Companion calculus.
Look.
If it’s Sherrod Brown (D-OH), John Kasich (R) appoints his replacement.
If it’s Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Christie (R) appoints his replacement.
If it’s Tim Kaine (D-VA), Terry McAuliffe (D) appoints his replacement.
If it’s Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) or Al Franken (D-MN), their voices and ability to shape policy discussions are limited primarily to the input they provide the executive, and the executive maintains a prerogative in how much they choose to receive that input. They have less power as VP over the bills that land on the Oval Office desk than they would as Leader, Committee Chair, or Whip.
Also, if it’s Warren: Charlie Baker (R) appoints her replacement.
These are not minor considerations. I don’t care if the VP pick is uninspiring. But if this is something we want, then rally to build such stifling liberal majorities in the chambers of Congress that we can afford to lose a seat to a conservative governor’s whim every four-to-eight years.
Which means showing up to vote every two.
Creative Control 