# Dick Cheyney and his heart: Should he stay or should he go? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 2, 2001, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheyney-and-his-heart-should-he-stay-or-should-he-go/70962 "2001-07-02T14:46:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheyney-and-his-heart-should-he-stay-or-should-he-go/70962/21 "2001-07-02T22:15:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Father Pacelli \* > \*\*Here are my nominations for the next VP: > > Sen. George Allen (R-VA) > Phyllis Schafely > Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-SC) > Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) > Marion Barry (good for some laffs) > Don Feder > > That be it. \*\* Wouldn’t the speaker of the house become the VP were the current one to die? Or is only that he becomes president if the president and the vp both die? (I know Nixon somehow appointed a VP, which makes me more confused.) Goverment and Economics class said _something_ about this… ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheyney-and-his-heart-should-he-stay-or-should-he-go/70962/22 "2001-07-02T22:35:16Z")
Nixon appointed Gerry Ford after the resignation of Spiro Agnew. There is no provision for a line of succession for the vice-presidency in the U.S. Constitution. The president is empowered to nominate a person for the vice-presidency, should the office become vacant. Congress must then approve the president’s selection. ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheyney-and-his-heart-should-he-stay-or-should-he-go/70962/23 "2001-07-02T22:44:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by UncleBeer \* > \*\*The president is empowered to nominate a person for the vice-presidency, should the office become vacant. Congress must then approve the president’s selection. \*\* Right. The 25th Amendment says in part, > [@](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheyney-and-his-heart-should-he-stay-or-should-he-go/70962/24 "2001-07-03T00:54:16Z")
According to [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/analysis/toons/2001/07/02/mitchell/), Cheney had a wind-powered pacemaker installed. ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheyney-and-his-heart-should-he-stay-or-should-he-go/70962/25 "2001-07-03T01:02:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jab1 \* > \*\*Cheney had a wind-powered pacemaker installed… \*\* …powered by Cheney breaking wind. ---
**Author:** ![jshore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@jshore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jshore)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheyney-and-his-heart-should-he-stay-or-should-he-go/70962/26 "2001-07-03T01:10:09Z")
I don’t think that, at least at this point, his heart condition is serious to warrant his resignation. [Perhaps he ought to resign because he has no heart…But that’s a philosophical/political issue, not a health one. 😉] ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheyney-and-his-heart-should-he-stay-or-should-he-go/70962/27 "2001-07-03T02:40:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by threemae \* > Eve, where do you get less than three years from? He has a cardia arythmia that is being treated by a constant monitoring as well as a “built in defibrulator”. How is this not treating the arythmia? I’d say by him not following doctor’s orders. They’re just going to have to keep operating on him. That isn’t healthy. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheyney-and-his-heart-should-he-stay-or-should-he-go/70962/28 "2001-07-03T03:17:36Z")
slight hijack, but if Cheney did resign, could Dubya appoint a VP who was not born a US citizen? I know to become Prez, you have to be born a US citizen but what about the Veep? And if this were the case and Dubya somehow managed to kick the bucket in office, who would become Prez (speaker of the house)? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheyney-and-his-heart-should-he-stay-or-should-he-go/70962/29 "2001-07-03T05:08:14Z")
**China Guy** , the Twelfth Amendment provides: “But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.” So, any replacement for Cheney would have to be born a U.S. citizen, over 35 years old, and 14 years resident in the U.S. (See Article II, § 2.) As for your second question, Article II, § 2 also gives Congress the power to create a line of succession to the office if both the Prez and the Veepster are out of commission. Currently, the next in line is the Speaker of the House, then the President Pro Tem of the Senate, then the Cabinet in order of creation of the Cabinet posts. (There are actually several threads on this latter issue - punch in “Clinton third term” and set it to over a year ago in Great Debates and then General Questions - but for Gawd’s sake, don’t start yet another thread on whether Bill Clinton could serve a third term. :eek: ) ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheyney-and-his-heart-should-he-stay-or-should-he-go/70962/30 "2001-07-03T17:50:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by december \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > > **However…it’s a well-known fact that Cheney is carrying a disproportionate share of the presidential duties… > > In this regard, if there’s serious concern about whether or not Cheney can do the job, IMO he really should step down.** > > If Cheney were useless, he should stay as VP, but he’s performing valuable work for the American people, so he should resign. > > What’s wrong with this picture? \*\* I’m sorry, did I use too many pollysyllabic words? Let me try to explain it again: If “President” Dubya is going to give most of his work to the vice-president, then it is a good idea to have a vice-president who is in good medical condition. Since Dick Cheney seems to be in a (moderately) bad medical condition, I think it would be a good idea to replace him with a vice-president who is more physically fit. (Geez, what was that about conservatives being dumber than liberals? :rolleyes:) ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheyney-and-his-heart-should-he-stay-or-should-he-go/70962/31 "2001-07-03T19:49:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by threemae \* > Lots of political position holders have lots of **health problems** , for example the Governor of Massachusets. She went out of her way to continue serving throughout most of her **pregnancy**. I am at a loss in comprehending how anyone could make the above statement. **health problems = pregnancy ?** The emphasis is mine ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheyney-and-his-heart-should-he-stay-or-should-he-go/70962/32 "2001-07-03T22:05:51Z")
Kniz, crap, crap, crap… What I meant was some sort of physical issue in their life. If someone can continue to do their job despite of this issue, there is no reason for them to step down, as many pressured the Governor of Massachusets to do. Sorry that that was so poorly worded. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheyney-and-his-heart-should-he-stay-or-should-he-go/70962/33 "2001-07-03T22:21:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by threemae \* > If someone can continue to do their job despite of this issue, there is no reason for them to step down, as many pressured the Governor of Massachusets to do. \*\* It might be worth mentioning that, if Swift had resigned, the Massachusetts governorship would have gone to the state Senate president, and thereby switched parties. Always, always, always look for ulterior motives in politics - a kind suggestion is rarely simply that. Oh, the next best thing from the other party’s viewpoint is for her to do pretty much nothing at all. Which is what’s happening. Oh, and you have nothing to apologize for, IMHO. Pregnancy (especially with twins, as was Swift) is certainly a debilitating physical condition, as my wife would gladly tell you. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheyney-and-his-heart-should-he-stay-or-should-he-go/70962/34 "2001-07-03T23:31:26Z")
Colin Powell doesn’t want to be VP. If he did, he would already by VP. Colin Powell’s dream job is to be Secretary of State, which he is. He’s not going anywhere. Rjung: your theory only makes sense if we imagine that the replacement VP would also be a senior advisor who can make the tough decisions that Bush lacks the capacity to make. But where would such a person come from? And if Bush needs such an advisor, then why must they be the VP? They can hold any sort of title, like Jim Baker did for Reagan and Bush Sr. Cheney’s work as a senior advisor is seperate from his work as VP. He could quit being a senior advisor and still perform the functions of VP. Cheney quitting as VP isn’t going to help the country to find someone to tell Bush what to do. The new VP would have to be some moderate republican non-entity that can pass confirmation by the house. They won’t become a senior advisor to Bush simply by being in the VP slot. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheyney-and-his-heart-should-he-stay-or-should-he-go/70962/35 "2001-07-05T01:01:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lemur866 \* > **Rjung:** your theory only makes sense if we imagine that the replacement VP would also be a senior advisor who can make the tough decisions that Bush lacks the capacity to make. But where would such a person come from? The same Conservative braintrust that hooked up Cheney with Dubya in the first place. > [@](#): > > And if Bush needs such an advisor, then why must they be the VP? They can hold any sort of title, like Jim Baker did for Reagan and Bush Sr. Oh, I know that. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised one iota if Dubya is already receiving daily instructions from various unelected prominent Conservatives. But I interpreted the OP as asking whether or not Cheney should step down/be replaced _for publicity reasons._ And in that regard, yeah, I think Cheney should be replaced by someone more able-bodied, just so a large number of Americans can go to sleep at night without worrying that they’ll wake up to a United States where (at least momentarily) nobody is holding onto Dubya’s leash… ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheyney-and-his-heart-should-he-stay-or-should-he-go/70962/36 "2001-07-05T01:15:36Z")
First, no, they couldn’t replace him with someone who wasn’t born in the U.S.(which is why Madeline Albright was not third in line for President when she was Secretary of State). Secondly, no, I don’t think he should quit just because he is having some difficulties. He has lost 20-25 lbs. since December(when he had that minor heart attack) and is working out. That report about him not following his excercise program _was_ true, but he has really picked up his act since then. I think the real question is, will Cheney be vice-president next term if Bush is re-elected? I doubt Bush would win very easily without him on the ticket(some people actually believe Cheney is president- well, enough people believe that to make a difference anyway). Will he live another 7 years? Yikes, that’s tough to tell. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheyney-and-his-heart-should-he-stay-or-should-he-go/70962/37 "2001-07-05T02:22:19Z")
If being at risk for a fatal heart attack had been considered a disqualifier for running for VP in 1960, [Lyndon Johnson](http://www.senate.gov/learning/stat_vp37.html) would have been left off the ticket and might never have become President. While I wouldn’t lay a large sum of money on Cheney’s fitness to serve for up to the next 7 1/2 years, his condition is probably much better known than it would have been 30 years or more ago. He has the benefit of close monitoring, good antiarrhythmic medications and probably the very latest 900 mhz titanium long-distance pacemaker with remote start and caller ID. He’ll probably do well, and if not, the government is unlikely to totter and fall. (Incidentally, while it may be true that Cheney is the Chief Puppet-Master and works 20 hours a day running the government while Dubya lies around smoking dope, do we really know this or is it just opposition claptrap? By the way, the Demos should be doing handsprings at the thought of Cheney in the VP job. If Bush Jr. croaks toward the end of his term, Cheney will be a lousy bet to run for Pres. and the remainder of the party will be thrown into disarray. I would think they’d prefer **not** to have a strong, vibrant leader in the VP slot ready to take over in '04 or '08. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheyney-and-his-heart-should-he-stay-or-should-he-go/70962/38 "2001-07-05T04:51:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ElvisL1ves \* > \*\*[old joke] > No, fer Gawd’s sake! If Cheney goes, that means Dubya would be running the country! > [/old joke] Explain, please, whence this word “joke” arises. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheyney-and-his-heart-should-he-stay-or-should-he-go/70962/39 "2001-07-05T15:25:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Lemur866 \* > > **Rjung:** your theory only makes sense if we imagine that the replacement VP would also be a senior advisor who can make the tough decisions that Bush lacks the capacity to make. But where would such a person come from? > > The same Conservative braintrust that hooked up Cheney with Dubya in the first place. \*\* The “braintrust” consisted of Cheney himself. Bush put him in charge of selecting a running mate after the 2000 primaries, and isn’t it an amazing coincidence who Cheney decided was best qualified for the job? It is not publicly known who else, if anyone, was on his short list. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheyney-and-his-heart-should-he-stay-or-should-he-go/70962.md?page=1)