I call it my secret plan because I haven't seen anyone else blog about it. It's my secret plan for GWB to defeat Kerry by a landslide in the upcoming election.
But you'll have to go to the extended section to read about it...
Incidentally, I blogged about this back in March. (here)
The Bush Administration needs some new blood. I think that a week or two before the Republican Convention in NYC that Dick Cheney ought to announce that he is retiring from public life and will not be Vice-President for a second term. Cheney has plenty of good excuses for doing this. He's an old guy afterall. (He's 63) Then there's that persistent heart condition.
The Atlantic Monthly, a magazine I used to love because of it's dearth of liberal bias, recently did an article about the VP's heart condition. They interviewed some heart specialists who didn't really agree about whether his health was a risk as the Vice-President. Nonetheless, the article came up with this conclusion,
Although the official White House position today is that Cheney is in "excellent health," the Washington-insider magazine National Journal has recently reported that if in the run-up to the 2004 election too many people raise concerns about his political fitness for office, Cheney "could use health and his history of four heart attacks to construct a credible exit." It's possible, in other words, that the Vice President's medical condition could—ironically—help the Bush campaign dodge other electoral liabilities.[Source]
Dick Cheney has a plausible reason for bowing out that wouldn't embarass the President.
Who would be a good replacement?
It might come as a shock to Bob Woodward, but I think Colin Powell would be a great Vice-President.
Powell has broad appeal to those toward the center of the political spectrum. He's well respected and obviously has a ton of great experience. Many see him as a moderating force in the Administration. The fact that he's a retired General ought to keep the conservatives relatively happy and he would be the first African-American Vice-President.
Can Dick Cheney bury his ego long enough to resign as Vice-President? Are GWB's advisors "thinking outside the box" sufficiently enough to think of something like this? I doubt it but I'm hopeful.
This is much too complicated...It would be much more to the point just to get Kerry to tell us what he thinks about things; about what he plans to do about the UN oil-for-food scandal, about what role Ted Kennedy would play in his administration if he were elected (shudder), about why he won't execute the form that releases military records to the DoD, about why his wife is under no obligation to release her financial records, even though she's funding his campaign, about what exactly is his plan to destroy the terrorists, exactly.
Appointing Powell and Rice has done exactly nothing in terms of gaining Bush support among blacks, for reasons I don't entirely understand. So what would appointing Powell as VP accomplish?
I'm in favor of Minnesota's own Tim Pawlenty as VP myself, if you're still interested in changing VP's
Posted by: Douglas at May 29, 2004 12:39 PMI've had the same thoughts about Mr. Cheney... but I'd have Dr. Rice take his spot, although Colin is a great choice too. I don't think it's about getting more black support, personally I think it's about getting some freshness in the office.
Don't hold your breath waiting for Kerry to stop sitting on the fence, Douglas.
Posted by: Deb at May 29, 2004 01:03 PMI would not punish Powell or Rice anymore then they have been. I hate black liberals who charge that any black who is not a democrat is an Uncle Tom sellout. I honestly feel sorry for any black who makes it in politics who is not far left. They have a rough road to travel.
Do not punish Rice or Powell anymore.
As for a possible change in the VP office. I would recommend someone who is in the center in politics like jdMays said. The right is a way to right in Washington for many. They need to thin the extreme right wing nature of the current group.
Posted by: gunner at May 29, 2004 04:24 PMI'm not pushing for Powell as VP primarily for the African-American vote. If they won't vote for Bush based on the fact that two African-Americans are in high positions in the cabinet, I will probably only make a small dent to have Powell as VP.
The biggest effect is based on the perception that Powell is more of a "centrist" than Bush. Therefore, he's more likely to get the swing voters who are so crucial. (Also, the media seems to love Powell and the positive coverage wouldn't hurt.) Any of the African-American vote wouldn't hurt either but I woulndn't count on it.
-jdm.
Something tells me you folks are on the conservative side of the aisle ... your thinking is stuck back in the 1980s or thereabouts.
I am referring to your thoughts (assumptions?) that President Bush would select Powell because of the color of his skin. Think a little bit closer to 2004 please:
What has rapidly become the No. 1 issue among most Americans? I will give you a little hint ... it is a four-letter word.
IRAQ!! (As in war.)
Colin Powell is starting to come into focus as the sensible one on the president's team in regards to the war and what we should have done, what we should do now, and what we should do in the future.
Ask around and listen to how people respond to Powell in regards to Iraq. Okay, now take it a BIG step further and ask somebody that you consider too progressive for your taste. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at what you hear coming from the mouths of (gasp!!!) LIBERALS!
Now, if the vice presidency is too risky a venture for Bush and you Bush-backers, try this idea (yes, JD, this is what we spoke about earlier this week): Have Bush relieve Rumsfeld as head of Defense and tuck Powell into that high-profile spot.
This may cause the Bush-whackers to give the president some heat for their perception that he is admitting some misjudgments regarding Iraq, but those same whackers respect Powell. In fact, I get the feeling that many view him as THE ONLY ONE in the Bush camp capable of leading us out of the hell we've created.
There's a saying about assumptions, Sarah. I won't insult you by repeating it.
All Americans don't see Iraq as a four letter word.
Posted by: Deb at May 30, 2004 11:53 AMI was saying that I think he would be the centrist that is needed, but I would feel horrible for the attacks on him from Jackson and Sharpton. No man should be put through that for a job.
Posted by: gunner at May 30, 2004 05:55 PMDeb:
No offense taken, BUT you missed another four-letter word included in my last comment: the word MOST (as in NOT the word ALL). Of course, it would have been more correct to use the word MANY.
I doubt that Powell would accept the nomination as VP. I believe that it was his last election and he turned it down. I would like to see him replace Kofi as President of UN (dont know how UN president gets elected).
I think Condi would be great as VP. She was sharp at the hearings and I doubt the libs could go after her too hard because it would stand the chance of disrupting some of their base. Bush may get another 5% of the black vote out of it. But I dont think that Condi should run because she is black or female. But because she is sharp. She got her degree at 19 and speaks 4 languages so anyone trying to impugn her intelligence is just paying themselves as stupid.
In addition, this would set Condi up in 08 for a presidential run against Hillary. I would love to see Hillary get creamed by her and thus shutting out her only hope of a presidential run.
As much as I'd love to see anyone beat Hillary in an election, I don't think Condi is that person.
Unfortunately, being incredibly smart doesn't necessarily translate into votes. Also, she could probably get much better jobs!
Powell as Sec Gen of the UN? Worse things could happen. I imagine he probably would turn down the VP slot, but you never know. It's a pretty cushy job and it looks really good on a resume. (not that he needs it.)
-jdm.