To say that Daschle is a socialist would be kind. "Ignorant" would be much more descriptive. He proved he knows nothing about economics. He obviously does not understand or respect our Constitution. And he is intentionally trying to keep the economy down in the dumpers so he can blame it on Bush.

For instance, the stimulus package Bush proposed would go far to stimulate business and hence get a lot of laid off workers back to work. But, as majority leader, Daschle won’t even let it come up for a vote. He evidently wants to keep a high unemployment rate.

Some say that there is not much Republicans can do about Daschle because the Senate majority leader pretty much controls the schedule of the Senate. That is true, actually. That’s the way the Senate operates.

It needn’t be that way, though. That was not the original design, the intent of the Founding Fathers. Because, in truth, the Senate President Pro Tempore outranks the majority leader.

So, OK, the Senate President Pro Tempore is a social-Democrat, too, so that’s not any help. Therefore, we have to move up the chain of command a notch to the President of the Senate -- the Vice President.

Presiding as President of the Senate, the Vice President can only vote in case of a tie vote on the floor. But, as President of the Senate, the Vice President has a number of parliamentary and administrative duties that are now handled by the Senate President Pro Tempore -- a Democrat.

Lately, the Vice President is usually occupied as part of the President’s administration and presides over the Senate only on ceremonial occasions or when a tie- breaking vote may be needed. But, that’s not how things always were. And that need not be the case today.

It was back in 1953 that Vice President Richard M. Nixon changed the vice presidency by moving his main office from the Capitol to the White House and concentrating his attention primarily on executive functions. Nixon only attended Senate sessions periodically, when his vote, or ruling from the chair, might be necessary. Later Vice Presidents followed Nixon’s example.

Still, the vice president is supposed to be the Senate’s regular presiding officer. The Senate President Pro Tempore is only to perform the duties of the President of the Senate when the President of the Senate is absent for cause. And, that "cause" should not be just because the Vice President finds the job boring and would prefer to hang out at the White House.

A presiding Republican President of the Senate would help counter some of the mischief Daschle causes. A real administrator presiding over the Senate could insure that a quorum is present for all votes and the Senate stops passing bills by simple "unanimous consent" votes when there are but six or eight Senators available to vote. Half of the "World’s Greatest Deliberative Body" seldom even see the inside of the Senate chambers anymore.

Many of the duties and powers recent Vice Presidents have relinquished to the Senate President Pro Tempore could make or break the action on a bill.

For instance, according to Senate rules⁽¹⁾: "The President pro tempore shall have the right to name in open Senate or, if absent, in writing, a Senator to perform the duties of the Chair, including the signing of duly enrolled bills and joint resolutions but such substitution shall not extend beyond an adjournment, except by unanimous consent; and the Senator so named shall have the right to name in open session, or, if absent, in writing, a Senator to perform the duties of the Chair, but not to extend beyond an adjournment, except by unanimous consent."

The Vice President, presiding as President of the Senate, is the "Chair" and can control much of what goes on in the Senate. We happen to think that a level headed Republican would be quite helpful Chairing the Senate. And, as it happens, one is available for the job.

Vice President Richard Cheney should take over full duties as President of the Senate and make the Senate liberals cut the foolishness.