"They're in charge of the Senate"

Not sure whether to file this one under hysterical or pathetic. It seems that America's political sweetheart, Governor Sarah Palin is finally beginning to do some tv interviews. I guess her handlers are finally comfortable that she can survive some softball interviews. In one of these interviews, which has already been released, Palin answered questions for a Colorado station. The interviewer, apparently a real Ted Koppel, gave Palin a question from a third grader. The question and Palin's answer are pasted just below, and it's a classic:

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

PALIN: Aw, that’s something that Piper would ask me, as a second grader, also. That's a great question, Brandon, and a Vice President has a really great job, because no only are they there to support the President agenda, they're like a team member, the team mate to that President. But also, they're in charge of the United States 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. And it's a great job and I look forward to having that job.

The clip is available at this link.

Now, I was not smart enough to get into the Advanced Placement Government and Politics class when I was in high school, but even I realize that the Vice President in not "in charge of" the Senate. Rather, under the Constitution, the veep presides over the body. The Vice President does not have a regular vote, and can only weigh in with a vote in the case of a tie. The veep has zero power in making policy or even really working with Senators.

Clearly, Governor Palin does not understand the basic functions of her position. This should not surprise anyone. After all, this is a person who during her debate declared that she liked the powerful vice presidency under Dick Cheney, and seemed to indicate that the veep's power should be even more expansive than it has been over the last eight years.

While Dick Cheney has never actually taken over the Senate, given his sunny disposition and lust for power, I am sure the thought of taking over the upper chamber has crossed his mind. So, perhaps from the standpoint, Palin was channeling Palin in her answer.

This may seem like a largely inconsequential matter, and really it is. But it is also another brick in the narrative of Sarah Pali's candidacy. Palin is not only dangerously incompetent and unqualified, but it is clear that she lacks even a basic intellectual interest or capacity. In fact, at least if her us-against-theme rally speeches are any indication, she actively distains intellectualism and learning. This is hardly the right formula for someone who will be sitting right behind John McCain in the succession order.