I don't actually know how to fully express the awesomeness of this New York Sun editorial encouraging Dick Cheney to run for president. "On Monday," writes the Sun, "speaking in Alabama, the vice president received such a warm greeting that he began his remarks by saying, 'A reception like that is almost enough to make you want to run for office again.' It is hard to imagine the vice president did not comprehend how tantalizing such a remark would be." Yep, if I had to pick an adjective to describe a Dick Cheney candidacy for the presidency, "tantalizing" is totally the one I'd choose.
The serious point of the op-ed is that, win or lose, a Cheney candidacy would serve to defend Bush on the campaign trail and force a greater fealty to and respect for George Bush's record from the other candidates. Which is quite a window into the current conservative mindset: Bush isn't unpopular because his policies have been historic failures, he's unpopular because he lacks sufficiently vigorous defenders. On the merits, I agree with the second comment to the article, entitled, "This idea is insane." As a liberal, however, mark me down under "tantalized." Place a constant reminder of George W. Bush on the campaign trail will wreck the Republican Party for a generation. Make that reminder Dick Cheney, and we may as well resuscitate the Whigs. I mean, watch the guy!
