Official Pool - Cheney's "health problems" come into play

[Wickerman]

I think by about July 16th Unca Dick will stepping down. The heat is getting too strong - something needs to be done. Dick can still run the show from the outside.

I think there has been a set up of late. Cheney is opening taking heat for various transgressions and continues to spout the neo-con party line even as hard evidence contradicts. He is keeping the confusion balls in the air as long as he can, but when he leaves Bush can purposefully add someone better respected like Gigliani.

Then, with Cheney's health failing, Bush* as lame duck or, god forbid, power mad 2nd termer, can pardon Dick for the crimes that are apparent but never actually explored due to respect for the gravely ill public servant. Nevermind that Dick will be back at the helm of Halliburton by years end, duck hunting in the winter, and as always, out pimping for the Republican party.

I say July 16th.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Could be. Could be as late as end of August, though.

[Caution]

2. Will McCain be Bush's running mate if Cheney steps down?

[Commendatori]

3. Repugs would never stand for that.

He's not even remotely right-wing enough for them.

Rudy Guiliani would be my bet.

[xyboymil]

5. It won't be Rudy because..

He is hardly a right winger either.

For one thing, he supports gay rights. The religious right would never support Bush running with such a anti-christian candidate. :puke: :eyes:

[yolatengo]

9. maybe, but...

McCain brings a lot of positives to their table:

1. Ensures victory in November. Polls show this to be true. Bush/McCain
beats Kerry/Anybody.

2. Vice President McCain is MUCH weaker politically than Senator McCain.
VP is "not worth a bucket of warm spit". He may not even cast many tiebreakers
in the Senate if the GOP holds power there (they will on coattails of Bush/McCain).

3. McCain is unlikely to run in 2008. He'll be *72* and already has fairly
major health concerns (cancer).

4. He's STILL a f*cking Right Winger. I dunno why liberals dig him so much. Looking
at his voting record without a name next to it will make you think "Trent Lott" not
"Jim Jeffords". He's also a party loyalist (why ELSE wouldn't he skewer Bush who
LIED about him in 2000?). Why would the Bushies fear him? He agrees with them
98% of the time!

So, they get to keep power, a thorn in their side is marginalized, Cheney runs
everything but is now untouchable and behind the scenes and liberals everywhere
think they're getting a straight shooting maverick (yeah, "straight shooting"...
with an A+ rating from the NRA and a ZERO rating from many liberal groups
like Planned Parenthood and Handgun Control Inc). Oh, and Arizona will probably
elect an "R" to replace him. Win-win.

I think Giuliani has ambitions that conflict with the BFEE's future plans (Jeb
2009-2017, George P. Bush 2017-2025, Jenna 2025-2033, Barbara Jr 2033-
2041)...

Bigby

[jarab]

4. He is a liabilty .. but

these people don't cut one another loose very easily.
Therein is their weakness, IMO.
If the polls are "still" in their disfavor at your projected date, your scenario would hold well. If there's one state they badly need - have to have - that would work, too.

I'm surprised we haven't had more threads (ideas) on this exact hypothesis you propose. Who would be a "great" fit (besides Rudy - whom I consider a liability for them) and why? What is the projected benefit derived from any alternative candidate?

I would assume JK has considered this possible VP exchange by the other side as he weighs his own choice. If a certain selection was made by the other side, considerations would certainly be in order as relates to the EC. Even Gep would have to be "re-considered".

...O...

[Beetwasher]

6. The Stubborn Old Bastard Will NEVER Step Down

This fucker is so corrupt, so stubborn, so demented that he will NEVER step down. Not to mention he needs the shield of executive privelege to protect his criminal ass. If he steps down, he no longer has that shield to protect him.

Remember, this is the same douche who is STILL insisting on Iraq-AQ ties. That type of deluded stubborness says to me he will never go, at least quietly.

[Wickerman]

8. I agree he is an unbelievable ass, but I also think he is playing tool

I think he insists on those Iraq-AQ ties to confuse and distract. He continually stands "tall" in the face of all hard evidence.

He will be the no-harm fall guy. For Health reasons he can leave, and Bush* can offer coded lip-service to why he was a great 'Murican, but also it has come to light that he misled little George. By Jan he would issue the Cheney pardon out of sympathy for the gravely ill man.

[LuminousX]

7. Could be the August Surprise

It wouldn't give people enough time to really learn about Giuliani - they will only remember that during 9/11, he was the only leader that was doing something instead of cowering under a desk.

That is great, definitely his finest moment, but doesn't make him any less of a shill for GOP policies.

[Killarney]

10. I'll take August 6th.

I'm convinced Cheney won't be on the ticket.

[Wickerman]

11. anyone on the evening crew have a prediction?

who is going to be Bush's* running mate, then?