Prayers for Vice President Cheney

Vice President Cheney is in the hospital suffering from cardiac arrhythmia. The good health of the Vice President, who has already suffered four heart attacks and several episodes of arrhythmia, is of concern to all. Democrats in particular, and not necessarily for humanitarian reasons of, uh, bleeding-heart liberalism, are worried.

Were the Vice President to resign for health reasons (more plausible than to spend more time with his family) this would create a great opportunity for mischief and distraction. Right now we are enjoying the mud-wrestling that comes from having no incumbent president or vice president running. A vacancy in the office of the vice president would create some real distractions and captivating sideshows.

President Bush could try to appoint one of the leading Republican candidates to fill in. The nominee would need Senate confirmation. Easy confirmation of an active candidate would be problematic. Bush could get great mileage over the Democrats filibustering an issue of true national concern—the absence of a vice president. He could say that the Democrats put partisan political advantage over the interests of our nation.

President Bush could also play it another way—and nominate someone not in the race. Then once this person takes office he, or she, (Condi Rice?) could then step in to rescue the party from its already mixed up and incoherent flock of candidates.

All of this is exceedingly unlikely, but speculation is fun stuff in an election year.