Palin Backs Cheney

Perhaps the most interesting responses from last night's vice presidential debate were those regarding the question of vice-presidential powers. Here's Palin's response:

Well, our founding fathers were very wise there in allowing through the Constitution much flexibility there in the office of the vice president. And we will do what is best for the American people in tapping into that position and ushering in an agenda that is supportive and cooperative with the president’s agenda in that position.
Yeah, so I do agree with him that we have a lot of flexibility in there, and we’ll do what we have to do to administer very appropriately the plans that are needed for this nation.

No, there is no flexibility of the role of vice president. So allow Joe Biden to educate you:

The primary role of the vice president of the United States of America is to support the president of the United States of America, give that president his or her best judgment when sought, and as vice president, to preside over the Senate, only in a time when in fact there’s a tie vote. The Constitution is explicit.

The only authority the vice president has from the legislative standpoint is the vote, only when there is a tie vote. He has no authority relative to the Congress. The idea he’s part of the Legislative Branch is a bizarre notion invented by Cheney to aggrandize the power of a unitary executive and look where it has gotten us. It has been very dangerous.

What I assume will happen from here on out is Joe Biden can now hammer on the point that Palin will be another Cheney. And rightfully so! Along with this very national endorsement of Cheney's abuse of vice presidential powers, Palin has in essence taken a page from Cheney's play book and will not cooperate with officials investigating the illegal firing of Alaska's Public Safety Commisioner.