So far, Bush's loyalties outweigh VP's liabilities - USAToday

[TacticalPeek]

Posted 6/17/2004 8:55 PM

Hype and Glory

Walter Shapiro

So far, Bush's loyalties outweigh VP's liabilities


WASHINGTON - snip

Cheney's home state of Wyoming, with its paltry three electoral votes, is as reliably Republican as a meeting of the Bush Cabinet. The vice president's oratorical style can be charitably described as dutiful, not electric. Cheney's pre-administration stewardship of Halliburton has been repeatedly pilloried in a series of campaign ads by such independent anti-Bush groups as the Media Fund and MoveOn.org. And Monday, just before the commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks released a staff report dismissing claims of a link between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda, Cheney asserted in a speech that the terrorist group had "long-established ties" with the Iraqi dictator. While Bush quickly backed up Cheney, the vice president has returned to his familiar role as the administration's most controversial proponent of an alarmist view of Saddam's intentions.

By most objective measures, that would be four strikes and Cheney's out. But the vice president's enduring political strength is entirely based on that final overriding factor: Bush wants him around for a second term, and even Cheney's harshest critics admit that he has the intellect and the experience to serve as president.

It's been almost 30 years since Gerald Ford dumped Nelson Rockefeller from the GOP ticket to try to salvage his 1976 election prospects. Since then, incumbent vice presidents haven't had to worry about their job security at a party convention.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/columnist/shapiro/2004-06-17-hype_x.htm

[PartyPooper]

1. Loyalty is a virture that Junior appreciates and rewards.

In fact, it is a family requisite for all of their political subordinates.

So, like it or not...Dick Cheney will remain the second banana on the Republican ticket.

:eyes:

[I thought so.]

2. The Republican base adores Cheney.

Since thats all Bush has left he's stuck with him.

[Pachamama]

3. They can't dump Cheney - He's "Really" the President, not the VP....

...I mean, if we were to have another terrorist attack, who will make the "orders"? We now know it wasn't Bush in charge and ordering "planes to be shot down"....

:grr:

[physioex]

4. I would say he is more the prime minister.....EOM

[Pachamama]

5. ....Prime Sinister....n/t

[physioex]

7. You got me there.....

:evilgrin:

[Leilani]

8. I agree...not only loyalty, but need!

Watched the 9/11 hearings, & while Dim Son was flying around the wild blue yonder, Cheney was in charge, making decisions, & then informing Junior.

[JaySherman]

6. I find it hard to believe that even if Cheney is 'dumped'

he will not still have some hand in matters. I suspect that the new VP would simply be proxy for Cheney, and Crashcart would continue to run the show. Only then he would be doing it would be even more from the shadows than he already is.

[AlinPA]

9. If Rove gets into real trouble, he will dump Cheney in a second.

(They are in real trouble now, but it has not sunk in with voters yet)
I look for Guliani or Powell to be on the ticket as an October surprise.

[Beetwasher]

10. Yeah, Right, As If Bush Has Any Say Whatsoever About Cheney

:eyes: