I guess the point of the article was that some vice presidents are rendered obsolete and don't do much or get much time with the pres (I think they mentioned Bush Sr. and Gore post '98, maybe Quayle? I don't remember, but definitely comparing Gore term 1 and Gore term 2). They were just critiquing the amount of power a Biden VP would have in an Obama admin.

NPR is my getting-ready background noise of choice.