Cheney Will Be Heard At GOP Convention

WASHINGTON — Vice President Dick Cheney, a conservative favorite but a divisive national figure, will join President Bush in addressing delegates on the opening night of the Republican National Convention, the White House said Friday.

There had been doubts about a speech by Cheney, who remains unpopular with most Americans. When asked earlier this week about the vice president's plans to attend the convention, spokeswoman Megan Mitchell left the question open by saying his schedule for September had not been set.

Cheney plans to speak the same Monday night that Bush will address delegates in St. Paul, Minn., Mitchell said Friday. The convention is scheduled for Sept. 1-4, ending with John McCain's nomination.

In a statement, the White House said, "The vice president looks forward to participating in the Republican National Convention and continuing to work for the election of Sen. McCain and other Republican candidates in the coming months."

Democratic candidate Barack Obama has tried to link McCain to Cheney as well as Bush in an effort to portray a McCain administration as a continuation of Bush's. Only 31 percent of Americans approve of the job Bush is doing, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll released this week. In June, an NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll showed Cheney viewed positively by just 23 percent.

Still, Cheney is popular with many Republican faithful and remains a behind-the-scenes power broker. The convention provides both Bush and Cheney an opportunity for a valedictory speech to the GOP.

In recent history no sitting vice president has skipped his party's nominating convention, in large part because he has been either re-nominated for vice president or nominated for president. Even the vice presidents who were not part of the GOP national ticket _ in 1976 Nelson Rockefeller and in 1952 Alben W. Barkley _ addressed delegates.

There are convention no-shows among prominent Republicans. Sens. Ted Stevens of Alaska, who has been indicted on felony charges of concealing gifts and services, has said he won't attend. Nor will Sens. Gordon Smith of Oregon, Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina and Susan Collins of Maine, all facing tight races for re-election.

Two other senators, Wayne Allard of Colorado and Larry Craig of Idaho, are retiring. Craig pleaded guilty last year to a misdemeanor charge stemming from a sex sting in the bathroom at the Minneapolis airport. Oral arguments before an appeals court, part of Craig's attempt to withdraw the guilty plea, are scheduled for Sept. 10, the week following the convention in neighboring St. Paul.

Comments

[henrydavidthrow]

How about a McCain/Cheney ticket? Cheney could keep being president.

[PDXTransplant]

This story about Cheney from Buzzflash sounds pretty scary. I wouldn't doubt it either.

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/editorblog/110

[TovSquirrel]

Vice President Cheney will be heard . . .

only by dogs and other animals who can hear that high-pitched screed that already believe.

[Harmony1812]

Yuck.

[lthuedk_1]

America's most prominent traitor is now part of Republican pride. Cheney is looking for legitimacy in a country that's got his number. Little wonder why there will be plenty of protesting at the convention.

http://www.light-to-dark.com/benedick_bush.html

Prosecute and sentence. This isn't Iran-Contra by any stretch. It's several magnitudes bigger. This is preemptive murder and outing CIA agents for power and money. There can be no forgiveness for planning and executing such wars of aggression. Zero.

[walkthewalk]

How interesting. Both Bush and Cheney will be speaking at the Republican Convention on Labor Day. That's the equivalent of sending a misbehaved child to his room so he is not seen or heard.

In honor of the Bush/Cheney (nothing to see here) appearance on Labor Day, I propose that while we grill our hamburgers and franks, we think of this not so much as being a barbecue, but as being a roast.

[filo]

Will Cheney appear live or from his undisclosed location??

[iswideopen]

"They all fall down"........................

[disgusted48]

reason number 501 not to watch the republican convention. Ugh.

[Shaddup]

Yeah, good luck with that.

[plainsman]

With the Suskind revelations about the forged Habbush memo and confirmation from the American Conservative which further points the finger at Cheney and Feith's Office of Special Plans, I'm waiting on Congress to carry out their constitutional responsibility and impeach Cheney. After that, try him for the deaths of 4000+ American servicemen. This p.o.s. needs to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

[Colmore]

He will probably just make an appearance by video conference. I doubt he will be there in person. He is too busy counting his money. Besides, isn't he planning to move to Dubai with the Halliburton head office? Maybe he does not broadcast where he will be in case he is arrested for war crimes. I long for THAT day.

[leftLibertarian]

Arrest Cheney now for Murder!

[openhand]

and so he walks up to the mike, and he says 'Luke, I am your father'...

[gcallaghan]

The only thing I'm interested in hearing coming out of this thing's mouth is its plea at its war crimes trial in the Hague

[Ramirez]

If our nation was invaded by a European army the Democrats would be throwing flowers in the streets.

[openhand]

don't hold your breath, there are 2 kinds of justice in this world. 1 for the small people like Liberians and Serbians, and 1 for those who tell us they are out to protect the world....

[disgusted48]

Actually 3 kinds. For even smaller people like Iraqi dictators, you get hung on the spot, no chance for a defense, appeal, or to reveal any incriminating information.