Cheney Out, Condi In???

quote[ The CC Insider/InDecider has just heard more rumors (see earlier posts) from a SECOND reliable source that Dick Cheney will be stepping down as Vice President and will be replaced as Vice President by Condoleezza Rice. And now we're hearing that she would like to be on the ticket as the GOP VP candidate in '08.

According to our rumor-meister, John Negroponte will be filling Condi's current position as Secretary of State. Negroponte is currently the Director of National Intelligence (the first person ever to hold the few-years-old position) and the former US Ambassador to Iraq.

If these rumors are true, this is all interesting for several reasons:

* Condi would be the first African American and first woman in the White House, which would certainly take some of the wind out of the Dems Clinton/Obama sails.
* If Rice were on the GOP ticket, it would--in some sense--make an incumbant VP, which could be good or bad. (Remember, Bush currently has a 33% approval rating.)
* With Rice, Clinton and Obama all vying for a White House position, it would make it a virtual lock that we'd finally break the African American and/or woman barrier in '08.
* It would put someone with close ties to the Iraqi situation in a very high administrative seat.
* It would be only the second time in history that an acting Vice President was like totally in love with the sitting President. (See Garret Hobart/William McKinley.)]

It makes sense. Now, before you criticize the source, I must remind you that they nailed Rummy's resignation and all other outlets laughed at them.