Over the past few months, I've seen various opinions as to who GW would drop from his cabinet/White House team to make him more electable.
I've heard everything from Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, to Powell being dropped if he doesn't resign.
Now that Maureen O'Dowd is calling for Cheney to be dropped, it makes me wonder.
Who will Karl Rove make the sacrificial lamb??
Full Version: Who will Bush drop before the election
Maybe he'll drop himself. "Daddy, I don't want to have to deal with this shit for four more years, these reporter ass****s are mean to me and make me want to hit them because they say I lied...you didn't tell me I'd have to run again, daddy!" Wah, wah, wah, wah!
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bobby78751
Maybe he'll drop himself. \"Daddy, I don't want to have to deal with this shit for four more years, these reporter ass****s are mean to me and make me want to hit them because they say I lied...you didn't tell me I'd have to run again, daddy!\" Wah, wah, wah, wah!
LMAO! Maybe he'll drop himself. \"Daddy, I don't want to have to deal with this shit for four more years, these reporter ass****s are mean to me and make me want to hit them because they say I lied...you didn't tell me I'd have to run again, daddy!\" Wah, wah, wah, wah!
....it wouldn't be nearly as funny if it wasn't so damn true, either -- now if this ONLY came true then we'd REALLY have reason to celebrate being an American again!
Considering that a president's term is 4 years, and all his cabinet members and similar appointees serve for the same 4 years, why is anyone making this a big deal? It's rare to see any administration retain 100% of its cabinet members and other personnel for 8 years.
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MIB:
Considering that a president's term is 4 years, and all his cabinet members and similar appointees serve for the same 4 years, why is anyone making this a big deal? It's rare to see any administration retain 100% of its cabinet members and other personnel for 8 years.
Surprised to see you make a mistake like that MIBBY.Considering that a president's term is 4 years, and all his cabinet members and similar appointees serve for the same 4 years, why is anyone making this a big deal? It's rare to see any administration retain 100% of its cabinet members and other personnel for 8 years.
Cabinet officers have no term. Once confirmed by the Senate, they serve at the pleasure of the President, full stop. They have no term.
And it's not a big deal, but if you follow Washington at all, it's always a topic of interest who will resign or be let go when. If you're sufficiently familiar with the players, it gives some insight into who is winning internal power struggles within an administration.
When this same mode of analysis was applied to the Soviet Union, it was known as Kremlinology. When it's applied to the love lives of movie stars, it's called Access Hollywood.
[ January 29, 2004, 03:08 PM: Message edited by: Skiguy ]
Well, Bush told the cabinet secretaries & senior appointees last summer that if they wanted to leave, they needed to get out then, otherwise he would expect them to stay on through the election. Which is why Ari Fleischer left when he did. So I wouldn't expect to see any departures between now and November.
My question is, how has George Tenet managed to stay on so long? His agency didn't have a clue 9/11 was coming; they say they can't infiltrate Al-Qaeda but that kid from California, John Walker Lindh, was able to do so pretty easily; and now he totally misleads the President & the rest of the world about the existence of WMD in Iraq. What gives?
My question is, how has George Tenet managed to stay on so long? His agency didn't have a clue 9/11 was coming; they say they can't infiltrate Al-Qaeda but that kid from California, John Walker Lindh, was able to do so pretty easily; and now he totally misleads the President & the rest of the world about the existence of WMD in Iraq. What gives?
Maybe we'll get lucky and Rove will drop Bush from the ticket.
For starters the Attorney General John Ashcroft.
have you noticed that you do not see him on TV any more at all. Legend in DC has it that is due to the very, very low approval ratings Ashcroft gets--possibly even in the single digits. He will resign before too much longer.
I think Cheney will be dropped from the ticket in 2004. Thats a no brainer too. Much, much too much baggage. God forbid and perish the thought, but if Bush won reelection they would need new blood. The republicans will be facing Hillary in 2008. They need to bring in new blood so that they can mount a fight with Hillary in 2008.
I dont think any republican can beat Hillary. However, the election of 2008 will leave the republicans in an absolute shambles and a very minority party. All of that is fine with me, but I still believe Cheney will not be on the ticket in November.
I also think the labor secretary will go. Too many jobs being lost to overseas and the new bill limiting overtime etc. will definetly be an issue in the election.
I think Powell, Rice and Rumsfeld will be around election day and forced into retirement by the voters.
[ January 29, 2004, 04:45 PM: Message edited by: billybob ]
have you noticed that you do not see him on TV any more at all. Legend in DC has it that is due to the very, very low approval ratings Ashcroft gets--possibly even in the single digits. He will resign before too much longer.
I think Cheney will be dropped from the ticket in 2004. Thats a no brainer too. Much, much too much baggage. God forbid and perish the thought, but if Bush won reelection they would need new blood. The republicans will be facing Hillary in 2008. They need to bring in new blood so that they can mount a fight with Hillary in 2008.
I dont think any republican can beat Hillary. However, the election of 2008 will leave the republicans in an absolute shambles and a very minority party. All of that is fine with me, but I still believe Cheney will not be on the ticket in November.
I also think the labor secretary will go. Too many jobs being lost to overseas and the new bill limiting overtime etc. will definetly be an issue in the election.
I think Powell, Rice and Rumsfeld will be around election day and forced into retirement by the voters.
[ January 29, 2004, 04:45 PM: Message edited by: billybob ]
WWRD? What Would Rove Do?
I'm thinking they keep Cheney on the ticket and if they win, he can step down "due to health reasons" whenever Karl says so during the next term.
No use rockin' the boat now OR, dance with the one that brung ya.
I'm thinking they keep Cheney on the ticket and if they win, he can step down "due to health reasons" whenever Karl says so during the next term.
No use rockin' the boat now OR, dance with the one that brung ya.
Ashcroft will not be dropped--he's too important to the religious-hard-right faction of the Republican party. Dumping him before the election could lead them to sit on their hands rather than vote. I don't expect Cheney to leave until after the election. If (shudder) there is a second term for Bush, within its first two years I would expect Cheney to cite health problems and resign from office. This would allow Bush to appoint, with Congressional approval, a new VP--one geared toward the 2008 elections.
~Adam
~Adam
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HulaBoy:
My question is, how has George Tenet managed to stay on so long? His agency didn't have a clue 9/11 was coming; they say they can't infiltrate Al-Qaeda but that kid from California, John Walker Lindh, was able to do so pretty easily; and now he totally misleads the President & the rest of the world about the existence of WMD in Iraq. What gives?
He knows where the bodies are buried. He's been very deferential to W, and knows the truth about the massive intel failures and the White House's failures concerning 9/11. There's a reason W and Co. have been stonewalling and trying to clamp down on the Kean commission. Under any other circumstances Tenet would have been canned a long time ago.
My question is, how has George Tenet managed to stay on so long? His agency didn't have a clue 9/11 was coming; they say they can't infiltrate Al-Qaeda but that kid from California, John Walker Lindh, was able to do so pretty easily; and now he totally misleads the President & the rest of the world about the existence of WMD in Iraq. What gives?
I think the drawbridge is up, and the ramparts are manned until after the election, the only one that might be thrown over the wall is Tenet - much like the Trojan Rabbit in Holy Grail.
I think DefibDick will ride out the election from his undisclosed location. If God has truly forsaken the Republic and we actually elect the oil junta, Cheney will pop up from his rat hole and say it pains his heart(s) to stay, and pains his heart(s) to go - but wants to spend more time with his money - so he'll go. Thus opening the door for Mush to totally distract the Country while he selects a VP and positions the GOP for 2008.
Instead of a Senate race to captivate the country in 2000 - how about a Presidential race of Guilliani vs. Hillary in 2008.
I think DefibDick will ride out the election from his undisclosed location. If God has truly forsaken the Republic and we actually elect the oil junta, Cheney will pop up from his rat hole and say it pains his heart(s) to stay, and pains his heart(s) to go - but wants to spend more time with his money - so he'll go. Thus opening the door for Mush to totally distract the Country while he selects a VP and positions the GOP for 2008.
Instead of a Senate race to captivate the country in 2000 - how about a Presidential race of Guilliani vs. Hillary in 2008.
I might also add that Asa Hutchinson will be the Attorney General in a second Bush term. That will be promised to the religious right when Ashcroft is forced out before the election. This will quiet the uproar that will ensue when Ashcroft goes. Asa Hutchinson was a main republican player in the Clinton impeachment proceedings and is a hero to the right wing.
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billybob:
For starters the Attorney General John Ashcroft.
have you noticed that you do not see him on TV any more at all. Legend in DC has it that is due to the very, very low approval ratings Ashcroft gets--possibly even in the single digits. He will resign before too much longer.
I think Cheney will be dropped from the ticket in 2004. Thats a no brainer too. Much, much too much baggage. God forbid and perish the thought, but if Bush won reelection they would need new blood. The republicans will be facing Hillary in 2008. They need to bring in new blood so that they can mount a fight with Hillary in 2008.
I dont think any republican can beat Hillary. However, the election of 2008 will leave the republicans in an absolute shambles and a very minority party. All of that is fine with me, but I still believe Cheney will not be on the ticket in November.
I also think the labor secretary will go. Too many jobs being lost to overseas and the new bill limiting overtime etc. will definetly be an issue in the election.
I think Powell, Rice and Rumsfeld will be around election day and forced into retirement by the voters.
Your mouth to God's ears. :-)For starters the Attorney General John Ashcroft.
have you noticed that you do not see him on TV any more at all. Legend in DC has it that is due to the very, very low approval ratings Ashcroft gets--possibly even in the single digits. He will resign before too much longer.
I think Cheney will be dropped from the ticket in 2004. Thats a no brainer too. Much, much too much baggage. God forbid and perish the thought, but if Bush won reelection they would need new blood. The republicans will be facing Hillary in 2008. They need to bring in new blood so that they can mount a fight with Hillary in 2008.
I dont think any republican can beat Hillary. However, the election of 2008 will leave the republicans in an absolute shambles and a very minority party. All of that is fine with me, but I still believe Cheney will not be on the ticket in November.
I also think the labor secretary will go. Too many jobs being lost to overseas and the new bill limiting overtime etc. will definetly be an issue in the election.
I think Powell, Rice and Rumsfeld will be around election day and forced into retirement by the voters.
But I don't agree. The only person I think will be gone will be General Powell. Even up here in Godless pinko Canukistan, we have seen how marginalized General Powell has become.
I think the only reason he hasn't resigned and written a book that blows Bush/CHeney out of the water is that he is a gentleman. A true, show respect to your boss kind of gentleman.
Which to me is too bad. If anyone needs to get angry, and vent in public it is that man.
He is one person that I am sorry to see be a Republican.
Cheney will stay, Wolfie will stay, Condie will stay.
All of them have to much on Bush to be kicked out.
And chances are, they have too much on Rove as well, so I se them as pretty well protected.
But I like your scenario better.
and look for Condi to take over State
that should be a truly terrifying prospect for anyone to ponder
that should be a truly terrifying prospect for anyone to ponder
According to Arianna Huffington's post the other day in SALON, there's some buzz in GOP circles that Dracula (Cheney) will be eased out and W will run with...Rudy Giuliani! And he'd be insulated from charges of Giuliani's turbulent personal life since the ex-mayor is now happily married. But what will the Christian Right say when they learn that Rudy was consorting with said new wife while STILL MARRIED to his ex; that he lived for months with an interracial gay couple rather than stay in the mayor's mansion with his still undivorced wife; that he pushed for more recognition for gay people in NYC and even pressed the more liberal Pataki to take more action; that he has dressed up more than once in drag, both on national TV and as "Rudia"; that he's pro-choice; and that outside of his outright hostility to Black people, he is to the lef to Joe Lieberman on many issues? I think W might do better to keep the Wyoming (or was it Texas?) vampyre.
[ February 07, 2004, 08:41 AM: Message edited by: fantomas ]
[ February 07, 2004, 08:41 AM: Message edited by: fantomas ]
I think the current lineup will stay in place through the election. Shortly after the second inauguration, I look for Powell to leave, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Paul Bremer take over at State. Barring a total meltdown in Iraq after the June 30th handover, I think it's his job if he wants it. I definitely don't see Rice moving to State. In fact, the sense I get is that she's not thrilled with public life and will leave politics to return to academia as soon as the Presidency of a prestigious university becomes available. I agree Cheney will probably not stay through 2008, but I don't see Rudy Giuliani taking a #2 position to anyone. As much as I like Rudy, I don't think his ego would allow it. And while it won't happen because of the cries of nepotism it would cause, I'd love to see W name Jeb Bush as VP when Cheney goes. That would make Jeb the de facto frontrunner for the 2008 nomination, and would set us up for another Bush-Clinton battle for the Presidency.
[ February 07, 2004, 10:05 AM: Message edited by: Munson Man ]
[ February 07, 2004, 10:05 AM: Message edited by: Munson Man ]
I agree with Munson Man that Bremer (rather than Rice), as payment for his dues in Iraq, is likely to be given the State Dept post in a second (say it aint soooooo) Mush term.
I was predicting to friends back in '02 I thought that DefibDick would unplug himself from the White House for 2004, and that Rudy would be given the Veep slot - an essentially unbeatable ticket - setting up the thrillia in oh8ah vs. Hillary. The first half of that scenario clearly won't happen, but still think the second part could play out. TrickyDick2 steps aside in 06, and Rudy takes the spot. By that time the Administration and Repuliscan National Committee will turn into a fully functioning election machine for Rudy in '08.
[ February 07, 2004, 01:24 PM: Message edited by: Undercenter ]
I was predicting to friends back in '02 I thought that DefibDick would unplug himself from the White House for 2004, and that Rudy would be given the Veep slot - an essentially unbeatable ticket - setting up the thrillia in oh8ah vs. Hillary. The first half of that scenario clearly won't happen, but still think the second part could play out. TrickyDick2 steps aside in 06, and Rudy takes the spot. By that time the Administration and Repuliscan National Committee will turn into a fully functioning election machine for Rudy in '08.
[ February 07, 2004, 01:24 PM: Message edited by: Undercenter ]
Yeah, one way or another it's pretty clear Rudi's going to be a candidate in 2008. But I think Liddy Dole is going to be running in four years' time as well.
The match-up I'd really like to see is Hillary vs. Liddy Dole.
The match-up I'd really like to see is Hillary vs. Liddy Dole.
Bush's Dick is a liability and he'll swing by 2006. Heard the same kind of talk regarding Rudy from NYC, but he's too practical for the Bush League. Besides, I am not sure he's a good puppeteer for the current sitting president, presuming he wins in 2004.
Liddy Dole in 2008? NO way, she'll be too old and a nursemaid to Bob, she'll be too busy with that. Also, she doesn't have the stamina for the Presidency. She gets all sorts of high profile appoinments and then leaves within months. NOT a good record.
So, Hillary in '08, eh? I like her lots, but not sure she wants to walk the coals again for the role of Mr. President.
Liddy Dole in 2008? NO way, she'll be too old and a nursemaid to Bob, she'll be too busy with that. Also, she doesn't have the stamina for the Presidency. She gets all sorts of high profile appoinments and then leaves within months. NOT a good record.
So, Hillary in '08, eh? I like her lots, but not sure she wants to walk the coals again for the role of Mr. President.
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