Cheney rallies faithful in Minneapolis

AP ^ | 7/17/04 | PATRICK HOWE

[Valin]

MINNEAPOLIS - The fall election will present a choice between hope and negativism, Vice President Dick Cheney told a crowd of more than 1,000 Republican faithful at a Minneapolis rally Saturday morning.

"What we're hearing from the other side is the failed thinking of the past," Cheney, in shirt sleeves, said in his 25-minute speech from the Minneapolis Convention Center. "And we're not going back."

Media personality Sean Hannity rallied the crowd as did Cheney's wife Lynne, Sen. Norm Coleman, Gov. Tim Pawlenty and U.S. Reps. John Klein and Mark Kennedy.

The speakers repeatedly contrasted Cheney's businesslike style with that of photogenic Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. John Edwards; Pawlenty said the choice was about "steak versus sizzle" and Coleman compared Bush's allegiance to Cheney, who some have called a drag on the ticket, with Abraham Lincoln's faith in Civil War General Ulysses S. Grant.

"He was rough at times. He didn't look so hot in his uniform. He sometimes used a cuss word," Coleman said of Grant. But he said Lincoln countered critics with, "He fights."

Democrats essentially agreed with Cheney about the choice being offered voters, if not about which ticket is more optimistic. Phoning reporters in advance of Cheney's visit, Democratic Attorney General Mike Hatch called Cheney a "very dour angry man," especially when compared with Edwards.

"Maybe I'm picking on him here," Hatch said. "I have not heard him express anything about the future."

Cheney's visit is just the latest sign that both parties consider Minnesota a battleground state.

President Bush campaigned in Duluth on Tuesday. John Kerry visited Cloquet two weeks ago. And Cheney promised he and Bush will be spending "a lot of time" still in the state before the election.

Cheney was in Lansing, Mich., and Waterloo Iowa, on Friday before flying to the Twin Cities. After the Saturday event, he planned to head to Casper, Wyo., to attend his and Lynne Cheney's 45th high school reunion.

Bush-Cheney spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt said the visit was aimed at highlighting the Republican ticket's "positive leadership" along with progress made on terrorism and the economy.

Opponents questioned each of those assertions in a sarcasm-drenched "Billionaires for Bush" breakfast rally outside the convention center. Sponsored by the pro-Kerry group Americans Coming Together, protesters dressed in tuxedos and ball gowns as they drank fake champagne from plastic glasses and called for larger deficits to pay for lower taxes for the rich.

Indeed, Cheney's remarks came in the Democrat-leaning largest city in a state that has voted Democratic in every presidential election since 1972.

Yet in his droll baritone, Cheney promised to end that trend, proclaiming Minnesota "Bush-Cheney country."

Dustin Auman, a University of Minnesota student from Richfield, said he turned out for Cheney because he considers him a "pit bull" who has been key in the fight against terrorism.

Saturday afternoon, Democrats held a news conference outside the event to criticize what they called wasteful spending in Iraq by Halliburton, the company Cheney led before taking office.

[Jeff Chandler]

droll baritone

I don't recall that sort of terminology ever being used to describe Kerry's speech.

[NormsRevenge]

Dustin Auman, a University of Minnesota student from Richfield, said he turned out for Cheney because he considers him a "pit bull" who has been key in the fight against terrorism.

Oh, Yeah!

What would Edwards do? lol.. sue 'em ?

[CaptRon]

Opponents questioned each of those assertions in a sarcasm-drenched "Billionaires for Bush" breakfast rally

I wonder if George Soros was in attendance?

[VOA]

Cheney rallies faithful in Minneapolis

"Faithful"...kinda sounds like the writer wants people to think that Cheney
is down to 12 disciples...
and that everyone else has gone over to Kerry and Hairdo, Inc.

[Coop]

Well, the writer did mention there were about 1,000 in attendance.

[Valin]

I seem to recall reading somewhere that 12 disciples made a difference. :-)

[bray]

Droll baratone is the tone of this story. Now of course Cheney is to the Leftist exremist like this baffoon, The Boogieman! W/C sees the sucker moms turning to Security Moms which Cheney plays very well to.

Pray for W and Our Amazing Troops

[VOA]

I seem to recall reading somewhere that 12 disciples made a difference. :-)

Touche'!
But, I was looking at the headline verbiage presuming that Cheney is a mortal.
Albeit a formidable, resourceful mortal.

And number aren't everything. I'd rather be one of "the few, the proud, The Marines"
than part of China's Peoples Liberation Army.

[OldFriend]

The latest photos of Kerry look very bad indeed. The man is looking quite ill, gaunt and drawn.

[Valin]

Time for another botox touchup?

[McGruff]

Media personality Sean Hannity, left, and Sen. Norm
Coleman, R-Minn., center, applaud Vice President Cheney,
right, during a Bush-Cheney rally in Minneapolis, Saturday,
July 17, 2004. Cheney told the crowd of more than 1,000
that the fall election will present a choice between hope
and negativisim.

[JohnnyZ]

Sen. Norm Coleman, Gov. Tim Pawlenty and U.S. Reps. John Klein

I know Norm is Jewish, but I think they just turned John Kline Jewish too. Neat! ;)

(Jon Klein would have been perfect!)

[Jeff Chandler]

The latest photos of Kerry look very bad indeed. The man is looking quite ill, gaunt and drawn.

If he gets sick, will it be Edwards/hillary?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

And Cheney is good for another 100,000 miles.

[alwaysconservative]

I think he needs more than Botox. Even the Dems are worried and upset that sKerry has to take off so many days from the "grueling" campaign trail right before the convention. Just think if he had to, like, actually WORK while he was campaigning? Horrors! Personally, he looks like he is in VERY poor health. His health should be an important issue, having been struck with cancer. No doubt the lamestream media will ignore this issue as well as all the other important issues that would have knocked anybody else clean out of the race!

[Vol2727]

Can you imagine Edwards on 9-11? (shudder)

Cheney's the man!

[maxwellp]

Regarding Kerry and Hairdo, Inc. I don't think they realize the full impact of the Whoopi incident and their endorsement and and then unedorsement of what she said at Radio City. We have a close friend who's a Democrat. He's a very decent man who, if you needed help, would act and help you. Like many decent Democrats we know, he's afraid - he's afraid for his job, his kids' jobs, health insurance, etc. and wants to government to protect him and his family always. However, we did ask him what he thought about the Whoopi fiasco the other day and he said "It was very disgusting". His wife is a Republican and she said to him "You can stay a Democrat if you want, but after that really beyond disgusting display I don't know how you can associate with such a party". Her husband looked very, very thoughtful. Then she proceeded to go on about terrorism asking him if he really thought the two Hairdo Boys could protect America and their grandkids in the future. She and her husband are very happily married and she usually defers to him. Not this time - she wants her children and grandchildren to live in the America of 9/10.

Bush/Cheney 2004

[McGruff]

Can you imagine Edwards on 9-11?

Yes, he would have sued the terrorist.

[McGruff]

Then she proceeded to go on about terrorism asking him
if he really thought the two Hairdo Boys could protect
America and their grandkids in the future...

That's a good sign.