Serious answer…?
I would head, cheerlead, oversee and push to every possible extent of my ability and political influence every and all infrastructure building/re-building project. Everything from roads, bridges and rail to power generation, smart grids and information/communication networks.
Personally I can’t imagine myself accepting the job if it was offered. It seems like a horrible position; responsibilities without power. And you’d have the prospect of becoming president - a much heavier burden - hanging over your head at every moment.
I’d alter my hair and makeup to look as much like Sarah Palin as possible.
I’d also insist on being introduced and/or addressed as Vice President SNFaulkner, The President of Vices!
An aside, because I love this video. During the 2008 campaign, a fifth-grade kid in Florida interviewed Joe Biden and asked him what a Vice President does. I thought Biden did a great job answering at the kid’s level without being patronizing or dismissive:
5th Grade Reporter Interviews Vice-President Joe Biden - YouTube (longish video, set to start where the kid meets Biden).
Try to convince everyone to legalize all drugs, that way gangs and warlords have a harder time making money.
Serious answer:
Considering that I have been offered the post of the Vice Presidency, I’ll be operating on the assumption that I’m astute and savvy enough politically to be at least modestly successful in spite of any real-life shortcomings I might have. I would of course attempt to strengthen the position of the President by promoting his policies around the country and generally serve an “attack dog” function. This would have the added benefits of giving myself a stronger position from which to “nudge” the President towards my views on various issues that might still be in doubt when he turns for advice to his Cabinet as well as building up credibility and popularity with the President, the party elites, and the rank and file. I would of course also be constantly meeting with potential donors (preferably labour unions and the like), local party operatives, and the like in preparation for my own presidential run.
What I would do depends in large measure on who the President is and what he wants of me.
SOMETIMES, the Presidential candidate picks a running mate he genuinely likes and respects. When that happens, the VP candidate can negotiate to some real duties and responsibilities.
Walter Mondale was a very active Vice President in the Carter administration, and so was George H.W. Bush in the Reagan administration. Reagan had ASKED Gerald Ford to be his running mate in 1980, but negotiations broke down about how much power Ford would have. Ford wanted to be a very hands-on VP, especially in the area of foreign policy, and Reagan wasn’t willing to concede that. So, Ford decided to stay retied.
In some cases, the President picks a VP he doesn’t like or respect for purely pragmatic reasons (“I need to win Ohio, so I’ll pick the junior Senator from Ohio, even though I think he’s a jerk”). When that happens, the VP needs to understand and accept all he’s going to be doing is waiting around for the President to die. It MAY be a good career move anyway, since the VP would have the inside track for the Presidential nomination next time out.
No matter how or why you were picked for the job, you can make it work for you. Work your connections endlessly, do the kind of favors you are in a position to do that will put others in your debt, do the few things you are responsible for doing with style and panache, support your president, but don’t be defined by him, and most importantly, soak up all the knowledge you’d have unprecendented access to. You never know what might turn out to be of value when it is time for your party to select their next presidential candidate. You want to be their logical choice.
Try to promote a couple causes I believe in and wait for people to die; ours or there I really don’t care. Personal appearances and funerals for 4 to 8 years.
Ill fall in with the wake up, check on pres, plan retirement crowd. VP is a dream job where you can’t get fired and you get a pension for surviving. I may spend some time trolling the media but besides that I’d do a lot of nothing.
A quick check: can the President fire the Vice President?
Not American so my knowledge is limited, but I think, technically, he’d have to be impeached by Congress to be removed.
Collect my salary and pray that the Prez stays alive.
No. The VP is elected, not appointed. The only way to remove him from office involuntarily is via impeachment.
Emulate Diamond Joe Biden from The Onion.
I’d jump a motorcycle over the Vietnam Memorial to honor them.
I’d sell hash out of the White House garden.
I’d take visitors up to the roof to check out the bitchin’ view.
I’d be shirtless washing my Trans-Am in the White House driveway.
But enough about Joe Biden. If I were Vice President, I would end up spending a lot of my considerable down time at Ben’s Chili Bowl. Love that place.