[Ophiucus]

For a solid winning scenario, whether or not Hiltlery runs in 2004, is to have Cheney voluntarily opt out for 2004 and run Bush/Rice. Ores. Bush with an intelligent, classy black lady as his V.P. running-mate would smoke anything the Rats could offer. Then, it sets up a combo of Rice and Guiliani for 2008 - that would give the Rats nightmares.

[Graymatter]

For a solid winning scenario, whether or not Hiltlery runs in 2004, is to have Cheney voluntarily opt out for 2004 and run Bush/Rice.

I'm with you, Ophiucus! Cheney's a good man but he'll have packed another 4 years on, come 2007. And 4 more for a re-election. If he ran at all in 2008, he'd be considered a lame duck from the start. (In Jan 2009 he'd be a few days shy of 68 years old.) Besides, I don't think he has the temperment or the warmth of a presidential candidate.

The vice-presidency is a kingmaker. If Rice were on the ticket in '04 she would be well positioned for the '08 nomination. And she could use some experience to overcome stage fright.
We want someone who is on the Bush team and can be reasonably expected to carry on his policies, since the war on terror is likely to persist beyond the Bush years. Who else is there but Condi Rice?

Then there's the ethnic and gender factors. Black Americans would no longer be counted certain for the Dems, with Rice on the ticket. If Hillary runs in '04 or '08, the gender factor is offset by Rice.

She's clearly the best choice Bush could make now.