A Chequer-Board of Nights and Days

But so long as we are accepting this neologism, let it be noted that Dick Cheney has decided to honcho the education of Joe Biden:

In a blunt, unapologetic interview on "FOX News Sunday," Cheney fired back at Biden for declaring in October that "Vice President Cheney has been the most dangerous vice president we've had probably in American history."

"He also said that all the powers and responsibilities of the executive branch are laid out in Article I of the Constitution," Cheney said in a interview that was conducted on Friday. "Well, they're not. Article I of the Constitution is the one on the legislative branch."

"Joe's been chairman of the Judiciary Committee, a member of the Judiciary Committee in the Senate for 36 years, teaches constitutional law back in Delaware, and can't keep straight which article of the Constitution provides for the legislature and which provides for the executive. So I think I'd write that off as campaign rhetoric. I don't take it seriously."

For the record, this is what Biden said in the debate with Sarah Palin:

BIDEN: 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.

And 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.

I take the phrase "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" as being indicative of Biden's belief--at least at the time--that the powers of the Executive Branch (and not just the Vice President) are defined in Article I of the Constitution. At the very least, this is clumsy phrasing and at worst, Biden really did believe that Article I defined Executive Branch powers. Why he didn't get more grief over this--especially given the fact that--as Cheney pointed out--Biden was a longtime Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is beyond me.

And the reference to the Vice President presiding over the Senate "only in a time when in fact there's a tie vote" is completely and entirely wrong. As the President of the Senate, the Vice President may preside anytime he/she wants. The Vice President may only vote in the event of a tie, but that is another issue entirely.

Perhaps the Vice President-elect could read up more on these and other matters before he is asked to "honcho" anything. I'd hate to think that policy on any front is being honchoed by someone who has yet to honcho the Constitution.