It was a mere rumor but yesterday. But now there's a lot more buzz that Cheney is in trouble. Chris Matthews says there are problems for Dick Cheney. (Crooks & Liars has video.) The Left Coaster offers these questions:

Even the Democrats are now asking what did Bush know, and when did he lie about it?

Even Tweety said this morning that this is evolving into a serious problem for Cheney, although Matthews spins this travesty as something Bush is detached from, and as a wholly-owned Cheney operation. Does anyone believe that?

And Crooks & Liars wonders:

If Cheney goes, who steps in?

Although the President and Vice President are the only

two elected positions voted on by all Americans to

hold office, George Bush will get to appoint a

replacement for Dick Cheney if the latter is forced to

resign. That "nomination" will have to be confirmed by

Congress. See below). I guess the Founding Fathers

didn't think of everything. They never in their

wildest dreams could have foreseen the coming of two

Republican scoundrels. One Richard M. Nixon, the other

George W. Bush.

Could the great political irony of the day be that Condoleezza Rice seems like a very possible choice to step in?

On the NewsHour tonight, we had persistent critic of Bush's foreign policy, Zbigniew Brzezinski, actually saying he liked what he was hearing from Condi in her testimony before the Foreign Relations Committee today:

First of all, I like the fact that the secretary of state in effect outlined a general approach and thereby demonstrated that the Department of State is now defining our policy towards Iraq -- that it isn't being done surreptitiously in the Defense Department or by speech writers in the White House. And that's a good step forward.

He goes on to analyze American policy in Iraq, and while it's still a mess, you get a definite sense that Condi's perhaps bringing some reality and structure to what, until now, has been a military boondoggle run by neo-con ideologues and defined by Republican spin hacks.

Maybe she has the foreign policy chops after all? That would eliminate the first strike old-line patriarchs will attempt to throw at any woman aspiring to the Oval Office.

Mix into this the fact that non-politician Condi is polling well against Democratic pre-run frontrunner Hillary Clinton and you have some fairly appealing political calculus -- especially when you factor in what NewsMax noticed:

In another stunning development, the Fox poll shows Rice picking up more Democratic support than Hillary gets from Republicans. Ten percent of Democrats say they'd back Rice for president. Just eight percent of Republicans would support Hillary.

Somehow I can't see Hillary winning any GOP hearts. But Condi continues to surprise.

I'm not saying I'd vote for her, or like to see her run. Her role in the various outrages of during her tenure during the first four years, and how she avoided discussing anything of substance in her Secretary of State confirmation hearings, have left a vile aftertaste in my mouth. Z-big's critique of Iraq 2.0 under Condi's vision also doesn't leave one all warm and fuzzy. And who knows what she thinks about anything in domestic policy?

But there's no question that the Republicans could turn this Plame fiasco into a victory by placing the right person -- someone who's not a Gerald Ford -- into the VP slot, and who can run for president in '08 from the White House.

Though Rice's numbers are astonishing, the Fox poll found that Rudy Giuliani has a far better chance of defeating Hillary. He leads the former first lady by double digits - 50 to 39 percent.

He also tops the survey in the leadership category, with 65 percent saying he's "strong and decisive."

Sen. John McCain also trounces Hillary, 49 to 38 percent, with 56 percent saying he's "strong and decisive."

The problem with Rudy is his rather messy personal life, with rumors of escapades that would perhaps scandalize many folks in "middle America." (You think NY Daily News has the scoops now? Wait until the Giuliani campaign kicks off.)

And McCain? What is he? Like 80 years old? (And anti-choice. No thanks!)

No, Condi seems well positioned. Add in the ever-ubiquitous Bush-crony factor, and you have a virtual shoe-in. She's said she won't run. But getting "Forded in" is another matter entirely.

I suppose the question then is: Will Dick give Condi a chance?

And the bonus question: What would (could) the Democrats do about it?

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