W/O Cheney on the ticket, could Bush have gotten as many votes as he did

[mtnsnake]

from all the idiots who actually voted for him either time around? Could he have gotten the unanimous support of the entire corrupt Republican machine without Cheney as insurance?

I don't think so.

I think Cheney was the real choice of Repukes from the getgo, but they knew that he didn't have the big name or the smirk that could charm so many of the sheep.

Sometime in early 2000:

Rove: "George, listen, you and I both know you're as stupid as fence post, so we're going to put Dick Cheney as your VP on the ticket to assure that you don't fuck up what we want you to do once you're in. What's important is that Mr Cheney is just as crooked as you are, maybe even more so, but he won't screw things up like you might do. Look, he's going to really be the boss, but you're the big name the party needs to get in, and you'll get to have the title 'Mr President' as long as you use Cheney as you're running mate."

Bush: "Golly gee, Mr Rove, that's okay by me, as long as I get to be called 'Mr President', and as long as I can wave to all those imaginary people each morning when I go to work. I've got one question, though. If Mr Cheney is gonna be my new boss, then what about you...will you still be my boss, too?"

Rove: "Shut up you dumb fuck and start brushing up on your southern accent!"

[rzemanfl]

1. If Cheney had had his heart attack three days BEFORE the

2000 election instead of three days after it, President Gore would be one year into his second term.

[kurth]

4. Blame modern medicine

It's a crime that 40+ million uninsured Americans will never receive a small fraction of the health care he's got (and which their taxes are paying for).

[saltpoint]

2. Cheney as the shrewd organ grinder and Dubya as the cute little

monkey.

And the Himmerlesque Karl Rove calling the shots from backstage.

Dubya without either would have been at a loss to receive the 49% or so of that 2000 vote.

Works for me.

[stepnw1f]

3. With the Media Kissing His Ass?

Yes... he would. They would just change their tactics a bit.

[boobooday]

5. He was put in charge of choosing a VP candidate

And he chose himself. That really says it all.

[robbibaba]

6. I wonder

if we'll ever know how many votes he actually did get. I kind of doubt there's an actual record somewhere.

[Hippo_Tron]

8. 7, he got 7 votes

[On the Road]

7. Let Me Put it This Way

If Bush had chosen his father's running mate, he'd be a historical footnote by now.