Friday, June 17, 2005

Iraq-Gate? Will Bush resign to give Republicans an advantage in the 2008 Presidential election?

This is beginning to remind me of the orchestrated events that led to Richard Nixon's resignation as President.

Bush Seeks to Calm Anxieties About Iraq AP Thur, June 16th 6:30 PM.

Democrats Urge Inquiry on Bush, Iraq AP Thur June 16th 6:31 PM.

According to Wikipedia, On October 10, 1973 Spiro Agnew resigned as Vice President because he took a $20,000 bribe as Maryland Governor. Agnew resigned and then plead nolo contendere (no contest) to a criminal charge of tax evasion, part of a scheme where he allegedly accepted $29,500 in bribes during his tenure as governor of Maryland. Agnew was fined $10,000 and put on three years' probation. He was later disbarred by the State of Maryland.

In fact, many of us suspected that he resigned because the Republican Party realized that raising him to President after a Nixon resignation or impeachment would be taking the Nixon Watergate situation and making it even worse for the Republicans.

Dick Cheney is crooked and unlikable, but at least he is not as stupid as Agnew was. His acceptability as the replacement to a disgraced G. W. Bush is in doubt, much as was the acceptability of Spiro Agnew. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House and next in line after the Vice President is not a lot better. He just isn't as well known.

Cheney's heart is bad, so if he DOES remain as the new President after Bush's resignation or impeachment, it will be clear he will not run for election in 2008.

That suggests that the Republicans will rally around Dick Cheney, and appoint someone like Rudy Guiliani as Vice President with the hope that he will be able to use the power of incumbency to retain the Presidency for the Republicans in 2008.

Not a very attractive option for most of us.

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