[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.

[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?

[xkaydet65]

Does Bush simply want to hold his own in the polls? Cheney's credentials for VP are impressive, but he brings a lot more baggage now than he did in 2000, only because of Iraq. Too much focus is placed on his role in GWI and his links to Halliburton. America is too ADD to hear exactly what Halliburton does and how it's been a player in all administrations. The name is now linked with war profiteer and merchant of death. Does the President want to spend time having to defend his VP against attacks that are as effective as they are unfair?

The President is a loyal guy, and I don't see him throwing Chaney over, but these rumors come from somewhere. They are not Kristol's imagination, though they may be his "*** dream". Some people stil believe that the idea of a Reagan Ford ticket in '80 came from Walter Cronkite, but it was clearly discussed as a valid option, though eventually discarded, probably because of Ford's demands to run Foreign policy. That may be the deal breaker here for McCain. The President will not give him a porfolio. But some other Republican, like Rudy, may take the position as is.

My guess is that the next few days may be difficult for the hard core republican majority. Decisions may have already been made that will test the loyalty of the Right.