US Constitution, Article II, section 1...

Congress may be Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until...a President shall be elected.

Section 4:

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

That concludes every mention I can find in the main body of the Constitution as relates to the duties and office of the Vice President (section pertaining to election omitted.) Nor do any of the subsequent Amendments duly ratified clarify the matter of duties.

Whatever the fuck they are, Cheney has exceeded them. The proverbial "bucket of warm spit" (or "warm shit" depending on which version of the story you hold to) would be an improvement in every way over the current holder of the office. Hannibal Hamlin, Lincoln's first-term vice president, asked to resign the office as he felt utterly frustrated at being able to contribute nothing to the war effort. When Lincoln implored him not to do this at such an unstable time, Hamlin shrugged and went back to Maine anyway to assist with recruiting Federal troops. (It is said that his wife rather insisted he come home, as she refused to live in Washington and he, when away from her, did little but drink all day.)

Hannibal Hamlin would be an improvement over Cheney. Read more…