Matt BlazeApr 28, 2023

Pence testified in special council Smith's January 6 grand jury today, despite Trump's hail-mary executive privilege attempt to prevent it. (That seemed to me like an especially weak argument, since the VP doesn't work for the president, but is a separate constitutional office),

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/04/27/pence-appears-before-jan-6-grand-jury-00094310

Pence appears before Jan. 6 grand jury

Pence’s closed-door appearance marks an extraordinary flashpoint in special counsel Jack Smith’s probe.

POLITICO
Show threadMatt BlazeApr 28, 2023
VP is probably the best job in government, in therms of ratio of perks/effort. You don't really have to do anything except break tie votes in the Senate and preside at the occasional joint session. In return, you get a really nice house (more private than the WH), a decent salary, secret service protection, private Air Force air travel, and a public platform to use as you wish. The rest of the time you just fantasize about POTUS choking on a pretzel or something.
Show threadMike Sullivan (avogadro) movedApr 28, 2023
@mattblaze You don't have to break tie votes in the Senate; you have the ability to do so, but no obligation to further the President's position by doing so. You are an independent constitutional agent as president of the Senate. 1/2
Show threadMike Sullivan (avogadro) moved

@mattblaze

A VP could go independent and become a power center in a closely contested Senate and there is nothing a President could do about it, since the VP isn't under the President.

The relatively recent development of the VP being a partner or delegatee of the president is similar to the development of the Office of the First Lady as an arm of the presidency. The fact is that neither the VP nor FLOTUS/FGOTUS has any constitutionally assigned role in the Executive Branch. 2/2

Apr 28, 2023 at 7:50amWeb