The most insignificant office that ever the Invention of man contrived or his Imagination conceived

John Adams described the vice presidency as “the most insignificant office that ever the Invention of man contrived or his Imagination conceived.”  Its a thankless job. The Constitution gives the vice president the role of presiding over the Senate , and voting in the Senate if there is a tie. The vice president’s only other formal responsibility is taking over the presidency if the president dies. So why, when that essential duty is eminent does Mike Pence go anywhere or take any risk to his person. Don’t get me wrong, I would be delighted if both he and Trump became unable to serve. A President Pelosi would be a scandal but in an era with daily sandals, that’s no big deal, but he should do his job.

We used to joke about Dick Cheney and his “undisclosed location” but during a national pandemic and when the president is very likely to die, that’s exactly where he belongs. On Wednesday, there will be a debate for who should be Vice President, but Mike Pence has already decided not to do the job when it counts.