14 Comments, 14 Threads

1. 1. Mike m

   I can’t see this happening…on many different levels. Bush wouldn’t send Cheney up the river for pure politics. I could see him moving Cheney to SecDef or CIA Director, but there don’t appear to be vacancies there. I doubt McCain would be willing because the second he allies with Bush, he ceases to become the maverick Senator and becomes hated in all corners of the media. He likes the spotlight too much for that.

   On the other hand though, what better way to set up Johnny for a run in ’08? Having to swallow his pride for a few years would be a small price to pay for a red carpet to the Presidency in the next election.

   I could see it either way, but I’m more inclined to dismiss it. Everybody wants to be associated with McCain, and Kristol’s rumor planting sure was a great way to get readership for his column up, wasn’t it?

   August 30, 2004 - 11:16 am   Link to this Comment

   

   
2. 2. jeff

   Here’s my fantasy: The Sticking-With-Cheney line is part of carefully scripted Rove PR coup, with Cheney announcing he’ll step down at last minute. This immediately transforms convention from Dem snoozefest to must-see TV with everyone speculating on running mate.

   This would be brilliant political theater, but I agree with Steve – Cheney wants to be prez, & politicos of either stripe don’t walk away from power easily. If I were Rove, I would offer Cheney a cabinet post, which would at least give him something to do. (Al Gore, recall, was vp before he went insane, & I don’t recall him doing much of anything.)

   August 30, 2004 - 11:30 am   Link to this Comment

   

   
3. 3. Forbes

   This is Bill Kristol setting up the rumor so can be so clearly debunked. Except as a hawk on the use of military, there is very little about McCain that is conservative. Might as well have Guilliani as VP. And besides McCain and Bush don’t really like each other. Other than that, it’s a great idea;-)

   August 30, 2004 - 12:28 pm   Link to this Comment

   

   
4. 4. Huggy

   Cheney is protecting President Bush from assasination by left wing nuts.

   August 30, 2004 - 1:08 pm   Link to this Comment

   

   
5. 5. Ursula

   This rumor is completely unfounded and just wishful thinking from Kristol who is still in the tank for his boy McPain.

   George W. Bush values loyalty above all and he gives it out, too. No way in hell he would ever ditch Cheney for a guy he hates

   August 30, 2004 - 1:16 pm   Link to this Comment

   

   
6. 6. jeff

   Loyalty was also Nixon’s fatal flaw

   August 30, 2004 - 1:33 pm   Link to this Comment

   

   
7. 7. McGehee

   Nixon’s fatal flaw was paranoia, which includes trusting (being loyal to) the wrong people.

   August 30, 2004 - 2:56 pm   Link to this Comment

   

   
8. 8. Jim R

   Thank god we had Cheney as the VP when we were attacked on 9/11. He had all the background and experience to provide invaluable advice and help to a young President in a crisis approaching that of Pearl Harbor.

   He doesn’t deserve being dropped from the ticket, but politics is about winning. My guess is Cheney will be on the ticket as long as it looks good for a win.

   If the poll numbers turn ugly, he will begin to complain of heart problems.

   August 30, 2004 - 3:16 pm   Link to this Comment

   

   
9. 9. Darwin Finch

   Steve,

   Lay off the sauce, man. The media hate Bush because of South Carolina??!! The media hate Bush because he’s the most consequential conservative in 20 years, one whom has preemptive war as a main plank. They hate him because he matters greatly.

   August 30, 2004 - 3:59 pm   Link to this Comment

   

   
10. 10. azlibertarian

    My theory (for which I have absolutely no concrete evidence) is that McCain is physically sick. He had a bout of cancer a couple of years ago, and in recent pictures of him, I’ve noticed the swelling along his jawline again. Also, keep in mind that–would he be setting himself up for a run in ’08–he’d be in his early 70′s. He carries an arm oddly due to negligent medical care while a POW. Further, (and, again, this is nothing more than conjecture) while he escaped his Keating 5 problems in the 2000 primaries, there is nothing that says that “They” wouldn’t have resurrected these issues in a head-to-head with Gore later on.

    In a nutshell, I think McCain relishes his role as a “Maverick Kingmaker” far too much to become someone else’s “Second Banana”.

    Your Mileage May Vary.

    August 30, 2004 - 5:22 pm   Link to this Comment

    

    
11. 11. Ray

    Bush brought Cheney on board because he wanted somebody he could trust as number 2. Bush gained very little politically in 2000 by choosing Cheney. It was a gutsy move and I admired the hell out of Bush for doing it.
    Know this: Bush ain’t changed any since then. Which means that Cheney ain’t going anywhere unless he chooses to.
    Which leaves us with the question:
    Why hasn’t McCain jumped ship?
    He sure as hell was setting himself up to join Kerry and McCain’s enough of a scumball to do it. I don’t think that a cabinet position would have been enough to change his mind and VP is off limits.
    For now.
    I don’t think that Cheney is interested in sitting in the big chair. He has an agenda and he doesn’t care if he gets the credit for implementing it. But if Bush wins, his VP will almost certainly get the Republican nomination for 2008.
    Which means that Cheney will leave the postion about 2006.
    I’m pretty sure of who his replacement is going to be.

    August 30, 2004 - 9:41 pm   Link to this Comment

    

    
12. 12. Dan

    What if its Cheney who wants out for health or other reasons?

    August 31, 2004 - 10:00 am   Link to this Comment

    

    
13. 13. Peter

    Even if the Giant Space-Monkey Flying Saucer were to use it’s Abduction Ray on Cheney, one all-network national TV, McCain wouldn’t get on the ticket as Veep.
    It’s not just the Keating scandal or his total loyalty to the Great Cause of The Maverick McCain, either.
    Rattling around in his background, for reasons that I don’t fully understand, is a deep anger from the POW/MIA community.
    I don’t follow the issue as close as I should, for which I am somewhat ashamed, other day to day priorities prevent it. I don’t know the details and don’t have the time to investigate them for myself. All I know is that a lot of people whom I deeply respect and admire will, when hearing that name, purse their lips and look for a place to spit.

    August 31, 2004 - 10:32 am   Link to this Comment

    

    
14. 14. Rob Read

    Cheney’s heart problems are A LOT worse than is let out, a medical switch is very likely IMHO. Don’t ask how I found this out ‘cos I won’t be telling you.

    September 1, 2004 - 9:05 am   Link to this Comment