Chuck Todd Quotes
Dick Cheney and Al Gore have redefined the role of the vice president in the minds of the public. It should be a big job, beyond simply checking the health status of the president.
Todd, Chuck. "First Read." NBC News, NBCUniversal, 23 Jul. 2008.
The Senate was debating a law to make torture of foreigners and captives illegal under all circumstances. Vice President Cheney was very strongly opposed wanting an exception made for the CIA.
At the time Harrison, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, was a Colonel serving under Washington. The war had been somewhat successful but the country was very weak and in great danger. Most of the state leaderships had given little thought to the problems of the new nation beyond simple government of the state. Harrison’s son and great grandson would both become Presidents of the United States.
What is interesting about this quotation is how early in America’s history the insignificance of the Vice Presidency was discussed.
Obama was a President who believed deeply in the concepts of checks and balances and separation of powers. He did not punish members of Congress who opposed him by closing federal installations in their state of district, not giving government contracts to companies in his district and in the case of member of his own party who were “recalcitrant” supporting opponent in primary elections and failing to support in general elections. Presidents Nixon and Johnson used these techniques particularly effectively. As a result they pushed their legislative programs through Congress very effectively. All other modern Presidents have done this to one degree or another, but Obama did not. He believed that pressure on member of Congress should be limited to persuasion and public debate moving public opinion. Many seasoned politicians and political observers however thought that this was Obama’s biggest weakness as a President. Lyndon Johnson did not have to actually punish many member of Congress, as his willingness to do so was well known and thus few opposed him when he called or met with them and “gave them the treatment.” But Congress knew that Obama had taken punishment and retaliation off the table, and many opposed him including member of his own party.
Cheney had a great deal of power as Vice President initially given to him by Bush with actions like this.
Charles David Todd is an American television journalist who is the 12th and current moderator of NBC's Meet the Press. He also hosts MTP Daily on MSNBC and is the Political Director for NBC News. Before taking the helm of Meet the Press, Todd was Chief White House correspondent for NBC as well as host of The Daily Rundown on MSNBC. He also serves as NBC News' on-air political analyst for NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt and Today.
