Bill Kristol pushing the dump Cheney for McCain rumor just now on Foxnews?

Soxblog via Instapundit ^ | 08/30/04 | Glenn Reynolds

[Pikamax]

http://dbsoxblog.blogspot.com/#109387797552127636

Monday, August 30, 2004 RUMOR: MCCAIN TO REPLACE CHENEY? Bill Kristol was just on FoxNews irresponsibly disseminating a rumor that he began the previous day on FoxNews Sunday with Brit Hume. Since I love the rumor and fervently wish for its accuracy, it is my pleasure, nay my responsibility, to continue its irresponsible dissemination.

Reading the tea-leaves, Kristol has concluded that McCain might be poised to replace Cheney on the ticket. Here’s the logic: After his convention speech tonight, McCain is flying out to New Mexico to hook up with the President and introduce him to the American Legion convention and then he’s going to travel with the President to Nashville. Kristol wonders what could possibly occasion this flurry of McCain activity. He speculates that Bush and McCain could make an announcement together in New Mexico and then later in the week triumphantly wing their way back to New York.

Kristol also perceives a couple of other portents. For the last several weeks, Dick Cheney has been pretty much playing Tupper-ware parties in Fargo. And last week, Karl Rove said that he wants to model the RNC along the lines of Roosevelt’s 1944 convention where Roosevelt positioned himself as a successful war president and dropped his Vice President in favor of a far more popular and less controversial politician.

Left unsaid in Kristol’s analysis but clearly implicit is that dropping Cheney for McCain would be pure political gold for the Bush administration. Whether deserved or not, John McCain has become a virtual political saint in this country. Both parties, when they seek to prove the right-ness of one of their positions, eagerly seek out a McCain quote to serve as support. Indeed, the one thing that both parties seem to agree on is that John McCain’s word is final.

[brewcrew]

Johnny Mac one heartbeat away from the presidency? Perish the thought.

[Coop]

This silly rumor would be a very quick way for Bush to lose this election.

[bigbob]

Kristol's analyses are usually well-founded. In this case I hope he's right, and that the "gold" turns into a 10-15 point grand slam.

[KTpig]

Right, and Kerry is going to dump Edwards for Zell.

[lowercoloradoriver]

Okay... how would this play out among independents and how would it play out among the base.

Does Bush "need" McCain bad enough to do this? If you asked me this question a month or two ago, I might have said yes. But Bush/Cheney seems to be definitely holding their own as of late in the polls and that was before this convention which will be stellar.

[KTpig]

Perhaps someone is misoverestimating McCain's popularity.

[MarkeyD]

I thought I would never say this, but I'm considering donating to whomever his Democratic challenger will be in the next Arizona Senate election.

[spald]

Plays out like the Manchurian Candidate and Kristol should know better.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole center, and lose his own base?"

[z3n]

As much as I love Cheney (which is more than Bush), this move makes political sense in terms of election politics.

It doesn't seem likely to me considering how I think I know Bush, and how he is loyal to those who are loyal to him, and how he is stubborn to submit to anything when he feels he is right.

But if Cheney has willingly agreed to it, or perhaps more importantly, he was there at the strategy meeting when it came up and endorsed the idea at the time, then I could conceive of this happening.

The reasons it makes sense?

1) Republican Moderates love McCain!

2) Democrat Moderates like and respect McCain (mostly because it served them in the past)

3) McCain's vietnam record trumps Kerrys

4) Political deals, alliances, and favors. When McCain began defending Bush against claims that the Swiftvets where in Bush's pocket, despite McCains spotted past with Bush and the Vets, I really had to wonder what they heck was in it for John. I'm not saying that a deal was struck, but Bush and his brainiacs must have felt that they owed McCain a huge favor.

[mabelkitty]

You are right.

[GadareneDemoniac]

I haven't missed an election since I turned 18 - almost 40 years ago - but if they do something this stupid I may stay home in November. McCain is a phony - also, why in hell validate the leftists whining and bellyaching about Halliburton?

[Finalapproach29er]

McCain Favorable: 40%
Unfavorable: 9%

[Rocket1968]

President Bush shows tremendous loyalty to his staff. I don't see him "dumping" Cheney. It may be that Cheney (who is not interested in running for President - as far as I know), may want to step aside himself and let this play out for optimal effect. Personally I prefer Cheney and hoe he stays on the ticket.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

I'm not sure I can vote for that ticket. I would if I had to, but I don't. My state will go for Bush no matter what. I'd seize that excuse to vote for the Constitution Party Candidate I guess. McCain does not have the temperment to be President, imo. If he were to be Bush's VP, it would be in anticipation of 2008.

[mrsmith]

Why doesn't Kristol just invest in a beer distributorship and then ask McCain to marry him?

[Area51]

There is NEVER a Party that Bill Kristol doesn't show up at to float around in the punch bowl.

[Coop]

The reasons it makes sense?

That's nice, that he'll win over some moderates. And when a good chunk of conservatives stay home??

[RetiredArmy]

Like it or not here, this is one move by Bush that will actually cause me to sit out voting for him in the election. I will not vote for John McCain, period, end of sentence. If Big Time withdraws because of health issues, etc., that might be different. But, this is not the case and this would be pure politics to counter the Kerry vet votes, etc. No, I will not cast my vote for John McCain. I did not in 2000 and I WILL NOT now under any circumstances. He would just argue to appoint his pal, John F'n Kerry the new Secretary of Defense! No! Hell no, to John McCain.