Exit Strategy?

I'm sure it's all perfectly innocent and above-board, move-along, nothing-to-see-here, but the MachiavEli in me just can't help but wonder if they're setting the stage for Cheney to quietly and regretfully retire from the vice-presidency for "health-related reasons":

Vice President Dick Cheney was hospitalized briefly this morning after suffering from shortness of breath.

He returned home after a four-hour stay. Doctors said the problem resulted from medication he was taking for a foot ailment and was not related to his long-standing heart ailments, according to a statement issued by his office.

The statement said that Mr. Cheney was taken to George Washington University Hospital in Washington about 3 a.m.

After performing an electrocardiogram, or EKG test, doctors found no... heart.

(Okay, okay, it was "no change in the functioning of Mr. Cheney's heart," but if the Republicans can have fun with selective quoting, why oh why can't I?)



I mainly just wanted to use that "MachiavEli" thing...