Viera: 'Beginning of the End' for VP Cheney?

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Meredith Vieira [file photo] was in a light-hearted mood at the top of this morning's "Today," joshing with substitute co-host Ann Curry about the estrogen on the set, even offering to leave her husband for the winner of the Powerball lottery. But we shouldn't have let the idle chatter fool us. When it came to discussing the repercussions of the Libby conviction, Meredith's leopard-skinned blouse should have been a clue -- because she pounced.

Discussing the trial with NBC host turned star prosecution witness Tim Russert [file photo], Meredith displayed on screen and read this quotation from Republican strategist [and former Dole campaign manager] Scott Reed that appeared in a New York Times article this morning:

“The trial has been death by 1,000 cuts for Cheney. It’s hurt him inside the administration. It’s hurt him with the Congress, and it’s hurt his stature around the world because it has shown a lot of the inner workings of the White House. It peeled the bark right off the way they operate.”

Vieira then asked Russert: "Is this the beginning of the end, do you believe, for the Vice President?"

Russert did nothing to deflect the notion: "The president is on record saying that if anyone leaked information like this, they would be dealt with. It appears that Mr. Cheney gave Mr. Libby the information. As Kelly [O'Donnell] reported, Mr. Armitage and Mr. Rove shared information with reporters. And so the president now has to come to grips with that, and recognize that having made a committment to deal with that, how will he do that?

Sounds like Russert calling for the head of the Vice-President. Of course the Mr. Cheney is a separately-elected constitutional officer. He does not serve at the pleasure of the president. But leaving that asisde, and even by Tim's terms, neither Cheney nor Libby could have "leaked" Plame's identity since it was, thanks to Richard Armitage, already out there. But that didn't stop Russert, with a little helpful prodding from Vieira, from none-too-subtly suggesting that Cheney should go.

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net

[CFC__VRWC]

President Bush can't just kick Cheney out and stick someone into his office. His VP appointment has to be approved by a majority of both houses of Congress, and there's no way in hell that the democrats will allow him to appoint anyone to that office, let alone Condi Rice. They'll happily leave that office vacant for the remainder of Bush's term while they actively work to remove Bush from office.

This is nothing new - anyone who has paid any attention whatsoever to the last six years knew that the media would immediately start the full-court press on Cheney to be taken out of office. Every time his name appears in the news, the media finds some reason to demand his resignation and/or impeachment. He's withstood it for six years - you'd better hope he can take it for another two, and refuses to go anywhere.

[ASA Vet]

The anti-Condi FReepers of the last couple years always bring up the abortion thing and claim it's a negative for her, making her unelectable.

Many of those same folks are part of the 14.1% supporting RinoRudy who is a pro-abort.

[mmichaels1970]

Do you think if Cheney retired it would end there? Libby was the first target they went after and they picked him off. Now they smell blood. If they managed to claim some huge victory by getting Cheney to retire, then they go after the POTUS. All the GOP has done is appease these guys and they keep getting slapped. All the GOP has done is let the lefties like Berger and Clinton off the hook. While the left attempts to destroy them. Will Bush be afraid to pardon Libby because he is worried that the left will be angry? Did Bill Clinton care when he pardoned Marc Rich.

[varon]

.........but I think it would be a great strategic move to retire and appoint Condi VP. She would be a shoe-in for president and could KICK Hilliary's rather large a$$ in presidential debates.

Agreed that Dr. Rice could very well out debate Senator Clinton but Dr. Rice doesn't have much more than that going for her. She's been a rather bland Secretary of State during a rather less than stellar war on/against _________________ (fill in the blank).

She wouldn't have an advantage being a female as most people will acknowledge that Senator Hillary is one as well. She would not have the advantage because of her race as most people will acknowledge that Senator Obama is at least half black.

Additionally, Senator Clinton does not look kindly toward debates and it is very likely that after February 5, 2008 she will be chosen as her party's candidate and eliminate any need to debate her opponents in the primaries. As to general elections, she will allow her husband, our first black president, to make speeches on her behalf and structure any debates that she may be forced to participate in with the Republican candidate in such a way as to allow her to pontificate instead of debate.

[brazzaville]

Good morning.
"So who becomes VP is Cheney has to resign, or something....?"

Gerald Ford?

Oops, we've already seen that movie and he's dead anyway.

Michael Frazier

[ELS]

How do people think that someone can just move someone else in as veep[?]

Look back to V.P. Agnew. He resigned and Nixon appointed Ford.

[YaYa123]

"Vieira then asked Russert: "Is this the beginning of the end, do you believe, for the Vice President?" Russert did nothing to deflect the notion: "The president is on record saying that if anyone leaked information like this, they would be dealt with. It appears that Mr. Cheney gave Mr. Libby the information. "

Beware what you ask for Pumpkin Head. You and Chris Matthews calling for Cheney's head on a platter????? What would you think if Cheney did resign and Bush replaced him with Jeb. LMAO! That would give republicans an almost unbeatable incumbant VP to run against Hillary. It's my belief all the Democrat yammering about another Bush in DC, all the senate's attempts to keep it from happening wouldn't work. Red and blue states alike know Jeb Bush would make a fine VP, and a great president to boot.

[roses of sharon]

Russert knows he is lying to the public, he should be destroyed.

[greyfoxx39]

Cheney resigns, no replacement allowed by dems=Bush impeached=President Pelosi....this is the aim of the traitors since Jan. 2000,(get rid of Bush and get even for the Clinton impeachment) and they and their media lackeys have worked tirelessly to this end.

They would only be happier with the simultaneous deaths of Bush and Cheney.

[mmichaels1970]

"The president is on record saying that if anyone leaked information like this, they would be dealt with. It appears that Mr. Cheney gave Mr. Libby the information. "

By the way, why is confidential info shared between two people with security clearances considered a leak? Don't you think Cheney and Libby discussed many confidential issues, especially since we are at war? Russert is insinuating that the VP discussing classified info with his COS is leaking. Kind of defeats the purpose of having a COS to begin with then.

[Miss Didi]

Cheney resigns, no replacement allowed by dems=Bush impeached=President Pelosi....this is the aim of the traitors since Jan. 2000,(get rid of Bush and get even for the Clinton impeachment) and they and their media lackeys have worked tirelessly to this end.

You forgot one little factor in their dream scenario...does a certain "Pantsuit" ring a bell?

[Churchillspirit]

I could not believe the hypocrisy yesterday from the gleeful liberals. All hot to trot about perjury on any subject being absolutely unacceptable and dire consequences were called for.

How soon they forget the perjury of one William Jefferson Clinton. What was their mantra then?

It was only about sex, so that should not count.

[YaYa123]

mm, your # 50 brilliantly refutes Russert's assertion that Cheney was "leaking" when he talked to Libby. I guess that means Bush is leaking when he talks to Cheney.

[Mr. K]

you are making the mistake that people will vote on the best candidate- Hilliary's supporters include a good portion of women who will vote for her simply because she is a woman (I know some people like that) If she ads Obama to her ticket (highly likely IMHO) then you get a huge portion of people who will vote for the ticket because they have a black person. If we have Condi running then we get a large portion of BOTH of those groups who will see Condi as a superior choice as a woman, and as PRESIDENT (not VP) as a Black woman (not even half black) We, as conservatives, have to find a way to influence the lower half of the bell curve.

[Mr. K]

no absolutley not- I just see it as a good strategery

[Mr. K]

You must not be old enougyh to remmeber when Spiro Agnew resigned and Rockefeller was picked to succeed him.

[Mr. K]

State department is riddled with treasonous bush-haters. condi is simply the best candidate i see anywhere. She is smart, articulate, honest, etc etc.

I give her bonus points for being all of that above and beyond any other RINO trying to be the republican nominee. Duncan Hunter would be a great choice for VP.

This is nothing against Cheney at all- I knew the press would go full-court against him as soon as this was over, but that has nothing to do with it. I have suggested this long ago.

HilLIARy/Obama is going to be a TOUGH ticket to beat. Condi can do it.

[Mo1]

Russert has visions of the 1970's and the Nixon Administration

Kiss off Russert .. ain't ever going to happen

[CFC__VRWC]

I was a kid when that happened, but Ford had to have a majority of the House and Senate approve his nomination of Rockefeller as VP.

I'm saying that will not happen given the current crop of Dims, and they will a thousand times never consider approving Condoleezza Rice as VP. Uh-uh, it ain't gonna happen. Bush would have no choice but to recess appoint her, and I can guarantee you the Dims would immediately challenge the legality of that in court, if for no other reason than to delay her taking the office. If necessary, Harry Reid might even hold the Senate in continuous session, with no recesses, just to deny Bush the chance to make an appointment.

[mewzilla]

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