Going down your bullet list, allow me to comment:
Cheney or Giuliani - CIA
Cheney. Giuliani will not conduct the blood purge that is needed. Too many goobers at the Agency were leaking for the Dems. The whole Joe Wilson scam came right out of the CIA. Giuliani needs to go to the Senate where he can shine.
Giuliani - Attorney General (If Ashcroft wants to leave. If not, let him stay as he has endured a heck of alot of bashing and I would not want to give the bashers a reward).
Agreed here, but I think that Giuliani wants to try his hand at unseating the Hildebeast in 2006. AG could be the ticket to doing that. The problem? He can't be in any position in which he can be held accountable for a successful terrorist attack, or he's dead meat.
Rice or McCain - VP
If Bush is down to this choice, he goes with Rice. He doesn't truly trust McCain. Bush must have had to give McCain some serious pork, perhaps even a promise that he could have Rummy's job in the Second Term, to get this endorsement. Besides, I'm convinced that Bush and Rove are thinking Big Demographic and want to go with Rice to tear away some black and female support from the Rats. A black woman does that for you, especially that black woman.
Oh yes, and one last thing. McCain is still being treated for melanoma.
McCain or Rice - Secretary of State (Powell probably does not want to serve another term but would stay if Bush asks. Bush won't.) Cheney - Secretary of Defense (Rummy may not want another term. If he does, by all means let him stay on. He is an awesome Secretary of Defense.)
Don't be surprised if Bush asks Powell to hang on. Rummy may go, as this whole Abu Ghraib thing blindsided Bush. Cheney's done SecDef. That's why this may be McCain's spot. McC also wants Rummy to go. Bush may have decided that Rummy is the easiest one to toss over the side next year.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
BTW, why don't we hear about Richardson as a VP for Kerry? I think he would really help him so I am glad we haven't heard much about him.
Rice perhaps could form a dream ticket, but she would not innoculate Bush on Iraq and foreign policy the way McCain could. She could serve to help Bush eat into the African American vote, but it would have to be coupled with an issue to trumpet that appeals to African Americans. They have it right at their fingertips: school choice/vouchers. No one will pick up the ball on this and run with it though. If Rice was in the VP slot she could take the issue and hammer away in black churches in every swing state and Bush would win with 380 EVs.
You know who else could innoculate Bush on Iraq but just does not do it? Colin Powell. He occasionally says some great things to support his President, but too often it is followed by some damn piece in Vanity Fair or Time magazine quoting senior staff members of his who hate the President or Cheney. I think he tries to play both sides in the background.
BTW, I visited your blog a minute ago. You are an excellent writer. I will make it a favorite.
Suddenly...the August Dem convention looks like a pall bearers last cig gathering : )
No joy in demsville...none.
Only Bills book to read this summer.....memories.
John Mclaughlin on his program laughed big time at Dems pushing Bill Clinton for Party momentum.
Laughing.....he noted it will just motivate more Republicans to vote in November....and polarize the democrat ranks more.
Smirking.....John said that Kerry is on his own now.
Bush isn't going to dump Cheney... and if he does, it won't be a viable presidential candidate for '08. I think he is intentionally leaving the field open for Jeb.