Cheney out, Rudy in?

I heard a mere glimmer of a half-rumor tonight, but could Giuliani be the secret weapon? Cheney stepping down, for health reasons, then the most popular Republican in the country, post 9-11, moving in to replace him? Dems have been reverential around Rudy for 2 1/2 years; could that glow stick? I've long wondered if the Bushies would have to dump Dick to project their regime past 2008. This would pave the way for a Rudy vs. Hill showdown, delayed in NY State, next time around.

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I don't believe Bush would accept Guiliani. Guiliani is too strong of a personality to work under Bush. There will be too much friction in that pairing.

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If they don't go with Cheney they won't choose Rudy.
They'll choose Powell.

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Do you think George W. couldd really run with Powell? I think he's too liberal for him, and was too much a dissenting vote in the drum beat before Iraq, no matter what his public personna presented.

ifitfloat: sorry, I seemed to have ripped off two of your astute observations, the one about impotent Gore, and here Bush dumping Dick. I shouldn't post after midnight -- I must be in plagirism mode. Consider my ruminations very respectful homage to stuff I read earlier.

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(OT: I keep spelling Rudy's name wrong. Because I'm confused. Anyone else here speak a little italiano? Any spelling with GUI first always suggests "GWEE--" to me, as in "Guido." Italian for Guy, or "I drive..." We don't say "GEW-DO," right? So for Rudy's name, I mistakenly put the I after the G, to give the G the J sound, standard Italian pronunciation. Think "Pino Grigio." (GREE-JO, not GREE-JEE-OH, by the way.) If it's G-u-i, then his name has been Americanized, right? Can GUI translate into GEW-LEE-AN--EE? But then, in this country, we say "Bru-SHET-UH" when it's really "Bru-SKET-uh." SCH in italian is always a "sk" sound. And in Jersey, folks eat "MOOO-ZA-RELL" cheese, too.)

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Thanks, Papa. So I was right, at the top of this thread. Then everyone corrected me.

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Rudy might be the desperate choice, but I doubt it would happen. He's got his eye on the Senate race vs Hillary...or maybe the NY governorship. If Bush wins, I don't think we'll see Powell as VP or Sec of State. How about Condi Rice as Bush's veep?

Condi! Yikes! What a thought! Our own answer to Margaret Thatcher!

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No argument, Papa. Speaking of JK, I'd pay money to see one photograph of La Kirkpatrick with a smile. Not that a smile is qualification for high office ... but what a humorless group. They make Maddie Albright seem like ... Kristen Chenoweth.

I've wondered if Condi might run for office some day. I doubt it. Can you see her pressing the flesh, kissing babies? She makes Judy S. Dean, media star (yawn) of last week -- I mean, last Sunday -- I mean, last Sunday morning ... look like ... Idina Menzel.

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Whoa, she looks damned cheerful there. Like she just uttered a pithy prognostication.

As always, Papa, you are a font of info.

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Hell will freeze over before you ever see the name Rudy Guiliani on a Republican national ticket. And there are three reasons why:

Abortion rights
Gun control
Gay and lesbian rights

He supports all three.

Roxy, I think your thoughts are sound on all points. And things are being revealed, day by day: I believe the Bush camp must be taking note of the crowd turn-out in both Iowa and N.H. Nothing going on so far suggests anything approximating apathy on the part of Dems. I say "so far," well aware of how early it is. Still, the anti-Bush sentiment in this country is being measured with a new and compelling yardstick -- the vitriol-fueled Dems turning out to choose SOMEBODY. I agree with the various pundits today who said Kerry's upsurge is almost entirely "electability" defined.

I don't think Dean would run alone. Whatever his ego issues, he would not want to go down in history as the man who helped keep Bush in office 4 more years. But it's too early to tell.

Nader would destroy any Dems chances,and of course knows that. If he's sitting out, waiting for something, he's really odious. He has his ego issues, no matter what his followers say.

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Updated On: 1/29/04 at 09:07 PM