On Sarah Palin...

Let me be clear: by McCain's own assertions for at least the last year and a half (criticizing Rudy Guiliani at the time), Palin is not qualified to be next in line to the Presidency.  She's as dumb as a bag of hammers (as dad used to say) and useful to McCain only as platform candy, and God (goddess, lord/lady, etc) help us if she ever takes the Oval Office desk.

But I'm seeing the media and many bloggers pouncing on her explanation of the vice-presidency with a ferocity reminiscent of sharks on a wounded seal, and I feel the need to chime in.

She was wrong, insofar as the VP is not "in charge" of the senate, per sé.  The VP presides and serves as the tie-breaking vote in case of deadlock, and many throughout our history haven't even bothered with that much.

But, if you're seven or eight years old, what's the difference between "presides" and "in charge?"  She was speaking to 3rd graders.  Her answer - from an eight-year-old's perspective - is essentially correct, if semantically wrong to us grown-ups, and a roomful of kids wants the answer short and to the point.  They'll figure it out when they get to high school civics, and you can bet they've already forgotten the visit anyway.

Ease down, folks.  You will have plenty of mistakes to gleefully deride, have no fear.  This one, though, isn't worth the effort. 

On Sarah Palin...

Let me be clear: by McCain's own assertions for at least the last year and a half (criticizing Rudy Guiliani at the time), Palin is not qualified to be next in line to the Presidency.  She's as dumb as a bag of hammers (as dad used to say) and useful to McCain only as platform candy, and God (goddess, lord/lady, etc) help us if she ever takes the Oval Office desk.

But I'm seeing the media and many bloggers pouncing on her explanation of the vice-presidency with a ferocity reminiscent of sharks on a wounded seal, and I feel the need to chime in.

She was wrong, insofar as the VP is not "in charge" of the senate, per sé.  The VP presides and serves as the tie-breaking vote in case of deadlock, and many throughout our history haven't even bothered with that much.

But, if you're seven or eight years old, what's the difference between "presides" and "in charge?"  She was speaking to 3rd graders.  Her answer - from an eight-year-old's perspective - is essentially correct, if semantically wrong to us grown-ups, and a roomful of kids wants the answer short and to the point.  They'll figure it out when they get to high school civics, and you can bet they've already forgotten the visit anyway.

Ease down, folks.  You will have plenty of mistakes to gleefully deride, have no fear.  This one, though, isn't worth the effort.