Cheney Watch

[sabra]

http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2005/08/19/news/wyoming/125901e97f0bf47e87257062000516f2.txt

Cheney Watch


The veep wound up a busy week Thursday, braving high humidity and temperatures nearing 100 degrees in a flying noontime visit to the national convention of the Military Order of the Purple Heart in Springfield, Mo.

During his 20-minute speech on the war in Iraq, Vice President Dick Cheney told 400 members of the organization, "Once again, we're seeing the power of freedom to change the course of the world." He compared American efforts in Iraq to the heroism of George Washington's army.

Windshield protest: Just before Cheney's address, the Democratic National Committee accused the Bush administration of failing to adequately fund veterans benefits. No organized protests were spotted near the Springfield hotel, but fliers left on cars in the parking lot read, "Halliburton funded, veterans not funded."

Bad veep! Legal ethicists say the White House broke the law when Cheney and others interviewed John Roberts Jr. last spring for the Supreme Court while Roberts presided over a challenge to the president's military tribunals.

No free lunch: Veep Watch reveals the details of what dedicated Cheney fans get for their money during stumping stops in Idaho and Montana:

* Ice cream, cake and bottled water in a sweltering airplane hangar -- 60 bucks.

* Chocolate cake and a salad topped with chicken -- $125.

* Photo ops with the veepster -- $1,000 per click.

* Money raised for war chest: Unknown.

-- From wire reports

[LibinMo]

1. There WERE protesters outside the hotel

From the August 19 Springfield Mo News-Leader:


>About 30 demonstrators lined up outside during Cheney's 12:45 p.m. speech.

His motorcade left the hotel east on Trafficway, passing the demonstrators carrying signs declaring "No blood ... for oil" and "Hemp bio-fuel not war."

As the vice president was whisked away by federal agents, Springfield police and Greene County sheriff's deputies, the crowd broke into a brief rendition of "God Bless America."

Cheney waved through his limo's tinted window.

more http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050819/NEWS01/508190374/1095


We had a good turnout for the Candlelight Vigil Wednesday night, too. Around 300 people.

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050818/NEWS01/508180373/1095

[cliss]

2. So Cheney feels the war in Iraq is like

George Washington and the revolutionary army? OK......trying to cope with that image.

I'm surprised Cheney doesn't show cartoons of Washington, or maybe Lincoln, as a backrop for his speeches.

If he was REALLY creative, he could have these images of angels flying around him as he speaks. He's got technicians: they could do something like that. Use slides, and maybe play heavenly music in the background while he's talking. Yeah, that'd work.

They've done all kinds of stuff with Bush. They've showed creative line-ups with Bush standing right in front of an oil painting of Washington. Or a painting of Valley Forge. In front of the Washington Monument. Or next to a painting of Jesus. I've even seen posed phot of Bush with a golden halo around his head. He stands there, looking very holy.

It's all in the image, baby.

[RaleighNCDUer]

3. He compared American efforts in Iraq to the heroism of George Washington's

army.

I can see the comparisons.

No food = no vehicle armor.
No shoes = no body armor.
Fighting for freedom = fighting for international corporations.

Well, I guess the comparison does fall apart there.

[mmonk]

4. Today we are

outfitted like the Continental army under and doing the directives of the Crown.