1- "And conservatives love Cheney."
2- "...Cheney is the first official co-POTUS."
3- "Dropping Cheney would infuriate Bush`s conservative base."
Bush understands and respects loyality. He knows Cheney is the best man for the job. He will keep the ticket intact, as it should be. Cheney is going nowhere.
No, Shillery was the first Co-President.
Bush doesn't need to be disloyal and "dump" Cheney. Cheney can instead be loyal to Bush, fake a heart attack, and step aside for "health reasons". His health can then have a dramatic recovery after the election, at which time he'll rejoin the administration, preferably as Sec of State. Wouldn't you like to see him go to the UN and tell Kofi to go @*$($ himself?