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Agree that Ms. Noonan has tended lately to go off the reservation, but in this case the first thing I also thought (in case his friend passed away from his wounds) was the VP might decide to step down to remove this as a distraction to the president.

Benefits: Dubya could in effect appoint a likely successor, and he's specifically mentioned that he'd like to see Condi in the White house. In fact, a scenario like this is probably the only way that Condi Rice would or could be persuaded and positioned to run in '08. Second, it would help pull the plug on McCain's hopes (however faint) that he could be the nominee. I do not trust that man's judgement or sanity but he might (by early '08) persuade enough Republican voters that he's the "only hope" to beat Clinton II to have a shot in the primaries.