a candidate for a heart attack or a slip into dementia.
The trouble for us is, you never know the future. After all, of the 45 presidents we have had, eight have died in office and hence opened the door to their vice-presidents. Also, Gerald Ford became president after Nixon resigned. So that’s nine total, meaning vice-presidents were called to step up 20 percent of the time.
Therefore, it’s not unreasonable to look at the vice-presidential candidates as potential presidential ones (which they may very well be eventually).
What if Walz became president someday? Maybe not too bad a situation. He has executive experience. Seems to have his head screwed on right. Takes his job seriously, but not himself. Yeah, I could probably live comfortably with him as president.
What about Vance? He has no executive experience. He seems to be a devotee of his boss, achieving an excellent propensity for lying. And he shares the same abysmal moral commitment. Is he a budding Trump? I think one could make that argument. But there is one big difference. Vance is a lot smarter than Trump and would undoubtedly do a better job of ruining our country. The hints he is buddying up to Project 2025 certainly supports such a conclusion.
So, as we decide between Harris or Trump, we also have to consider a similar decision between Walz or Vance.
It doesn’t take much to determine that Walz wants to build our country while Vance is itching to tear it down.
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