NYDailyNews: In early 2004 Cheney volunteered to step down - Bush said no

[sabra]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wn_report/2007/03/13/2007-03-13_veep_rumors_hogwash.html

<snip>

In early 2004, Bush and Cheney had a conversation that included resignation. Cheney, not Bush, brought it up. In fact, Cheney volunteered to step down, according to someone in the Bush orbit who authoritatively knows what happened.

Bush asked if Cheney had a health issue. No, Cheney replied; it's political, not medical. He'd become a political liability and wanted to give Bush the option of making a change before a bruising, tight reelection battle.

That was the end of it. "He offered to step off the ticket, and the President said forget it," a well-placed source said.

...

Cheney may be an overall net political minus, but he's a huge asset where it counts most for Bush: the Republican base, which adores Cheney. Bush's approval numbers are at 30%, roughly the same size as his base. If Cheney left, this weakened President couldn't absorb the backlash. They're all he has left.

[C_U_L8R]

1. Consider the source

are they fishing for sympathy ??

[babylonsister]

5. I dunno; even though DeFrank works for TDN, I think he's a fairly

good reporter, has lots of connections.

But I despise things like this: "according to someone in the Bush orbit who authoritatively knows what happened." If someone said something, they should own up to it, or why freakin' say it?

[blm]

2. BushInc knew all they had to do was keep corpmedia from reporting the election fraud

that they depend on to stay in power. Vote suppression, purged voter rolls, rigged machines controlled by GOP cronies, and a DNC chair that had no interest in securing the election process = BushInc had all their pieces in place.

DeFrank is a total WH tool - always trying to eke out sympathy for Bush and Cheney while asserting their manliness in some way.

Republican chickenhawks always need corpmedia shills to GIVE them a manliness they never EARNED the way other men earn their accolades.

[Richard Steele]

3. Edgar Bergen offered to step down; Charlie McCarthey said "forget it". I'm not impressed.

[Captain Hilts]

4. Candace Bergen would be a good president. She's smart. nt

[Javaman]

6. I would have loved to hear that exact conversation...

moron* plays tittily winks on his desk when darth walks in.

darth: george, some people say I should step down.

moron*: some people?

darth: yes, they say, I should retire...

moron*: they say?

darth: but, you know, if you reeeeeally wanted me to "retire" I will (he winks)

moron*: you coming on to me?

darth rolls his eyes.

darth: what I'm trying to say is, to "save" you any "embarrassment" I can quietly go away...

moron*: go away?

darth: thank you mr. prez, I knew you would see it my way.

darth skips off happily out the door. moron* sits there puzzled. presses the intercom button.

moron*: Deloris, let me know when chaney gets here, I'm taking a nap.