Cheney: Nothing stopping Palin from doing job

updated 11:45 a.m. ET Sept. 8, 2008

ROME - There's nothing stopping Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin from serving well in the White House, according to the men who now hold the nation's highest offices.

"She's had executive experience, and that's what it takes to be a capable person in here in Washington, D.C. in the executive branch," President Bush said in an interview to air Tuesdsay on Fox News Channel's "Fox and Friends."

"John McCain made an inspired pick," Bush added.

Meanwhile, Vice President Dick Cheney told reporters in Rome on Monday that he "loved" Palin's speech to the Republican National Convention, which he watched "with great interest." Cheney laughed when he recounted her line about the difference between hockey moms and pit bulls being a coat of lipstick.

"I thought her appearance at the convention was superb," Cheney said. Asked whether he thought Palin could handle the No. 2 job under a president John McCain, he added:

"Everybody brings a different set of experiences to the office and also a different kind of understanding with whoever the president is," Cheney said during remarks at the residence of U.S. Ambassador to Italy Ronald P. Spogli.

"Each administration is different. And there's no reason why Sarah Palin can't be a successful vice president in a McCain administration," he added. Such a White House, he said, "won't look exactly like the Bush administration or the first Bush administration, the Ford administration. It'll be relatively unique to this president and this time that they're in office."

A spokesperson said Cheney had met Palin before and called to congratulate her shortly after McCain named her as his running mate.

There's nothing stopping Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin from being an effective vice president, says the man who now has the job.

Vice President Dick Cheney told reporters in Rome on Monday that he "loved" Palin's speech to the Republican National Convention. He laughed when he recounted her line about the difference between hockey moms and pit bulls being a coat of lipstick.

"I thought her appearance at the convention was superb," Cheney said. Asked whether he thought Palin could handle the No. 2 job under a president John McCain, he added:

"Everybody brings a different set of experiences to the office and also a different kind of understanding with whoever the president is," Cheney said during remarks at the residence of U.S. Ambassador to Italy Ronald P. Spogli.

"Each administration is different. And there's no reason why Sarah Palin can't be a successful vice president in a McCain administration," he added. Such a White House, he said, "won't look exactly like the Bush administration or the first Bush administration, the Ford administration. It'll be relatively unique to this president and this time that they're in office."

Cheney said he watched Palin's speech "with great interest" Thursday morning during a visit to Baku, Azerbaijan. A spokesperson said Cheney had met Palin before and called to congratulate her shortly after McCain named her as his running mate.

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