I've been seeing this notion going around that the VP choice ultimately doesn't matter, which is really strange and inaccurate. It really doesn't make sense on any level.
So, let's recap why does it matter.
So, let's recap why does it matter.
The biggest reason, of course, is presidential succession. 25th Amendment to the Constitution (originally Article II) -- if the President should vacate the office, the VP shall assume the presidency.
This is not a hypothetical thing. It's happened nine times in our history.
This is not a hypothetical thing. It's happened nine times in our history.
Eight presidents have died while in office and one resigned. That's 20% of our nation's presidents that have left unfinished terms. 1-in-5.
Of those vacancies, four succeeding VPs have gone on to be elected to their own terms. Most of the nine won their party's next nomination.
Of those vacancies, four succeeding VPs have gone on to be elected to their own terms. Most of the nine won their party's next nomination.
With the exception of LBJ, every president since Hoover has had serious assassination plots attempted against them. LBJ, oddly enough, was nearly killed by his own Secret Service agent in confusion.
Bush, Reagan, Ford, + FDR were all nearly killed. Reagan was seriously wounded.
Bush, Reagan, Ford, + FDR were all nearly killed. Reagan was seriously wounded.
Ford had TWO close assassination attempts on him within 17 days of each other. In the first attempt, the gun didn't have a round chambered when Ford shook the assailant's hand. In the second attempt, a bystander thwarted the assailant's gunshot, which barely missed Ford.
At the time, Ford's VP, Nelson Rockefeller, was not liked by conservatives and, of course, had not been elected VP by the voters. Imagine the crisis if Ford had been killed, 13 months after Nixon's resignation and a bit under 11 years since JFK's assassination.
It's honestly remarkable that we haven't had more presidents killed and a protracted constitutional crisis related to presidential succession in the past 100 years. Transfer of power in the Presidency is profoundly important.
The other big reason why Biden's choice matters is that it's widely expected he'll serve one term. Maybe he shocks everyone and runs for reelection (if he should be elected), but it doesn't look like it. His VP will thus hold enormous influence over the direction of the party.
In this election and the governing to follow and the general direction of the party, Biden's choice is going to be highly significant. It's not a small thing. I realize nihilism and cynicism are quite popular at the moment, but you should put those away for this.
Yes, the vice presidency is historically boring. Vice presidents have openly joked about its banality. And VPs have few duties and little codified power in the Constitution.
So, yes, while it's understandable to see why folks might think this doesn't matter, it very much does.
So, yes, while it's understandable to see why folks might think this doesn't matter, it very much does.
The good news is that there are several highly qualified leaders being considered by Biden. You may not like some of them for various political reasons, but those in contention would be able to step into the Oval Office if they were needed.
We're lucky to have a slate of phenomenal leaders under consideration. That said, they will all have different approaches and different longterm effects on both the country and the party. Biden's choice is highly significant for our future and should be treated that way. /thread
