GOP Delegates Open to VP Other Than Cheney

[LuminousX]

WASHINGTON - More than half the delegates to next week's Republican National Convention surveyed by The Associated Press were willing to suggest a new running mate for President Bush (news - web sites) if Dick Cheney (news - web sites) leaves the ticket.

*snip*

Bush's advisers are keenly aware that Cheney has high negatives — from his Halliburton connections to his strong push for war with Iraq (news - web sites) and his prolonged insistence of ties between al-Qaida and Iraq.

Despite Cheney's decades of political experience, there is also worry among some Republicans about unfavorable comparisons with John Edwards (news - web sites), 50, the youthful-looking Democratic vice presidential candidate who has served one term in the Senate.

Still, Cheney is loved by the GOP's conservative base — many of whom will be on the convention floor — despite his recent comments about gay marriages.

[Catfight]

1. Nope...both Bush/Cheney will go out together

[The Mafia Squirrel]

10. Strategy beyond 11/2?

I agree that the Busha junta will keep old Cheney through election day. Dumping him would look like fear or weakness. However, (God forbid) if the Evil Empire wins in Nov. and we have four more years of spiraling towards American Fascism, who will they annoint to be the standard bearer for '08.

Cheney is in relatively ill health and while popular with the die hards would scare the hell out of the average American , liberal, swing voter, hell even Bill O'Reilly might take a step back from Mr. Gravitas. I'm also not sure of his age, but he would certainly be as old, if not older than Reagan was when he ran. At least Ronnie had SOME charm and could fake optimism. Cheney comes off as a mean old codger who won't give America it's ball back.

My personal thoughts are that sometime between middle '05-'06 they will begin phasing Dick out one way or another. He could take the heat for the Iraq war and step down or quietly cede his spot and be portaryed as a freakin neocon saint. But who would they ask to step up? McCain? He's been moderately supportive in public lately but behind closed doors I think he would tell Bush to go Cheney himself. I think McCain's personal feelings are closer to that Dubya is mean-spirited, underhanded, intellectually deficient and stubborn, not to mention a danger to all living things.

Powell? Similiar tune. When your Secretary of State declines to appear at your convention, there is trouble in paradise. Plus, I'd heard (someone else will have to confirm) that he was stepping down in the event of a second term. Voluntarily, whereas Rummy will most likely have to fall on his sword for all this "torture nonsense".

Rice? Suffers from several angles, will the Deep South or the backwoods of Idaho, Montana, etc where racism is still rooted ever vote for a African American like her or Powell? Plus they would have to portray her as a strong intelligent woman, something the Repug base chokes on. They like their women quiet and in the shadows, not ambitious or vocal like Hillary or Teresa. All that and I didn't have to mention she looks like a robot. Seriously, I expect her to short out because of a logic fault and a facial tic to develop, perhaps get stuck in a vocal loop "We will find WMDs, We will find WMDs"

Guliani? Please.

Is there ANY charismatic, somewhat likable Republican out there who doesn't despise this administration for the fundamentally dishonest, vicious little ant hill that it is? Let's all hope this is a moot point come Nov. 3rd when they announce President-elect Kerry.

[krkaufman]

2. Good luck trying to pry Dick Cheney from power.

He isn't going anywhere. And, despite his negatives, I feel that people would grow concerned if a less-experienced VP were brought in; the only possible choices, in my mind, would be Powell or McCain.

Of course, based on earlier statements... dropping Cheney from the ticket now would be a flip-flop. Flippity-floop?

[progressivebydesign]

3. Here it comes...

.. now we'll find out why McCain has been hanging like tape onto Bush lately.

[iconoclastic cat]

5. Here it comes, your 19th message breakdown!

...oh, who's to blame...

[UrbScotty]

4. Link please? (nt)

[Inland]

6. Nope. Cheney is loved by the conservative base and Bush's strategy

is for a huge turnout of rabid conservatives. Cheney has been seeing THEM, not you. But Bush needs to be next to republicans of normal intelligence and less than nutbag views, so they encourage fantasies that someone like McCain or Giuliani or Powell will have a place in the administration--when in reality, Bush wouldn't want them and they wouldn't want to be under Bush's thumb.

[JNelson6563]

7. Don't they realize Cheney is the actual big (head) cheese?

Talk about clueless! Yikes!

Julie

[Rose Siding]

8. dupe, here's a link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=778936

[Bernardo de La Paz]

9. McCain was third with 5 percent, none of the above got 45 percent

In the survey on who should replace Cheney.

Perhaps the combination of McCain being at Bush's side so much during the last couple of weeks, plus Cheney going off reservation on gay marriage, is the setup for an attention grabbing VP switch at the convention.

http://sandiego.cox.net/cci/newsnational/national?_mode=view&_state=maximized&view=article&id=D84N36G81

[lovuian]

11. Hello Republicans Cheney is President and he isn't Republican

Your screwed and enjoy it

[Keirsey]

12. Still...

...he might have a fatal "heart attack".

[Moderator]

13. Dupe... locking

Please continue discussion here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=778936&mesg_id=778936&page=