Lame-Duck Presidency

Those of you who have been reading this blog since the beginning, know where what I think about the relationship between Condoleezza Rice and George W. Bush. Which is why, I find this editorial at USA Today particularly provocative :

It's hard to think of a good reason [Dick Cheney] should remain in office and logical to assume that some Republicans are pushing him to leave. It could be on "doctor's orders." He's 65 with serious heart problems.

Bush then could name a vice presidential successor who they hope might be nominated and win in '08. But the appointment would need approval of both houses of Congress. With control shifting to the Democrats in January, time may be of the essence.

Likely on the short might-be list (alphabetically):

•Bill Frist, 54, Senate majority leader from Tennessee.

•Rudy Giuliani, 62, former mayor of New York City.

•John McCain, 70, U.S. senator from Arizona.

•Condoleeza Rice, 52, secretary of State.

You know what --it wouldn't shock me if this were true. Especially with the prospect of Dick Cheney's impeachment.

Whether the political-industrial machine or Big Conservative Media want it or not, the case for impeachment is still very real and very much on the table. So it wouldn't shock me if, just for the shock value, Bush let's Cheney go to have Condoleeza as his rightful successor.

The lame-duck presidency of George W. Bush has begun with Lincoln Chafee 's rank breaking move.

Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee, who was defeated in this week's election, said he would block Bolton's nomination.

Chafee, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters that he did not believe Bolton's nomination would move forward without his support.

"The American people have spoken out against the president's agenda on a number of fronts, and presumably one of those is on foreign policy," the Rhode Island moderate told The Associated Press.

"And at this late stage in my term, I'm not going to endorse something the American people have spoke out against."

The committee, dominated 10-8 by Republicans, requires a majority vote to send the nomination to the Senate floor. A tie would be the same as a no vote.

After months of quietly stonewalling John Bolton's nomination, yet not strongly enough so as not to ruffle any Republican feathers, now Chafee finds the resolve to kick Bolton out. It seems the senator from Rhode Island finally grew a spine. Does this make him a prodigal politico? Has Lincoln Chafee sprouted a conscience and finally seen the moderate Republican light?