The Town Hall Archives

The Top Crusader · Posted: Wed May 07, 2003 12:04 pm Post subject: Vice President in 2004

Well, now it's being reported that I am going to once again have Dick Cheney as my running mate in 2004. Now what do ya'll think of this? I gotta tell ya, Dick's a good guy, but part of me is thinking we need some fresher blood, to set up a good candidate for 2008!

Jared · Posted: Wed May 07, 2003 12:59 pm Post subject:

Top, you really need to quit the Bush act.

Anyway, on the question of Cheney on the bottom of the ticket in '04, a few thoughts:

- Dick Cheney's VP years thus far haven't caught a lot of attention in many circles. To many, there's just not much to report. None of the questionable fundraisers or anything else that makes news. But sometimes, not making headlines is a good thing. The veep isn't supposed to be out there causing problems a la Gore.

- Some complain that Cheney isn't a charismatic speaker. Well, I love his speeches, but definitely view his speeches as more of scholarly lectures than addresses meant to get the crowd excited. But, especially considering the fact that Cheney won't be running for the presidency in 2008, isn't this what a vice president SHOULD be like? He is a man who carefully weighs the issues, decides where he stands and forcefully defends that stance inside the White House. That's what the veep SHOULD do!

- Cheney has had a history of heart trouble, but indications are that he is over the worst of it and there is no reason to suspect future trouble. Sure, you can expect Maureen Dowd or someone like her to crack that one heartbeat away from the presidency runs on a defibrillator, but that charge isn't going to stick. The vice president is healthy. Making fun of his heart troubles past is definitely not a winning issue.

- With the war on terrorism not likely to be over any time soon, Cheney is needed in the administration. He is a truly great man and a truly necessary one. He knows what he believes, he sticks to those beliefs and he works hard to make sure that right is done. His foreign policy expertise is a huge plus here.

- Cheney pulls many of the cabinet members together. He is great in the meetings and was instrumental in getting agreement between State (he's worked with Powell before, in the previous Bush administration, and Armitage once worked under him, I believe) and Defense (he's known Rumsfeld since they worked together under President Ford and the two of them, plus Wolfowitz and Perle, get along very well). He's been in presidential politics and defense mechanisms forever... He knows exactly what he's doing.

- On the other hand, vice presidents are usually the party's next POTUS nominee after (and assuming that) the president under which he serves fulfills two terms. In fact, the last exception to this rule was Thomas Marshall, veep under Woodrow Wilson, 1913-1921. Cheney has no interest in the presidency and, quite frankly, could never win it. I'd love to have him as president; I have a lot of respect for him and think he'd be a phenomenal president and commander-in-chief. But while his would be an administration of great substance, Cheney would be considered too "drab" or "dull" for the office by the voters. Yes, the people who look at the candidates side-by-side and vote for the one who is taller... Besides, in 2008, he'll be past the "prime age" for the position and his health may not be conducive to four to eight years in the White House.

- Which begs the question: as good as Cheney is, does Bush owe it to the party to give them a de facto frontrunner for the 2008 race? I'd say no. As much as I like planning for years down the road, we have to look at now and there's no better choice than Dick Cheney. Colorado Governor Bill Owens was certainly an interesting possibility and I would have been happy with him on the ticket (and definitely consider him a possible presidential candidate in 2008), but in the end, it comes down to national security and defense issues for the VP at this particular time and no one is more qualified than Dick Cheney.

- Still, I am one to speculate and want a certain chain of events. My thoughts on what should have happened IF Bush decided to pick someone else as veep: Cheney should replace Powell as Secretary of State (kind of rude... to downgrade Cheney's level in the administration, that is... but he's just the man to finally fix the State Department) and Owens should take the VP slot. That way, Powell is out of the picture (as everyone here knows, I have always disliked his dovish policy), Cheney is still in the administration AND we have a new vice president who will have the mantle when he runs in 2008. But obviously, there are many flaws in that idea... And obviously, it's happening very differently than that.

- A reason to be thankful that Cheney's running? Well, consider the other people considered vice presidential material. There's Owens, who I've mentioned three times now, but who else?

Secretary (and former governor of my state of Pennsylvania) Ridge of the Department of Homeland Security? A terrible thought. He's weak on everything and just plain terrible on the abortion issue.

Condaleeza Rice? A very skilled and interesting person - I'd like her to be in the CA governor's mansion following the '06 elections, but I can't support her for the vice presidency and definitely not for the presidency, as she too supports the supposed "right" to abortion, even though she personally dislikes it. She's also in favor of affirmative action.

Bill Frist? In the Senate, he's shown that he's a weak leader who doesn't quite know what he's doing. He's also shown a willingness to compromise even when compromising is not an option. He's said to have presidential aspirations, but I hope he doesn't make it. (Would I vote for him if he were the GOP nominee? Yes. But I'd oppose him throughout the primaries.) Personally, I'm just hoping he sticks to his term-limit promises so we can get someone new in there - both as Leader and in his Senate seat - soon.

- So, in conclusion to all of this, I'll just say that I'm glad that Cheney is running again. Bush couldn't have made a better choice!

The Top Crusader · Posted: Wed May 07, 2003 1:06 pm Post subject:

Well, like I said, I really like the guy. But I just think having someone in line to run in 2008 is very important. I mean, if he stepped down from VP, he could still serve in some capacity in the Bush Administration.

But still, the problem of finding another running mate is a pickle.

I would suggest my Government/US History teacher Mr. Bowman.

Or... how about Jeb!? Shock

Jared · Posted: Wed May 07, 2003 1:54 pm Post subject:

I just can't imagine a Bush/Bush ticket... :)

Although Jeb IS said to have presidential ambitions and is often named as a possibility for 2008...

A REALLY strange scenario:

[Parenthetical year ranges are years as president, not birth and death]

- Bush (George Herbert Walker, 1988-1992)
- Clinton (William Jefferson, 1992-2000)
- Bush (George Walker, 2000-2008)
- Clinton (Hillary Rodham, 2008-2012)
- Bush (John Ellis [JEB], 2012-2020)

Now, wouldn't THAT be strange? (Of course, it requires a disasterous four years of Hillary. But I don't think she'll win when she runs in 2008.)

Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton, Bush... Kennedy dynasty, step out of the way! We've got some new ones! Yellow Smile

The Top Crusader · Posted: Wed May 07, 2003 2:24 pm Post subject:

Perhaps a Bush/Quale ticket in 2004? Confused

Or not...

Zaphod Beeblebrox · Posted: Wed May 07, 2003 5:45 pm Post subject:

Combos I'd like to see:

- Bush/Osama
'Nuff said.

- Bush/Bush
Like the previous, only Daddy is VP.

- Bush/Clarence Thomas
Who cares about the Supreme Court nowadays anyway? (That was sarcastic.) I'd like to see Clarence Thomas run for (at least) VP...

- Will Smith/Eddie Murphy or Tommy Lee Jones
Self-explanatory, no? Razz

hawkeye · Posted: Wed May 07, 2003 7:38 pm Post subject:

smurfs · Guest

why cant we have a girl vice president ?

The Top Crusader · Posted: Wed May 07, 2003 11:44 pm Post subject:

Cause men are superior. Very Happy

Coralfish · Posted: Thu May 08, 2003 12:16 am Post subject:

Hillary, now that would be a nightmare.

Personally, I hope that George W. Bush runs for re-election...as it seems quite likely that he will.