Posted on 02/19/2005 4:43:15 AM PST by pookie18
Vice President Dick Cheney likely will step down next year due to health reasons and be replaced by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, according to a report by geopolitical expert Jack Wheeler.
On his website, To the Point, Wheeler reports there's a "red-breasted rumor bird" flying around Capitol Hill that has whispered the same thing to most congressional committee chairmen.
"We all know that Dick Cheney has been the best vice president of modern times, perhaps in American history," one such chairman told Wheeler. "And we know that he absolutely will not run for president in 2008. Further, he has an unfortunate history of heart trouble. So let's just say none of us will be surprised if, sometime next year, he will step down from the vice presidency due to his health."
Continued the source: "Should this happen, President Bush would need to appoint his replacement, just as Richard Nixon chose Gerald Ford to replace Spiro Agnew. It is quite clear to us whom the president would choose should he need to: Condoleezza Rice."
Wheeler goes on to analyze what such a scenario would mean for the 2008 presidential election.
Writes Wheeler: "Being a sitting vice president places Condi in an impregnable position for the GOP nomination in 2008 and sucks every breath of wind from Hillary's sails. Historically, it's hard for a party to keep the White House after they've had it for eight years. This is George Bush and Dick Cheney's way to buck history – and make it."
Serving as Bush's national security adviser during his first term, Rice took over the State Department last month.
"Madison, Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Van Buren, and Buchanan were all Secretary of State before being elected President. (In Van Buren's case, he was SoS for part of Jackson's first term, then VP for Jackson's second term.) For a while that seemed to be the natural stepping-stone to the Presidency, which may be part of the reason for Jackson's anger when JQA made Henry Clay Secretary of State, after Clay had helped JQA win the election in the House of Representatives."
But every single one of those Secy. of State-turned Presidents were also elected multiple times to the House and/or Senate before running for President (and/or were elected to serve in the Constitutional Convention, for Madison and Monroe). Condi has the Secy. of State credentials but has never served in elected office.
I love Condi as Secy. of State, I think she's a great representative of our country, but she just wouldn't do as our nominee. The lack of electoral experience is one problem, but she's also pro-abortion *and* pro-affirmative action. Those are two of the things (along with massive uncontrolled immigration) that are destroying the United States, and it's a big reason that so many people have become Republicans in the past five years. The vast majority of GOP and independent that I know-- men and women, multiple races-- would not vote for Condi. Nor would I. She's excellent in the Cabinet, but not a particularly good idea as a nominee.
'Hillary is smart as a whip, but without Bill to guide her, she's an ingenue.'
Bill isn't doing too much guiding these days and probably won't. Based on the sort of surgery he had and his continuing problems, even slight stresses can be dangerous to the heart. He's probably getting some much-deserved rest from all the campaigns.
My son had the same surgery after he did and is doing great.
Bill's in the tsunami region travelling with GHWB.
Doug from Upland had predicted this before the election when there was talk of dumping Cheney.
Rumor and panic..
I can't speak for her. I'm only speaking for myself, and obviously quite a few other Americans. I think she'd make a damn good one.
"If Hillary runs in 08, which she probably will, the Republicans have to run Rice or someone with similar demographic appeal. I don't think that's the way to get the most qualified person into the highest office on earth, but it would keep Hillary from that office."
No, they don't. Why are Freepers of all people, who should know much better, so full of trepidation about Hillary? She's wildly unpopular within her own party (look at the Dem blogs among other places), she'd fill the campaign coffers for our candidates within a month of announcing her candidancy, swing voters mistrust her-- all she has now is name recognition, and that wears off fast. The Dems absolutely do not want her to be the nominee in '08.
And this "similar demographic appeal" thing is a myth-- in a national election people really don't care all that much about the demographic status of a candidate, ultimately they vote for those who most agree with their values, most put together a good platform, and most demonstrate that they have enough experience. Race and gender may start out as factors but they dissolve soon after that and become secondary. (Most women really don't care as much about the candidate's gender as some people seem to think-- we care most about people who address issues important to us like education and the security of our children in this great nation. You're falling for classic Democratic tricks.)
As I said in my other post, Rice is a terrific Secretary of State and has a bright future in public service ahead of her, but she'd be terrible as a nominee for the GOP. The lack of elected experience is a big problem-- only Eisenhower in recent years overcame that, and he was the leader of multiple armies in the most massive war of the 20th century. But Rice is also pro-choice and pro-affirmative action. I don't want my kids to grow up in an America where abortion is still as easy as getting drive-thru fast food, or where they'll be discriminated against for "not being an underrepresented minority" or somesuch. The GOP heartland would just stay home in droves if Rice were nominated. Don't pay attention to all the hype and hoopla-- that's just a formula for electoral disaster.
...You ignorant red-stater. This is just another Rove plot. They are making the real President (Cheney) step down to make it look like he isn't really pulling the strings. But he still will be!!!!!!!!111!!!!1...
Troll! hahahaha
Cheney doesn't look that sick to me. I hope he hangs around for a while (meaning I wish him well). He is a brilliant and decent man. Good for the country in any capacity.
But he's quite capable of passing along gossip.
Two other former Secretaries of State came very close to winning the Presidency--Henry Clay would have won in 1844 if a third-party candidate had not diverted a small number of votes from him in New York state, and James G. Blaine probably lost the 1884 election because of Democrat voter fraud in New York.
A future Secretary of State, Charles Evans Hughes, narrowly lost the 1916 Presidential election, but presumably would never have been Secretary of State if he had been President. Wilson picked a three-time loser in the Presidential contests for his first Secretary of State, but William Jennings Bryan had never come close to winning the White House.
I share some of your misgivings about Condi, but I would vote for her if the alternative was Hillary becoming President. I don't think Condi will be the Republican nominee in 2008.
I am currently reading Hillary's Secret War...all of us should be VERY AFRAID!!!
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FLASH GORDON vs.Emperor MING 4-Real
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"As much as I like Dr. Rice, I do not want to see Dick Cheney step down, nor do I want a woman for our President."
I don't want to see Dick Cheney step down either, but if he did, Condi would make the best choice.
As for 2008, why couldn't a woman make an excellent President and world leader. Margaret Thatcher did great in my book!
Rove is brilliant.
Check mate, Rats.
I love Mr. Cheney as our wonderful Vice President, but if she slipped into the Vice Presidency, it would be sweet.
If not, I'm still thrilled VP Cheney is there, he's probably the best ever, but if his health is too much an issue, I want him to do what is best for himself.
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Great Shot, Phil, Great Shot.
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