Meet The Veep's New Aide

The Vice President was expected back at the office on Monday. But the fact is Bush doesn't need Cheney quite as much as he used to. Bush has been President for almost six months now. He may still be learning, but he can't help being more confident and competent than he was on Jan. 21. That's not to say Cheney isn't an immensely powerful player in the Administration. His reach extends famously from foreign policy and defense to energy, antiterrorism, congressional relations and more. But Cheney's star has dimmed ever so slightly since his dismissive remark about conservation being a "personal virtue" rather than effective policy. He helped make Bush seem out of touch.

Speculation is rampant about who would succeed Cheney if he doesn't finish his first term or declines to run for re-election. Would Bush go with Colin Powell--a bold move that would infuriate the right but help draw moderates and African-Americans into the g.o.p.? With the Senate closely divided, the White House would surely be loath to tap one of the 49 G.O.P. members.

Such political handicapping will increase if the Vice President makes additional trips--planned or not--to the hospital. There's a risk that the coronary artery that was propped open with a stent in November and then cleared of a buildup of tissue in March, could become blocked again. And there's also a remote possibility that if the defibrillator is repeatedly activated, doctors will opt to destroy the troublesome section of scar tissue that's throwing off Cheney's heart rhythm. That would require yet another trip to the hospital and another round of spin doctoring. But if last week is any guide, by then it may all start to feel like another day at the office.