Looks like speculation at this point, and it’s drudge that is breaking it, and according to him its Democrats that are pushing the story that he dropped his drug addict doctor specifically so that he could get one that would declare him unfit to serve. But…
The NYTimes has a story coming out on it. And it’s written by one Elisabeth Bumiller. Bumiller isn’t quite a journalist: she’s the Bush’s administration’s personal hagiographer, given access to their inner circle in return for writing mostly warm fuzzies and basically rewording their own spin points as her own. So if she’s doing a WH notes on this subject, there’s most certainly a chance that this is the Bush’s outlet for softening the blow.
My guess is that even if Cheny does step down as VP, he’ll stay on in an advisory capacity of some sort. Numerous insider books, including those approved by the Bushies, paint him as, all jokes aside, one of the real forces behind the administration to a degree much much larger than VPs before.
The problem is: who could replace him? One might be quick to see someone like Guiliani in the role. But a pro-choice Republican? I don’t see it. The person can’t be too moderate, can’t be too far right. And they can’t be someone who’s an obvious attempt to ape Edwards’ appeal.
Well, Dr. Malakoff was part of a team of cardiologists, not Cheney’s only doc, but as the Times said, “The favorable summaries may have been the best collective judgment of a team of doctors, including cardiologists, but Dr. Malakoff was the lead doctor offering ringing reassurances about Mr. Cheney’s health. In retrospect, voters are entitled to question the rosy prognoses.”
And John Kerry’s people better get on the ball–yeah, it sucks, but gotta release them records.
Interesting rumor. Aaron Brown shows Tomorrow’s Headlines Today! at the end of his 10:00 pm CNN show. See if he mentions it. Don’t look at me, there’s a fresh Reno 911! a’coming!
Because it’s just speculation at this point (so not really a GD), yet it’s also political, and so is not IMHO or some other thing. And for fuck’s sake. It’s fucking Dick Fucking Cheny, fuckhole.
I odn’t know how far outside Massachusetts his political posturing has penetrated, but Governor Mitt Romney has been working his telegenic ass off to position himself as a rising star with all the right Republican assets: antiabortion, anti gay marriage, successful executive in public and private roles, budget-slasher of social service waste-and-fraud programs, etc., etc. If Cheney does get dumped, look for Mitt to pack his carpetbag and make a run for veep, hurling harpoons into Kerry’s back all the way.
This seems to be a pretty dangerous game the Dems are playing at the moment. Cause while this clearly is meant to show what a wild-card, nutjob Cheney is, if Bush were to replace him this could seriously bite the Dems in the ass.
I don’t see a Bush/McCain ticket. Bush pal’d up with a guy who said that McCain’s kids were illegitimate just because they weren’t white. He pal’d up with people that accused McCain of being against breast cancer research using the same trickery that Bush now loves to use to claim that Kerry is against this or that weapon system. Too much bad blood.
While that’s true, I don’t know if any of those examples quite compare. Bush ran a nasty nasty scorched earth campaign against McCain that McCain has never quite gotten over. I also find it hard to believe that someone who was almost the next Jeffords would be acceptable to the Republican establishment. A man that opposes the FMA? That has been a constant critic of how Bush has conducted the war? Someone considered to be a maverick? I guess all those things play into my estimation of how unlikely it would be.
I do agree with you there. In fact, I recall finding it remarkable at the time, and picturing Bush as Sherman marching through Atlanta and into Columbia, where he shot McCain in the heart, and where Sherman’s cannon ball shots are marked on the State House with stars. I suppose you’re right that there is little chance they will pair up. Still, political desperation has often made a lot of surprising deals.
