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Several points here one of which is caution and the others one to be proud of.

1) The cautionary one first - the RATS think you already have Cheney/Bush and IMHO to speak almost wistfully of this undermines the Presidency.

2) In fact IMHO in a positive and in no way undermining GWB position you almost have a joint Presidency. Never have a President and Vice President worked so closely with daily meetings plus a personal relationship which goes back to GWB time as Governor in Texas when dare I say it Cheney was CEO at Haliburton.

3) Cheney provides wise counsel to your President but your President is an intelligent man and knows when to take this advise and when to go with his point of view.

4) In a post 9/11 mindset this relationship has also taken on further importance not only because of Cheney's Secretary of Defence experience but also because of added threats to the President. That is why the choice of Vice President is more important now than at any time. Cheney fits that role perfectly and in GWB's own words "Cheney could be President - next".

5) You have the best of both worlds the charisma of Bush and the experience and calmness of Cheney. He manages and handles pressure and stress like we eat breakfast. IMHO his heart problems have never been due to stress if so he would never have coped with the first Gulf War, personal attacks on him and his family and most importantly 9/11.

6) GWB respects and needs Cheney and IMHO Cheney will see the full 4 years out as VP because Bush wants him to. The only way this may not happen is if the GOP insist in putting in a candiate in the mid term who could run as President 2008 but I do not see it because GWB will not want that. If they do then my prediction is that Liz Perry (Cheney) will run for office of some sort in the mid term and Dick and Lynne will campaign full time for her. Lynne on the Bush/Cheney website has already said she fancies running an election campaign for one of her daughters or even grandchildren in the years to come.