Cheney to plow a road for Condi?

Captain Ed (of the excellent Captain's Quarters blog) pointed me to this intriguing article at WorldNetDaily's site. In it, Dr. Jack Wheeler reports on a rumor flying around Washington that Dick Cheney will step aside, perhaps citing health concerns. His stepping down would let President Bush (using procedures outlined in the 25th amendment) appoint a new VP to replace him. The rumor is that Bush would appoint Condi Rice, specifically to get her the experience and exposure she'd need to make a credible candidate in 2008.

Just a few hours ago, I posted an opposing take -- one that essentially said there was no way for Condit to gain that needed experience in time for 2008. Is the approach suggested in this rumor plausible? I'd say it might well be, especially if Condi turned in a stellar performance. Though I have to wonder how much of a canvas she'd have to paint on in the VP role, as opposed to the very expansive canvas afforded to her as SecState (but stretching my metaphor a bit, perhaps the canvas at State is not quite the right texture). In any event, it's an interesting speculation. An excerpt below:

Vice President Dick Cheney likely will step down next year due to health reasons and be replaced by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, according to a report by geopolitical expert Jack Wheeler.

On his website, To the Point, Wheeler reports there's a "red-breasted rumor bird" flying around Capitol Hill that has whispered the same thing to most congressional committee chairmen.

"We all know that Dick Cheney has been the best vice president of modern times, perhaps in American history," one such chairman told Wheeler. "And we know that he absolutely will not run for president in 2008. Further, he has an unfortunate history of heart trouble. So let's just say none of us will be surprised if, sometime next year, he will step down from the vice presidency due to his health."

Continued the source: "Should this happen, President Bush would need to appoint his replacement, just as Richard Nixon chose Gerald Ford to replace Spiro Agnew. It is quite clear to us whom the president would choose should he need to: Condoleezza Rice."

I'll be watching this for further developments...