Cheney Won't Run

[MarkTwain]

"Cheney Won’t Run"

- SNIP -

No, I don’t have any secret sources at the White House, nor am I suggesting that Bush will ask Cheney to step aside, because he won’t. Instead, I’m convinced Cheney will take himself out of the running for health reasons. And yes, I know Cheney said he got a clean bill of health after his annual cardiac checkup at George Washington University Medical Center last week and went back to work immediately afterwards. But what this most secretive of vice presidents didn’t say is what his electrocardiogram, echocardiogram and stress test told his doctors about his 63-year-old heart, which is about one-third as efficient as a normal heart. This is important, given that Bush relies on him so heavily and he is only a heartbeat away from becoming president.

- SNIP -

There are two other reasons I’m betting there won’t be a Bush-Cheney ticket this fall. One was a little-noticed report in the Federicksburg (Va.) Free Lance Star on April 16 that Cheney was taken to the Culpeper Regional Hospital on April 5 from a nearby secret undisclosed location, just before leaving for Asia. When reporter Donnie Johnston asked Culpeper County Sheriff Lee Hart about the report, he said, “We had some knowledge.” But when questioned further, Hart told Johnston he couldn’t say more until he made a telephone call. Less than two minutes later, Hart called back to say, “We had no knowledge of the incident.” I asked Johnston, who lives in Culpeper, about his story, which Cheney’s office refused to comment on. “I could get no official confirmation,” he said, “but unofficially, I was told by three different sources that Cheney was there under an assumed name. That’s why the hospital said they had no record of his being there.”

The second reason is that Cheney’s defibrillator, made by Medtronic of Minneapolis, may be nearing the end of its average life expectancy of about five years....

- SNIP -

This will be a hard-fought campaign, and Cheney knows another cardiac event in the middle of it would be damaging to Bush. He’s too loyal to take that risk. Look for him to step down before the Republican National Convention.

Albert Eisele is editor of The Hill.

http://www.thehill.com/eisele/051904.aspx

... Can anyone say Vice President Guiliani, perchance?

[mzmolly]

1. Well shit, his daughters are campaigning for him? I wonder who

would take his slot?

[TroubleMan]

18. If he drops out, Guiliani is in

I don't think that will happen though. He runs things now, and this guy's so power hungry and greedy, he'll keep trying to grasp power even with his dying breath

[mzmolly]

20. Gawd help us if Guilliani gets on the ticket.

EEK!

[bedtimeforbonzo]

2. Who runs then? Rice?

That would suck.

[sallyseven]

3. He will be on the ticket.

Then he will quit. The bush gets to put another idiot in his place. Very simple.

[Warpy]

13. Yep, that's it

He'll be on the ticket, then he'll develop "worsening health problems" and step aside. My guess is that they're planning to give Jebbie the second banana slot, so they can position him to take over in 2008.

This is all planned only if Chimp wins or steals his way back in, and everybody in the GOP, the military, the corporate world, and the CIA follow him blindly. My guess is that every part of that scenario is a long shot.

[DarkPhenyx]

8. I'm betting on Rice too.

The "black female" factor alone will ensure a certain percentage of votes.

[robbedvoter]

4. I don't buy it. Crimes to hide, money to steal - not giving in an inch!

Anyone who figured these rigid ideologues know they cannot make changes. They'll stay the course

[RummyTheDummy]

5. And beyond that, they know it could hurt their ticket

If he left. There are tons of neo-cons who love Dickie. I think the more likely scenario is they'll go through with him on the ticket hoping to win this time around. If * does win (not going to happen) he'll retire and * will appoint a new VP after the elections.

[H2O Man]

6. 50-50 chance

I think the Wilson controversy is the most likely thing to take cheney off the ticket. The president does not show the capacity to adjust, modify, or change his strategy. It will have to be beyond his control. I think that a possible replacement would be James Baker. Bush needs an older father figure. He would have great difficulty being over-shadowed by Rudy G.

[rucky]

7. McCain

and judging from the reaction here at the prospect of having McCain on our side (which he is not), it just may work.

[West Coast Democrat]

11. They wish....

Even if McCain agreed to it, it would be too huge of a change. McCain would steal the show, and they would have to find some way to boot Bush* from the presidency.

[SoDesuKa]

9. Cheney Clutches Chest, Falls . . .

I've been looking for an excuse to post this headline all day.

No, it hasn't happened but I wouldn't feel bad if it did . . .

[radwriter0555]

10. Frist. was trotted out a few times, but seems to have NOT passed the smell

test for them.

Guliani is a philandering thief, and can't pass muster either.

[Rowdyboy]

12. Tom Ridge or Guiliani

[AlCzervik]

14. both of them are pro-choice

and Rudy was a philandering swine until 911 erased that from the publics memory.

[Rowdyboy]

19. I know...But Cheney is history and Shrub is desparate....

It's going to take a bold move. I don't really expect to see Guiliani but I do think there's an excellent chance Ridge on the ticket. He's not hard core pro-abortion is he? Plus he's Catholic and from Pennsylvania and a Vietnam vet. Look for him to "clarify" his stand on abortion soon.

[MarkTwain]

23. Exactly, a bold move...

...is about all that might allow The Cabal a passing chance in November.

And besides, a choice of Guiliani, Ridge, or any number of seemingly less wingnut strident candidates would allow that Cabal to pass itself off as more tolerant and middle of the road for election purposes.

Until that is, the morning of January 21st when the ongoing destruction of this democracy starts its final chapter.

I am beginning, more and more, to see Cheney as the "big sacrifice" that will be made for this ugly and evil group to complete their "final plan."

[WFF]

15. Tom Ridge

Both Chris Matthews and Howard Fineman have heard rumors that Ridge would be on the ticket,

[Wapsie B]

16. You know him

you love him. Someone that served as impeachment insurance for Poppy.
Ladies and gentlemen, back for a return appearance, I give you

Dan Quayle!


Wouldn't piss off the base and definitely wouldn't overshadow chimpy.

[Not Me]

17. Doesn't make any difference...

A couple months ago, Cheney would have been a real liability. Now, Bu$h is more a liability than Dick. Bu$h is toast.

[Blue-Jay]

21. Let's don our tinfoil and think about this....

1) Cheney doesn't run.
2) Cheney implicated in illegal "dirty dealings" ie. Energy meetings, Plame outing, goat-fucking....
3) Bush grants a pardon.
4) Cheney continues to walk free and fuck goats.

Hey, it's plausible.

[FlashHarry]

22. Nope. Cheney is our Prime Minister.

Bush is a puppet. A titular president, only. I would be very surprised if he steps down--unless he does so and remains VP behind the scenes. Also, Giuliani won't be on the ticket. A pro-choice, pro-gay moderate Republican would shatter Bush's base.