From the AP Wire:
Vice President Dick Cheney, who has a history of heart problems, experienced an irregular heartbeat Monday and will be evaluated at George Washington University Hospital.
The condition was detected when Cheney was seen by doctors for a lingering cough from a cold.
“During examination he was incidentally found to have an irregular heartbeat, which on further testing was determined to be atrial fibrillation, an abnormal rhythm involving the upper chambers of the heart,” said spokeswoman Megan Mitchell.
She said Cheney would go to the hospital later Monday for further evaluation. She said that if necessary, he would be receive cardioversion, a procedure that involves the delivery of an electric impulse to the heart.
CNN is covering it and says Cheney is headed for outpatient hospital treatment.
My distaste for Cheney knows no bounds, but I do not wish him ill health. I am, however, interested in whether this is a precursor to a resignation, followed by a Rudolph Guiliani appointment as replacement.
He has a heart?
an irregular one.
10 sizes too small…
my question too.
“found to have an irregular heartbeat.” dunno about you, but isn’t that what most of us have been experiencing for the past 7 yrs?
No he doesn’t.
Why Rudy? I’d think that they would want to ruin the election chances of someone they DON’T like.
Cheney is Bush’s anti-impeachment insurance. If he resigns, they’ll need someone whose theoretical Presidency would be at least as distasteful as Cheney’s. I think Rudy fits that bill quite well.
I suppose a health-related resignation is the ultimate impeachment insurance for Cheney, the more likely target of impeachment.
They also need someone who could be confirmed by both houses of congress, as per the 25th amendment. The various dem senators running for president might have an issue with one of their repub rivals getting such a head start.
Such a confirmation battle would in some sense be the ultimate test of whether the democratic spine does in fact exist.
test results returned as showing positive for jellyfish already… Apparently, the only thing keeping them from being a puddle of goo on the floor is the extremely high levels of solid fecal matter…
25th Amendment, Section 2: Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress…
Not a word about recess appointments. Unless a few Dems cross the aisle, it’s a sure bet that Judy won’t get the nod…
I don’t wish Cheney ill health either, but it’s because I don’t want him to escape justice, not because I’m above wishing ill health on people who deserve it.
Cheney resigns, Bush appoints (and Congress confirms) Jeb Bush VP, the Republican Presidential race comes down to a floor fight at the convention, and Jeb Bush is nominated as a compromise candidate.
I only wish that would happen.. Jeb has some really good dirt in his past that has been kept as ‘dry powder’ in case of such events…
Cheney has had a heart problem long before he had his current “heart” problem,if you get the drift.
Heart problems are only an issue for those capable of casting a reflection in the mirror.
about the impending death of only one minion of Satan when there are thousands to take his place?
Your fears are based on an unsupported assumption: that Cheney would give up power and resign just because a virus caused his heart rhythms to act up.
It might be helpful to read about atrial fibrillation before you get your hopes (or fears) too high.
The worst case would be cardioversion–think about how Dr. Frankenstein used electricity to shock his monster into life. One zap and the Addams family troll will be back good as new.
Appoint Rudy as a replacement? No.
Appoint McCain as a replacement? Maybe – more likely than Rudy anyway.
Most likely scenario in the event of a Cheney retirement/death: Bush nominates a crony to the office that he likes. Condoleeza Rice perhaps – she’s been exceptionally loyal. Or maybe Harriet Miers.
Political maneuvering by Bush at this point is only happening to ensure that someone who will continue to pursue something remotely resembling his policies towards Iraq continue happening. He could give a rat’s ass about the GOP nowadays – it’s all about his legacy now.
cause then impeachment might BE BACK ON THE TABLE!!!