Newgrounds.com — Everything, By Everyone.

Here it is once again!

the 4th annual Political Predictions for 2006!

Make sure you post YOUR predictions for the New Year here.

My Prediction:
Donald Trump will run and WIN (narrowly) the Govenors Manor in New York

Every Year, for the past umm... 2 years i have made a next years preditiction post. So, what is your political preditiction for 2005?

Mine:

Howard Dean becomes head of Democratic Party, however he becomes more and more fustrated with the basic grass-roots problems of the party, and leaves within the year.

At 3/17/04 09:57 PM, Locke666 wrote:

I have been looking around lately and have seen quite a few anti bush things on the internet but I cant quite understand why. Bush is a great president, during his term he has done nothing but fight for freedom in the world

(under the Patriot act everyone here that has said something bad about Bush is legally, a terrorist).

During a time of great tragedy he has pulled our country-

(not quite, he took off August 2001 and he considered Iraq a greater threat than Al-Quida after being appointed president. because they have ALL those WMD)

-through and freed millions of people in Iraq

(These are the people killing our young men and women everyday).

You should all be greatful for what he's done for us, not go around bush bashing!

(Hey we're just doing our civil duty here)

Democrat vs. Republican, Northeast vs. Southern, Former Senator vs. Former Governor.

But what do these two different men have in common?

Well, they both went to Yale where they became members of an elite group of intellectuals known as "Skulls and Bones." The Skulls, where started in 1533 as a secret society to rival the "Freemasons." They meet once a week at a special meeting place behind the Yale library known as "The Tomb." The entire initiation process is unknown, however, some of the initiations are: kissing the sacred skull (no one knows exactly who the skull was) and explaining in full detail, your entire sexual history.

They adopted the numerological symbol 322 because their group was the second chapter of the German organization, founded in 1832. They worshipped the goddess Eulogia, celebrated pirates, and covertly plotted an underground conspiracy to dominate the world.

You are also assigned a nickname when you enter the Skulls. As reported on MSNBC’s “Countdown” Bushes nickname was “Temporary” and while Kerry’s nickname is not known, it is guessed that the 6’5” Kerry would have been named “Long Devil” which is the nickname given to the tallest member of the new group.

But who are the Skulls rooting for in the latest election? Chances are that the Skulls simply don’t care. As far as they are concerned, the only thing that you need to do when you come into positions of power is to hire other “Bonesmen”.

Some famous “Bonesmen” include: founder of Time/Life magazine Henry Luce, Former President Howard Taft, Harold Stanley, founder of Morgan Stanley, Potter Stewart, Former Supreme Court Justice.

Graduation gifts are to be given out to Bonesmen when they finish school and the gift is to be in the $10,000 range both Kerry and Bush have remarked that they are “still waiting to see any money.”

At 11/2/03 08:58 PM, StrikerCW wrote: I think the perfect form of government would be Utopian Communism. This would be were there would be no government. The entire world would be in a prepetual state of sharing. He would just be able to get food from the community (ie neighbors). Science would even still work this way. If a scientist made a discovery, he would just share it with the community and the entire scientific world would build upon it.

Go out and read Count Michaels Bakunnin's "The German Yearbook"

that could help you understand Marx

At 11/2/03 01:07 PM, Chaoslight wrote:

That's communism as it became under corrupt rulers. Communism as a government. I was talking about communism the economic model.

Communism as a economic model doesnt work without the party taking control of the goverment. Read the Communist Manifesto. It requires the overthrow of the state in comand to create the classless society that is the spark that starts communism.

Come on man do your reading.

Ok i heard that there was some serious shit going on around here but i had no idea it was this bad; i've been gone too long.

Communism DOES exploit people. Look at how Stalin killed off 6 million Ukraine peasants in 1929 because of the collectivzation of farms in the USSR. The reason: The USSR was a socialist WORKERS party not a peasants party.1929-30 in the USSR was renamed the war of collectivzation. Stalin was quoted as saying "One death is a tragedy, one million deaths is a statistic."

Communism is secretive and conspiratorial by nature. One of the first things that Lenin did after the revolution was to create the NKVD; his secret police force that would hunt the "Enemies of the People."

Ok your working in Russia in 1939. Your working in a steel plant. You accidentally drop a hammer into a machine. It gums up the machine. You are now a enemy of the state. you are taken out and shot. your family is taken out and shot. your children are taken to an ophange to be shot when they turn 18.

Now you know the truth.

Everyone is looking for a new Vietnam. When we went to Afganastan, it was the next Vietnam. When we went to Iraq it was the next Vietnam.

If your looking for the new Vietnam just look under your nose...or in your pipe...or in your needle...

Its the war on drugs.

Two of Saddam Hussein's sons are believed to be among four Iraqis killed in a Tuesday raid in northern Iraq, U.S. officials say. A senior U.S. official in Iraq, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said investigators were "awaiting postive DNA testing" to confirm the identities.

The elite Task Force 20 and the CIA conducted the raid at a house in the northern city of Mosul. The raid sparked a shootout between 200 members of the 101st Airborne Division supporting the mission and gunmen holed up inside the compound, officials said.

The identities of the dead were not certain, said one official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Saddam's elder sons, Uday and Qusay, were spotted in the building yesterday, a senior U.S. military official told USA TODAY.

Both were below only Saddam in importance in the regime, officials have said.

The house belonged to a cousin of Saddam who was a key tribal leader in the region. The stone, columned house was left charred and smoldering, its high facade riddled with gaping holes from bullets and heavy weaponry.

Some local residents appeared to have been caught in the crossfire. It was not known how many people were injured, but several were taken to a hospital. Reuters is reporting one bystander was killed in the crossfire.

The United States has offered a $25 million bounty and $15 million for each of Saddam's sons, who were also top leaders in their father's regime.

The officials said they had no initial information that would suggest Saddam himself was present during the raid.

Qusay was probably Saddam's successor, according to U.S. intelligence officials. He ran much of Iraq's security apparatus, controlling several militias, internal security services and the military forces of the once-vaunted Republican Guard.

He was described as quiet and level, particularly compared to Uday, Saddam's eldest son, who had a reputation for brutality and flamboyance. Uday controlled Saddam's Fedayeen, the paramilitary force that fought U.S. troops during the war; many of its survivors are thought to be part of the ongoing guerrilla campaign in Iraq.

Uday also controlled information and propaganda in Saddam's Iraq, and was chairman of the country's Olympic committee.

Saddam has a third, younger son and three daughters. All kept a low profile in his regime.

Also Tuesday, a U.S. soldier was killed and another injured in an ambush along a dangerous road north of Baghdad in the so-called "Sunni Triangle," a center of anti-American resistance

His death brought to 153 the number of U.S. troops killed in action since the March 20 start of war — six more than during the 1991 Gulf War.

U.S. Central Command in Tampa, said the attackers used rocket-propelled grenades and small arms in the assault staged along the road between Balad, 50 miles north of Baghdad, and Ramadi, 60 miles west of the capital.

The U.S.-led coalition's military occupation of Iraq has been met by constant armed Iraqi resistance, resulting in almost daily deaths of American troops. Many recent assaults have been staged with remote-controlled roadside explosions.

While the military has not released figures on the number of attacks on American forces each day, a senior officer told reporters last week that the attacks were averaging 12 a day.

This seems a little unlikely that they would both be at the same place together with the U.S. army on their tails. So we'll havta wait for the DNA testing to come back later on.

Mark this day as the day that new freedoms are born. This is the day Iranian dissdents, following nearly two weeks of embattled pro-democracy protests in every major Iranian city, have called for a general strike. Demonstrators plan to protest Iran Islamic dictatorship - which also happens to be the longtime patron-goverment and terrorist-haven of Hamas and anti-Western terrorist including Al Queda.

Whether this effort will lead to a ultimate showdown with the mullahs or result in a crackdown on pro-democracy activists like the one that took place on July 9, 1999, no one knows.

Having arrested 4,000 demostrators last month, the regime is taking the situation very seriously. Even they admitted that just a quater of the people arrested last month in protest were students. That means that this is a truly national protest. All have called for an end to what the people call the "Khomeinist tyranny"

But will it work?

At 7/7/03 10:12 PM, _crossbreed_ wrote: Jews did not create the world's most dangerous weapons and then invade other countries when they mey or may not be hiding such weapons.

Jews did not fund Afghan militia and then try to hide it from the public when the Taliban took revenge for the U.S.'s actions during the Gulf War.

Jews did not fund Saddam Hussein's military in the 1980s to kill Iranians and then act surprised when Saddam invaded Kuwait.

Jews did not support or install dictators in Iran, Kuwait, Chile, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Afghanistan and Panama.

Americans and the Jewish Population at large DO have the balls to make mistakes. Because after all we are only human.

At 7/4/03 11:55 AM, Urban-Affliction wrote: the US cannot be held accountable for war crimes.

Not to sound like a prick but which war crimes are you talking about? Iraq?

Who exactly is the ICC and how could they hold the US accountable for anything?

and how much in funds were given?

A voice purported to be Saddam Hussein's aired on Al-Jazeera TV on Friday, saying he is still in Iraq and vowing more attacks on Americans.
"I am still present in Iraq along with a group of (former Iraqi) leaders," said the voice on the tape, which the voice said was recorded on June 14. (Related item: Text of Saddam audio)

There was no immediate way to confirm the tape's authenticity but those who know Saddam's voice said it sounded like his.

The audiotape appeared a day after Washington put a $25 million bounty on Saddam and offered $15 million for information leading to the capture of either of his sons, Odai and Qusai.

Claiming credit for armed attacks on U.S. occupation forces in Iraq, the voice, addressing Iraqis, said, "Oh brothers and sisters, I relay to you good news: Jihad (holy war) cells and brigades have been formed."

The voice purporting to be Saddam's said that he is still in Iraq "among my people" along with a small group of his "companions."

Congratulations to Bush and his staff they might have very well have sacrificed every U.S. soldier and member of personel in Iraq.

I call dibs on writing the next script!

Three major Palestinian groups declared a temporary cease-fire Sunday after 33 months of violence, and Israel pulled out of part of the Gaza Strip — breakthroughs in the U.S.-backed bid for peace.

The militant Islamic Jihad and Hamas groups announced a joint three-month cease-fire, while Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction declared a six-month truce.

Israel expressed doubts about the promises and insisted the Palestinian Authority must disarm the militants. The Bush administration welcomed news of the cease-fire, but said it wants to see more progress in the so-called "road map" to peace.

"Anything that reduces violence is a step in the right direction," White House spokeswoman Ashley Snee said. "Under the road map, parties have an obligation to dismantle terrorist infrastructure. There is still more work to be done."

Best of luck to them, they'll need it

Former U.S. senator Strom Thurmond, who took the political stage as the nation's most prominent segregationist and left it as the most enduring political figure of the century, died Thursday night at age 100.

Thurmond's unparalleled political career spanned eight decades, beginning with the Edgefield, school board in 1924. He served a term as South Carolina's governor, ran for president in 1948 to oppose civil rights, and won a Senate seat in 1954 as a write-in candidate. There he served 48 years, becoming the oldest and longest-serving senator in American history.

"I want to tell you that there's not enough troops in the Army to force the Southern people to break down segregation and admit the Negro race into our theaters, into our swimming pools, into our homes and into our churches." Strom Thurmond's speech to 1948 States Rights convention.

Strom Thurman is dead. Thank God for that. I really hated Strom, and all that his stood for. The only good Dixie-crat is a dead Dixie-crat and I would like to take this time to thank Strom for showing me that. Burn in hell you prick.

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that colleges can favor black, Hispanic and other minority students in admissions, but said that schools cannot blindly give extra points to minority candidates and must assess each applicant's background.

In dramatic announcements that were the court's first statements on racial preferences in education in a quarter-century, the justices upheld the University of Michigan's affirmative action policy that favors minorities who apply to its law school, but struck down a point system used by Michigan's undergraduate program, saying it went too far in giving a boost to minorities.

The 5-4 decision in the law school case is key because it sets in stone a much-debated principle that was first articulated by the court in a 1978 ruling: that a university's "compelling" interest in a diverse student body justifies the consideration of race in admissions.

I dont see anything more of a sticky-wicket than affirmative action, if it didnt exist, many people wouldn't get the chance that everyone should get. However as with Michigan, some of those who earn the chance may not be able to get it.

The question of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction has left a cloud over the Bush administration's credibility that won't be removed until Americans know whether the administration was straightforward with them, a Republican member of the Senate Intelligence Committee said Sunday.

The committee began last week an inquiry into the administration's use of intelligence to justify the invasion, specifically assertions that President Saddam Hussein had thriving programs to develop chemical and biological weapons and had tried to obtain material for nuclear arms.

Until recently, Bush and his aides had maintained prohibited weapons would be found. In his radio address Saturday, Bush made no such promise and said instead that documents and suspected weapons sites were looted and burned "in the regime's final days."

This looks really, really bad for Bush and all that he has accomplished so far. And please, PLEASE, realize that im not against the soldiers im against the war.

the chant is slowly getting louder... impeachment...IMPeachMENT...

Israel offered to withdraw troops from parts of the Gaza Strip, and the Palestinians expressed readiness to take up security control as the two sides headed into new talks Saturday to patch up a U.S.-backed peace plan after a week of violence.

"The word cease-fire is not in our dictionary," said Abdel Aziz Rantisi, a hard-line Hamas leader. "Resistance will continue until we uproot them from our homeland."

Secretary of State Colin Powell and other senior representatives of the so-called Quartet — the United States, United Nations, Russia and the European Union, which together drew up the road map — are to hold talks in Jordan next week.

Good luck to Bush, Dick and Colin...they'll need it

Pro-clergy militants on motorcycles chased down protesters and beat them with clubs early Friday, the third night of anti-government demonstrations in Tehran, witnesses said.

The student-led protests were aimed at Iran's hard-line clerics, who control the security forces and are locked in a power struggle with reformist President Mohammad Khatami.

Hundreds of young Iranians, many in their teens, took to the streets around Tehran University and the Laleh hotel, formerly called the Intercontinental, about a mile away, witnesses said. The protesters denounced the country's supreme leader, hard-liner Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"Khamenei, the traitor, must be hanged!" they chanted, according to witnesses. Criticism of Khamenei is usually punished by imprisonment, and public calls for his death had been unheard of until this week.

In some parts of Tehran, activists who support the clergy-led regime circled knots of student protesters, gunning their motorcycle engines and, according to some witnesses, using cattle prods. Some of the demonstrators fought back, punching the attackers and setting their motorcycles on fire.

At times, riot police prevented the government supporters from confronting the protesters and did not respond to stone throwing, witnesses said. At other times, police rushed the protesters, sending them fleeing into the darkness.

The pro-Khamenei activists chanted: "Oh, exalted leader, we are ready to follow your instructions!"

Khamenei warned of a major crackdown in a speech broadcast on state television and radio Thursday.

He referred to violence in 1999, when security forces and extremist supporters of hard-line clerics attacked pro-democracy demonstrators after a student hostel was stormed. The raid on the hostel led to the death of at least one student and generated the worst street battles since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

"It should not be allowed that a group of people contaminate society and universities with riots and insecurity, and then attribute it to the pious youth," he said.

While the overnight protests seemed to be disorganized, with no clear leaders, some demonstrators vowed to keep up the pressure until next month's anniversary of the 1999 protests.

This week's demonstrators have also called for the resignation of President Khatami, accusing him of not pushing hard enough for democratic reforms.

Support the Protesters in Iran! Viva la Revolution! Viva!

Israeli helicopters fired rockets at two cars carrying Hamas activists Thursday in Gaza, the latest strikes after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon swore to hunt Palestinians militants in response to a suicide attack on a bus that killed 16 people and wounded 100.

In the third airstrike against Hamas in 24 hours, Israeli helicopters fired missiles at a car carrying activists of the Islamic militant group, killing seven people, including a young child, and wounding 29, doctors said.

Hamas said the car belonged to one of its activists. A leader of the Islamic militant group, Mahmoud Zahar, said those killed in the airstrike were Yasser Taha, a member of the Hamas military wing, Taha's wife, and the couple's two small children. A baby bottle was among the items pulled from the burning car.

Well here we go again folk nothing is going to stop the Israelis or the Palestinians killing now. I'm going to go get a big tub of popcorn and sit down in front of CNN for several hours and watch the chaos unfold.

Well ladies and gents...

President Bush scolded Israel on Tuesday for a helicopter attack on a senior Hamas leader that killed a bystander and a bodyguard, warning that such a strike "does not contribute to the security of Israel."

I dont really like Bush or what he has done (except for the 15 billion towards fighting AIDS). And his Middle East "road plan" for peace has some big potholes in it, but its better than nothing. So now Israel goes and possible derails the entire process in one swift helicopter strike.

Hamas is already vowing revenge that will "that will be like an earthquake."

ok A number 1 im back i dont know for how long but its good to be back in the ol' stomping grounds

anyway...back to the topic

Well ladies and gents at best well have been mislead...and at very worst the American people have been lied to. This administation told us that Saddam could have a nuclear weapon in "less than a year." but with every passing day in Iraq, less and less is turning up. American millitary inspectors after checking 200 of 900 "suspect sites" the inspectors have given up and have gone into chasing paper trails that are seemingly endless. Saddam's weapons if they exist... need to be found and found soon. If not, the cries of "impeachment" may get louder.

Worse still is the fact that the congressmen and women that stood so strong against this war have now decieded that they would now rather wait for the problem to set itself straight than to ask the tough questions.

So what can we do? To inact change with the congress, write your local congressmen or congresswoman. Secondly, if you dont like the way the president or congress person has represented you. Vote and give them the boot!

That is all. We now return you to your regularly scheduled lives

U.S. alert back up at high
By Jack Kelley and John Diamond, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — The White House on Tuesday raised the national terror alert level to orange, the second-highest on a five-level scale, amid fears that a series of terrorist attacks overseas would spread to the United States.

"The U.S. intelligence community believes al-Qaeda has entered an operational period worldwide, and this may include attacks in the United States," Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said.

He encouraged governors and mayors to deploy additional police during the Memorial Day holiday.

State and local authorities responded quickly to Tuesday's announcement. Police in California began working 12-hour shifts. National Guard troops in New York were called up to protect subways and bridges. Capitol police SWAT teams in Washington prepared to conduct random patrols.

The threat level was raised after a review of intelligence information by President Bush's Homeland Security Advisory Council. It also followed a second bulletin by the FBI to law enforcement agencies that recent terror bombings abroad could be a "prelude" to U.S. attacks. Nine suicide bombers killed 25 people — including eight U.S. citizens — in Saudi Arabia on May 12. U.S. intelligence officials say they believe that the al-Qaeda terror network was to blame. Al-Qaeda is also suspected in attacks by 13 suicide bombers that killed 28 people in Morocco late Friday.

The U.S., British and German embassies in Saudi Arabia were closed Tuesday for fear of more attacks.

U.S. intelligence officials say they have intercepted "chatter," or communications, from suspected al-Qaeda operatives indicating an attack may be planned. But officials say the chatter is not specific about the timing or location. They say an attack is more likely to occur overseas.

This is the fourth time the level has been raised to orange, signifying a "high" risk of attack. The last time was March 17, two days before the war with Iraq. It was lowered a month later.

At 5/11/03 02:01 PM, Kenney333 wrote: In these days of such varying opinions the slogan "in God we trust" has become so outdated, maybe its time for a new one?

i mean since "in god we trust hasnt done to well justifying murder, maybe something a little more direct is in order, may i suggest,

America: "Obey or Die"

or America: better than you...so fuck off

any other suggestions?

yea i do i heard it from Robin Williams last stand up show one nation under canada above mexico

U.S. counterterrorism officials said Saturday they expect additional al-Qaeda bombings at lightly defended targets in Asia and Africa.

Officials speaking a day after explosions killed dozens in Morocco described strong suspicions that al-Qaeda was behind the suicide attacks in Casablanca, noting they resembled attacks Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital. This includes near-simultaneous bombings at multiple locations.

Another common thread is that both attacks involved relatively simple suicide bombings launched against "soft" targets that, unlike embassies or military bases, have limited defenses, officials said.

"We can expect more of these," said one official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Intelligence indicates that al-Qaeda has planned a series of bombings at targets around the world, officials have said.

But there apparently was limited information that pointed toward Morocco as a target. Recent State Department travel warnings — a barometer of terrorism intelligence gathered by the CIA and other agencies — did not single out Morocco as a particular target.

In an audiotape released in February, Osama bin Laden himself described Morocco as one of several U.S. allies that was "ready for liberation."

While most recent intelligence has pointed toward attacks in Southeast Asia, the Arabian peninsula and East Africa, officials said similar strikes in Europe and the United States are also a possibility.

During the past several months, authorities have detained several people they suspect are advance scouts sent by al-Qaeda to conduct surveillance inside the United States, U.S. officials said. Their activities are still being investigated, the official said.

Officials believe last week's attacks were motivated by a desire on the part of al-Qaeda's senior leaders to demonstrate they remain a force to be reckoned with. The attacks suggest a coordinated effort across al-Qaeda to launch strikes in which a high probability of succeeding is more important than causing mass casualties.

"The horrific bombings in Saudi Arabia and Morocco remind us why this campaign will not end soon: Our foe is ruthless, resilient and hides among innocent people," CIA Director George Tenet said during a speech at commencement ceremonies Saturday at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Washington.

The organization has suffered repeated blows in 2003, including the arrest of several of its top leaders.

The move toward more traditional suicide bombings may reflect the loss of alleged Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed. He specialized in orchestrating high-risk, spectacular attacks like the strikes on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

U.S. officials are also investigating whether recent al-Qaeda operations are being directed by senior leaders hiding in Iran.

Four key al-Qaeda leaders — security chief Saif al-Adil, training commander Abu Mohamed al-Masri, bin Laden's son Saad, and Abu Hafs the Mauritanian — are believed to be in Iran trying to direct operation.

The government of Iran denies sheltering any al-Qaeda figures and says they would be detained if discovered.

fuck are we in for it or what?

but shouldnt we all be grateful for the chance to say what we want when we want?

The United States would be forced to act if it discovered that Syria let in Iraqi weapons of mass destruction during the war, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said in an interview published Wednesday.

Rice said she was sure Iraqi weapons of mass destruction — the main reason cited by the United States for invading Iraq and ousting Saddam Hussein — would turn up eventually.

But she said it was possible some had been removed from Iraq before the fighting concluded last month.

"We have assurances from the Syrians that nothing crossed their borders. Time will tell," Rice said in the interviews given Tuesday in Washington to El Pais and three other Spanish dailies.

But if that assurance turned out to be false, it would create a very serious situation and the international community would be forced to act, Rice said, according to El Pais.

Pressed as to whether this meant another war, Rice simply repeated that the international community would be forced to act.

During the war in Iraq the United States accused Syria of granting haven to fleeing officials of Saddam's regime and developing its own weapons of mass destruction. The allegations triggered fears of another U.S.-led conflict even before the smoke cleared in Iraq.

The Syrian ambassador to Spain, Mohsen Bilal, denied the allegations of offering haven or possessing such terror weapons.

"We have no fear and no secrets," Bilal told journalists Wednesday.

Rice gave the interviews ahead of a visit to Washington Wednesday by Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar.

Secretary of State Colin Powell met in Damascus Saturday with Syrian President Bashar Assad to discuss weapons of mass destruction and U.S. plans for the Middle East in the aftermath of the war in Iraq.

Powell said on Sunday that the Bush administration and Congress are monitoring Syria's moves.

"There are no illusions in his (Assad's) mind as to what we are looking for from Syria," Powell told NBC's Meet the Press.

"There was, as we put it in diplomatic terms, a candid exchange of views, but it is not promises that we are interested in, or assurances, but it is action. We will see what happens in the days, weeks, months ahead."

A key question involving Iraq, Powell said, is whether Syria will keep its eastern border closed, and track down and surrender any Iraqi suspects who might cross it to escape prosecution.

At 5/7/03 09:11 PM, nappyass123 wrote: your mom is a hippy

*slaps forehead*

i swear to god if you spam one more time i will bring about the wrath of the Politics Crew upon you

Vice President Dick Cheney has agreed to be President Bush's running mate in 2004, saying past health problems won't prevent him from being on the next presidential ticket.
"The president has asked me if I would serve again as his running mate. I've agreed to do that," he said Tuesday in an interview with The Dallas Morning News.

Cheney's position on the 2004 ticket has been the subject of heightened speculation because of his heart condition. He has had four heart attacks, though none as vice president.

"I've got a doc with me 24 hours a day who watches me very carefully," said Cheney. "If I ran into problems where I felt I couldn't serve, I'd be the first to say so and step down."

More recently, Cheney's value has been questioned because of his connection to a corporate accounting scandal. The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating accounting practices at Halliburton Co. while Cheney was its chief executive officer.

Cheney, 61, has already said he would relish a chance to join Bush for any 2004 re-election run. In November, Bush indicated he wanted his vice president to reprise his role, saying "there's no reason for me to change."

Cheney said he did not know when Bush would formally announce his candidacy.

(please lose)