# Cheney to be replaced by Rice next year?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-to-be-replaced-by-rice-next-year/291203
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [February 21, 2005, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-to-be-replaced-by-rice-next-year/291203 "2005-02-21T17:26:35Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2005, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-to-be-replaced-by-rice-next-year/291203/1 "2005-02-21T17:26:35Z")
File this under “Consider the Source”:
[World Net Daily:](http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=42938)
> [@](#):
>
> Vice President Dick Cheney likely will step down next year due to health reasons and be replaced by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, according to a report by geopolitical expert Jack Wheeler.
>
> On his website, To the Point, Wheeler reports there’s a “red-breasted rumor bird” flying around Capitol Hill that has whispered the same thing to most congressional committee chairmen.
I find this dubious, but I’m slightly tempted to give it a little bit of credibility considering it’s from a conservative news source. But, if it were true, I think this would be making a bigger splash than just this article. So, could this happen?
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### Author:  [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-to-be-replaced-by-rice-next-year/291203/2 "2005-02-21T17:49:15Z")
I doubt this report has any credibility, but as a Republican, there’s a part of me that would love to see it. It would certainly make the 2008 election interesting.
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### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-to-be-replaced-by-rice-next-year/291203/3 "2005-02-21T17:49:54Z")
I do think there is a good chance of Cheney stepping down “for health reasons”. Cheney surely isn’t going to run for prez (and he’d NEVER win even if he did), so it would behoove the Pubs to get someone in that slot who will run. Could it be Rice? She’d certainly be on the short list, but there are some problems. She’s completely untried wrt being ELECTED to office, so she’d be a wild card in that key aspect. Personally, I think she makes more sense as a VP candidate in '08 than as a Prez candidate. There’s also the not so small “problem” of her being pro-choice. If you start hearing her talk about abortion in the next few months, coming dow heavily on the anti- side, that might be a sure sign of things to come…
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2005, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-to-be-replaced-by-rice-next-year/291203/4 "2005-02-21T18:01:51Z")
Consider the source, yes, but it’s interesting. My main objection to it would be this: why would Cheney go through all the trouble of an entire second campaign if he only intended to serve about one year of the term?
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### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-to-be-replaced-by-rice-next-year/291203/5 "2005-02-21T18:08:07Z")
> [@Marley23](#):
>
> Consider the source, yes, but it’s interesting. My main objection to it would be this: why would Cheney go through all the trouble of an entire second campaign if he only intended to serve about one year of the term?
A key theme was “stay the course”. If Cheney stepped down, it could easily be portrayed as Bush admitting he had made mistakes. You can’t risk that during a campaign. Well, you CAN risk it, of course, but someone like Bush wouldn’t.
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### Author:  [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2005, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-to-be-replaced-by-rice-next-year/291203/6 "2005-02-21T18:47:49Z")
H. Clinton v’s C. Rice.
I reckon the 3rd party candidate would have a shot 😉
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### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-to-be-replaced-by-rice-next-year/291203/7 "2005-02-21T18:59:31Z")
Not that this will happen, but imagine a Powell/Rice tickets for the Pubs in '08. Under different circumstances (ie, no Iraq invasion) it could have happened. Cheney would bow out, be replaced by Powell. Rice still moves up to SecState setting the stage for '08. Of course there are those who claim Powell has some skeletons in this closet that would prevent him from running, plus there is the age factor for him. What a different Republican party that would be (assuming the relgious right wouldn’t go bonkers and field an independent candidate)!
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### Author:  [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2005, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-to-be-replaced-by-rice-next-year/291203/8 "2005-02-21T19:06:34Z")
Also Powell was quoted years ago as saying he had discussed the matter thoroughly with his family and had definitely decided to never seek a higher elected office.
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### Author:  [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2005, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-to-be-replaced-by-rice-next-year/291203/9 "2005-02-21T19:53:10Z")
> [@John Mace](#):
>
> What a different Republican party that would be (assuming the relgious right wouldn’t go bonkers and field an independent candidate)!
Thank God for the religious right! The only way for the Democrats to counter that ticket would be to run an adorable baby fur seal. A pro-life, pro-gun, anti-gay adorable baby fur seal. With a spotless political record. And a congressional medal of honor for killing hundreds of terrorists. A pro-life, pro-gun, anti-gay, decorated war-veteran adorable baby fur seal with a spotless political record, who rose from humble begins to eventually own a highly-profitable chain of family farms in the midwest, but who hasn’t forgotten how to relate to the common man.
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### Author:  [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2005, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-to-be-replaced-by-rice-next-year/291203/10 "2005-02-21T20:03:08Z")
I’d love to see Rice run in 2008, if only because it’d give our lackluster media an impetus to spread the word about how [she publically lied about pre-9/11 warnings.](http://reuters.excite.com/article/20050211/2005-02-11T030932Z_01_N10417082_RTRIDST_0_POLITICS-SECURITY-CLARK-MEMO-DC.html)
(Ah, who am I kidding? Everyone will be too busy watching the Michael Jackson trial to give a toot.)
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### Author:  [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2005, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-to-be-replaced-by-rice-next-year/291203/11 "2005-02-22T04:41:24Z")
> [@Metacom](#):
>
> Thank God for the religious right! The only way for the Democrats to counter that ticket would be to run an adorable baby fur seal. A pro-life, pro-gun, anti-gay adorable baby fur seal. With a spotless political record. And a congressional medal of honor for killing hundreds of terrorists. A pro-life, pro-gun, anti-gay, decorated war-veteran adorable baby fur seal with a spotless political record, who rose from humble begins to eventually own a highly-profitable chain of family farms in the midwest, but who hasn’t forgotten how to relate to the common man.
… and loves Jesus. Can’t forget Jesus.
Of course, I’m being serious. 😃
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### Author:  [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2005, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-to-be-replaced-by-rice-next-year/291203/12 "2005-02-22T04:46:56Z")
Can’t happen. The Constitution states that if the VP leaves office, the speaker of the House takes his/her job. That’s how Ford became the only unelected President of the US. (Nixon’s original VP resigned, Ford lost to Carter in '76.)
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### Author:  [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2005, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-to-be-replaced-by-rice-next-year/291203/13 "2005-02-22T05:08:32Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#):
>
> Can’t happen. The Constitution states that if the VP leaves office, the speaker of the House takes his/her job. That’s how Ford became the only unelected President of the US. (Nixon’s original VP resigned, Ford lost to Carter in '76.)
Not quite:
> [@25th Amendment](#):
>
> Section 2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.
Bush can pick whoever he likes, as long as Congress agrees.
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### Author:  [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2005, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-to-be-replaced-by-rice-next-year/291203/14 "2005-02-22T05:19:49Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#):
>
> Can’t happen. The Constitution states that if the VP leaves office, the speaker of the House takes his/her job. That’s how Ford became the only unelected President of the US. (Nixon’s original VP resigned, Ford lost to Carter in '76.)
Um, nitpick, but Ford wasn’t “unelected”. He was selected by Nixon and elected by the House of Representatives after Spiro’s resignation. He wasn’t Speaker of the House, either, but minority leader.
I think that the President can nominate whoever he wants, regardless of office or indeed political affiliation, and as long as that person is confirmed by vote of the House, he’s VP.
Rice as a VP? I’ll believe it when I see it…but stranger things have happened.
Damn, I wish Powell would step up to the plate. He’d make an excellent alternative to the bobbleheads who keep running for executive office.
Stranger
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### Author:  [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2005, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-to-be-replaced-by-rice-next-year/291203/15 "2005-02-22T05:24:52Z")
> [@Stranger On A Train](#):
>
> I think that the President can nominate whoever he wants, regardless of office or indeed political affiliation, and as long as that person is confirmed by vote of the House, he’s VP.
Make that both houses (Reps. and Senate). And I believe (though I’ll leave the digging through the Amendments to some wonk who gets excited about this stuff) that whoever he selected _does_ have to be able to legally hold the office of the President. In other words, not Schwartznegger or Mr. Clinton. He could pick Hillary (that would be a hoot) or H.R.Perot. (even funnier) or George Carlin (yes, yes, YES!)
Hey, I pick my candidates on entertainment value. I voted against Clinton, but in retrospect, I was wrong. That guy kept the comedians working overtime for eight years. 😃
Stranger
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2005, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-to-be-replaced-by-rice-next-year/291203/16 "2005-02-22T05:41:29Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Of course there are those who claim Powell has some skeletons in this closet that would prevent him from running, plus there is the age factor for him.
What skeletons? Other than the My Lai rumors that have been pretty thoroughly discredited, I’ve never heard anyone claim Powell has “skeletons”. I’ve always heard that the only thing keeping Powell from running is he’s too intelligent to want the job. Republicans would love to see him run.
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2005, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-to-be-replaced-by-rice-next-year/291203/17 "2005-02-22T05:48:07Z")
> [@John Mace](#):
>
> A key theme was “stay the course”. If Cheney stepped down, it could easily be portrayed as Bush admitting he had made mistakes.
That would have been a strange way to read it. Cheney’s health problems were well-known and there was speculation he wouldn’t run for a second term in the first place. I guess the “mistake” would have been choosing Cheney? Since Cheney never differed from Bush on anything substantial and played a big role in shaping their policies, I don’t think that would have been how it was perceived.
> [@](#):
>
> You can’t risk that during a campaign. Well, you CAN risk it, of course, but someone like Bush wouldn’t.
It needn’t have been during the campaign, it could’ve been well before.
I guess it does make more sense to move the Secretary of State up to VP than it does to promote the National Security Advisor. Still, all these rumors about Cheney involve him being this completely altruistic person, and I think that’s unrealistic. The man has things that he wants to do himself, and I doubt he’s gone through all this trouble to leave things undone.
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2005, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-to-be-replaced-by-rice-next-year/291203/18 "2005-02-22T05:50:53Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#):
>
> Republicans would love to see him run.
I’m sure he’d be a lot of Democrats’ first choice as a Republican candidate, but that doesn’t translate into universal acceptance among Republicans. See also McCain, John.
Given the way Powell was treated in Washington over the last four years, I think he’s telling the truth when he says he’s done for good. Who’d come back for a second helping of _that_?
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### Author:  [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2005, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-to-be-replaced-by-rice-next-year/291203/19 "2005-02-22T06:10:00Z")
> [@Marley23](#):
>
> Given the way Powell was treated in Washington over the last four years, I think he’s telling the truth when he says he’s done for good. Who’d come back for a second helping of _that_?
_sigh_
_sigh_
_sigh_
_sigh_
_sigh_
I can’t help but agree…but, damnit…I’d actually campaign for the guy, and I’m pathetically apathetic about politics.
It’s sad when we observe that someone is “too intellegent to run for President”.
There’s some satire in there, but I’m too tired to pull it out.
Stranger
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2005, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-to-be-replaced-by-rice-next-year/291203/20 "2005-02-22T06:31:10Z")
> [@](#):
>
> I’m sure he’d be a lot of Democrats’ first choice as a Republican candidate, but that doesn’t translate into universal acceptance among Republicans.
Powell the Democrats’ first choice? He’s their worst nightmare - a candidate they have no chance of beating. Put Powell on the ballot and the Democrats’ campaign slogan will be “we’ll try again in eight years”.
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