Will Cheney dump Cheney?

[radfringe]

Will Cheney dump Cheney?

Now that we are over the speculation regarding who Kerry would pick for VP -- attention turns to bush* and whether or not he will keep Cheney on the ticket.

Following Kerry's announcement of Edwards being tapped -- bush* was asked his opinion of Edwards versus Cheney. bush* replied - "he (Dick Cheney) can be President". Many of us gave a cynical smirk and quipped "we thought Cheney was already president."

The notion of Cheney really running things is not new. In the hours following September 11, while bush* was reading along with school children and later flying around the country to duck supposed attacks -- it was Cheney running things and making decisions. Speculation about Cheney telling bush* what to do on that horrible day was quickly squelched and Cheney ducked into a secret, undisclosed bunker while bush* was thrust to the forefront.

Recent books and articles have hinted or implied that Cheney has "influence" over bush*. For the most part -- political cartoons have also depicted bush* as being led by Cheney. Meanwhile, having both bush* and Cheney testifying together before the 9-11 commission didn't do much to dispel the image of "Cheney-In-Charge".

If you subscribe to the theory that Cheney is really in charge - then the question of bush*'s VP should be 'Will Cheney dump Cheney".

During the 2000 campaign, it was reported that Cheney said he would serve as VP - but only for one term. (side note: bush*'s first pick for VP was McCain - McCain turned it down). Rumors of only serving one term or even cutting it short were reported following the revelation of Cheney's heart problems. Internet speculation predicts Cheney leaving AFTER the November election (assuming Cheney-bush* wins) for health reasons.

Also during the 2000 campaign, bush* stumped on being a "uniter". He's managed to unite people and countries against him - and to a certain extent has also united members of his party against him. Moderate Republicans and moderately conservative independents see bush* as being too far to the right - whereas far-right Republicans and ultra-conservative independents think bush* is too "liberal". The later group maintains support for bush* because they feel Cheney is more representative of their views.

Other things to consider are the on-going investigations and scandals that could upset the balancing act.

--- The WMD report recently released points the finger of blame on the CIA -- yet the CIA is not the one that makes decisions to go to war. There is controversy brewing in the background -- we know from testimony that Cheney and others of his staff actually sat next to CIA analysts while these analysts worked on incoming intelligence. So the question of how much influence did this have on shaping the "official" CIA conclusions is still looming.

--- Approximately one year ago -- Novak revealed a CIA operative's name and blew her cover. Novak would not reveal who at the White House "leaked" the information. (side note: We now learn the CIA agent recommended her husband - but what this has to do with leaking her name, I have no idea. And this was also mentioned as the basis of Novak's story last year.)

In June - 2004, Cheney and bush*, both retained criminal lawyers pertaining to the investigation by the Justice Department into who leaked the name. There are hints and rumors that indictments may be coming soon.

--- Then we have Cheney's connections to Halliburton. There are the no-bid contracts for work in Iraq, France has filed criminal charges against Halliburton regarding a bribery scandal that occurred while Cheney was head of Halliburton and recently the SEC has also opened an investigation of the same.

It appears that Cheney is potentially a bigger liability to bush* than an asset. So, why keep him on the ticket? If Cheney were to be replaced what would be the cost? Replacing Cheney would certainly cost bush* votes from the far-right, and perhaps gain votes from the conservatives closer to the middle. Would this be enough? Or would it be a wash? I suspect that internal White House Polls show bush* losing more than gaining if Cheney dumps Cheney.

[dsewell]

1. Dumping Cheney would be admitting a mistake.

For a long time now, B*sh has sent out one consistent message: I stay the course, I make a decision and stand by it, when I say something I mean it. Even though it isn't borne out by his actual behavior (steel tariffs, anyone?), it's his primary "strength." He has made it well nigh impossible for himself to admit a mistake without shattering the illusion that he never flip-flops, and dropping Cheney from the ticket would be the biggest flip-flop imaginable, essentially admitting that the last four years have been a vast mistake.

If Cheney had withdrawn a year or even six months ago, while Bush was still relatively popular, the ticket could have been reconstituted without trauma. But if Cheney "dumps himself" right now, nobody is going to believe it is anything but an act of Republican desperation, and the flip-flop charge applies.

The only remaining alternative is a convenient heart attack, or if that can't be arranged, Cheney withdrawing for "health reasons". It's not a very good alternative: it would undermine all the assurances that Cheney was fit to be president all along, and coming this late it would be seen as a cynical ploy. (Heck, at this point if Cheney has a real heart attack people are going to suspect it didn't happen by itself...)

Bush and the Republicans really have no alternative. They've got to stick with Cheney.

[iamjoy]

2. Not If Cheney Resigns For "Personal Reasons" - n/t

[radfringe]

3. Cheney won't resign before November

for health reasons unless:

he gets indicted and uses his health as the "excuse" instead of the indictment -- this leaves the question of timing - will indictments will be handed down before/after repug convention or just before/after the election?

[iamjoy]

6. After The Election

No doubt, they wouldn't want it to influence the election.

[KharmaTrain]

4. Spot On...They're Too Deep Into It Now

It's obvious that Rummy & Chenney are indispensible to Bunnypants to the point of their resigning or quitting is unimaginable. This is especially the case right now, where either leaving would be viewed by this regime (RoveCo.) as a capitulation to the "libruls"...even if they're moderate repugnicans calling for the heads.

Take a wider look at the Repugnican nomination process in '99-2000 and you'll see the fix was in from the outset. Bunnypants was selected by the "adults" (Heritage, AEI, Defense, RNC) to be the figurehead in a corporation of corruption and deception with Chenney and Rummy playing the ultimate decission makers and Bunnypants playing the figurehead (ala Raygun)...keeping the masses distracted with his "good 'ole boy" personality.

In their view this game worked perfectly until early this year and it's gonna work again. These people are so blinded by their power and greed, and so built on playing their games and lies that reality has no place in the modern GOOP.

I still go with the inkling that Chenney could be "kicked sideways"...taking on the National Security Advisor or some other behind the scenes (non-confirmed) role...but no matter how they shuffle the deck chairs here, it's still the same evil cabal running things. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss...

[radfringe]

5. kick

[nodictators]

7. Cheney running things on 9/11???

That's what he, Cheney, claimed, most notably on a Meet the Press interview.

However, it seems that Cheney was in a bunker with his wife, and Richard Clarke was running the show.

For instance, it was Clarke, not Cheney, who grounded all non-military aviation traffic in the US on the morning of 9/11. That was a smart move.

Cheney is the most over-rated guy in the regime. Even more over-rated than Bush. He says very little, and some people think that shows his competence. HA-HA!