Tapped speculates: Dick Cheney will be sacrificed
Cheney is the final sacrifice — the last layer between Bush and the disapproving public, the skeptical media, and the angry Democrats. In one sense, having him there has always provided Bush a human (and humanizing-by-contrast) buffer against the hordes who oppose him and his policies. To sacrifice Cheney is therefore to have sunk to but one level above the very bottom, the core of the presidency itself.
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[H]is neck is moving slowly but inevitably toward the noose. Somebody, after all, has to pay for the complete collapse of the Republican majority and the conservative agenda. And since Bush himself has never paid the price of his own failures in life, it is Cheney who will pay for them next.
Where have I heard such speculation before ? Oh – here:
Negroponte going back to State as deputy may look like a downgrade, but it is a preparation to kick out Rice and to elevate him to Sec. State. She is ineffective for the Cheney/Bush projects and will have to leave. I expect her to resign for personal reasons and to again move into some academic position.
An alternative, but less likely, thought would be a resignation of Cheney for health impediments and Rice taking up his position but without the influence.
The Scooter Libby trial (firedoglake is the place to go to follow the details) already has some not-so-pretty suprises – for Libby and Cheney that is. To suddenly have a serious condidtion would certainly help him to avoid taking the witness stand or worse.
But then – his Iran project is not done yet. These European and Arab allies just don’t want to go along.
Then there are those 81+ staffers of his who need to be taken care of (Staff in National Security: 18(!); Mrs. Cheney: 6; Homeland Security: 5; Domestic Affairs: 3; … .)
So maybe yes, maybe no. The question is probably more when than if. What is your take?