Cheney - does indictment mean resignation?

[Bluesplayer]

Is there any way that Cheney could be indicted and retain his VP office? Would he resign? If he doesn't resign, do them dems have the balls to really push for impeachment?

[unblock]

1. indictment doesn't legally force him out. only impeachment does that.

although it may make it politically impossible to keep his job, though with these fascists, ya never know.

[Peachhead22]

4. Can a POTUS "fire" a VPOTUS?

The media has been full of righties spin that Bush might "fire" Rove if he was indicted. To make himself look "decisive", "distance himself" or what have you. If Cheney refuses to step down should he be indicted, could Shrub force him out rather than wait for an impeachment.

<Of course I'm praying--more like pleading--that both Shrub and Cheney get indicted>

[unblock]

7. legally, no, he can't fire him.

remember, in the early days of the republic, the prez and veep weren't even from the same party. the founders didn't originally intend for them to work as a team in the way they do now.

however, if the prez wants the veep to step down, it's kinda hard for the veep to stick around, unless he really wants to be an ass.

constitutionally, the veep's only duty is to preside over the senate, and he doesn't have to talk to the prez to do that. other than that he can just wait and hope for a presidential vacancy.

[eglide]

8. Technically impeachment doesn't make him lose the job

either. Clinton was impeached and finished his term as President because he wasn't convicted of high crimes or misdemeanors by the Senate. Cheney could probably be convicted in a court and still be VP. The court can't remove him from his elected position. I believe only articles of impeachment brought by the House and conviction in the Senate can force Cheney from office. Hard to stay in the job politically though.

[unblock]

9. correct.

the term "impeachment" is sometimes inaccurately used to refer to "the impeachment process", including actual impeachment by the house followed by trial and removal upon conviction by the senate.

i plead guilty but blame-shift onto the founders for failing to provide me with a nice, concise term for the entire impeachment process.

[GarySeven]

11. Cheney could not be convicted of a federal crime and continue ...

... to serve. I am pretty sure that is the law or a prior executive directive. In any case, any crime for which he is indicted would be a federal crime.

[SteppingRazor]

2. Balls? Perhaps. Ability? No.

Until Dems take control of the House, impeachment is a pipe dream.

Meanwhile, should Cheney be indicted (though I don't think he will), he'll hold onto office as long as it's politically possible. After he becomes too great a liability he'll resign "for the good of the presidency." If he were to be indicted, I give him two months, tops.

[yellowcanine]

3. Hopefully he will try to hang on for a year and finally resign in 10/06.

[carolinalady]

5. He'll resign. Then they can put their next candidate in, but it may

backfire, because a lot of them do not want to be that close to * right now.

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. Legally he doesn't have to

but politically it would be suicide either way.

[GarySeven]

10. Indictment doesn't equal impeachment

but if precedent holds - and why would it with this bunch - indictment should immediately translate into resignation. That's what Spiro Agnew did.