As to confirmation, the 25th Amendment says that "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." It's only happened once before, with Gerald Ford in 1973, and he easily got confirmed within two months. Times have changed, of course, so it might indeed be much more difficult.

If Cheney was going to step down, he’d have done it before the 2004 elections when it mattered that he was unpopular.

Using that test, James, wouldn't Bush have fired Rummy two weeks before the midterm elections when it might actually have made a difference? There's really no telling why they do what they do in this administration.

Also, wouldn't any replacement have to be confirmed by the Senate? A Senate which in a few weeks will be a Democratically controlled Senate. I doubt that Bush and his advisers would want to put anybody on their list through that.

Don't get me wrong... I am not cheering for Cheney. I dislike the man intensely. I just don't believe he's going anywhere (other than possibly to a Cardiac Intensive Care Unit).

Reuters - SHANNON (Reuters)- Vice President Dick Cheney met on
Saturday with Saudi Arabia's King Ab...