A Conspiracy to dump Cheney?

There seems to be a lot of talk about dumping Cheney. He is being allowed to go around and do his Sauron impression by demanding the right to torture, reinforcing his image as the evil dark lord. Is this an attempt to convince Americans and the world that Cheney is a malignant tumor on the Bush administration so that once he is removed they can say that all is now wonderful in Bushworld? A New York Times editorial today seems to be suggesting that.
President Bush's Walkabout

The place to begin is with Dick Cheney, the dark force behind many of the administration's most disastrous policies, like the Iraq invasion and the stubborn resistance to energy conservation. Right now, the vice president is devoting himself to beating back Congressional legislation that would prohibit the torture of prisoners. This is truly a remarkable set of priorities: his former chief aide was indicted, Mr. Cheney's back is against the wall, and he's declared war on the Geneva Conventions.

Mr. Bush cannot fire Mr. Cheney, but he could do what other presidents have done to vice presidents: keep him too busy attending funerals and acting as the chairman of studies to do more harm. Mr. Bush would still have to turn his administration around, but it would at least send a signal to the nation and the world that he was in charge, and the next three years might not be as dreadful as they threaten to be right now.

But as you can see they are saying that we should ultimately hold Bush himself accountable for Cheney's activities.

Are they also looking towards 2008? If Cheney should be convinced to resign, for health reasons of course, or should he be maneuvered a little too close to an unshielded microwave oven who will they replace him with? Whoever it is they will certainly have a head start of the 2008 nomination. Those most frequently mentioned as a replacements are Condi Rice and John McCain. McCain seems unlikely and Condi may end up with a lot of baggage of her own over pre-war intelligence.

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