The Vice Presidency: For What It's Worth

John Nance Garner, two term vice president under FDR, declared that the vice presidency was "not worth a warm bucket of spit." The actual word wasn't spit. It was "piss."

This is no longer true--as Dick Cheney has proved. There is power beyond the traditional attending of funerals for the famous and powerful who are not quite famous and powerful enough to warrant the president.

This season, with the public questioning of the readiness of Obama and the age and health of McCain, the VP candidate could play a role in people's decision making process.

While no VP candidate has brought a state since LBJ delivered Texas, this year it could make a difference in the election and more importantly in governing the nation.