The Supreme Court held its own version of a national election and elected Bush and Cheney, by a vote of five to four. The answer to this question is therefore academic. After spearheading almost eight years of horribly destructive national policies, the answer no longer matters to the increasingly bleak future of America or its citizens.
But the answer to a logically following question surely does matter, or soon will.
Since 2001, Cheney has consistently declared he wishes to retire to private life when his term expires in January 2009.
This also is not at all remarkable, given that he will be almost 68 years old, particularly in view of his long history of serious heart problems.
In June 1978, while campaigning to be Wyoming's Representative in Congress, Cheney suffered a heart attack. He was 37 years old at the time. Cheney suffered a second heart attack in 1984 and a third in 1988. Two months later, Cheney underwent a four-vessel bypass operation, commonly called a quadruple bypass.
On November 21, 2000 the Florida Supreme Court ruled that recounts should be made in the contested Florida presidential election. This decision gravely imperiled Cheney's planned professional future. At 3:00 AM the next morning, Cheney suffered a fourth heart attack.
The Florida Supreme Court decision was overturned by the United States Supreme Court. Cheney recovered and was seated as Vice President.
Less than two months later, in March 2001, Cheney experienced unstable angina and underwent percutaneous balloon angioplasty. Cheney was found to suffer episodes of asymptomatic ectopy. A defibrillator was installed in his chest.
At least since 2006, Cheney has displayed as being in Stage C heart failure, previously referred to as congestive heart failure.
This history collectively presents an unremarkable reason for Cheney's February 2005 statements to Chris Wallace on the television show Fox News Sunday:
"I've got my plans laid out..."
"I'm going to serve this president ... and then I'm out of here."
"... I've still got a lot of rivers I'd like to fish and time I'd like to spend with my grandkids, and so this is my last tour."
Unremarkable statements, individually and collectively. But, if Cheney was being honest with Chris Wallace and the American public, an additional question logically arises:
Why is Richard Cheney now spending an estimated $1,500,000 to construct a 12,765 square-foot "bungalow" with four bedrooms, nine baths and his and hers libraries with fireplaces on his long-vacant lot at 1126 Chain Bridge Road?
Does this have any implications as to when George Bush's term will come to an end, or Cheney's plans to continue to influence American policies? After eight long years of pain intentionally inflicted upon Americans and tens of millions of others worldwide, what further damage does Cheney have in store?
