American journalist and political analyst John Podhoretz frequently considers the intricate relationships among political parties and their leadership systems. In one of his observations, he noted that the president usually stays out of these conflicts in order to maintain neutrality, but the vice president usually takes on difficult tasks and opposes the opposition.
This is not an uncommon phenomenon in politics, according to Podhoretz, who compares it to having a guard dog by your side when you're traversing a hazardous area. He goes on to note something unusual, though: a vice president has never before taken on the role of disparaging the supporters of his own party, which deviates from accepted political conventions.
This situation raises concerns about power struggles and internal conflicts within a political party because it is similar to seeing an animal turn against its own kind for unknown reasons. It draws attention to an instance in which a politician's duty to the people who elected them appears to be subordinated to their loyalty to their leader. This change in dynamics can be interpreted as an indication of more profound problems in the political ecosystem, revealing divisions that extend beyond politics at the surface level.
With the help of Podhoretz's insight, we can better comprehend not only the deeds of specific politicians but also the larger circumstances and forces that influence their choices. It serves as a reminder of how difficult it is to strike a balance in democratic processes between accountability to constituents and loyalty to leadership.