I enjoy trying to come up with creative ways for the Unitary Congress to flex its dormant muscle. This one popped into my head while reading that Cheney's latest shot at the Senate Majority leader came while Cheney was visiting the capitol. I thought, "hey, that's where he's supposed to be." So, I think Reid should try this -- but only if he wants to see Broder have a seizure.
Our founding parents, bless their hearts, could come up with only one regular job for the Vice President to perform: "The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided." And until Nixon inherited the office in 1953, the Vice President did actually preside over the Senate with some regularity. So, I think there is a lot to be said for making sure that the Vice President is performing his constitutionally mandated duties. I think at the very least, a change in the Senate's rules is in order, and perhaps even some legislation, to make sure that every day that the Senate is in session, Mr. Cheney sits his ass down, plugs in his medical apparatus, picks up his gavel, and scowls for the camera.
More below.
First, a little more history, from the Senate's own website:
The Constitution provides for two officers to preside over the Senate. The vice president of the United States is designated as the president of the Senate. In this capacity, the vice president was expected to preside at regular sessions of the Senate, casting votes only to break ties. From John Adams in 1789 to Alben Barkley in 1952, presiding over the Senate was the chief function of vice presidents, who had an office in the Capitol, received their staff support and office expenses through the legislative appropriations, and who often were not invited to participate in cabinet meetings or other executive activities. In 1953, Vice President Richard M. Nixon changed the vice presidency by moving his chief office from the Capitol to the White House, by directing his attention to executive functions, and by attending Senate sessions only at critical times when his vote, or ruling from the chair, might be necessary. Vice presidents since Nixon's time have followed his example.
So, for most of our history, the VP has performed this vital function. Now, I know there are some obvious objections:
- Do we want Cheney in charge of the Senate? Of course not. But by tradition, the presiding officer has no substantive power and is not even expected to address the members except to call votes, keep order, and perform various other housekeeping tasks. This is something that can easily be handled as a matter of Senate rules.
- Do we want Cheney to have such high visibility? You betcha! More Cheney and every day. The winning scowl is omnipresent and it's only a matter of time before he gives us a kodak moment by flipping someone off.
- Doesn't he have more important things to do? What could be more important than performing the one task assigned to him under the Constitution, thereby ensuring that our system of checks and balances works?
- What will he do with all of his existing staff, offices, travel budget, etc.? Budget cuts. He'll be spending a lot more time at home, in the saddle, on a short leash -- or extension cord as the case may be.
- Won't this interfere with the prerogatives of the unitary executive? Not at all. Dubya can have him during recesses and Cheney will have most of his nights and weekends off. And besides, if there is one chink in the theory of the unitary executive, it is that the responsibilities of the VP are set forth in Article I of the Constitution, not Article II (except for the dreary part about waiting for the Pres to expire).
- Won't the american people see this as a blatant effort to restrain the conduct of the VP? Okay, so this isn't really an objection. I thought I'd put it here, anyway. But for the Broders of the world, it is nothing of the kind -- it is an effort to bring to bear on our national problems the sort of bipartisan cooperation that our Preznit has been calling for. Of course, this may be hard to carry off well if every time a senator takes the floor he or she begins with "Mr. President, . . (snicker) . . . ."
- Will Cheney be allowed to hunt on the floor of the Senate? Only small caged animals, although it will be recommended that all lawyers in the Senate wear body armor when on the floor. Course, Cheney can still do some damage with that gavel.
- What about 'what goes around comes around'? I don't know, but maybe its time for the office of Vice President to become the "warm bucket of s_it" it once was.
All in all, I really see no downside to this idea. I'm sure you'll tell me if I've overlooked something.