paying-attention

I still believe Barack Obama is going to be the Democratic nominee. There aren't many people left in these United States who can be convinced that he is both a Muslim and a member of a Black-power Christian church. I'm also willing to admit that I don't have a clue what makes most voters -- especially Democrats -- choose the way they do.

There is one thing that would really upset me, if the Democrats didn't nominate Obama. That would be for him to accept the role of vice president to Hillary Clinton or any other candidate. If the professional politicians haven't grasped this yet, I'm here to remind them: Vice president is a dead end job, and its main requirement is a career killer.

The requirement I'm talking about is the necessity to put aside one's own methods, values and ideals and adopt those of the person at the top of the ticket. Once a politician has done that, it's over. Ask George H.W. Bush, who once upon a time called Reagan's economic plan "Voodoo economics." Ask Al Gore, who was unable to inherit the discredited presidency from his egotistical predecessor. By the way, I don't fault Ronald Reagan or Bill Clinton for wanting to do things their own way. That's part of what it means to be president. You have to have a robust ego to get through an election, let alone to govern this huge and almost unmanageable polity.

I seem to remember, years ago before I was old enough to vote, that vice president was the job used to prepare the next president. It isn't like that any more. The vice president has to swallow so much of his (or her) own good sense, has to be such an extreme team player, that they effectively disappear as a separate option. It isn't as if Bill Clinton -- or Michelle Obama or Cindy McCain, for that matter -- is planning to back off and let the president take advice from an outsider, a former political opponent. If Hillary Clinton has accomplished nothing else, she has strengthened the advisory role of the first spouse.

Mike Huckabee could be vice president. He has said himself that he has nothing better to do. Mitt Romney might have the time. But for anyone who has a good job already, whether Governor of New Mexico or senator from Delaware, Illinois or New York, I would say don't do it. If you still long for a role in the executive branch of the federal government, hold out for a cabinet post.

Labels: vice president