MSNBC and FNC Democrat analyst thinks Cheney could still end up off the ticket

MSNBC-TV ^ | 1-2-04 | Me via watching MSNBC

[GraniteStateConservative]

I thought I'd post this just because it's interesting to learn about what the Democrat establishment is thinking.

Prior to joining FNC, Colgan was a Democratic fundraising and political consultant, and campaign manager for both David Wecht for Pennsylvania's superior court and Catherine Baker Knoll for state treasurer.

[Ronly Bonly Jones]

Not as dumb as it appears. Cheney's not a well man, God bless him.

I say: Condi! Condi! Condi!

[MEG33]

I don't believe it.

[Galtoid]

The war, 9-11, etc. have taken a huge toll on Cheney.
I say bring on Condi.
Hillary & Co. would be devastated if Bush chose her to run with him.

[ilgipper]

liabilities? His only liabilities are those conjured up by the left. He is popular among conservatives and foreign policy/defense expert. Sounds to me like a man we want involved with this administration at this time.

[JohnGalt]

It has been widely reported that the Jim Baker Realist faction of the party wants Cheney gone and possibly a Powell put in his place at VP. That is why Baker was brought into the Administration, to sweep out the Iraq War architects and counteract the Cheney factions.

[ElectricStrawberry]

Did health and Halliburton REALLY make much of a difference in '00? Will they attack Powell's "health" when he runs for office? How 'bout Guiliani? Can't go around having a president that had cancer now can we..... ...buncha friggin' weenies.

[Yaelle]

I love Cheney, but it would be nice to have a Veep with whom we could run in 2008. That is the only flaw with Cheney, IMHO.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

If Cheney drops off the ticket because of health concerns, the best replacement would be the President's heir apparent for the 2008 election.

That would be Tom Ridge, a man of impeccable character, a Viet Nam vet, and the best man to step into the shoes of a commander-in-chief fully experienced in the war against the terrorists.

Condi Rice will replace Colin Powell as Sec. of State if he retires.

[McGruff]

Cheney's not a well man

Do you have any recent proof of this?

I'm a "Big Time" Cheney fan, If the republicans dump Cheney for no good reason, I might dump them.

[Tall_Texan]

This isn't really news - this has been spun practically since Bush was sworn in. I don't know if Cheney will still be on the ticket or not. I don't think you'll see Bush rise or fall politically based on his Veep. I think the majority of voters have already formed an opinion of the man, good or bad.

The intriguing thing to me is what Rice would do for the ticket. Will she attract more black and women voters? Would she turn off some conservatives who see Cheney as "their guy" in the loop? Would the media slam her and try to discredit her the way they did Clarence Thomas and for the same reasons? Will she help Bush in blue states? Will she cost Bush in other states? Does she become the front-runner in 2008 if she's added to the ticket and they win in '04?

We have no idea about Rice as a campaigner and there is a danger that she could say something that might embarrass the ticket. She'd have to survive one VP debate, for example.

In the end, I don't think it would matter much because with a known quantity leading the ticket, the VP is not a key towards people voting or not voting. But it is interesting to consider other aspects to having her on the ticket.

[pikachu]

I forgot- Cheney is supposed to run EVERYTHING on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays and be too sick to do anything on Tuesdays and Thursdays or is it the other way around? It's amazing that half the democrat pundits see him as the puppet master and the other half see him on his death bed.

[cartoonistx]

Were this the plan, it would have occured months ago. And there's no reason to do it before the election at all if it is indeed in the works. Public perception of Cheney is not bad and he seems healthy enough to survive the race.

[HitmanLV]

I think this is total hogwash. The Bush team has already invested in electing a Bush-Cheney team and Bush doesn't need to rock the boat with a new VP pick.

I disagree and have felt for a while that Cheney will not be on the ticket, and that after much speculation, Rudy will join as VP and be positioned well to run for President against Hillary in 2008.

Right now, Bush has no legacy in 2008. We really need to fix that.

[Huck]

Please. Anyone but Condi. Well, not anyone.

[Cicero]

In the first place, it's true that they would be fools to announce a different VP before the convention. This would be tightly controlled.

I do worry about Baker. He is a malign influence--very capable, but with no perceptible values.

The rest is all speculation. I don't doubt that the President's father would like Bush to take a course more along the lines that Baker represents. But let's face it, Bush Jr. has had a LOT more political success than his father did. Not only has he been more principled and more conservative, he has been a better political operator. The leftist press may hate Iraq, but if Bush stays the course the voters will support him. If he changes course, he will lose all that support, just as his father did.

[Glenn]

Cheney runs, wins, then resigns because of health. Bush can pick his heir at that point.

[beaversmom]

President Bush is a loyal guy to people that are loyal to him. I think Cheney will be on the ticket unless Cheney decides he doesn't want to be. I'll be happy with Cheney on the ticket but a Condi Rice or Guiliani on the ticket in 2004 would be great strategery for 2008.

[Azzurri]

I think Cheney will run again but, if not, I'd love to see Rick Santorum as the VP pick. Could secure Pennsylvania and maybe Ohio for GW.

[beaversmom]

That's a very interesting scenario.