Yesterday, while chasing down one Googling monkey or another, I ran across this intriguing headline:
Change in GOP Running Mate Seems Unlikely
Republicans Speculate on Change in Bush Running Mate, but Midcourse Correction Seems Unlikely
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON Feb. 17, 2004
One of the benefits of having a near, though not exactly photographic memory, is that I generally know when that sense of deja vu is grounded in reality, not Jungian collective subconsciousness. Thus, a simple trawling through the archives of the WaPo came up with this remarkable headline from 1991:
Senate Leaders Predict Quayle Will Stay on GOP Ticket in '92 The Washington Post May 13, 1991. pg. a.04"I think the chance of [Quayle] being dumped is zero," Minority Leader Robert J. Dole (R-Kan.) said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
A May 5 Washington Post-ABC News poll of 505 adults found 54 percent saying [Bush] should choose a different running mate, and 42 percent saying Quayle should remain on the ticket. The president has reaffirmed his support of Quayle since returning from the ...
Ironically, the more recent Cheney story also cited negative poll numbers. According to the AP:
A recent Time Magazine/CNN poll showed nearly as many Americans think Cheney should be replaced as kept. Other polls show his popularity trailing Bush's by about 10 percentage points.
But to be honest, the icing on the cake came with this other WaPo headline, a few weeks after the one above:
Cheney Defends Quayle
Maralee Schwartz, Christopher B. Daly
The Washington Post
May 26, 1991. pg. a.31
"I've watched him very closely for the last 2 1/2 years. . . . And I've seen him perform in what I think is an extremely commendable fashion for a vice president," [Richard B. Cheney] said in response to a question about [Quayle] after his speech. "It is a very difficult and unpleasant job.
What next? Should we expect to see a "Quayle Defends Cheney" caption in the next week few weeks.
I believe the classic "Don't change Dicks in the middle of a screw" applies here...
Posted by: Gryn at February 18, 2004 08:48 AMDang, you're good at this, MB!!
Posted by: Elayne Riggs at February 18, 2004 02:55 PMWell, Cheney is one of the two Nixon-era holdovers; the other is, of course, Rumsfeld. He may be less popular even than Dick. Powell and Rice seem... unlikely. JEB? That's kind of the only guy I can think of who the governing cabal might trust besides Dick or Rummy, but even the governing cabal knows that a "Bush-Bush" ticket would be... bad.
There is talk of Giuliani, of course, but its crazy talk if you think about it. Rudy is a loose cannon, and a show-stealer. Dick prefers the quiet of his White House office where he can run the country and endorse his Halliburton pay checks... er, severance checks.
I can see the headlines now if he DOES go with Rudy: Bush dumps heart patient for cancer patient.
In short, its 4 more years of Dick. No reason to change jockeys (or ventriloquists) in mid-stream. I think it doesn't matter: barring an incredible economic turnaround, I think general economic malaise, fear of joblessness and the mounting deficit will result in regime change.
Posted by: the talking dog at February 18, 2004 05:39 PM