McSame & apPallin’

Okay, you Western Pennsylvanians – I’m not saying that Murtha was necessarily right when he said that, years ago, y’all were a bunch of rednecks, or that y’all are a bunch of racists. I really don’t think he meant it exactly the way it came out. But you’ve gotta admit — John McSame should really leave the off-the-cuff quips to someone who can actually speak the language without reading them off-his-cuffs:

Is there no one in the campaign who can tell Sarah apPallin’ what the Vice President’s job is? Or have they tried and she’s just decided to redefine the job description and the Constitution-be-damned?

C’mon, Sarah – you’ve had, like, 4 cracks at this since July. It’s not like you had to make a special trip to the Library of Congress – they make purse-sized copies of the United States Constitution these days. And it’s a lot easier to read than you might think:

Article I, Sec. 3: The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.

Article II, Sec. 2: In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected. [Modified by the 25th Amendment]

Amendment 25:

1. In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.

3. Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.

Don’t have a U.S. Constitution handy? There’s always Google. That’s what I did. Took me about 30 seconds.