The Vice president is a breath away from the presidency. That can be scary. In the course of our history a vice president has been elevated to the presidency on the death of the sitting president eight times, several on extremely short notice. Some have risen to the occasion admirably, some less so.
Historically, the selection of the VP candidate has often been based on how his or her candidacy can shore up electoral weaknesses in certain regions or states, more so than on personal qualifications for the office. Having won the election, VPs are often shunted off to largely ceremonial roles away from the crucial decision-making activities. If fate later places that person in the highest office of the land, readiness for the task could be compromised – – – to the detriment of the country.
Joe Biden signaled early on that he would select a Black woman as his running mate. Apart from the rather racial tone of such a statement, particularly at a time when racism is so much on the hearts and minds of America, it would not serve the best interest of this country for race and/or gender to be the overriding criterion for a position of such import. Fortunately, the selection of Kamala Harris as Biden’s running mate in the upcoming election allays much of my fears. While the jury is still out as to the policies she would actually espouse and could effectively pursue, I am gratified that she does have an impressive resume and seems to possess personal qualifications suited to the task facing her. Whatever my personal persuasions, I want the winner of this, and every other, election to be successful in doing the right thing for America – – – and for all of America.
- – – – Just the view of a common man.
Views of a Common Man 
Don’t agree with you on Kamalas qualifications, she qualifies for a communist country!
Sent from my iPad
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On the Vice President
The Office of Vice President
Because the office of the vice president was created almost as an afterthought by the framers of the Constitution, Congress has clarified and defined the role over the years through constitutional amendments such as the 12th and 25th Amendments. The 12th Amendment passed in 1804 was a major turning point in the importance of the position of vice president. No longer was the vice president a viable (although defeated) contender for the position of president; instead, it was left to the political parties to nominate presidential and vice presidential candidates for national elections. This nomination inadvertently created the party ticket. The custom of choosing vice presidential candidates based on their appeal to a constituency, rather than their ability to lead, was born. The vice president’s importance in balancing a ticket during a campaign is generally short-lived when they are chosen mostly or solely on their ability to balance tickets (i.e Vice President Dan Quayl). The vice presidency has traditionally been an office where the spillover of unwanted or extra presidential responsibilities land. The modern vice presidents are often defenders of presidential agendas and lambaster of presidential critics.
Selection Demographics
Biden’s coerced selection of Kamala Harris as his running mate is an attempt to ensure that the Democrats win the election without forethought of what will happen if she were to become president. Since 1972, at least 86% of black women who voted in presidential elections supported the Democratic presidential candidate. In 2008 and 2012, more than 90% of black women voters cast their ballots for Barack Obama. And according to exit polls, 92% of black women voted for Democratic candidates in the 2018 midterm elections. Marcia Fudge of Ohio confirmed the coercive demand that a black woman (or woman of color) be selected when she commented that, “The mistake I believe we have made in the last couple of races we’ve run is we neglect to bring out our base. The base of the Democratic Party clearly is black and brown, but more black than brown.”
The Agenda
Ollie’s comment that selection of Kamala Harris as Biden’s running mate in the upcoming election allays much of his fears is not shared by many who perceive her differently. Joe Biden will soon find out that Kamala Harris does not intend to be just the vice president. She has her own agenda. During the debates in 2019 she laughed at Mr. Biden when he suggested that a president is constrained by the Constitution from ruling by executive fiat. She is not a “moderate”, and has one of the most liberal records in the Senate. Being just a heart-beat away from the presidency, she has ideas of social justice concepts, will push democratic authoritarianism, and support big government mobilization such as the Green New Deal.
Fragility of American Democracy
The book, “Four Threats: The Recurring Crises of American Democracy”, cites four threats to American democracy: (1) political polarization; (2) conflict over who belongs as a member of the political community (particularly along lines of race, ethnicity and national origin); (3) high and growing economic inequality; and (4) excessive executive power. Each threat alone can pose a danger to democracy. When multiple threats combine, the danger grows particularly acute. When three threats — polarization, conflict over membership and economic inequality — combined in the 1850s, the nation devolved into a devastating civil war. We should be concerned that today, for the first time in American history, we face all four threats at once.
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Thank you Jeanette for another thoughtful and thorough response to this all important subject.
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