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Cheney's a very, very big gun in this admin.. Remember back a couple of months ago when some RAT reporter was complaining that it wasn't fair that Cheney had so much control over Bush's thinking? He sits in on all the national security meetings, plus daily meetings, then gets to talk to Bush in private on the way back to the oval office,(thus brainwashing Bush, who, according to the RATs hasn't the brains to think for himself). Cheney has extraordinary influence. The RATS hate him because he's a conservative, who has America's best interests at heart.

You're absolutely right. But Cheney has his influence because he is smart, knowledgeable, and has a powerful persona. He would have all that if he were a member of the second term Bush team, almost without regard to his nominal title. His role is not now mainly determined by being VP, but by his relationship with Dubya. My impression is that Secretary of State is likely to be open in the next term. Cheney could be strong there, for example. (I didn't mention Secretary of Defense because Rumsfeld is so fabulous in that role.)