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]

And a correction - Rockefeller was not appointed to replace Agnew. Ford was appointed to replace Agnew, and Ford nominated Rockefeller to be his VP when he became President after Nixon's resignation. And Ford had to be be approved by a majority of the House and Senate too, just like Rockefeller.

[BuffaloJack]

The Scotter Libby trial was liberal tainted.
A members of the jury was a personal friend of Tim Russert. Others belonged to Moveon.org. Russert's friend now intends to write an book. You can't sell a book based on an aquittal, nobody would buy it.

How could there possibly be an impartial jury?

[ClaireSolt]

Ford was speaker of the House.

[ClaireSolt]

correction. "Ford was the first person appointed to the vice presidency under the terms of the 25th Amendment. Upon succession to the presidency, Ford became the only person to hold that office without having been elected either President or Vice President. Prior to becoming Vice President, he served for over eight years as the Republican Minority Leader of the House of Representatives as a representative from Michigan's 5th congressional district."

[metmom]

Condi? I could handle that.

[Liberty Valance]

Yep. Thanks for the reality check.

[Major_Risktaker]

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

The main man...Jeb.

Long live the Dynasty!