In the news this week, Bush-Cheney 2000…. “I believe you are looking at the next vice president of the United States,” George Bush said, announcing his selection of Cheney as his running mate in advance of next week’s Republican convention. “He is a man of integrity who is respected by Republicans and Democrats alike.”

Mr. Cheney, whose most recent record of public service was as Secretary of Defense under George Bush the elder, is an excellent choice for the ticket. Cheney immediately received the endorsement of two men who worked just under him in Desert Storm. “[Cheney is a] superb choice. He is very loyal, he is smart, a good manager, he’s a good leader…,” said General Colin Powell. “Very, very smart, tough, fair, very experienced in Washington D.C. and the ways and means of making things happen,” said General Norm Schwarzkopf. “He is very, very intelligent and he is very, very tough…but I never felt that he had any great self-interest involved.”

“He is an excellent choice. Dick Cheney is a person who has respect on both sides of the aisle,” said Sen. John McCain. William Bennett noted, “He’s an excellent choice…very formidable…a solid man…a real conservative….” National Review says, “The Republican ticket is now exquisitely balanced: A man of the center who doesn’t alienate the right has now chosen a man of the right who doesn’t alienate the center.”

Despite the media speculation about a “pro-choice” running mate, the National Right To Life committee praised Cheney’s “one hundred percent pro-life voting record during his time in office.”

Of note, after the appointment of Mr. Cheney, Alan Keyes dropped his own campaign against Mr. Bush and endorsed the selection of Cheney, saying he will rally behind the ticket at the Republican convention next week.

For his part, Mr. Cheney said humbly, “I feel an obligation to get back in the arena. I can’t think of anything more important for my kids and grandkids than to try to give them a government they can be proud of.”

On the issues – based on his years as a congressman from Wyoming (1978-89): Mr. Cheney consistently opposed abortion (“The intriguing thing is to have the Democrats attacking me for having a pro-life position when, during that same period, Al Gore was earning a 94% approval rating from the National Right to Life Committee because he was pro-life.”) and gun control legislation (“I’m one of those people who believes that the solution to our gun problem is to enforce existing laws, not impose new restrictions on law-abiding citizens.”).

As a congressman, he was on of Ronald Reagan’s most effective advocates, backing President Reagan’s economic, military and strategic defense initiatives.

Of Cheney’s selection, Al Gore lamented, “It is a choice between the old guard and a new vision for America’s future.” Translation: It’s a choice between those who would protect America’s heritage of liberty and family, and those who would impose Bill Clinton’s “new covenant” between man and government.

Clintonista Tom Daschle added, “[Cheney’s] probably as far right as anybody in the Republican Party today. It really represents the extreme side of the party.” Sen. Barbara Boxer, California Democrat, said the Bush-Cheney pair is “probably the most anti-choice ticket we’ve ever had.” Excellent endorsements indeed!