GUEST COMMENTARY: Cheney hurts President's chances for re-electionBy Mary Lynn F. Jones and Thomas F. Schaller -- Special to the Los Angeles Times
Is Vice President Dick Cheney an electoral liability for President Bush? Some Republicans are worried that Cheney's actions might threaten Bush's bid for re-election in 2004.
The dump-Cheney talk probably originated with disgruntled State Department folks, who would like nothing better than to undermine the neoconservative foreign-policy cabal headed by Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. The movement's underlying premise is that the vice president's hawkish positions and statements related to terrorism, Iraq and foreign policy have put Bush at risk.
But even as more Republicans criticize the handling of postwar Iraq, international issues are only half the story. Another problem is Cheney's failed stewardship of the administration's domestic agenda in Congress, which also leaves the president vulnerable next year.
Cheney is the administration's chief legislative officer, responsible for shepherding its priorities through Congress. He's a regular presence at the weekly Senate Republican policy lunches. He also is the first vice president to maintain offices in both chambers. As a former House minority whip, Cheney is surpassed by few in knowing what makes the institution run.
Despite Cheney's unprecedented ties to the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, Congress has publicly rebuffed the administration on a series of legislative matters. Barring late reversals, the White House defeats will include changes in overtime regulations, the Federal Communications Commission's ruling on media consolidation and the end of the ban on travel to Cuba, despite veto threats from the president.
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