The minute that Rice is announced as the Vice Presidential candidate the focus of the election would shift away from the current war of attrition being waged over National Guard pay stubs and Jane Fonda protests. Instead of rehashing the 1970’s Bush could make history by tabbing Rice as only the second woman and the first African American to run for Vice President.
When the democrats deal the race card from the bottom of the deck as they inevitably will, Bush can simply ask, “Have you met my running mate Condi? Why are you trying to prevent this qualified candidate from becoming the first woman and first African American to hold national office?” Imagine how those two simple questions would take a buzz saw to the Affirmative Action plank in the Democratic platform of and get the attention of black voters long taken for granted by Democrats, the party of segregation.
The Problem With Dick When candidate Bush was a one and a half term Governor with no foreign policy experience and unable to name the leader of Pakistan, Dick Cheney’s experience and reputation was an asset. Four years later, President Bush has been the Commander-in-Chief of a military that crushed the Taliban and toppled Saddam Hussein in record time. His leadership in the aftermath of 9/11 and the fact there has not been a terrorist attack in the two and half years since 9/11 also demonstrate his growth as a leader.
Cheney has given loyal service to the president but he is now a lightning rod for criticism. With Cheney out of the picture Haliburton becomes a non issue. Drop Dick and the image of Cheney as puppet master evaporates. In sum, Vice President Cheney’s negatives now outweigh his positives. Besides, if Bush replaces Cheney as his VP there is no reason why he could not advise the president from any number of official or unofficial posts.
The combination of Haliburton, his weak heart, and his age make Dick Cheney all but incapable of seeking the nomination in 2008. Why not have Vice President Rice warming up in the bullpen to pick up where Bush leaves off should he prevail this November?
Deflate Hillary If more revelations surface and Kerry is wounded by a Lewinskiesque affair or if Senator Edwards sticks around long enough to show there is no consensus in the democratic party the drums will begn to beat for the junior Senator from New York. The draft Hillary movement is poised to get in the mix and already has an online presence in the form of hillarynow.com. Disarray in the party would give Clinton the excuse she needs to bolt the Senate and an opportunity to prevent her worse nightmare, a Democrat in the White House whose last name is not Clinton.
If the White House already has Rice on the ticket when Hillary decides to run her candidacy loses much of its appeal. After all, where’s the novelty of a white woman running for the White House if the Republicans choose a black women to be a heart beat away from the Oval Office. Rice for VP reduces Hillary, to the familiar role of carpetbagger Senator blocking the school house door as a Black candidate vies for high office. Recall 2002 when the wife of the so-called first Black President endorsed Andrew Cuomo instead of supporting Carl McCall’s bid to become the first African American governor of New York.
Be it this election cycle or next, eventually the road to the White House goes through Chappaqua. Putting Dr. Condolezza Rice on the ticket puts Republicans on the offensive, grabs a lot of positive publicity and most of all launches a preemptive strike against having the Clintons once again desecrating the White House.
Think he wants to lose christians when they are being made active by Mel Gibsons new movie??
Uh, if he's picking her because she's a black woman, that seems to be the type of "old vision" racial politics I'd hope the Republicans wouldn't stoop to.
No thanks. I think they are both in the right jobs. It would damage President Bush's credibility if he did not keep his word. It is his strongest asset. People believe him.
wishful thinking?
I notice they never want to try to remove him by taking him on LOL!
nevermind.
I actually like Rice, but you shouldn't say we should put her there because she is a black woman.
I like Cheney actually better than Bush, so I sure hope they don't dump him.
Condi is great, but wilts in high pressure situations and can often look unsure of herself when challenged.
Besides, the only people who buy the garbage being thrown at Cheney (like Haliburton) would never vote for Bush anyway.
Realistic? Unfortunately, yes.
You certainly are cutting a wide swath around here with your deathless, breathless howlers, newbie. Sounds like something Eleanor Clitt might have puked up on the McGoofy show. You are stuck with Hanoi John, LtGov to Mikey Dukakis and buttboy to the Chappaquiddick Scuba Driver, among other things. There is no Hitlery scenario any more, outside the fever swamps of Cleveland Park, Streisand's pool parties and the NY Slimes op-ed pages. The fact that the question keeps floating about underscores the looming bankruptcy of the National Socialist [Dem] party and their enablers. Look at your standard bearer, for Pete's sake. He has a record of treason and sedition that would make Benedict Arnold blush. He is a dissembler and a common gigolo. He is an elitist in all respects devoid of any attribute of the truly elite. He has no chance of being elected in peace or at war, and we are at war. And as for your slurs on Cheney, when the memoirs of the Bush-Cheney administration [2000-2008] are written, we will understand very well why the President selected Cheney for the long haul. A matter of principle, not politics. Deal with it.
I just would hate to see him work himself to death.