Although most Americans – according to opinion polls – still rate Dick Cheney alongside Ebola virus in terms of popularity, there's a corner of America that will always love Dick. And that corner was brought together at the CPAC conference in Washington DC, where the former vice president made a "surprise" appearance. To wild applause Dick teased the crowd with a little presidential come-on, saying: "A welcome like that is almost enough to make me want to run for office again." Cue standing ovation. "But I'm not gonna do it."

For shame Dick Cheney, your country needs you. On CNN, Wolf Blitzer declared he thought Cheney might run in 2012, assuming the Republicans do well in the 2010 midterm elections in November. And who knows? he might be the only man to stop the Sarah Palin bandwagon from driving the Republican party over off the cliff. So go and register the www.cheney2012.com web address right now.

Obviously it would be great for the Democratic party if Cheney did run, one suspects, and the prospect of a Cheney versus Palin Republican primary ... well, it would be like Alien versus Predator, but much better. And real.

Anyway, it's too much to hope for.

