# Poll: will Cheney step down as veep before 2009? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 14, 2006, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-cheney-step-down-as-veep-before-2009/344484 "2006-02-14T17:27:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-cheney-step-down-as-veep-before-2009/344484/21 "2006-02-15T02:33:35Z")
Rice may not be the architect of the Iraq debacle, but she is one of its chief engineers. Iraq is slowly spinning out of control. By the time the 2008 election rolls along, the electorate will have no appetite for Rice-a-Roni even if she is the San Francisco treat. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-cheney-step-down-as-veep-before-2009/344484/22 "2006-02-15T02:39:39Z")
Folks, this is a poll. Given the subject, there’s bound to be some political comment, but let’s not stray into a debate, OK? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![LVgeogeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b19c9b/32.png) [@LVgeogeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVgeogeek)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-cheney-step-down-as-veep-before-2009/344484/23 "2006-02-15T03:52:59Z")
If Cheney (or any veep) retires or dies while in Office [The Speaker of the House](http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0101032.html), currently Dennis Hastert, would take his place. ---
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-cheney-step-down-as-veep-before-2009/344484/24 "2006-02-15T04:16:11Z")
> [@LVgeogeek](#): > > If Cheney (or any veep) retires or dies while in Office [The Speaker of the House](http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0101032.html), currently Dennis Hastert, would take his place. I don’t think so. Count me as one more vote for Cheney resigns, Condi replaces him. I saw Cheney a few weeks ago, and he just didn’t look good. I absolutely can’t see him as POTUS. I think he would love to resign…yesterday, in fact. I know this isn’t GD, thank God, but I’d like to briefly add that I believe Condi is pretty much a conservative Christian, and will have no trouble getting their votes. And I believe I heard her say something blatantly political the other day - can’t remember what - and started wondering if she’s trying to get a little more political experience. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-cheney-step-down-as-veep-before-2009/344484/25 "2006-02-15T04:30:38Z")
> [@LVgeogeek](#): > > If Cheney (or any veep) retires or dies while in Office [The Speaker of the House](http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0101032.html), currently Dennis Hastert, would take his place. No the Speaker of the House only falls after him in the line of **presidential** succesion. If Cheney _and_ Bush dies Hastert becomes (Acting) President. If the VP dies/resigns then the POTUS can appoint (with the advice and consent of the Senate and the House) anybody who meets the constitutional qualifications. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-cheney-step-down-as-veep-before-2009/344484/26 "2006-02-15T04:49:55Z")
> [@Plan B](#): > > Count me as one more vote for Cheney resigns, Condi replaces him. I saw Cheney a few weeks ago, and he just didn’t look good. I absolutely can’t see him as POTUS. This is an important point that many of you are forgetting. Even before the shooting, Cheney’s age and poor health meant that he had no chance of getting nominated in 2008. I agree with the suggestion that they’re planning to wait until after the mid-term elections, but after the Whittington shooting, I have to wonder whether they’re thinking about pushing up the timetable. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-cheney-step-down-as-veep-before-2009/344484/27 "2006-02-15T15:32:43Z")
I would love to see Condoleeza Rice become VP and run for President in '08. I’m not a Republican but I would vote for her in a second. She’s absolutely BRILLIANT! What a welcome change that would be in the White House. An intelligent, academic President, wow. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-cheney-step-down-as-veep-before-2009/344484/28 "2006-02-15T16:10:39Z")
> [@August West](#): > > I would love to see Condoleeza Rice become VP and run for President in '08. I’m not a Republican but I would vote for her in a second. She’s absolutely BRILLIANT! What a welcome change that would be in the White House. An intelligent, academic President, wow. Ummm…no. The rumors I’ve heard, on the SDMB, no less, is that Secretary Rice is an empty suit. A nonentity, who is utterly guided by her “aides”. That she is neither “brilliant”, nor even competant. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-cheney-step-down-as-veep-before-2009/344484/29 "2006-02-15T17:41:45Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Ummm…no. > > The rumors I’ve heard, on the SDMB, no less, is that Secretary Rice is an empty suit. A nonentity, who is utterly guided by her “aides”. That she is neither “brilliant”, nor even competant. With all due respect, using the SDMB as an authority on political rumors is only marginally better than calling up the chairman of the Democratic National Caucus and asking him for his opinions. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-cheney-step-down-as-veep-before-2009/344484/30 "2006-02-15T17:41:45Z")
Really? She was the Provost at Stanford University for 6 years and was a professor at Stanford for 18 years. I guess Stanford has lowered their standards and I hadn’t heard about it. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-cheney-step-down-as-veep-before-2009/344484/31 "2006-02-16T00:00:51Z")
Is it crazy of me to suggest that John McCain might actually be Bush’s choice for VP? They don’t see eye to eye, obviously. Still, McCain did not run on Kerry’s ticket. Also, McCain campaigned for Bush as well as spoke in his behalf during the convention. McCain wants the presidency; I have no idea if Rice really does. McCain would be easily confirmed as VP. It would give the Republicans a strong candidate leading into 2008 as well as scare off some Democratic challengers. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-cheney-step-down-as-veep-before-2009/344484/32 "2006-02-16T14:35:57Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > No. More like wishful thinking. Of course, you aren’t simply trying to spread the idea, are you? Definitely not. Not that spreading the idea on the Dope would get it into major circulation. I’ve got to agree with [Atrios](http://atrios.blogspot.com/2006_02_12_atrios_archive.html#114006725610336430) when he says a Cheney resignation would be bad for the Dems. (Unlike him, I don’t think it would really make a difference with respect to the country’s well-being.) ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-cheney-step-down-as-veep-before-2009/344484/33 "2006-02-16T15:04:53Z")
All right, well… Moved from IMHO to GD. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-cheney-step-down-as-veep-before-2009/344484/34 "2006-02-16T15:18:33Z")
I vote yes. I think he’ll leave this year for ‘health reasons’…which could actually be true. Frankly he could still wield power behind the scenes (if you think he does) even if he’s not VP…if he really does have Bush so firmly under his thumb. He could step down and have Bush appoint him some kind of special advisor or something. My guess is Rice will get the nod. Those of you who think she is an empty suit or that Republicans won’t vote for her because she is black (though perhaps the pro-choice thing hits closer to home) are in denial. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-cheney-step-down-as-veep-before-2009/344484/35 "2006-02-16T15:23:30Z")
[Time](http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1158966,00.html) has an interesting sidebar about the Republican primary and the front-runner. As with just about all things political, follow the money. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-cheney-step-down-as-veep-before-2009/344484/36 "2006-02-16T15:23:45Z")
Very, very unlikely. He likes being the Veep, likes being the power behind the throne, and seems impervious to public opinion (I think his approval rating is in the mid-20s right now). He has a constituency of one, and Dubya, for all his many faults, is very loyal. I suspect that only the Grim Reaper will get Cheney out of the Vice Presidency before January 20, 2009. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-cheney-step-down-as-veep-before-2009/344484/37 "2006-02-16T15:27:46Z")
You’d have to pry the vice presidency away from his cold, dead fingers. Assuming he’s above room temperature, he’ll be on the stand in 2009 when President Gore is sworn in. This Condi Rice thing just isn’t going to happen. I think there’s just enough racism and sexism in the US to keep this from being realistically possible. Not to mention she has just as much warmth and personality as Cheney, and is tied to close to Bush and that stupid war(s) of his. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-cheney-step-down-as-veep-before-2009/344484/38 "2006-02-16T15:53:50Z")
If the health problems haven’t stopped him yet, they’re not gonna stop him before 2009. He’s had at least one heart attack since taking office already. I doubt an impeachment or criminal indictment would stop him, either. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-cheney-step-down-as-veep-before-2009/344484/39 "2006-02-16T16:45:18Z")
Get real. Why the hell should he? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-cheney-step-down-as-veep-before-2009/344484/40 "2006-02-16T18:08:18Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > My guess is Rice will get the nod. Those of you who think she is an empty suit or that Republicans won’t vote for her because she is black (though perhaps the pro-choice thing hits closer to home) are in denial. I don’t know if I’m one of those you’re referring to, but the Southern cultural conservatives, including the religious right, won’t vote for her because of the cultural differences: she’s not One Of Them for reasons that have much less to do with her skin color than for the same reasons that _anybody_ who was a Stanford professor and dean for most of her adult life wouldn’t be seen as One Of Them. Her race is the only reason we’re having this conversation. If she were a white of either sex, nobody would be even talking about her and 2008. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-cheney-step-down-as-veep-before-2009/344484.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-cheney-step-down-as-veep-before-2009/344484.md?page=3)