Why Cheney is likely to resign before anyone gets him...

[JackRiddler]

Done right, Cheney's resignation is the best shot he has to extend his power past 2008. He is a dictator at heart, but rules conditionally, as the head capo of an organized crime organization. Their consensus best interest may be to have their own front men scapegoated, if this helps in securing their stay through 2012. And the "scapegoats" can end up being blamed only by history, but richly rewarded in material terms as they head on to a carefree retirement and eventual (semi)rehabilitation by the servile punditry (as happened with Nixon).

I predict, Cheney goes "for health reasons" sometime later this year:

- allows a cathartic "beast is dead" feeling for naive critics of the Bush regime; as though their opposition bounced the Dick.
- allows him to designate (behind the scenes) his own successor
- sets up this successor as a clean-slate, new look candidate for 2008 - bypassing most of the tedium of a nomination process.
- allows the media to go totally Republican, honeymooning the new beast without having the handicap of seeming to support the discredited Bush
- insurance against a Dubya impeachment, which is not out of the question as revelations of crime may yet come that spin the bogus controlled investigation/oversight process a la Pelosi out of control.

The successor will be meant as the 2008 winner, and again can be set up as the new prez even before then, if Bush is judged to be expendable. Rice is a possibility, because she might as well be Cheney, but I guess they'll go for someone not as obviously tainted with having been part of this regime. Giuliani.

This is also the perfect set-up for an Iran strike to be done as though it was something that history forced on the new guy, as though he/she didn't want it but pow, there it was.

[wryter2000]

1. I think you're right that resigning would be the best thing for him

And for the Republicans. I have to wonder if he's too out of touch with reality and too in love with himself to do it, though. We'll see.

[darkstar7646]

2. Can't see that argument...

Because if Cheney goes, Bush would probably follow (this is probably the ONLY thing preventing Congress from tossing Bush right F-ing now), and we'd get Pelosi.

The real question is what they are going to do to keep power, and I think something is going to happen in early-mid 2007 to see to that. They can't wait much longer. They need more of the who-they-consider-unfit to get into the army, and that's going to take conscription.

[mike_c]

13. no-- that's the line of succession, not the line of replacement....

If Cheney goes, Bush gets to appoint a new VP. If Bush resigns or is impeached, the new VP becomes Prez. The only way to put Pelosi in the white house is to remove Bush and Cheney SIMULTANEOUSLY. And even then I'd bet the Court becomes involved if it happens as the result of impeachment.

[Geoff R. Casavant]

22. Amendment XXV of the Constitution

If Cheney resigns, any nominee Bush puts forward must be approved by majorities of both houses of Congress.

So no need to impeach them both simultaneously.

[frogcycle]

33. impeaching bush while holding off on confirming a replacement vp

would just not fly. I love the idea, but the howls would be unbelievable. It would be called a coup. The backlash could put the jackasses back in power in two years, and then for a long, long, long time

[JackRiddler]

26. the idea works best as pre-emption

Before impeachment becomes a serious threat, Cheney resigns for health reasons.

At any rate, the "only thing" keeping the Congress from impeaching Bush right now is that they have no such intention whatsoever. It's only a slight possibility because the investigations now made possible by Democratic control might inadvertantly uncover something that Pelosi/Reid can't sweep back under the rug. But unless that happens the Democratic leadership wish to play bipartisan kindergarden, they have no intention of seeing the regime be held accountable for its crimes - which is disastrous because once again, the criminals will learn that crime pays, handsomely.

Clinton's failure to use the presidency to pursue the enormous Bush I/Reagan regime crimes led directly to the situation in which he was later impeached and Bush II could be put into power. Unfortunately, in this country the loyal opposition never learns.

[Ian David]

3. He'll resign to spend more time shooting his own family in the face. n/t

[Diane R]

4. I've thought that, too. For all the same reasons.

[Gman]

5. John Bolton

or maybe Negroponte. Just seems like a good fit.

[Virginia Dare]

6. Maybe he'll pull a Rumsfeld, and resign...

yet "maintain an office" in the White House..:shrug:

[Lost-in-FL]

7. That won't happen...

Cheney being the Vice-president is what is keeping Congress from impeaching **. I am sure the WH knows that.

[JackRiddler]

9. Maybe - so what?

As the clock runs out to Nov. 2008, the Shrub becomes progressively expendable. In fact, he's pretty close to being a liability to his mob. Why not pretend a new honeymoon with the designated successor and set him/her up?!

[Lost-in-FL]

12. Good point...

but you really think the WH care for the bickering going on in their own party? While the Republics in Congress complaint to the WH about failed policies, the Bush's and Cheney's bank accounts are getting fatter by the minute. They don't care for human rights or the Constitution, you think they care about the Republic Party? They are all about "$$$ staying the course $$$".

[JackRiddler]

27. I don't think it's about the Republican Party

That's a fundraising mechanism and a club for voter/sheep. The maneuver I'm talking about would have the goal of maintaining the hold on power of the Bush mob (in the extended sense: the Iran Contra crew, the neocons/PNAC, the rogue CIA who arose from the 1970s period).

[TahitiNut]

18. I don't believe that.

Cheney's doing what Cheney does outside of the spotlight right now. He already has all the power he wants with NONE of the visibility. I can't imagine him doing much worse ... especially if he's dragged out of his "undisclosed location" (cockroach hole).

[Lost-in-FL]

19. so true...

[hippiechick]

8. I suspect he's already got the Pardon papers ready ...

... just needs to put the crayon in Georgie's paw and he can go back to ruling the underworld from the shadows of his bunker.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

10. yep.

He knows he doesn't have to hold office, to wield massive power. He and Rumsfeld aren't really going to ever go away, unless they are torn out by the roots. And the roots are scary long.

[Philosoraptor]

11. I think it's plausible.

[AX10]

14. Sounds about right to me.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

15. Timing will be important

they've got to give Cheney's replacement time to be nominated and approved. They don't want the replacement in too early, or the replacement might mess up things even worse than they are, inheriting Bush's legacy and insuring a Democratic victory in '08. But if the replacement is in just long enough to do a few cosmetic changes to look "good" and "different", the replacement will still be in a honeymoon phase with the press in '08, gaining a better chance to win the WH.

What we will need to do, if at all possible, is to encourage Dems in Congress to mess up the timing, and to hold the replacement accountable for tough, not cosmetic, changes.

[BuyingThyme]

16. We HAVE TO start impeaching people.

Guys like Negroponte have to be banned from our government, or else they're just going to keep coming back.

[ClassWarrior]

31. Then you HAVE TO start complaining to your Reps...

...loudly and often. Every time you get the urge to write a post complaining about what someone else ISN'T doing, use the time instead to call, write, or email your Rep. At least THAT stands a chance of having some sort of effect.

NGU.

[TahitiNut]

17. You're missing one step (imho) ...

... and that's the 'martyring' of the Chimp. The Movers&Shakers cannot be looking forward to an 'ex-pResidency' of C-czar Disgustsus. He's a pathological narcissist in a job that's got the most massive 'naricissistic supply' on the planet. Even with it, he heeds recovery (and med?) time at the pig ranch and Camp David so much that he's a popsicle short of a meltdown. Solution? Martyr. If C-czar Disgustsus 'suffers' an 'accident' or, even better from their POV, an assassination (by terrorists!) then the GOP has a martyr ... and the sympathy vote.

This scenario seems so ... "convenient" ... that I just can't help but think (for well over a year, now) that it's in the cards.

[MadMaddie]

20. Even if he resigns he can still be prosecuted.

[baby_bear]

21. If Cheney goes, I predict Frist as the nominee to replace him

Given that Jeb is unlikely to be a candidate, Frist would be the hand-picked second choice.


I think it's all been set up, including Frist's announcement that he would not "run."

b_b

[greendog]

23. A replacement VP requires the approval of the Senate...

...and I'd bet lil' George won't be allowed to make a bad choice.

The job will either go unfilled....or he'll be told who to nominate.

[JackRiddler]

24. Like the bozos...

who run this farce would deny any choice... Can you see the Congress voting down Giuliani, or Frist for that matter? The whole point of this action will be to arrange the succession, so they'll be picking a criminal who is considered just a wonderful leader.

[greendog]

28. The Senate Democrats have a political interest...

...in preventing an "arrangement of succession" that benefits the Republican Party.

The Senate Republicans have a political interest in preventing further embarrassment to their Party. 23 of them will stand for re-election in 2008. Lil' George is a liability to them. I don't think they'll go out of their way to prop him up.

[Blackhatjack]

25. Likely Cheney will resign b/c 'health problems' and once he is out of office pardoned

Libby and his attorneys were hinting around that Libby needed a pardon. Uncle Dick will need one too when he leaves office.

The perfect set up to pardon them is to start another war with Iran, and Bush pardons them to put the 'distraction' behind us as we fight yet another war.

[yodermon]

29. He will appoint Lieberman

This is why he mentioned him by name on nat'l tv the other night.
It will be in a fit of "bipartisanship".
Plus they like to kiss.

[JackRiddler]

30. VERY unlikely

Lieberman can't give them a succession.

The whole point of this will be to act before momentum on impeachment. It will be played as innocent, and the Democrats will go along. Cheney goes for health reasons. The Democrats will respond obediently, wishing him a speedy recovery. A successor is named who is considered a swell guy and "outside" the administration, but in reality is fully part of the Bush mob - Giuliani is my example, it might be someone else but I can't think of anyone who fits as well. The Congress votes him in: they will not object, it's the president's perogative after all. A crisis follows - i.e., Iran - so that we are told by the media that we no longer have time to even think about what's happened. The new guy gets a honeymoon period and goes into Nov 2008 as the incumbent candidate. If Bush gets impeached, the new guy still has a great shot as one "untainted" by involvement in the admin. until now.

In 1976 despite all that had happened Ford lost by like, half a percent.

[JackRiddler]

32. kick

x

[alittlelark]

34. If he resigns I predict a 'heart attack' - chosen Medical Examiner

and cremation W/ massive pomp and circumstance surrounding it.

At which point he can hang w/ Kenny-Boy at the secure island (or wherever they hide).