Bush is a business executive at heart with a Harvard MBA. Savvy business executives implement effective succession plans.
Bush may have a succession plan that sees Cheney serving through the 2006 election, resigning to become an advisor to the upcoming 2008 campaign. Then George Bush could appoint George Allen as his VP -- especially if a Republican governor is elected after Warner's term is up.
There would then be an sense of incumbency running against the Democrat pack in 2008 together with 2 years more of national name recognition for Allen and Bush's personal political grooming for the job when he retires from office.
Makes a lot of sense to me. I love the idea of George Allen becoming VP in 06