The Draft Cheney movement is about to surface

Star Tribune ^ | March 29, 2005 | Jonathan Chait

[RWR8189]

In the summer of 2000, Dick Cheney was appointed to find a vice presidential candidate for George W. Bush, and, as we now know, the winner of the search turned out to be Dick Cheney.

Today, Republicans are casting about for a successor to Bush. And the winner of that search just may turn out to be ... Dick Cheney.

The Draft Cheney movement is burbling just below the surface. Fred Barnes suggested it earlier this month in the Weekly Standard. Tod Lindberg of the Washington Times and Lawrence Kudlow of National Review Online echoed Barnes in columns this week.

Cheneymania has reached critical mass.

The obvious objection is that Cheney has denied any interest in running. Cheney's value, as both he and Bush have stated repeatedly, lies in his total devotion to this administration and lack of ulterior political motives. But the Cheney-ites have come up with a response: Cheney, they argue, is the ideal candidate to safeguard Bush's legacy in 2009 and beyond.

The point remains delicate enough that the Draft Cheney movement must speak in coded terms, like members of the Comintern using Pravda to signal subtle shifts in the party line. I'm not a member of the conservative movement, but I do make a hobby of monitoring these communiques

[Torie]

Chait is the most partisan liberal of the New Republic magazine regulars. Granted he is very smart. I enjoy reading him, for the quality of his mind. But this piece is well, something along the line of disinfomation, to deflect and confuse the opposition.

[kingu]

There will be a primary, we will have several choices, my choice won't be Vice President Dick Cheney, as much as I respect him. He has given great service to our nation for a considerable number of years, and he deserves the pleasure of enjoying being a backroom dealer and going on the speaking circuit.

If the other side had the mad genius Rove (he's forcing me to write this post, of course,) I'd almost suspect this was written to try to come up with a candidate that Hilary might have a shot at.

[Aussie Dasher]

Dick Cheney has done a great job for a long time, but at his age, and with his health, conservatives must look elsewhere.

[CyberAnt]

Hmmmmm? Do we know for sure Cheney is healthy enough to survive the strain of such a job ..??

I'm more than confident he would do a terrific job - and what are the chances Dr. Rice would become VP - or stay on as Secy of State ..??

And .. if the dems didn't like a Texas cowboy - a Wyoming cowboy who is even more direct - would certainly drive them right over the cliff.

[West Coast Conservative]

Vice President Cheney has been invaluable to our country in the post-9/11 America. But, his health isn't too great and he isn't young. Plus, almost a decade of non-stop myths and lies perpetuated by the MSM, would make it very hard for him to win. He should sit back and enjoy his retirement.

[RWR8189]

He'd only be 67 in 2008, two years younger Ronald Reagan in 1980.

But I think after a life of public service, the man deserves his retirement.

[Echo Talon]

I would Love a Cheney-Rice ticket. :P Doesn't necessarily have to be in that order either. Cheney likes the undisclosed location, maybe he would prefer being Veep again? :D

[Outland]

Cheney would be a sure defeat.
No thanks.

[gogeo]

Cheney isn't interested. Period.

[kingu]

I don't know all that much about Rice's political beliefs - who knows, she might have some strange views.. But I'd vote for a Rice/Cheney ticket in a hot second. I just don't think that Cheney deserves to be stuck in the pressure cooker that is the Oval Office.

[ClancyJ]

... would certainly drive them right over the cliff.



...
Just where I want them.

[clee1]

Yup, and I'd like to be the one to hand them the car keys.

[Jay Howard Smith]

Man......We would NEVER hear the end of Halliburton..!

[Righty_McRight]

Man......We would NEVER hear the end of Halliburton..!


The thing that makes it interesting is that they would have nothing new to use againts him. It would all be recycled attacks.

[Rembrandt_fan]

Cheney would spend half his time during a campaign fielding questions about his blood pressure readings for that day. Rightly or wrongly, doubts about his health would translate into real, make or break votes in a close election. Chaney simply cannot win. Pundits like Fred Barnes must know this. Perhaps it's a way for party faithful to honor this unmatchable VP--a no harm, no foul vote of respect and confidence, since Chaney will no doubt stand by his earlier pledge not to seek the presidency.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Tom DeLay.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

The only "Chenymania" I see is coming from liberals who are desperate to have somebody they can beat. Cheney is at his best when he's quiet and lethal, and you can't really do that when you're President.

[Nuzcruizer]

Carl Rove for President! That would surely drive Democrats off the cliff.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

The MSM wants the Republicans to anoint their Presidential choice for 2008 with 3 years to go so they can have much more time to make up dirt on the candidate.