Cheney's future at stake after leaking of CIA agent's name

[kskiska]

Vice President Dick Cheney's political future was at stake yesterday in Washington, where a grand jury investigation was questioning administration officials about his office's role in leaking the name of a CIA operative for political motives.

The inquiry has already questioned the president's spokesman and one of his media advisers over the identification of Valerie Plame, which is developing into one of the administration's main headaches in an election year.

However, informed sources said last night that three of the five officials who are the real targets of the probe work or worked for Mr Cheney.

Until recently, President Bush has insisted that Mr Cheney would be his vice-presidential candidate in the November elections, despite his history of heart trouble.

But recent polls conducted by the White House have suggested that growing unpopularity of the taciturn ex-businessman and powerful administration hawk threatens to sink the president.

more…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1145390,00....

[brook]

1. It's about time.

Let the Sneer sink the Smirk. Good riddance to both of them.

[demgrrrll]

2. I may be wrong but if Cheney goes down in flames I think it will be

excellent fodder for the Democratic candidate. Replacing
someone because they have been associated with criminal
activity is not a plus. I don't care who they pick for a replacement this looks bad for the honor and dignity (derisive snort) boys.

[Nevernose]

4. They would NEVER replace him for "criminal activity"

The poor, poor man has a bad heart, after all, a condition aggravated after 9/11 and defending America against the insidious Darth Saddam.

Maybe they can get Ollie North to replace him on the ballot (I hear he's working for the Boy Scouts now), and I'm sure Dan Quayle is available...

[Flubadubya]

51. Agnew went before Nixon...

like the Pride before the Fall, so may these two criminals go!

[CheshireCat]

54. You read my mind!

There was no way they were going to 86 Nixon with Agnew waiting in the wings. Once Agnew was gone, Nixon was toast!

[stopbush]

3. Cheney will have another heart incident within the month.

and will resign "on advice from his doctor...though against the strong wishes of the (p)resident that he remain on."

Bush will then name a more moderate repug as VP for the election who will, of course, be confirmed without objection. My money is on Rudy, but Rove might want to cause real problems by approaching Wes Clark.

[Nevernose]

5. I got five bucks says it's Rudy...

n/t

[SnowGoose]

17. Pro-choice Rudy?

Seems unlikely, since his base is already uneasy.

[Voltaire99]

38. Five bucks says it's Zell Miller.

A little promotion for Zell: from turncoat to footrest.

[styersc]

48. And the winner is: Voltaire99

The VP will be Zell Miller. Bush will run against the negative tone in Washington by running a conservative Democrat from the south.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

60. I hadn't thought of that .

That's f@#$ing brilliant. I wouldn't put it past them. Remember it's all about winning for these pricks.

[TeeYiYi]

6. I don't know . . .

. . . I suspect a more permanent resignation solution in the works for Cheney.

TYY

[section321]

36. Maybe something involving a small plane....

... its been known to happen.

[R Hickey]

12. Or Arnold Gropenator

That is what I think Rove is aiming for. It would take some doing, but that might be one of several plans.

[Poiuyt]

19. I think they would have to change the Constitution

[stopbush]

20. No. Nixon named Ford after Agnew was forced to resign. n/t

[TacticalPeek]

30. I think the Constitutional ref was to Ahnuld's foreignbornness.

Though not explicit, the arg would be that the VP should be native born, else he could not succeed the prez if required.

[Mechatanketra]

46. It's explicit enough.

No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President ... (Article II, Section 1)

But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States. (12th Amendment)

Seems pretty straightforward to me. If you weren't born in the USA, and you aren't over 213 years old, you can't be veep.

[leftynyc]

50. Yes, they would have to change the constitution

The main job for VP is to be ready to be Pres at any time and Arnold is ineligible.

[stanwyck]

16. I think you're right

Cheney will be forced to resign, quite relunctantly -- and with great sadness from Bush, due to his family's concern for his health. Then Bush will be free to pick someone who will perk up his candidacy and draw the attention away from his worthless job as president. Maybe Rudy. Or Frist. Or Santorum. Cheney is a big liability. He's the face of corporate corruption. He looks like The Penguin from Batman. Only less lovable.

[Beetwasher]

7. We Only See This In A British Paper

How pathetic...

[fearnobush]

21. Not exactly, both Time and Newsweek...

ran Chaney credibility stories. Newsweek even mention Chaney's infamous quote: "What's wrong with my image? Am I the evil genius in the corner nobody ever sees come out of his hole? It's a nice way to operate actually."

[teryang]

8. Cheney is starting to look like...

...Spiro Agnew. If a Grand Jury is pursuing this, rest assured that they are under the direct control of AG Ass-man, who is getting his orders from you know who. Grand juries are led by the nose and if any independent spirits materialize they are dismissed.

[demgrrrll]

15. I don't see Rudy as the choice if there is a change. I don't think

it will be him. I think if people in Cheney's office are
indicted for criminal activity it will be harder than
usual for the lap dog press to ignore the connection.
He can say he is leaving for health reasons but the timing will stink to high heaven. I still think it is lose/lose. Bush is such a narcissistic sob I don't think he would share the spotlight well
with someone like Rudy G. The petulant little bastid couldn't even bear having a reporter speak French.

[scarface2004]

9. i ve already seen bush/miller bumper stickers!

dennis miller that is

[lucidmadman]

10. I don't think it will be Rudy...

..the NYC cops and firefighters hate him and they won't be quiet about it. It'd be great if it did happen. Nice target...

[ignatius]

44. And wasn't there some business about his nurse/mistress

living in the Governors mansion while his wife and children lived there as well? That shouldn't set well with the puritan right wingers.

[Manix]

11. BushCo wants to grease the skids for Jeb in '08, so whoever may

come in can't be a threat to him.

[koopie57]

47. what if he picks

big dumn jeb as his vice president?

[reprobate]

49. Jethro Bush can't run in '08

He has too much baggage from his past. Just google "jeb bush scandals". Plenty there to use against him. Particularly after the * debacle.

[peekaloo]

13. I'm coming Elizabeth!

I need a new fan, mine's covered with shite.

[eyeswideopened]

14. Bush can blame everything on Cheney

Then he can drop him and pick up another running mate. This would probably help him win.

[demgrrrll]

24. Nah. The stench will still waft over Bush on this one. Too close to

the election to make a change and not have it look like there
is a big problem.

[TexasProgressive]

18. ROVE has a plan already

As much as I'd like to see Cheney dumped, or even indicted, this could be a bad thing for our side, in purely political terms.

Down here in Texas, I've watched Karl Rove for years now, and there is NO WAY I will believe that he wasn't directly involved in the Plame affair. I'm also certain that he won't go down over it. Bush cannot function without him. Cheney is a useful martyr. And you know he will gladly make the ultimate sacrifice, because he has sold his soul to the Bush clan.

Rove is sick and evil, and sooner or later he will run out of luck, but he isn't stupid. The new VP candidate will have GREAT appeal to the middle. And he will DAMN SURE have a military background. Like John McCain.

[wellstone_democrat]

26. yep, I see that scenario

and Cheney will dodge out from under by "illness" and fake assumption of "responsibility" for what "overly zealous" underlings did. This way they can spin it into "responsibility" rather than devious criminal conduct.

VP? Powell if he can manage it, Guiliani ? Nah, prostate cancer and other problems probably will rule him out as viable. McCain would be their dream guy since they now know he will shut up, take orders, and still be a shill for them even when his wife and family are attacked.
Bush* wants a "moderate" who ideally can deliver a block of votes otherwise unavailable: Powell would draw Af-Am, military, and liberal whites in large numbers while appealing to that "moderate" myth they spin.

my 2 cents.

[lostnfound]

45. If McCain is it, we Dems have our work cut out for us. n/t

[ignatius]

57. Oh I don't know, can't we just use the ugliness the repugs used

against him in the campaign in 2000? Seems to me they have already done the dirty work, we only have to replay and say this is what the repig party thoght of him only 4 short years ago. I don't think that "dog" will hunt.

[teryang]

35. What an ingenious suggestion!

McCain has been making me sick lately. He would however be a threat to Jebfraud in 2008, if his health held up.

[UpInArms]

40. How handy that McCain

is in a position to exonerate this mal-administration from wrong-doing in the push for the Iraq anniliation.

[snippy]

56. This article may reveal a battle between Turd Blossom Rove and Cheney.

This part would have come from Turd Blossom Rove:

But recent polls conducted by the White House have suggested that growing unpopularity of the taciturn ex-businessman and powerful administration hawk threatens to sink the president.

If the article is correct about this it indicates that Turd Blossom Rove is behind the effort to remove Cheney from the ticket. An ugly and bloody battle to the death between Cheney and Rove would be beautiful to see.

[earthside]

22. This stopped my heart when I read it!

Oh, that's what Cheney is thinking. He's part of God's chosen team to run America. How could we now get along without him? But if Scooter or Hannah is indicted, Dick will be in quite a fix.

George thinks he probably cannot get along without him. It will take James Baker to come in and explain to him that Cheney isn't feeling well, and that it would be the kind thing to do to drop him from the ticket.

Cheney being the good subject to the Bush royal family that he is will boldly fall on his sword.

Then Baker and Daddy and Rove (if he hasn't been indicted) will tell George that his best hope of getting through this scandal and getting another four years in the White House is to put Tom Ridge on the ticket. That shores-up Pennsylvannia, lets George stump with a former Marine, and keep Homeland "Security" on the issues front burner.

Makes sense to me.

[TacticalPeek]

27. Maybe that's why he's been running around maniacly claiming the tearists

still have their atom bomb and bushels of kootie dust?

You know, the 'wounded hen' act, drawing the hawk away from her chick?

Yummy.

The chick's dessert.

[amber dog democrat]

23. Too bad

And up to now, I never thought the VPs acutally did anything.

[IndianaGreen]

25. Bush will have to dump Cheney without appearing to be doing so

Cheney is facing indictment in France on a case involving bribery.

Cheney will have to fake a heart attack, and then ask Bush to let him off the ticket for health reasons.

The question is who will Bush pick to replace Cheney. McCain would be good, but he is a loose canon.

[The_Casual_Observer]

28. Perhaps they should run Cuomo

[baby_bear]

29. Elizabeth Dole

This is my guess for VP if Cheney is dropped, and my second guess is Tom Ridge; yet I just can't conceive of a Bush administration w/o Cheney, because he is such a big part of it. Who would call the shots? Would it all fall to Rove and Rummy?

scary either way...

s_m

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

59. it will be a freemason

and bob dole is a freemason. if not bob, then elizabeth is a good bet.

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[PartyPooper]

32. Condi would LOVE to step in as VP!

What do you wanna bet?

[andy12]

33. when a "colon"scopy is needed in the admin

sometimes it's right before your eyes....Powell

[0007]

41. Way too much garbage! No Way, in fact Colin is smart enough

to recognize that this would be a bad move for everyone. Out of the question.

[daleo]

34. Could they run Poppy Bush for VP?

It seems crazy, but maybe just crazy enough. After all, he only served one term.

[Fovea]

37. I think it might be

Bush Bush in 04.
Jeb, that is.

[Dulcinea]

39. How about James Baker?

I wouldn't put it past Rove.

[dbt]

42. Future at STAKE?

Yeah, boy! A wooden stake! And garlic leaves stuffed in the mouth for added insurance.


dbt

[ignatius]

43. I am hoping his "future" is in a cell block with twin 300 pounders

named Bubba 1 and 2 who really really get turned on by snaggletoothed evil old men.

[MoonAndSun]

52. If The Dick does have to step down, I would think that bush*

will try and get either Colon or McCain for his VP. They may be the only ones that the repub establishment would agree to.

And they have given up any of their so-called "honor and integrity" by sticking up for bush* thru the Iraq invasion and beyond.

[Ravy]

55. Bush/Bush.

They are arrogant enough for that.

[catmandu57]

53. I'm putting money on mccain

snarling dickie will have a massive heart episode forcing him into retirement, of course the chimp will issue blanket pardons for snarling dickie and staff.

That in and of itself should stink to high heaven, and wake people up. I'm not sure of mccain, but he seems to fit, he would calm down the military who are grumbling now. He's more moderate without the baggage that rudy would bring. Miller when you come down to it is still carrying (for now) the democratic tag, and the rabid core of bushites I just can't see supporting a democrat past, present or otherwise.

One other thing though the people pulling the chimps* strings would want someone they can control and wouldn't outshine the moron. I'm not sure how low mccain would stoop, but that would be pretty low.

[NoKingGeorge]

58. The cabal behind cHeney will not let him resign. IMHO

He will order dimson to pardon criminals. The neocons running the show do not care about appearences. They will run cHeney into the ground.rOve is onboard for domestic election purposes only, he has no say in anything else.