Cheney won't run.

[trof]

"...There are two other reasons I’m betting there won’t be a Bush-Cheney ticket this fall. One was a little-noticed report in the Federicksburg (Va.) Free Lance Star on April 16 that Cheney was taken to the Culpeper Regional Hospital on April 5 from a nearby secret undisclosed location, just before leaving for Asia. When reporter Donnie Johnston asked Culpeper County Sheriff Lee Hart about the report, he said, “We had some knowledge.”

But when questioned further, Hart told Johnston he couldn’t say more until he made a telephone call. Less than two minutes later, Hart called back to say, “We had no knowledge of the incident.”

I asked Johnston, who lives in Culpeper, about his story, which Cheney’s office refused to comment on. “I could get no official confirmation,” he said, “but unofficially, I was told by three different sources that Cheney was there under an assumed name. That’s why the hospital said they had no record of his being there.”

The second reason is that Cheney’s defibrillator, made by Medtronic of Minneapolis, may be nearing the end of its average life expectancy of about five years. An earlier model was recalled in 1999 because of faulty capacitors, according to Medtronic spokesman Scott Papillon, who said the problem was corrected in Cheney’s newer model.

This will be a hard-fought campaign, and Cheney knows another cardiac event in the middle of it would be damaging to Bush. He’s too loyal to take that risk. Look for him to step down before the Republican National Convention."
http://www.hillnews.com/eisele/051904.aspx

[Racenut20]

1. I recall reading somewhere

His type of operations and unit it now past its average lifespan.

[Beetwasher]

2. I Agree

This is one of the cards they have up their sleeves.

[GumboYaYa]

3. all that and, oh yeah, there is this little matter of outing a CIA agent.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

4. Someone tell that to these guys....

http://www.georgewbush.com/

They still seem to think Cheney's running.

[cliss]

5. hm, interesting trof.

I won't say what I'm thinkin 'cause we're not allowed to post 'death wishes' on people, no matter how deserving they may be.

You could be right that Cheatin Cheney might find it too challenging to jump in there for another 4 years. Especially since you know what is hitting the fan. (as he sits on the floor, counting his money. Got enough yet, Dick?)

So at this point, I would like to know more about Dick's health.

1) how old is he?
2) how many heart attacks has he had?
3) how many bypass surgeries?
4) he has a pace maker. Looks like it's running out of juice?
5) does he have a hole in his aorta which the doctors were not able to fix?
6) any other health problems, besides unbridled greed and a callous disregard for human lives?

[pinniped]

6. I see satan is about to recall his minion...

n/t

[bleedingedge]

7. I came up with a frightening scenario a few weeks ago...

On my drive to work. NPR was talking about how Big Dick might not be on the ticket - one of the pundits said there was no way the Repubs could manage his withdrawal and make it look good. Took me about five minutes to come up with the following:

Bush could claim that he had suddenly “discovered” the source of the Plame leak and that it came from the VP’s office. Enraged over this breach of ethics, he tells Big Dick (and America via a live address) that he will not be on the ticket for ’04. However, he is not going to ask Dick to resign being because he doesn’t want to create a constitutional crisis stemming from the absence of a VP, “especially in times such as these, when America needs a solid chain of command more than ever”. Bush gains back some of the trust he’s lost from those bleaters who still have any left to give.

The only problem with this is that it would necessitate the administration holding one of its higher-ups accountable for their actions, and we all know that ain’t going to happen. So it just has to twist a bit: Cheney himself discovers the leak (some low-level flunky) and takes himself off the ticket because his office has failed to keep and protect the trust given to them by the American people. Not only does the admin now look more trustworthy, but Cheney gets to save face.

With Cheney gone, Dear Leader fishes around for a new VP, constantly beating the drum that they are looking for someone who is “fair minded”, “who will work for the greater good of America, not for the greater good solely of the Republican party”. At the convention, they unveil their choice: Zell Miller.

Now Bush can parade around a “Democrat” as his running mate, once again working the “uniter not divider” angle. Since he can’t alienate his base, they’re not an issue but he gains the minds of lots of Southerners on both sides of the aisle, as well as some undecideds who see the choice as a magnanimous way of trying to bring the divided country together. Nevermind that Miller is no more a Democrat than I am a ficus tree – most people are going to see the “D” beside his name and assume he’s a real Dem.

Anyhoo, I have a long drive to work, so maybe the above is just road hypnosis talking.

[MAlibdem]

9. You're missing one point...

The Bush clan runs on one theme, loyalty. Your scenario calls for the public repudiation of Cheney, a disloyal act and something GWB wouldn't do.

Personally, I think Cheney is so power-hungry he will run. Hell, he runs the white house, without him it will be a TOTALLY different ticket.

[TacticalPeek]

12. A couple of days ago, Tweety and Fineman were both saying that

Tom Ridge was getting a good lookover.

[elfin]

25. I saw that and thought

that maybe Ridge was being looked at to replace Rummy. I don't think Cheney would willingly give up the "executive privelege" he is citing in the Energy Task force issue.

Replacing the battery or pacemaker is fairly routine, but it WOULD point out the weakness once again.

Woulldn't surprise me if he left, tho. I always thought he would be gone by now. But then again, he wouldn;t really "leave" - still in charge of Neocon agenda.

[yardwork]

18. Welcome to DU!

I bet my husband a hundred million dollars about three months ago that your scenario would play out. At the time I was worried that it would be a brilliant way to shift all the blame to Cheney and make W look good.

The problem for the Republicans is that W and Rumsfeld and others have gotten themselves personally involved in big trouble and it isn't going to be possible to blame it all on Uncle Dick. They will try, though.

I firmly believe that Cheney will not be on the ticket by September. I have always believed this. They will blame Halliburton and Plame and bunch of other things on Cheney and try to make W look clean as a daisy.

I now predict that it won't be enough. The dirt on W is stuck like glue. His appalling press conference, the unfolding disaster in Iraq, the prisoner atrocities, the price of oil, the economy, the "Every Child Left Behind" boneheaded education program....the list of failures that W has his fingers in are endless.

[lanparty]

26. If Cheney does withdraw ...

... they will say it's for health of "personal reasons". They'll put him out on the stump occasionally to make things look good.

Personally, I don't think it will happen. Cheney is the President. Bush is the front man.

Finally, the one think that might FORCE Dick Cheney off the ticket is widspread recognition that he introduced a bill to peg the price of oil to $40/barrel. Basically, his bill would have taxed foreign imports so they were at $40/barrell. That way, domestic producers could jack up the prices.

With todays outrageous gas prices (double from when Clinton was in office), that could be catostrophic for the ticket. People simply do not realize that high oil prices is GOOD for the oil industry.

[barbaraann]

28. Zell Miller would be a total disaster in a debate.

He is seriously stupid.

[Rowdyboy]

8. He can take right back over at Halliburton

and run that half of the show.

[TNDemo]

10. All pacemakers have an end of life.

That's when they are replaced. I work for a cardiology group. The doctors keep track of the battery life and when it is nearing the end it gets replaced. You don't have to die because your pacemaker does.

[blm]

11. Look for Ridge to take his place. I doubt the prolifers will care

that Ridge is prochoice as long as they have their boy George in place. Ridge will say that he's "evolving" or something insipid like that to deflect from his actual position.

[yellowcanine]

21. I would not bet on it. A pro-choice VP would stick in the craw of the

fundies. It would drain away some support. Every little bit helps.

[goclark]

13. If he cared About His Country

he would not have to LIE about his health to the American people.

He only cares about the $$'s and his power.

For not having a working heart,he still wheels a lot of power.

Question: Can Presidents still hide the fact that they were admitted to a hospital. Don't we have a right to know the the person next in line to be President was recently admitted to a medical facility?

He doesn't care about anyone but C H E N E Y and his No Writing Ability Wife that runs around the country trying to sell her books.

If she is so much into family values, why doesn't she devote herself to the care of her husband?

[President Jesus]

14. Bush's ONLY chance is to dump Cheney...

...but somehow, I don't see it happening. It's getting late in the game.

[Nadienne]

15. Reminds me of Primary Colors

And it makes me wonder if maybe Cheney will fake his own death and allow B*sh to blame it on the Democrats.

[charlie]

16. I still wanna know

WTF Cheney was doing tooling around in a nuclear submarine in July of 2002:

http://www.wesh.com/news/1572202/detail.html

[progressivebydesign]

17. Was last week's report that Cheney was tip-top a lie?

Did they make that up about his excellent physical condition in order to stage a shocking event so that Guiliani can take over? Ridge? Shit.. that guy's as exciting as toilet paper.. and much less useful. He's a joke. It'll be saint rudy.. :puke:

[Malva Zebrina]

19. there was a report that Cheney was tip top?

good grief-=-that takes the blue ribbon for lying spin. A guy with an implanted defibrillator is "tip top"!! He is on his last years walking around with a thingy in his chest that jolts his heart back to beating after it quits. I wonder how many times he has had that defibrillator jerk his heart back into beating since he had it installed.

[Merlin]

20. Lookout for the BIG MOVE by the Bushies: It's VP JOHN McCAIN

That's my bet. I think he'd take it, too.

[mdguss]

22. Not Going to Happen:

Cheney's on the ticket. He's been out there actively campaigning, effectively being Bushes lead attacker, etc. Aditionally, people seem to think he has a big role in the administration. In 2000, some people were comforted by knowing an experienced Washington insider would be around to aid Bush. Cheney has said he won't run in 2008 because of his health. But he's relatively young (around 60), and medical devices can be replaced. His long-term out-look is descent. I hope he stays healty, but loses the election.

Ridge will never happen because he is pro-choice. McCain will not happen because the pro-lifers think he is pro-choice. The Evangeicals they want so much to vote won't show up if a pro-choice person is the Republican's nominee for VP. That might piss them off so much as to support a third party bid by Roy Moore (he's made some noise about running).

If Bush is going to replace Cheney it is going to be with an established conservative. Bill Frist would probably be the most likely guy, but Lindsey Graham, several conservative Governor's, and Orin Hatch would be the other candidates.

Bush's base isn't happy; our base is more or less happy. They want to gain with their base, and split the middle. A Ridge or McCain won't do that for them. Hatch or Frist might.

[trof]

23. I think this would happen at the convention.

If it happens.
And Cheney will continue to campaign for Bush*-????
Probably gin up some sympathy in some quarters.

[President Jesus]

31. That would be a brilliant move...which is why it won't happen

I just think these guys are far too ideological to make a move like that.

24. get ready for a Bush/McCain ticket

if I was betting that's how I'd bet.

[Pepperbelly]

27. IT'S A TRICK!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheney has no heart.

:evilgrin:

[camero]

29. Kittykiller will take his place

I think that's the main reason why he was elevated to Party leader

[robbedvoter]

30. Guest on Unfiltered - Papantonio: they're inflexible.

Much as even people who don'ty pay attention see Cheney as corrupt and horrible and they know it, they won't change course - it's their way. Rigidity is a point of pride for ideologues - plus Cheney is a great fundraiser.
I believe him.
It was part of a ghreat Halliburton for everyone feature.

[TroubleMan]

32. Don't think it will happen...but they would love to move Giuliani in

IMHO, if Cheney withdrew for "health reasons" then Rudolph became the VP candidate, it would be a brilliant move for them.

I don't see Cheney ceding control so easily, though. I mean, c'mon, he picked himself for VP, and he really runs things.

Small chance....but interesting scenario.

[BabsSong]

33. They have to do something when Kerry announces his VP..........

you know how they always have some diversionary tactic when the press is "taken off" of them. What a way to do it. The media starts talking 24/7 about Kerry's VP and 24 hours later, all the media is focused on the bowing out of Cheney, all the speculation around it and the "who will be George's VP' question. No one give even one more minute of press time to Mr. X, Kerry's VP.

[Cleita]

34. I wouldn't doubt it.

Whom do you think will be installed as the new puppeteer. I suspect he would have to have ties to the PNAC and to oil.

[Cleita]

35. I wouldn't doubt it.

Whom do you think will be installed as the new puppeteer. I suspect he would have to have ties to the PNAC and to oil.

[ramapo]

36. Cheney just had a checkup

His defibrillator is fine, hasn't even fired.