Posted on 11/12/2006 9:48:47 PM PST by jmc1969
WHEN US Vice-President Dick Cheney fired a shotgun into the face of his buddy Harry Whittington on a hunting trip earlier this year, The New York Post carried a banner headline that read: "Cheney's got a gun". The headline explained how the quail shoot had gone wrong, and captured the sense of foreboding Cheney has always brought to US politics.
Even the revelatory tone seemed to speak to the excessive secrecy that is a Cheney hallmark - and which was evident in the attempted cover-up of Whittington's near-death experience.
The shooting was back in February, when Cheney's immense influence over the White House was at its peak.
It was a time when the Iraq policy he had conceived with defence secretary and lifelong pal Donald Rumsfeld - the policy that has come to define the careers of both men - was holding up well enough for the Bush administration to be contemplating troop reductions.
If Cheney quits, Bush could appoint in his place one of the contenders for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008.
Previously, Mitt Romney and George Pataki, the retiring governors of Massachusetts and New York respectively, have been mentioned as possible replacements in the event of a Cheney resignation. So has George Allen, the ambitious but now defeated senator from Virginia, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
But what if Bush were to ask one of the Republican frontrunners, either John McCain or Rudy Giuliani, to take the job? Would they accept on the basis that the vice-presidency is the best place from which to launch a presidential run, or would they decline for fear of being tainted by the Bush legacy?
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.news.com.au ...
Cheney for SofS...heh heh heh...
Will never happen.
What nonsense.
He's not gonna quit on the WOT.
What are they smoking? The only 2 resignations (Agnew & Nixon) were the result of indictments (or the impeachment equivalent).....
I can't even believe people are even talking about Cheney leaving.
Insanity
Any reasonable replacement doesn't stand a chance.
"Except that any replacement would have to be approved by the Senate"
No
With the Senate so close 51-49, Bush is going to need someone he can trust on the tie votes which are bound to occur. In fact, The VP will probably have to be available on very short notice for key votes. I don't think changing horses at this late date is a good idea. The VP will be a key player.
Good Lord, I'd forgot about Cheney. He's got something going for him ... he's sane.
The new VP would have to be confirmed by Congress, and with the Dems in charge, they could stall forever, leaving Pelosi next line for the Presidency.
Getting rid of Cheney may or may not be a good idea, but his replacement does not have to be ok'ed by Congress.
Both the House and Senate must approve.
Amendment XXV
1. In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.
3. Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.
4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office."
He sure does. Read Amendment XXV.
You are wrong. Read my post #17.
Heh, beat me by 20 seconds, and you got the full text too! ;-)
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