Cheney's Resignation Likely Part of Shake Up

Influential people from the left, right and middle have called for a shakeup in the Boosh administration. The theory is that when second term Presidents find themselves mired in low poll numbers, scandals and unpopular wars, the way to save their Presidential legacy is to "bring new blood" to an administration. They use the standard "burn out" excuse for doing so, all the while praising those that leave, thanking them for their service and wishing them well. When the term shakeup is mentioned in light of the current administration, people immediately look at this as a signal of the immenent removal of Karl Rove, the embattled "Boosh brain." I think a "shakeup" in this instance may be of much more significance than simply the exit of Rove. The evidence leads strongly to the likelyhood of a much larger event, the resignation of Vice President Cheney. Here is why.

While many on the Left were disappointed, the indictment of Scooter Libby was much more important than the indictment of Karl Rove would have been, had it happened. Libby was and remains attached to the hip of Dick Cheney. Patrick Fitzgerald has done a masterful job of putting a squeeze play on Libby/Cheney, essentially leaving Libby with no viable way to protect his former boss. One option for Libby would be to plead guilty to one or more of the charges he was indicted on. If that happened, Fitzgerald would require information that would undoubtedly lead to Cheney. This information would include exactly what the substance of the Valerie Plame conversation with Libby really consisted of. Did Cheney merely mention to Libby that Valerie Plame was a CIA operative and leave it at that? That doesn't pass the smell test. Or, did Cheney pass that information to Libby along with instructions to destroy the Cheney nemesis, Joseph Wilson, at all costs? Or something in between? That is what Patrick Fitzgerald wants to find out, and it is what the American people deserve to know.

In looking at the way that Cheney has operated over his long and storied career, it is highly unlikely that he mentioned Plame to Libby in passing, and no further discussion ensued. Cheney has always operated in relative secrecy, yet it is widely known that he is more than willing to play hardball with anyone that attempts to discredit him or cast doubt on any neocon idea that he may have. It is also widely known that the White House became obsessed with Wilson the day that his op-ed piece hit the newsstands. Given Cheney's passion to destroy his "enemies," it then becomes likely that Cheney suggested that Libby discredit Wilson, regardless of what it took. The arrogance of this administration and Cheney's willingness to perform his duties in total secrecy suggest that Cheney did indeed give the order to "get Wilson, at all costs."

Libby's only other option is to take his case to trial. If that were to occur, Fitzgerald's witness list would be full of high ranking government officials, including Cheney. This is not a pretty scenario for the Boosh regime. To have a sitting Vice President forced to testify under subpoena against his former top aide is the script that nightmares are made of. While Patrick Fitzgerald would certainly enjoy this part of the show, the White House would not. Such testimony would undoubtedly lead to continued speculation about what this whole sordid affair is really about, what led to the invasion of Iraq. Exactly the subject that the Boosh administration is fighting to avoid talking about.

Dick Cheney might be a despicable creature, but he is not an idiot. He understands exactly what options are on the table, and none of them are pleasant for him or the current Administration. He understands that at this moment there is an open investigation into the outing of Valerie Plame, and he understands that anyone in the White House, especially Cheney himself, sits in the crosshairs of Mr. Fitzgerald's ongoing investigation. Cheney also understands that his political career is over, whichever route Libby and his lawyers choose to take. It just happens to be that his career will end a couple of years sooner than the calendar calls for.

While no one should pretend that Cheney cares about anyone but himself, they should understand that Cheney will do what is necessary to mitigate the damage done to him, including avoiding any embarassment to himself. Dick Cheney is much smarter than his "boss," and unlike Scooter Libby, will not allow himself to be indicted or even issued a subpoena while sitting in the office of the Vice President of the United States.

It is interesting to note that shortly before the widely publicized Democratic lock down in the Senate, Cheney had his own little closed door session with Republican Senators. Reports stated that Cheney looked "grave" as he left that meeting. After the Democratic "trick" that stopped the Senate in it's tracks, it took only one look at Senator Roberts of Kansas, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, to see that something was wrong. VERY WRONG. I doubt that the deer in the headlights look on Senator Robert's face was simply due to the earlier Democratic Senators antics, rather a response to what happened immediately prior to that event. The meeting with Cheney. My guess is that at that meeting Vice President Cheney told the Republican Senator's that he has no choice but to resign. The house of cards that this administration is constructed of will soon begin to tumble.

Cyclone