QandO: Alfonse D'Amato joins the "Dump Cheney" crowd

July 08, 2004

Alfonse D'Amato joins the "Dump Cheney" crowd
Posted by McQ

Either Powell or McCain.

Powell "would help galvanize the nation and offer a truly historic opportunity for American unity and pride," he told the New York 1 cable news channel. If Powell does not want to be vice president, D'Amato suggested, Bush could tap his sometime rival John McCain, the Arizona senator, for the No. 2 spot on the ticket.
McCain, said D'Amato, is "a genuine American hero who would also help bridge the political divide in our nation and assure the President's reelection by a wide margin."

While D'Amato may have a point, one thing he overlooks is Bush's intense loyalty. As McCain said earlier on Tony Snow's show in answer to this question:

SNOW: Senator, Dick Cheney has become the focus of a lot of controversy now. In fact, there’s talk now of his being taken off the ticket.
McCAIN: I doubt that seriously. I think he enjoys a relationship with the President that is almost unique, and I think they are literally a team, which not- which is very unusual in American political history.

My guess is the only way Dick Cheney comes off the ticket if he decides too do so.

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Comments

And if Bush dumps Cheney, it comes off as a cold, calculating political move.

Keep Cheney

Posted by: shark at July 8, 2004 02:49 PM

Shark's right. There's no way Bush could dump Cheney without the Dems making hay of the issue.

I'm not sure I'd want either of D'Amato's suggestions in the VP spot, though. Powell would be interesting, and would certainly attract many moderate and slightly left of center voters. But I've soured on McCain. A lot of people like him, but given the Keating Five scandal, the wholesale assault on the 1st Amendment that bears his name, and his apparent constant need for ego stroking, I wouldn't want him on the ticket.

Posted by: Steverino at July 8, 2004 05:02 PM

Alfonse D'Amato — now there's a combination of statesmanship, principle and political savvy.

Just ask Schumer.

Posted by: Stephen at July 8, 2004 05:24 PM