More About the Office

The strangeness continues. Been meaning to note that I seem to find the vice presidency more attractive than the prospect of being POTUS myself. Our original "Veep," John Adams, said of the position something to the effect that it was the most insignificant office human ingenuity had ever devised. Much later FDR's first mate Garner also famously despised it. But that was then; this is now. In recent decades its occupant has been allotted more influence. He gets that cool Victorian Naval Observatory house to live in while hanging out at the White House. Somehow I can't believe he's under as much pressure most of the time as the Big Boss--& what's expected of him is no doubt subject to circumstances & what the Prez wants.

So am I running for VP? Received wisdom declares that no one does, & candidates are typically quick to deny that they'd even accept the #2 slot on the ticket. Well, I would! Except, of course, that I'm much disinclined to campaign--& it's been claimed that the #2 traditionally acts as an attack speaker on the ol' stump. Well, maybe I could find something nasty to say about the competition should they start the usual ruckus, but obviously I'd prefer a low-key approach.

The Middle

For some time I've been meaning to add here a phrase someone once recommended as ideal for politicians: I was born into the middle class in the middle of the 20th century in the middle of the United States. In my case it has the advantage of being true--if we accept halfway across the nation's northern tier as still qualifying for "middle" status. It's certainly near the center of this continent!