http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=a060ea3c05495e62The front page of London's Sunday Times this week is led by the headline, "Dump Cheney for Condi, Bush urged."
The story is not entirely new as rumors are abound that Condoleezza Rice, despite her denials, is being groomed for a crack at the presidency in 2008. Some insiders have also speculated on Rice being handed the vice presidency to boost her prospects.
One of the key factors at play is the Bush family. President George Bush Snr. is the pre-eminent networker in Washington. His Christmas card list alone numbers in the hundreds of thousands. He has played an influential role in the last several presidential elections. Recently the Bush camp has been seen getting closer to Senator John McCain, the Republican front-runner. Bush Jnr. however is a very close confidant of Rice, and has had run-ins with McCain in the past.
Adding to the intrigue is that the publication of Sunday's story appears as the lead in The Sunday Times, arguably one of London's most politically influential newspapers, often credited with shaping public opinion. It is also owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, a close ally of the Bush family. Roger Ailes, formerly Bush Snr's chief media co-ordinator, is Chairman of the Board, CEO and President of Murdoch's Fox News Channel.
snip...
"If the Democrats win either the House of Representatives or the Senate it will be death and torment. It will be horrible for Bush," said Barnes. A Democrat win could lead to moves to impeach Bush for leading the country to war on allegedly false pretences, or at the very least, to bog down the president's legislative programme until he leaves office in 2008.
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and my favorite quote...
Only one two-term victor has been more unpopular than Bush at a similar six-year stage in his presidency - Richard Nixon in the months before he was impeached