"Ms. Palin has it exactly, frighteningly wrong."

by: Jay Stevens

Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 15:10:17 PM MST

Ms. Couric asked Joseph Biden, Ms. Palin's rival, the same question in a separate interview. He had it exactly right when he told her that Mr. Cheney's theory of the "unitary executive" held that "Congress and the people have no power in a time of war." And he had it right in the debate when he called Mr. Cheney "the most dangerous vice president we've had in American history."
The Constitution does not state or imply any flexibility in the office of vice president. It gives the vice president no legislative responsibilities other than casting a tie-breaking vote in the Senate when needed and no executive powers at all. The vice president's constitutional role is to be ready to serve if the president dies or becomes incapacitated.

Any president deserves a vice president who will be a sound adviser and trustworthy supporter. But the American people also deserve and need a vice president who understands and respects the balance of power - and the limits of his or her own power. That is fundamental to our democracy.

So far, Ms. Palin has it exactly, frighteningly wrong.

Like I said then, she answered the question, which likely means it was scripted. And means that her anwer was no mistake.