Cheney needs to step aside for good of Bush, party (USAToday)

[BadGimp]

Cheney needs to step aside for good of Bush, party

By James P. Gannon


An open letter to Vice President Cheney


Dear Mr. Vice President:

I am writing to you as a long-time admirer. Ever since you rose to prominence 30 years ago -- when you became chief of staff to President Gerald Ford and I was a Wall Street Journal reporter covering economic policy in the Ford administration -- you seemed to embody the qualities needed at the right hand of the president. Your competence, calmness amid crisis and absolute devotion to duty were obvious then, as now.

For nearly four years now, you have been a loyal and hard-working partner in the presidency of George W. Bush. Your experience, steadiness and character surely have given the president strength in these difficult times. I believe you have always considered first what is best for the president, and only secondly what is best for Dick Cheney.

That question arises now in this election year. Forgive me for suggesting that self-sacrifice may be the greatest service you can render to President Bush in what promises to be a closely contested election. You must ask yourself now if your continued presence by his side will offer strength or weakness to the Republican ticket in November, and what it will mean for GOP prospects in the future.

Nobody knows better than you do that you have become a lightning rod for criticism, and a favorite target for your party's political opponents. Fair or not, it is simply too easy to paint Dick Cheney as a tool of the oil industry, a too-eager advocate of war in Iraq and a too-gullible supporter of the now-disgraced Ahmad Chalabi, who fed the Bush administration false intelligence on Iraq. Your former company, Halliburton, is a political albatross around your neck, weighing down not only you but also President Bush.

condt : http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20040621/6303254s.htm
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having mixed emotions over this.

[movonne]

1. Is this where Mc Cain steps in????

[2Design]

5. mc Cain said he didn't want to be ANYONE's vp......he may be waiting for

gb to get dumped.

[flakey_foont]

2. but

doesn't that contradict the whole "Stay the Course" mindset that they are trying to sell?
is this the last act of a desperate man?
heck, I don't care if it's the first act of Midsummer's Nights Dream....just get the bozos out!!

[Vogon_Glory]

3. Interesting, Especially Considering Gannon's Background

I found this letter fascinating, not just because a Republican was asking Dick Cheney to stand aside, but also because this James Gannon fellow was previously a reporter at one of the most shameless propaganda conduits for the extreme right--The Wall Street Journal. I've no doubt that Gannon's former colleagues are still holding forth for the incumbent veepster.

[MaineDem]

4. I thought it would be his health

For months I've thought he'd be off the ticket but I assumed it would be "for health reasons".

Opens up the slot for Gugliani. They've got to trot out New York, terra, and all that again!

[Auntie Bush]

6. A McCain/Gualiani ticket would be hard to beat!

If they really wanted to beat Kerry...they'd dump both Bush and Cheney.

[frylock]

7. for the good of bush and the good of the party..

fuck the country and the Constitution though. Typical repugs. They only care about their precious damn party.

[drb]

8. The longer Dick hangs around...

...(no play on words intended) the better off we are. I think we should downplay calls for him to step down - his negatives are actually pulling Bonzo down.

[Stuckinthebush]

9. I hope this doesn't happen

because with Cheney on the ticket, Bush is toast. Without Cheney, Bush may have a chance. The problem is that Bush will still be in charge no matter who replaces Cheney. But, a charismatic "moderate" will be attractive to fence sitters who may have the foolish notion that a new VP will moderate Bush. That would be a dangerously foolish notion.

I don't think this will happen because Bush has already indicated that Cheney is his guy, and frankly, Cheney is running this government anyway, so Bush doesn't have much say in the matter.

Also, a McCain would never take a slot because of the strong possibility of defeat. Most "moderate" Republicans are probably watching this ship sink fast and will have nothing to do with it lest it tarnish their future hopes.

Let's pray to whatever god we wish that Cheney stays on the ticket.