Posted on 07/07/2004 10:41:28 AM PDT by areafiftyone
ALBANY — President Bush should consider dumping Vice President Dick Cheney from the Republican ticket this year, an influential former GOP senator said Wednesday. Alfonse D’Amato said Bush should consider putting Secretary of State Colin Powell or Sen. John McCain of Arizona on the GOP ticket. There was no immediate comment from the Bush-Cheney campaign. Bush has long maintained he wants Cheney to be his running mate. The D’Amato advice came one day after Bush’s Democratic challenger, Sen. John Kerry, announced he had selected Sen. John Edwards to be his running mate. “Let me note that Vice President Cheney is a decent, honorable, and patriotic American, a man of great intellect, who has served the president and the nation with dedication,” D’Amato said in a statement released by his office. “But we should make no mistake, we are a nation at war with a vicious terrorist foe, and in war hard decisions must be made.” “As an observer of politics, I believe the president can guarantee his essential re-election by looking to several other notable individuals who would add a great dimension to his ticket as a running mate,” the New York Republican added. Placing Powell “first and foremost” on his wish list to replace Cheney, D’Amato said the retired general “would help galvanize the nation and offer a truly historic opportunity for American unity and pride.” McCain, said D’Amato, is “a genuine American hero who would also help bridge the political divide in our nation and assure the president’s re-election by a wide margin.” “While I believe George Bush will win re-election even without this bold stroke, he will insure a broader, deeper, more resonant reaffirmation of his leadership if he places his duty to continue as president above any one individual,” D’Amato said. “The president deserves more than simple re-election,” the former senator added. “He deserves a mandate to continue to lead this nation to peace and prosperity.” D’Amato, who is now a highly successful lobbyist and consultant, first raised the possibility of Bush dropping Cheney from the GOP ticket in an interview Tuesday night with the NY 1 cable news channel in New York City. D’Amato is a regular commentator for NY 1. In his NY 1 appearance, D’Amato said that while he realized his comments would “shock Republicans and probably get them angry,” he said, “I think we can do better.” The former senator said he believed Powell would run with Bush if the position was offered to him. That, said D’Amato, “would change politics in America for the better.” “Instead of millions of African-Americans having their votes taken for granted or just saying, ‘Republicans don’t care about us, they don’t reach out to us,’ this would send an incredible signal,” D’Amato said. “It would turn many of the battle (ground) states into tremendous wins for Republicans.” D’Amato said McCain, who had been unsuccessfully courted by Kerry as a running mate, would help the GOP win votes from independents and conservative “Reagan Democrats.” D’Amato, who lost his Senate seat in 1998 to Democrat Charles Schumer, is a political mentor to New York Gov. George Pataki, who is considered a potential 2008 GOP presidential candidate.
Originally published on July 7, 2004
However, "reassignment" would be good.
Listen, the word out in the trenches, among Mr. and Mrs. America is, unfortunately, that Cheney is balast around Bush's legs. He needs to be jettisoned to a cabinet position, and a strong VP put in for the second term. Sorry, Cheney fans, but Dick will be more powerful and influential in another post, and will be a credit to the effort in that regard.
BRING BACK ARI!!!!
I disagree. Besides there is no one else to tap. The GOP has a really weak bench. Frist isn't the star that some say he is, and Guiliani doesn't open up NY. I love Rudy, but I think it is an unwise move.
Cheney is sound. Cheney is the guy.
if the base isn't strongly on board because of who is at the top of the ticket - and who the opponent is, then its a base not worth having.
If Bush loses this election, and low turnout amongst the base is the reason, the Republican party is going to shift left. Because having a base that can't provide 50.1% of the vote, and stops you from trying to get additional votes that can, isn't worth having - it's political suicide.
You're correct, except that the media will be out of the picture when Cheney debates Edwards head on! It will be no contest!
Yep. It's only in retrospect that the media admits that Bush beat Gore in all three debates. They certainly didn't say that at the time!
"In my humble opinion"
None, other than his well known heart condition.
My comment was meant to be taken in context of my comment that if Cheney felt he would hurt the President's chances of reelection, he is the type of person that would not have to be asked to step down, but would do so of his own volition, if he felt it would hurt the ticket.
I hope that never happens, but the press has been relentlessly viscious and somewhat successful in falsely vilifying Cheney, much as they successfully maligned Quail and pretty much ruined his political career.
Bush is not going to drop Cheney. Aside form the loyalty issue (agreed important to Bush), dropping him from the ticket would be used as a cudgel against Bush by the Demonrats, thus nullifying any possible gain that might derived from a new veep candidate. And as others have opined, Cheney is likely to acquit himself more than adequately against Boy Edwards.
You are absolutely correct, and thanks for pointing that out.
This time the "Rebels" won't lose!
E-I-E-I-O
The Fonz should make better use of his time by keeping one eye on his very young new wife and the other on the contractors who are building his monstrosity in Long Beach.
If Cheney steps aside Bush needs to get Rudy G on the horn and add him ASAP so we can win NY/NJ and be done with it.
Exactly! Never did like Al -- really bugged me for years. That's why I say health would be the ONLY reason VP Cheney would leave the ticket.
Allie D should get in the STFU line right behind Pat Buchanan.
Dick Cheney has got to be the most competent, articulate and
intelligent vice-president I have ever known in my entire life. Gimme a break.
**Alfonse D’Amato said Bush should consider putting Secretary of State Colin Powell or Sen. John McCain of Arizona on the GOP ticket.**
I still say Rudy Giuliani.
Was on the Cheney bandwagon before he agreed to serve and everytime I hear him speak in person I am reminded how much I admire this man and his great wisdom and vision. I wanted him to run for Pres in 1996! Personally I hope he stays on the ticket -- no one better IMHO.
amato was
I understand there are health issues that would likely preclude McCain from consideration as a Presidential or VP candidate.
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