What Kind of Vice President Would J.D. Vance Be?
The Main Idea in a Nutshell
- This podcast explains that J.D. Vance would be a new and aggressive kind of Vice President (VP), acting more like an "attack dog" for Donald Trump instead of the calm, experienced advisor we're used to seeing.
The Key Takeaways
- The VP Job Has Changed: The role of the Vice President started out as a pretty unimportant, do-nothing job, but over the last 50 years, it has become a very powerful position for experienced politicians who act as the President's top advisor.
- Vance Is a New Breed: Unlike recent VPs who were chosen for their experience in Washington, Vance is young and was likely chosen to be an aggressive supporter who pushes Trump's ideas without question.
- His Style Is to Attack: At a big meeting in Europe, a previous VP (Mike Pence) tried to calm America's allies down. When Vance went, he basically insulted them, showing he's there to shake things up, not to make friends.
- Fun Facts & Key Numbers: Fact: A former Vice President, Lyndon B. Johnson, once said he took the job because he knew that historically, about a quarter of VPs ended up becoming president, often because the president died in office.
Important Quotes, Explained
- Quote: "> Once there were two brothers. One ran away to sea, the other was elected vice president of the United States. And nothing was heard of either of them again."
- What it Means: This is a joke from a former Vice President named Thomas Marshall. He's saying that being the VP used to be such a useless and forgotten job that it was like disappearing from the world completely.
- Why it Matters: This quote shows just how much the Vice Presidency has changed. The podcast argues that what was once a dead-end job could become a very loud and powerful position with someone like J.D. Vance in it.
The Main Arguments (The 'Why')
- First, the hosts argue that the Vice President's job wasn't always a big deal. For a long time, it was a powerless role, but it grew into a serious advisor position starting in the 1970s.
- Next, they explain that most modern Presidents (like Obama) picked very experienced VPs (like Joe Biden) to help them run the country and deal with foreign leaders.
- Finally, they point out that Trump choosing Vance would break this pattern. They believe Vance isn't an experienced guide; he's a young, aggressive politician who will act as Trump's loyal "attack dog" to get things done.
Questions to Make You Think
- Q: Why did Presidents start picking more serious and experienced Vice Presidents?
- A: The text says this change started around 1976. Presidents realized they needed a real partner and top advisor. They started giving their VPs an office in the White House, meeting with them weekly, and putting them in charge of big, important projects.
- Q: What makes J.D. Vance so different from past VPs like Joe Biden or Mike Pence?
- A: According to the podcast, he's different because he doesn't have a long career in Washington or foreign policy. Instead of being a calm, experienced advisor, he is seen as a political "attack dog" chosen for his loyalty and aggressive style. While Pence tried to smooth things over, Vance is expected to pick fights.
Why This Matters & What's Next
- Why You Should Care: The Vice President is literally one step away from being the most powerful person in the world. Understanding who they are and what kind of power they have is super important, because their style can affect how America deals with other countries and how our own government works.
- Learn More: To see how a powerful Vice President can shape history, check out the movie Vice (2018). It's a dramatic and sometimes funny look at Dick Cheney, who served with President George W. Bush and was one of the most powerful VPs ever.