Capital Buzzes, Denials Aside: “The Washington summer clamor about Vice President Dick Cheney’s future on the Republican ticket has greatly intensified.” (New York Times) Of course it has, in the run-up to the conventions. Not a joke candidate like Dan Quayle was, Cheney is nevertheless increasingly seen as a liability to the reelection effort, even in Republican circles. For the Democrats, he is a convenient way to get to the President, so much so that many relish the prospect of his remaining on the Republican ticket. I do; I pray Bush doesn’t choose this issue as the one on which to get over his constitutional inability to admit he made a mistake or rethink a decision. Part of Bush’s problem maybe that it is difficult to see whom he might tap for the job — who would be willing to take it, is a prominent enough Republican but sufficiently devoid of polarizing baggage. That lets out the most-commonly discussed possibilities such as McCain, Powell or other cabinet members. My God, what could be worse than Bush-Cheney ’04… Bush-Ashcroft! But a more important reason Bush wouldn’t dump Cheney is that… it is Cheney who has always made such important decisions for Bush.