My thoughts exactly. As a matter of fact, I would not be surprised to see Bush do two things: 1. Replace Tenet with Cheney. That equals hearings.
2. Replace Cheney with Rice. That equals both hearings and lots of buildup to the Republican National Convention.
This does two things for Bush:
1. Cheney moves to the relative obscurity of CIA Director. His political career is over. He'll still be a Principal and a major dispenser of patronage in town. Lots of angry TV hearings with Howling Mad Democrats like Kennedy or Schumer screaming "Halliburton" at the top of their lungs. Cheney, of course, will be able to bat each ball out of the park. Remember how he eviscerated Joe Lieberman.
2. Rice to the VP forces Kerry to play defense in the black base. This will get Rice a media storm as the Presidency comes within reach of black America for the first time. The Rice hearings for confirmation would force the Dems to play defense. It would also do something else:
The decision on who John Kerry's running mate would be would be made in the White House. If Rice is made VP, there is only one person in the Democratic Party that John Forbes can pick.
The Media will demand a Texas Steel Cage Death Match between Washington's two most powerful women. Kerry can't afford to give Hillary her shot, but he can't afford to anger Bubba, either.
As a side benefit, two big hearings, one involving a telegenic black woman, would make John Kerry's ship becalmed. As in, dead in the water. As in, no oxygen.
No one would care where Kerry stands on nuclear proliferation.
Bush can set this whole chain in motion by what he does next. Tenet has given him his dream shot.
Be Seeing You,
Chris