McCain is angling for Pres in 08 AND Cheney's replacement this year.

[Stoic]

I think Cheney will retire because of "health reasons" this year and McCain knows this. He's courting the radicals because he wants to be appointed Veep. That's why he's attacking Cheney and holding off on Bush.

[Orangepeel]

1. does the VP have to stay awake during speeches?

I guess not! :D

[liberaldemocrat7]

4. The Democratic Congress would never allow McCain to get VP position.

The Democratic congress would never allow McCain to ascend to the Vice Presidency. Republicans do this often in positions around the country. A person resigns an office to give the replacement some incumbency.

If Cheney must resign either the VP office will stay vacant until 2009 or Ted Stevens or someone not seen as going for the presidency in 2008 will get confirmed as Vice President.

[Imagevision]

2. Cheney may just have heart issues as more is revealed in Libby trial

[GreenTea]

3. Good it'll give us another Dem Senator.

[sofa king]

5. They'll leave it vacant.

The 25th Amendment requires that both houses of Congress approve the President's nominee by majority vote.

Worse, this President has surrendered so much of his operational power to the Office of the Vice President that it's unlikely that the Doofus-in-Chief will compromise on anyone other than someone within his criminal inner circle. With Cheney out of the picture that's pretty much down to Condoleeza Rice and Paul Wolfowitz, neither of whom should be allowed to get the job. I really wouldn't be surprised if he tried to drag Donald Rumsfeld back into the job.

On the other hand, if the Democrats refuse to vote on the nominee, the office is left vacant and Nancy Pelosi is next in line of succession until the office is filled.

We'd be crazy not to play that card and hope the President cracks under the burden of actual and unavoidable responsibility.