And the successor would be....?

An article about Cheney having shortness of breath again, in addition to raising the horrible specter that if he died or was incapacitated, then Bush would become President, also raised this thought:

Who's next in line of succession after the Vice President?

(Tick tock...tick tock...tick tock)

I blush to admit that I had to look it up. My hunch was right -- but it was just a hunch.

"The most powerful Republican outside the White House is also the most anonymous. Few seem to notice the existence let alone the large and growing influence of House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert.

-David S. Broder , Washington Post"