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Sep. 28, 2007
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Cheney glimpses protesters

Vice president's motorcade drives by on way to Republican fundraiser

By MOLLY BALL
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Protesters demonstrate outside a private fundraiser attended by Vice President Dick Cheney on Thursday.
Photo by John Locher.



Dick Cheney
Vice president on Western swing

Nine Las Vegas police motorcycles streamed through the gates of the Tournament Players Club shortly before noon Thursday, followed by an unmarked police car with its headlights flashing, a black-and-white cruiser, and two limousines, one of which presumably contained Vice President Dick Cheney.

For that brief instant, Cheney's vehicle passed about 60 protesters gathered on sidewalks to the left and right of the entrance, who chanted "No more endless war!" and held up signs with slogans such as "Honk if you hate Cheney."

Cheney was in Las Vegas on Thursday to raise money for the Nevada Republican Party at a luncheon at the Summerlin home of Sands Corp. Chairman Sheldon Adelson, which is inside those gates. The fundraiser was closed to the media.

Democrats and several anti-war groups rallied their members for the protest, and not just locally. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee sent a "Cheney Does Vegas" e-mail to activists nationwide urging them to donate money to "fight back" against Cheney's "posh fundraisers to fund GOP attack ads."

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    • Melony Franchini, a 23-year-old recent UNLV graduate, got wind of Cheney's visit from MoveOn.org, the online liberal activist group.

    "I'm here to let Dick Cheney know 70 percent of Americans don't support the war," she said. "He's got to listen sometime."

    Illustrating the level of fury Cheney arouses on the left, the protesters didn't mince words. Some signs were unprintable. Others: "Ditch the Dick," "Impeach Cheney First," "No More Blood for Oil," "Hey Dick, Go Surge Yourself!"

    "That man is evil," said Jim Hyder, a 67-year-old retired veteran wearing a T-shirt printed with the names of Americans who have died in the war and the words "Bush Lied" on the front, "They Died" on the back.

    "I'm not a religious man, but he's the closest thing to the devil I've ever seen," said Hyder, who said he fought in Vietnam and "saw enough murder and wrongful death to last a lifetime."

    George Bubnis, 64, carried a sign that said "Darth Vader," an appellation Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., gave Cheney recently. Others said their anger was at the war, not just Cheney.

    Jacob Roberts of Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, one of the protest organizers, said he hoped to send a "pro-troop message."

    "The surge was supposed to help, but this summer has been the bloodiest we've seen for our troops," he said. "And yet we get rosy statements from the White House based on cherry-picked evidence.

    "It's important we let Cheney know that we know the truth about what's going on in Iraq, and we're not going to put up with it."

    Inside, the mood was very different. Nevada Republican Party Executive Director Zac Moyle said the fundraiser attracted more people, about 80, and raised more money, more than $100,000, than organizers expected. It was $250 per person to attend the luncheon or $2,500 to get one's picture taken with the vice president.

    The money will go to the state party's Victory 2008 fund, used to support Republican candidates up and down the ticket.

    Moyle said Cheney was "very personable, relaxed and cordial," focusing his informal remarks on the 2008 election and national defense.

    Monte Miller, a local businessman and Republican activist who attended the event, said Cheney "has the ability to very calmly talk about the very serious challenges we're up against there."

    Cheney expressed concern about Iran's financing and equipping of terrorists in Iraq, saying a hasty withdrawal of U.S. troops could lead to a dangerous power vacuum, but rebutted allegations the administration is headed for war with Iran.

    "He was very frank about that," Miller said. "He said, 'Look, I think we have to make sure that Iran can't do some unspeakable thing. But we're in negotiations with Iran right now. We're trying to talk to them and deliberate with them. That's what the president is trying to do.' "

    Cheney's visit to Nevada was part of a Western fundraising tour that stopped in California Wednesday and headed to Colorado Thursday evening. Today, he is scheduled to appear in Utah and Wyoming.

    "He said it's going to be a tough election, but he's optimistic," Miller said. "If I were to evaluate his whole mood on the election, I think he's more optimistic than I am. As an active Republican, I'm concerned about our efforts, and I think we have to make some major changes in our party if we're going to win. That's my opinion. The vice president didn't talk about those things."

    A frequent question that arises from such visits is their cost to taxpayers. Janelle Kraft, budget director for the Metropolitan Police Department, said much of the security could be handled by shifting officers already on duty.

    In this case, there were some overtime costs, which she said would be billed to the Republican Party because it was a campaign rather than an official visit.

    "We will attempt to collect whatever we have to spend," she said.

    Outside the gates, a hard-core group of protesters stayed until Cheney's motorcade came back out. He might not have gotten their message, but he did acknowledge their presence.

    Cheney's face, Nevada Democratic Party Deputy Executive Director Kirsten Searer reported, could be seen through the tinted window of his limo.

    He waved.



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    To Republicans in Denial wrote on September 29, 2007 06:04 AM: My God, where have you people been? How can you continue to spew this garbage? Bush/Cheney have destroyed our constitution, we now torture people, spy on our citizens, and lying to the public has become the norm. It this is the type of country you want to live in you best hit the road! Your gig is almost up. Not soon enough for most of us. These guys are criminals! Our little Hitler must go! You are now the MINORITY! The people have spoken the problem is these Nazi’s don’t listen!


    Jason wrote on September 29, 2007 12:11 AM: To the people who put down Kevin and people like him, your arrogance blinds you, can't you see that President Bush is trying to make a safe and secure society. If the senate has to be restructured and fundamental societal changes made for our republic to be safe and secure then so be it. I would rather be safe then sorry, as many in our republic would. Maybe Bush needs to dissolve the united states of america and form the republic union of america for that safe and secure society.


    GOD wrote on September 28, 2007 09:38 PM: Elvis lives is a true NAMBLA liberal. Wake up, you're a looney-tune lib. This dem would rather rape little kids and have his martini --- it's ALL about me mentality. Hey dummy, a true martini is made with gin, but a wuss like you couldn't handle it as well as know that!!! Time to pick up your welfare check.

    Don't feel sorry for the poor privates... they look at you with disdain and shame. When THEY reach down, they can feel a pair of BIG ONES, not little marbles like yours. We laugh and mock cowards like you because we saw the likes of you running like scared little chickens when the twin towers were obliterated on account of your terrorist friends. Real men protect the sad helpless women like you.

    When I reach my last breath in life, I will be able to look back and know I meant something to this country, my friends, and family, not like you and your libs who can brag about kicking back with a vodka martini... big whoop.

    You shouldn't be ashamed to say you're voting for Hillary... you should just be ASHAMED!


    Chet wrote on September 28, 2007 07:34 PM: To Republicans in Denial -

    My god what ignorance! How in the world could you have been here in this country for the past 7 years and still spew this crap? Bush and Cheney have taken this nation to new lows. We now torture people, our constitution has been shredded, our judicial system is in shambles, we spy on our own citizens and you think all of this is a good thing? Yes I would say if this is the kind of country you want to live in you probably better hit the road. Your gig is up in a few months if not sooner. Then we can start the rehabilitation of a nation is despair. Our little Hitler must be held accountable!


    Cool Disco Dan wrote on September 28, 2007 05:56 PM: Dear Stephanie;

    Your ignorance of history, world events, and the sucess of the Bush economic and foreign policies leaves me breathless. I am sure that you are a nice person, but you probably voted for John Kerry for President, and that's just plain stupid. And, dear Stephanie, have you ever given any serious consideration to just exactly how things would be with Saddam still in power. Regiem change in Iraq became offical U.S. policy in the Clinton administration. Billy Bob talked a good game but did nothing after multiple attacks. And before you repeat the same LIE that all of you left-wing nutjobs repeat over and over again as dictated by your masters at MoveOn.org, the Bush administration acted on intellegence that EVERY major intelligence agency in the world believed to be true. All of your wonderful Democratic senators on the on the select committies had access to the same classified material that the Bush administration had and they voted for the war. By now, all sanctions on Saddam most likely would have been lifted, and he would have resumed his WMD programs that were ready and waiting to go. I can go on and on for hours, but before you instruct someone to "educate themselves" I would strongly sugggest that you begin to learn the facts before you rant the latest talking points from the DailyKos. Best Wishes.


    elvis lives wrote on September 28, 2007 05:39 PM: While soldiers are running around Iraq doing who knows what I'm getting ready to have my vodka martini. Does it bother me that soldiers are dying everyday there? Not really!!! For the poor private who has no other choice but to be in the military I feel sorry for. But these other weekend warriors it doesn't bother me at all. These idiots want to be patriotic well then go get killed for OIL & Cheneys military industrial complex. I've heard enough of 9/11 already who cares anymore. All those people died in vein while Cheneys oil friends get richer. I'm a Republican and I feel this way. Lots of other Republicans feel this way too besides the brain-washered FOX News people. I'm ashamed to say but I'll be voting for Hillary. Looking back America was much better off with Clinton in office instead of this current management team that is running America into the ground. Back to my martini


    GOD wrote on September 28, 2007 05:17 PM: SAD THAT I AND MANY OF MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE U.S. MILITARY HAVE TO PROTECT THE FREEDOMS OF THESE LOSERS.

    So you unemployed, pedophiles go back to your liberal, NAMBLA loving websites while true patriots fight the battles you cowards aren't up for!!!

    If you were around during WWII, you'd be whining that we should let the Germans put all the Jews to death.... hey, it's not our problem, right?! Japanese, hey, they only bombed Honolulu.

    WAKE UP!!!


    wilcon wrote on September 28, 2007 05:03 PM: BLOOD FOR OIL VOTE REPUBLICAN I WILL!


    To Kevin wrote on September 28, 2007 04:50 PM: Kevin- It's good to see you haven't risen above my expectations. You understood nothing of my post.


    Kevin wrote on September 28, 2007 04:20 PM: So your ok with all the survallince cameras going up in all the cities to spy on your every move?


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