WP: Cheney's Focus May Change in 2nd Term

[Pirate Smile]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62527-2005Jan10.html

WASHINGTON - Like the man behind the curtain working the levers in the "Wizard of Oz," Dick Cheney has been called the real power in President Bush's administration, perhaps the strongest vice president in U.S. history.

But as Bush enters his second term, Cheney's role is in flux. His chief task in Bush's first administration - mentoring a novice president with little foreign policy or legislative experience - has been accomplished. He remains dogged by heart disease and an FBI probe of a subsidiary of Halliburton, the company he once ran.

-snip-
"He was so influential that it was almost insulting to call him a vice president," said Paul Light, professor of public service at New York University. "He was a mentor, chair of the kitchen Cabinet, legitimizer, Rasputin - you name it - all rolled into one. Those roles have been chipped away over time."

-snip-
Franc conceded that early in his first term Bush, 58, "was deferring quite a bit" to Cheney, 63. But he said the two men have "a great partnership" and trust that will only be "deeper and fuller" in Bush's second term.

[tavalon]

1. Insulting to call him a vice president?!

Um, that is his title. The fact that he is the de facto President is neither here nor there.

Mmmmmm, Kool-aide!

[Vidar]

11. Emohasis on "vice".

[Catfight]

2. BS...Bush is still a puppet to the people who coach him all day. nt

[burythehatchet]

3. his 2nd term will be spent in the courtroom

of my dreams

[tavalon]

4. That is a beautiful dream

superceded only by my own, of him being frogmarched out of the Capitol with his puppet on a leash behind him.

May we both get our wish..............

[tanyev]

5. Hey...

Franc conceded that early in his first term Bush, 58, "was deferring quite a bit" to Cheney, 63.

Maybe Bush's ego and arrogance will lead him to conclude that he no longer needs Cheney. That could lead to some interesting conflicts between the two of them.

[Danmel]

6. I refuse to contemplate a "Fuller & Deeper" relationship between them

I cannot allow my mind to go there.

[Kolesar]

7. Cheney has cut off Condi Rice's power

He will be running the state department. Is not that a chilling thought?

[w4rma]

8. Condi/Cheney, does it matter which one of those bozos run things if

one of them is going to be doing it? They're both out of touch with reality, except on PR which they appear to be masters at.

[Stinky The Clown]

9. In a related story .......

Washington, DC - January 10, 2005: TrueNews (a fake news source) has been following the trail of enormous purchases of KY jelly and plastic gloves. KY, a lubricant frequently used for both medical purposes and as a sexual aid to make orifice insertions easier, has been purchased in bulk quantities by the Office of the Vice President, as have plastic surgical gloves. Although the White House and the Office of the Vice President have steadfastly refused to answer speculative questions from the press, it has been reported by various sources that Mr. Bush is unable to speak - or even move about - without these supplies and either Mr. Cheney's or Ms. Rice's hand controlling him. One former employee of the National Security Council, who had first hand observations of interactions between Bush and Rice, noted that without such manipulation, Mr. Bush simply melts into a puddle-like blob.

Capitol Hill Democrats were heard to say there is no truth to the matter and they support the President's policies.

[peacetalksforall]

10. Cheney's role is string puller. Cowboy dim, the marionette, has

shifts of string pullers. Picture Cheney with one paddle, on another paddle, the job is shared by Rice, Card, and Rove - one moves the mouth, another works the the facial expressions, and someone adjusts the swagger. In between appearances, they coach him - which is in between his speaking to them (bad jokes and quips).

The job description for the NSC head was changed for this rPesident.

[demigoddess]

12. different? as in a monarchy needs an heir not a VP?

you cannot say that these guys do not tell us their plans upfront.

[Massachusetts]

13. Dickless Cheney writes in his diary..

..Note to self, for second term. Same as first term and my career, Cover up, Lie, Steal, oh, and get Lynne's literary masterpiece on the best seller list.

[bluestateguy]

14. Maybe he'll end up like Vice President John Hoynes

?

[Massachusetts]

15. No way

Hoynes speaks French!

[Tempest]

16. He's going to work harder to get his Halliburton stock up

So that when he dissolves his trust fund in 2009, the stock is worth more than the 32% increase it's seen so far.