this post was submitted on 04 Aug 2024
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It's not an understudy position. The role of VP has historically been a way to "balance the ticket" between factions in the party. So, a Kennedy from Massachusetts and Johnson from Texas. Or California's Reagan with a Connecticut Bush.
More recently, the VP has been a means of whipping votes in the House (Cheney and Ford) or the Senate (Gore, Biden, Pence) and raising money from affiliate donor networks (all of the above, but Harris and Vance more than ever).
If you want a Presidential job training program, look to the governor's mansion or the State Department. But by the time you're VP, you're not training. You're in the game.
It's absolutely been used as an under study position in the past. It can be all those things too.
Name one VP who was a practical understudy for the job of President and I'll name you ten that were equally if not more qualified for the job.
Here you go. Link
Explain how Dick Cheney was an understudy to Bush Jr.
Cheney was a very unique case. In some ways he wielded more power than Bush. That's not normal in any sense.
The VP after Cheney was Biden, a man with more years in the Federal Government than any three 2008 primary rivals combined.
Did you look at the list at all? It's not at all uncommon for the VP to be considered the next presumptive nominee. Which is what an understudy does.
That's very different from being less experienced
I never said less experienced. You're supposed to have experience. Under study means you're getting an inside track to be ready if you need to step in and then you should have a better resume next time hiring is done.
When you've got Timothy Chalmette as your President and Anthony Hopkins as your VP, the concern isn't whether Hopkins will have the exposure to fill the role.