Biden To Be Barred From Democratic Caucus Meetings

[babsbunny]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/06/biden-to-be-barred-from-d_n_148966.html

Politico's Mike Allen is previewing an article set to appear in Sunday's Las Vegas Sun about Harry Reid's efforts to roll back the Vice President's expanded role under Dick Cheney by barring Joe Biden from Senate Democratic caucus meetings:

[Alexander]

1. Good. The VP is not part of the Legislative Branch.

Despite whatever Dick Cheney says.

[ColbertWatcher]

15. Exactly.

It looks like the http://www.wikiality.com/Supreme_Judiexeculative_Branch">Supreme Judiexeculative branch will be ending soon ...

[terrya]

2. I agree with this.

It's time to bring the Vice President's Office back into the Executive Branch where it belongs.

[Vincardog]

3. NewZZ Flash Harry Reid's balls show against other democrats

Where were they for the last 8 years?

[ThomWV]

4. On what day is/was Biden's resignation from the Senate effective?

Up to that day's he's in, after that day he's out.

[napi21]

5. So...tell me why Reid wasn't this strong against Cheney???

From what I hear, Jow already said he was dialing back the VP spot to what it was prior to shooter, so Reid's ramblings don't mean a thing, but if Reid is so adamant about retaining the role of Congress, why the hell did he let Cheney get away with anything he damn welll pleased?

[TomInTib]

6. Good point.

I would bet the the 'pubs had some really good s**t on Reid or someone in his family.

[Andy823]

8. Because he is

A wimp! He knew Cheney would tell him where to go, and he knows Joe won't be like Cheney. I think it's all a show on Reid's part, trying to look tough now that Bush and Cheney are leaving. If I lived in Nevada, I would be looking for someone to take Harry's place in the next election! We need somebody tough who won't take no crap from the republicans, and Harry is not that person! Same goes for Nancy, we need "real" change in congress, not the same old wimps running things!

[AndyTiedye]

9. Reid Tried to Talk About Limiting Cheney's Role, But He Got All Choked Up Inside Every Time

"I FIND YOUR LACK OF FAITH DISTURBING"

"<gasp><choke><gag>"

[TayTay]

14. Because Cheney was meeting with the Republican caucus

And Sen. Reid had no influence over that. Sen. Reid has influence over the Democratic caucus.

[napi21]

18. Yes, I understand that, but he never pushed back against Cheney

at all! He never pished back against ANY of the pubs! I happen to like Harry as a man and as a Senator, but NOT as the LEADER of the Senate!

[KittyWampus]

21. I'm sorry, did Cheney attend Republican Caucus meetings and did Reid have any say on that?

[NNN0LHI]

23. Why? Was Cheney attending Democratic caucus meetings?

:eyes:

[Freddie Stubbs]

24. Reid could not bar Cheney from attend GOP Caucus meetings

[La Lioness Priyanka]

25. REid isnt part of the republican caucus. its really that simple. nt

[Deep13]

7. Art. II says the VP presides over the Senate.

I never understood how that house was able to exclude the VP in the first place.

[SoCalDem]

16. House members are elected every 2 years..vice president serves for 4?

and ties are unlikelier in the house than in the senate?

[Deep13]

22. By "that house" I meant the Senate. nt

[NYC Liberal]

28. According to the Senate rules, the presiding officer has very little power or say

That means whoever is presiding, including the VP.

He gets to preside, but the Senate gets to make its rules, which define the role of the presiding officer.

[rocktivity]

10. No big whoop--unlike Cheney, it isn't Biden's goal to be vice president

in name only.

:headbang:
rocknation

[704wipes]

11. Oh but of course, Quisling Joe is still welcome, right?

Lieberman still welcome? Joe and Harry -two asshats posing as Democrats.

[kentuck]

17. Right!

That's our Leader Harry!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

26. different issue. reid is right on this. the vp's office should not put undue influence

on the legislative branch

[stray cat]

12. Good move to re-establish boundarys

[jwirr]

13. Another thread said that VP Biden wanted this to happen because

he did not agree with the way chainy acted.

[Adelante]

19. It's what Biden wants

Dialing back his predecessor’s expansive view of the office, Vice President-elect Biden plans on “restoring the Office of the Vice President to its historical role” as adviser to the president and tie-breaker in the Senate, an aide to Biden said Saturday.

-snip

Elizabeth Alexander, spokesperson for the Vice President-elect, e-mailed in response: "Vice President-elect Biden had no intention of continuing the practice started by Vice President Cheney of regularly attending internal legislative branch meetings — he firmly believes in restoring the Office of the Vice President to its historical role. He and Senator Reid see eye to eye on this.”

Cheney has vastly enlarged the office’s power, even claiming at one point that it had a special status beyond both the executive and legislative branches, by virtue of the role of president of the Senate. That’s a largely ceremonial function, except in the case of breaking ties.

Biden articulated his view of the office in St. Louis in early October, during his vice presidential debate with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Asked about the incumbent’s interpretation of the vice presidency, Biden said: “Vice President Cheney has been the most dangerous vice president we've had probably in American history. The idea he doesn't realize that Article I of the Constitution defines the role of the vice president of the United States, that's the Executive Branch. He works in the Executive Branch. He should understand that. Everyone should understand that.”

“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,” Biden said., “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.”

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16261.html

[TexasObserver]

20. it's the right move, and the checks and balances system requires it

[acmavm]

27. Thank you for protecting us from fellow democrats, Harry. Too

bad you and Grandma Nancy are such cowards when it comes to criminal republicans.