Cheney Sneaks in and out of Maine

Vice President Cheney met with a small group of wealthy Mainers yesterday during a brief, two-hour visit to the state.  Like a thief in the night, he sneaked out again without speaking to reporters or any other residents. US taxpayers paid for his helicopter, 13-car secret service motorcade, and coast guard vessels patrolling the bay; but the Vice President could not be bothered to meet with anyone who wasn't a wealthy GOP donor.  The Press Herald reports:

Described as a "Maine Victory 2006" luncheon on the vice president's Web site, the event was closed to the public. O'Brien said it will help Maine Republicans in their effort this fall to win a majority in the Legislature. Many of those who attended, including former gubernatorial candidate Peter Cianchette, declined to talk to reporters as they left the event. O'Brien said only a few legislative candidates attended, and the money raised will go to the Republican Party rather than specific candidates.

Cheney's millionaire host for the luncheon called the police when a reporter tried to interview people who had heard the vice president's speech. Ain't plutocracy great?

•  exactly what crime

  did the host report to the police? free-speech in-progress?

  by Miss Devore on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 10:19:50 AM PDT

  •  Police

    If you read the linked article, the police did indeed show up, but they took no action against the reporter.  It just amazes me how the entire affair was shrouded in secrecy - as if they were ashamed of what they were doing (as well they should be!),

    by DowneastDem on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 10:28:11 AM PDT

    •  doesn't it remind

      you of the "blue bloods" in the movie, "Blade"?  Hiding in the basement, closed to anyone who isn't one of "them"...

      ...they probably have secret handshakes as well!  haha

      by Shaking the Tree on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 11:18:31 AM PDT

•  Didn't Al Gore get in trouble

  for just using the White House phone for fund raising? I thought that you can not use taxpayer's money to fundraise: since this event apparently only included a fundraiser, should not the Republicans foot the total bill?

  by sailmaker on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 10:22:09 AM PDT

  •  Was this proven? Or more Steno Sue Swill? n/t

    by Jeff Boatright on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 10:48:48 AM PDT

    •  Well, the LA Times

       had on the subject. Gore said he did the deeds, but believed them not to be crimes because they were paid for by DNC credit cards.  

      by sailmaker on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 11:42:28 AM PDT

  •  You could make that case

    for almost every event that bush, cheney and rove attend. Nothing ever gets done about it. AF1 and AF2 (and the helicopters and various motorcades) are constantly being used for political purposes along with the SS and myriad military resources.  It's criminal, but because Clinton did it, it's OK for bush, cheney and rove to abuse it.

    by dougymi on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 10:50:18 AM PDT

    •  My nominal understanding of

      campaign law is that the benefiting party is reponsible for their part of the bills. Hypothetical example: if Bush goes to NYC for 9/11 anniversary then goes to a Republican fundraiser, the Republicans are responsible for the part of the bill that proportionately he spent at the fundraiser. So say he spent 2 hours fund raising out of an 8 hour trip, Republicans pay 25% of the bills. In that mode: Republicans should be paying all of the bills for Cheney's trip to Maine. Note: IANAL

      by sailmaker on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 11:05:16 AM PDT

•  You have to hand it to Dick....

  he does reduce politics down to its most basic level. Zip in, get the ca$h, defib, hit the road. Reminds me of this.

  by adios on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 10:33:42 AM PDT

•  It's like a Mafia meeting...

  ...in a state where the cops are on the take.

  by daulton on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 10:36:22 AM PDT

  •  Apt comparison. That would make Cheney ...

    a "big earner", yes?

    by Glinda on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 11:27:19 AM PDT

    •  I'd call him a...

      bag man.

      You know, the guy who collects the money from the rackets.  I understand that the qualifications for such a position aren't too high.  The main one seems to be the ability to shoot people in the face when you take them out "hunting", but always remembering to collect the cash beforehand.

      by lalo456987 on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 12:37:51 PM PDT

•  Here's hoping

  there was a red tide when Cheney's lobster was caught.

  by f furney on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 10:48:46 AM PDT

•  I love Maine

   I used to think Maine was a conservative state- considering they only voted for a Democratic President two times before 1992.
  Anyways, what a delightful change that Maine has become such a Democratic state. And Dick-Head Cheney has to silently sneak in and silently sneak out of such a pristine state.
   

  by Halloween Decoration on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 10:55:34 AM PDT

  •  Snowe, Collins

    Yes, too bad such a blue state has TWO Republican senators.  They have cleverly packaged themselves as Mavericks - which appeals to Mainers. In reality they are Bush enablers....

    by DowneastDem on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 11:01:37 AM PDT

    •  They sure are

      It's really too bad that we can't put up a good candidate against either one of them

      by Craig Burnham on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 11:57:40 AM PDT

    •  Collins sent IRS after NAACP n/t

      by JR WASHINGTON on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 12:33:18 PM PDT

•  He did the same thing last week in CA

  Flew in and out of Moffett field in Mountain View, CA, paying a quick visit to venture capital headquarters on Sand Hill Rd in Menlo Park... no publicity before or after - just fly in for the $$$ and then fly right out.  He's very efficient.

  by RainyDay on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 11:10:47 AM PDT

•  It must be so tiring

  to have to constantly be so sneaky.  To have to always be looking over your shoulder and all that.  It has to be exhausting (mentally anyway).

  by Shaking the Tree on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 11:20:28 AM PDT