# Cheney in hospital **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 13, 2004, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-in-hospital/274586 "2004-11-13T19:10:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-in-hospital/274586/21 "2004-11-13T21:35:21Z")
> [@Rashak Mani](#): > > He will never let McCain make him a weak president or better dead president. I’m not sure how that would happen anyway. You don’t get picked as Vice President if you can’t or aren’t willing to do what the President says. Same goes for Powell “reigning in” Bush. When push comes to shove, VPs and Secretaries of State don’t have the ability to reign the President in at all. The most they could do is complain or quit, in which case they’d be replaced by someone who would do what they refused to. > [@](#): > > McCain as president would be too good to be true… that would mean I would have to start beleiving in God ! What do you actually know about John McCain? ---
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-in-hospital/274586/22 "2004-11-13T21:39:30Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > What do you actually know about John McCain? He is better than Bush… he is better than Bush… and seems a really pretty decent Republican. (though I have not much love for them) I’ve seen half a dozen interviews and read some articles. Is that enough for a valid opinion ? Or should I shut up ? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-in-hospital/274586/23 "2004-11-13T21:40:50Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > What do you actually know about John McCain? Am I the only one who heard this in Fox Mulder’s voice? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-in-hospital/274586/24 "2004-11-13T21:41:31Z")
> [@Rashak Mani](#): > > He is better than Bush… he is better than Bush… and seems a really pretty decent Republican. (though I have not much love for them) > I’ve seen half a dozen interviews and read some articles. Is that enough for a valid opinion ? Or should I shut up ? 🙂 My point is that if he was President of the US, you’d find plenty to complain about. He still supports the war in Iraq and is anti-abortion, for starters. He’s willing to criticize people on both sides of the aisle, which is nice, but no way do I want him running the country. ---
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-in-hospital/274586/25 "2004-11-13T21:46:00Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > My point is that if he was President of the US, you’d find plenty to complain about. He still supports the war in Iraq and is anti-abortion, for starters. He’s willing to criticize people on both sides of the aisle, which is nice, but no way do I want him running the country. Oh ok… I agree his is not perfect or close to it… still better than Bush ! Just the fact that he is critical of both sides is a leap that most politicians on either side can’t make. I saw him complaining about congressional pork barrel on military budgets and I saw him criticizing other issues that most republicans would never dare. He is certainly brave and “moral”. It could be just for show too for all we know… didn’t seem so. I’d still prefer a democrat or moderate in office… and I’d still find plenty to complain about them too. Politicians aren’t my favorite kind of people. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-in-hospital/274586/26 "2004-11-13T22:21:34Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > “Coalesce”? What is he, a proto-star? The word made me think of those a-bombs carried by the androids in [_Imposter_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0160399/). ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-in-hospital/274586/27 "2004-11-13T23:09:32Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Apart from Ahnold (who is ineligible), those are about the only Republicans left who aren’t completely repulsive as national candidates. Given that you regard Bush as completely repulsive, I am disinclined to accept you as a source in tune with the electorate. ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-in-hospital/274586/28 "2004-11-13T23:18:09Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Naw, only kidding. I hope doesn’t die. I do hope he never recovers sufficently to hold public office again, though. Yea, that’d be neat. ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-in-hospital/274586/29 "2004-11-13T23:19:30Z")
> [@Rashak Mani](#): > > I used to like Powell too… but in other threads about him… I lost my sympathy for him. He didn’t reign in Bush enough and the troops suffered for it Well, the troops, and, like, y’know, IRAQ ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-in-hospital/274586/30 "2004-11-13T23:27:12Z")
Well, BBC news just said it was a false alarm. Just the effects of the cold. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-in-hospital/274586/31 "2004-11-13T23:32:52Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Well, BBC news just said it was a false alarm. Just the effects of the cold. CNN and the New York Times were saying that from the beginning, so somebody was kinda of late in reporting this. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-in-hospital/274586/32 "2004-11-14T00:13:15Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > I disagree. While I do believe there is at least a 50/50 chance of Cheney resigning for “health reasons” sometime in the next 2 years, this is WAY too early to have been planned. Unless you mean that this is the beginning of a series of “health related problems” that will ultimately lead to his resignation. > > Powell would have a similar problem to Cheney, in that it is unlikely he would run for prez (too old). I hope I’m wrong about that, as I would enthusiastically vote for Powell if he were to run in '08. I was being somewhat tongue in cheek but I do believe he really will resign no later than the '06 election (earlier if Cheney really _does_ have another heart episode) and a Bush successor will be appointed with at least a couple of years to be groomed. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-in-hospital/274586/33 "2004-11-14T05:19:07Z")
> [@](#): > > _Finagle said_: > “Coalesce”? What is he, a proto-star? Hmm, I thought it was widely accepted that he was a creature of pure evil energy. I suppose his material projection will appear to convalesce. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-in-hospital/274586/34 "2004-11-14T05:34:53Z")
> [@](#): > > **John Mace** : Powell would have a similar problem to Cheney, in that it is unlikely he would run for prez (too old). He would not be as old in 2008 as Reagan was in 1984. Besides, he shows no signs of slowing down. Now go wash your mouth out, young man. Powell is the same age as Robert Redford. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-in-hospital/274586/35 "2004-11-14T05:48:20Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > He would not be as old in 2008 as Reagan was in 1984. Besides, he shows no signs of slowing down. Except that it’s been rumored for years he’s quitting Bush’s cabinet and wants out of politics. ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-in-hospital/274586/36 "2004-11-14T06:28:23Z")
Powell’s best chance for the presidency was in '96, at the hight of his popularity from GWI. The fact that he didn’t reach for it then, or in 2000 makes me think that he made a concious decision not to reach for the presidency. I doubt his experiences of the last 4 years have done much to change his mind. With the growing preception that GW1 was left unfinished, his testimony on the floor of the UN, the fact that he’s appeared impotent for the last 4 years and his growing age his popularities really taken a hit. Even if he wanted it, I doubt he could win. A good thing to, as he was supposedly involved in the coverup of the My Lai massacre. The last thing I want in 2008 is another election that brings up peoples actions in Vietnam as an issue. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-in-hospital/274586/37 "2004-11-14T14:59:19Z")
He’ll go for the ultimate two-fer by naming his father to succeed Cheney. ---
**Author:** ![NotWithoutRage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NotWithoutRage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotWithoutRage)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-in-hospital/274586/38 "2004-11-14T23:32:46Z")
> [@Antiochus](#): > > He’ll go for the ultimate two-fer by naming his father to succeed Cheney. Ha! What about his brother, Jeb? ---
**Author:** ![Amazingrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8edcca/32.png) [@Amazingrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazingrace)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-in-hospital/274586/39 "2004-11-15T01:44:37Z")
> [@Malodorous](#): > > Powell’s best chance for the presidency was in '96, at the hight of his popularity from GWI. The fact that he didn’t reach for it then, or in 2000 makes me think that he made a concious decision not to reach for the presidency. I doubt his experiences of the last 4 years have done much to change his mind… According to this, [his wife didn’t want him to run.](http://search.netscape.com/ns/boomframe.jsp?query=Colin+Powell%27s+Wife&page=1&offset=0&result_url=redir%3Fsrc%3Dwebsearch%26requestId%3D8c2d2670f8118250%26clickedItemRank%3D1%26userQuery%3DColin%2BPowell%2527s%2BWife%26clickedItemURN%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fnews.bbc.co.uk%252F2%252Fhi%252Famericas%252F2501097.stm%26invocationType%3D-%26fromPage%3DnsBrowserRoll%26amp%3BampTest%3D1&remove_url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bbc.co.uk%2F2%2Fhi%2Famericas%2F2501097.stm) ---
**Author:** ![dqa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dqa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dqa)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-in-hospital/274586/40 "2004-11-15T03:39:31Z")
On the McLaughlin Group this weekend, Powell was tipped to become president of the World Bank. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-in-hospital/274586.md?page=1)