The "Cheney resigns, McCain becomes VP" theory is well-supported...

[Blackhatjack]

Cheney and Rumsfeld were joined at the hip, NeoCon adherents through and through.
43's Baker and Gates group is busy dismantling the NeoCons to pull 41 out of an intractable mess.
Rummy is gone. Stephen Cambone is gone. Cheney has gone mute.
McCain is taking advantage of every Bush benefit possible, even going back on his previous positions to garner busy supporters for his upcoming push for the Repub Presidential Nominee status.
Cheney was thrown under the bus by Rove in the Plame investigation, and it is just a matter of time before Cheney is disclosed as the coordinator and originator of the Plame leak -- which will result in his resignation. NeoCons who have fully supported the WH are now attacking Bush as having been incompetent in waging this war --but are not attacking Rummy.

It is not whistling in the wind to see Cheney's resignation on the horizon, and McCain stepping into the breach to use the WH to strengthen his Presidential aspirations.

[ronnykmarshall]

1. One more Democratic senator ....

and Joe and his precious vote is mute.

[POAS]

15. Nope, see post # 13

[ronnykmarshall]

31. Ahhhhhh sheeeeeettttttt!

[Ravy]

2. Maybe Cheney will "resign" the day after the next election.... (nt)

[NashVegas]

3. I Think It's Very Possible

We talk about investigations, we talk of Dems now having the power of subpoena.

Cheney is most vulnerable in those instances, IMO. He may have to fall on his sword before someone holds it over his head.

[MissWaverly]

6. Last week on ABC This Week with George Stephanopoulos

he said that he would refuse to respond to a subpoena; he also said that the Republicans
would not lose their majority, we KNOW they are always on top of things in this administration. What politician does not know how his party is polling?

[Blackhatjack]

22. Cheney was trying to get out in front with his talking points ...

.... you know it seemed like he volunteered this position in advance of a constitutional impass he is expecting to arise.

[MissWaverly]

27. well, it seems to me that he's boxed in

the secrecy cloak is threadbare and the subpoenas will not stop, and Bush by delaying
Scooter Libby trial now has a pissed off America to deal with who are going to demand
answers of a congress ruled by the 'opposition party'.

[Blackhatjack]

35. I do not see a Libby Trial delayed, and that is the deadline they are working against

[MissWaverly]

36. well, it was delayed till January 2007

saying that his lawyer was too busy to be available before then, I think it was a tactical
error Bush made (I am sure his attorney was advised by Team Bush to request that time);
but Bush is a weaker position now than before and I don't think that a pardon for Libby
will fly, he is not going to do that while polling at 31%. Now what, the truth will come
out at the hearings, big headlines and no relief for Cheney.

[Blackhatjack]

38. You are correct Libby trial to start Jan 07, but I don't see Cheney testifying as VP

... I anticipate the pardons to be planned for 2008.

A lot of 'repub dirty laundry' will be exposed by that time.
There is always the possibility that the nation will be overwhelmed by the amount of corruption that is disclosed, and will 'tire' of the whole process before the investigations are finished.

[MissWaverly]

40. I don't think there will be pardons now

I heard that they are looking for someone to blame for the whole stinking mess AND it's
not GWB/never was, never is, never will be. So Rummie is out the door so who does that
leave? So things do not look good for Cheney and his staff. I heard a rumor of Karl
spilling beans to implicate Cheney heavily in PLAME. This would lead to Cheney out/
new VP. New wind for PUKES to sail on through to 08.

[BeatleBoot]

4. How about Bush and Cheney Resign As They Face Impeachment

Then, Pelosi becomes president.



:D

[sutz12]

11. Not likely.

If Cheney resigns, they appoint McCain. Then Bush resigns and McCain is running as an incumbent.

No way they let Pelosi into the oval office so easily.

We could have our second non-elected president (Ford). Funny how that has only happened (and may happen again) when Repubs are in power.

Hasn't Darth had like 5 or 6 heart attacks? That's another scenario. Might not want him around to face supeona on the Halliburton hearings.

[AntiFascist]

42. Maybe the NSA has tapped his pacemaker, hmmmm. n/t

[ldf]

45. cheny is probably making arrangements right now

for the faked death, the faked cremation, and the secret trip out of country.

he is to buy the villa right next to ken lay, in an exotic country that doesn't have any kind of extradition treaty, if, or when they ARE found alive.

:eyes:

[BlueStater]

5. I think whoever the idiot nominates to be his new VP...

...it will be someone completley unexpected, like Quayle was in 1988.

[ellenfl]

10. i think it will be . . . .

jeb!

ellen fl

[MADem]

7. But if McCain doesn't stay in line...it could be someone from the Poppy team

or, heaven forfend, even POPPY himself, who would reassume the Presidency when Junior resigns with a Poppy Pardon to escape charges.

Then Poppy gets to rehabilitate himself in a big way....!

Nowadays, ya NEVER know!!! Monkey may not want to give it up to McCain, because Monkey is a meanspirited douchebag. That said, McCain is no damn prize. That straight talk bullshit is more bullshit than straight talk, IMO.

[racaulk]

8. If McCain did leave the Senate to become VP...

How would his replacement in the Senate be decided? Would the AZ Governor appoint someone?

[OKNancy]

14. yes

I just looked it up.
House seats elected, but Governors MAY appoint

[POAS]

21. See post #13

[Blackhatjack]

18. Correctomundo!!! Gov fills the position until next election... n/t

[POAS]

25. Here is the text from the

Senate.gov link found in post #13

Appointments

If a vacancy occurs due to a Senator's death, resignation, or expulsion, the 17th Amendment of the Constitution allows state legislatures to empower the governor to appoint a replacement to complete the term or to hold office until a special election can take place. (The only exception to this rule is Arizona, which requires a special election to fill all vacancies and does not allow for temporary appointments.) Typically, a replacement holds office until the next scheduled statewide election.

[NNadir]

9. Well, if they don't force Cheney out, they may end up with President Pelosi.

I'm not sure that as much as our leaders are making nice that they are making nice. Events may force the hand of Congress, because I think the actual situation is far worse than we know, and we know it's bad.

I think though that a President McCain would be a disaster. This was the guy after all, who was serving the cake Bush ate during Katrina and McCain's whored for this war a long time. But's that not what people will remember.

Given that our country was dumb enough to tolerate six years of its own destruction, I think it could very well be dumb enough to get all googly eyed over President McCain. President Ford I note, was popular until he pardoned Nixon.

[OKNancy]

12. Democratic governor would appoint a Dem to fill his place

I think his resignation is doubtful
( House seats must be elected, but a Senator can be appointed )

[POAS]

13. Unfortunately

Napolitano would NOT get to select a temporary replacement to the Senate or we might pick up another seat. Arizona is the only state that does not allow the Governor to select a temporary replacement if a Senator leaves office early.

edited to add link to Senate rule.

[OKNancy]

17. Oh, I just looked up the US constitution

and it said they may. I guess Arizona law changed that

[Blackhatjack]

29. Interesting find, so McCain Cannot Hold Both Positions Until Special Election...

.... makes you wonder if Arizona would go unrepresented in this slot until the special election is convened. Would change the majority # needed in the Senate from 51 to 50.

I tend to think that the Ariz legislature would act immediately to allow the Gov to appoint Senator until the sepcial election is held. Most rational alternative, but then again Arizona does tend to go its own way...

[AnneD]

16. I have thought that for some time...

esp at McCain's b'day. Cheney retiring for health reasons and McCain taking over. An incumbent has more of a chance and if he looses, no big deal/no big loss. The GOP don't like to vote for losers so that can save then from an unnecessary sacrifice. . This will be McCain's last hurrah.

[TahitiNut]

19. It's the most likely scenario ...

(1) Cheney resigns for "health reasons."
(2) McCain is nominated to replace him and the Democrats in the Snate fall all over themselves to show "bipartisan" cooperation.
(3) McCain annoounces 2008 candidacy and forms campaign organization.
(4) Junior is 'martyred' in mid-2008, precluding the disaster of his "ex-pResidency"
(5) McCain assumes the pResidency and wins the sympathy vote for "healing a grieving nation."


The only thing that argues against this scenario is the perspective that Cheney is "impeachment insurance." I don't think that washes ... since inserting McCain as VP is even more "impeachment insurance" from a Democratic partisan perspective that wouldn't want to be the hand that elevated a 2008 candidate to the Presidency. I figure the Dems are between a rock and a hard spot - and placed themselves there.

[JAYJDF]

20. Mccain to replace Cheney only makes sense.

It removes Cheney from having to testify against himself.
It puts Mccain in a position to pick up some experience.

I wouldn't be surprised if this became fact.

Face it, with hearings around the corner, a lot of dancing will be going on.

[H2O Man]

23. Interesting.

In my opinion, McCain is not likely to be the choice of the people who are now beginning to pull the strings for this administration in a more public way. Back in the summer of '04, in the infamous Plame Threads, I noted that there were indications that we would see James Baker begin to play a more public role. I had assumed Cheney would have resigned by now, and that Baker or someone who is from that school would take his place. While anything is possible, McCain isn't considered the best '08 choice in many of the Baker-type old school circles.

[DemReadingDU]

39. If not McCain, then who?

Who would the Baker-type old school prefer? I'm not fond of McCain either.

[BrotherBuzz]

24. Arizona's Governor, Janet Napolitano, is a Democtrat

and unless I'm mistaken, she would be empowered to appoint a replacement Senator to fill out McCain's remaining term if he vacated it. Another flip? I'm just saying.

[POAS]

26. Last time I'll try this check post #13

[BrotherBuzz]

28. Scratching head... understood

Amazing what we can learn on DU. :)

[David Zephyr]

44. Lynne Cheney will not allow her husband to be pushed out.

Cheney is in for the duration. He can take down Bush I and Bush II with all he knows. They are not going to screw with him. Lynne Cheney also won't allow it. She'd make Martha Mitchell look like a church mouse if her husband was even pressured to quit.

[Jokinomx]

30. Will Cheney repeat History...

Agnew was forced to resign before the impeachment of Nixon went forward. Of course Tricky Dick resigned before impeachment proceeding started.

This could be the beginning of the end for chimp...

[Blackhatjack]

34. Event that will force Cheney's hand is Fitzgerald indictments...

... Cheney is acting as a placeholder as 43's cleaners restructure the 41 Administration to withstand the disclosures about to be made public through Congressional investigations and subpoenoes.

Cheney will step down due to "health problems" and I predict he will attempt to avoid testifying under oath for the same reasons. Cheney and Libby are still looking for a Presidential pardon from 43 sometime in 2008.

This is likely to take place BEFORE the new Democratic Majority begins its investigations with subpoena power.

ANd I would not be surprised to hear 43 say he was out of the loop, had received faulty intelligence, was taken advantage of like everybody else == an ignorance defense. Now who is going to contest the level of ignorance 43 is capable of??

[Strelnikov_]

32. I Don't Know. I Think This Administration Is About To Become Too Radioactive

for any viable candidate to touch.

[Kahuna]

33. I've been saying that for ages. It just makes total sense. ...

Especially now that the repuke party is in such disrepair. They need something drastic to reenergize the party.

[Imagevision]

37. Once the sh*t hits the fan, Cheney will complain of heart probs and resign...no need to

drop dead like kenny-boy...

[AntiFascist]

41. Once that happens, then it's time to bring down the entire BFEE! n/t

[David Zephyr]

43. The Bush family along with Rupert Murdoch don't like McCain.

McCain has been in overdrive to prove his "loyalty" to the Bush cabal for two years now in case Cheney were to resign.

James Baker and Old Man Bush think he's too unpredictable and too much of a wild card to be trusted. He's not a "team player" and tells tales out of school. They don't trust.

Rupert Murdoch despises John McCain for a host of reasons that are all documented, but for this reason, Murdoch has made cozy with Bill and Hillary Clinton for the last two years.

Karl Rove is no fan of McCain, either. A lot of rivalry still lingers from 2000. McCain also harbors animosity toward Rove for 2000, although those embers are dying. Still, witness Rove's dig at Crist's choosing to campaign with McCain in Florida instead of with the Bush boys and Rove.

I have posted here for a long time that McCain figured that with Cheney's real heart condition that a replacement for him might be a possibility so he has sucked up, kissed up, hugged up to earn the nod of Old Man Bush, James Baker and all BECAUSE he fears that the Bush crowd would rather choose Condi for VP. In fact, Laura and Barbara all have hinted about her becoming the next Prez.

If I had to bet money, I'd bet that Bush would choose Condi as VP for a million reasons over McCain should he replace Cheney. Rove would love the wedge issue it would pose with African-American Democrats and women, as well. And Dick Morris has also stated that if Cheney went, he figures it would be Condi.

McCain's sucking up, I don't think, will still remove the Bush Crowds doubts about him.