Geez, save for the “social issues,” which, hey, maybe W will fix if we win on judges, this sounds like a conservative’s daydream: “Perhaps historians will note that he served admirably for 8 years under George W. Bush and then four in his own right — when he launched a slash-and-burn program against the size and scope of the federal government and terrorist bastions around the globe. ” Someone give Jonah the West Wing slot on NBC. Cheney’s the conservative’s President Bartlet.

We’ll have fun with Cheney ‘08 this week. And it will come up every few months. But I rather the GOP be getting to work on some good, strong, viable types. Which, sorry, Cheney isn’t (has something to do with those heart attacks, yes).

By the way: Gingrich? Let’s not even flatter him by talking about him as a potential. I’m with Nordlinger, who notes that he is one smart dude, but he’s not the stuff of a president. Just don’t even talk about him (sorry, Newt), save the energy for serious dark horses.