It has been apparent for some time that the Democrats see the US presidency primarily as a ceremonial role. Kamala Harris certainly seems to view it that way. Wave, laugh, be sad or serious as the occasion demands, shake hands, read the script, make a few weak jokes, sign the documents and that's it.
As for personally understanding even the basics of a vastly important policy - it's not an essential part of the role as she sees it - she makes that obvious enough.
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I've argued in the past that David Cameron was a figurehead, Theresa May a dour bureaucrat, Boris Johnson the class clown, Liz Truss a Head Girl (who didn't know her place) and Rishi Sunak Best Boy.
Labour, of course, do not permit (ha ha) stereotypes or archetypes so I am considering Dickensian themed names for them. This includes Preposterous Starmer, Evette Jellyby (a philanthropist who devotes her time and energy to setting up a mission in Africa while ignoring the needy in her own family and neighbourhood), the Infant Prodigy (Ed Miliband), and Angela Pecksniff. All in fun of course, a parody for art's sake.
Starmer is a blithering ideologue.
In the UK, even the House of Commons is fast developing into a ceremonial body. Starmer isn't able to get away with his madness because of the constitutional principle that whoever commands a majority in the commons is able to lead the executive. It's because he doesn't pose much of a threat to the vested interests of the Civil Service. Here's a bloke who will do as he is told, or perform the ceremonial role of standing at a lectern and telling the people how it's going to be.
DJ - it's the best way, make fun of them, although the whole cabinet could be portrayed as versions of Mrs Jellyby. Lots of possibilities though. I like Ed Miliband as the Infant Prodigy. I've just looked up the youngest MP - Sam Carling - he even looks like an Infant Prodigy.
Sackers - I agree, he should have grown out of it decades ago. He comes across as weird to me, and not a little sinister.
Sam - I agree. As with the monarchy, once power seeps away, a ceremonial body is all it can be. The HoC still passes laws, so presumably it could claw something back, but it doesn't seem to attract people able and willing to do that.
I wouldn't be the first to say that Ed looks like Wallace, owner of Gromit. Maybe opposition MPs should keep asking him whether he likes Wensleydale.
I decided, once they let the TV cameras in, that the HoC had become part of the entertainment industry. The real power had already gone elsewhere; in those days it was Brussels, now it's the permanent administration in Whitehall and the Quangoes, all of which of course take their direction from Brussels, if not - for the present - their actual formal instructions.
See also, in "1984", the theory about the middle taking over from the top every so often, thereby becoming the new top. We've been through several iterations of this now, from the English Civil Wars onwards, and it's still happening.
dearieme - opposition MPs could also ask him if he's seen a sinister penguin lately.
Peter - yes the HoC has become part of the entertainment industry, which probably explains why so many people don't watch it or pay much attention to the gossip. I've often thought I'd be better off if I ignored it, but there is a grisly fascination about the stupidity.
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