My educated guess is that the software package used by CNN communisty news network has a feature to x out deleted material. My guess, is some control room operation is getting funny and got caught.
Or someone in the control center has a real hatrid for the Adminstration and on purpose X the VP as a consise decision to muddy the VP on national public TV.
I agree. The 'position' of the X right smack on Cheney and the words covering up Cheney's words was no mistake.. some creep at CNN couldn't resist being an axxhole.