Petrelis Files

White House: Cheney's Going to Canada

As the flood waters began engulfing New Orleans on Tuesday, the White House expended energy announcing Vice President Dick Cheney upcoming visit to Canada, as reported in the first story below.

Yes, the White House confirmed Cheney has reason to visit our neighbors to the north, while Americans in the South were scrambling to stay alive.

Too bad Cheney and the White House didn't give a damn about the victims of Hurricane Katrina back on Tuesday and tell us when the Veep plans to tour the devastated Gulf Coast region.

Heck, after two days of searching, I can't locate any press stories or official announcements from Cheney and his family expressing sympathy with the refugees of Katrina. Why the silence, Dick?

But the Big Oil buddies of Bush and Cheney must be quite happy that Cheney next week visits an oil-producing area of Canada.

The second story below is from a Wyoming newspaper's web site today, and you'll be happy to know Cheney will soon attend a fundraiser for Rep. Tom Delay.

What did America do to deserve Bush and Cheney?

^^^


Vice-presidential visit confirmed


By RENATO GANDIA
Fort McMurray Today staff
Wednesday August 31, 2005

Fort McMurray Today — The White House confirmed Tuesday afternoon that American Vice-President Dick Cheney is coming to visit Fort McMurray’s oilsands on Sept. 9.
“The vice-president’s visit to Fort McMurray’s oilsands facilities will be a component of the trip, which will provide the opportunity to discuss energy security and available resources,” White House spokeswoman Lea Anne McBride, told Today Tuesday.

A day before coming to the Fort McMurray region, Cheney will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan in Calgary.

“They will discuss a number of issues that are important to our countries, including our strong relationship,” McBride said.

The spokeswoman declined to comment on what specific issues will be discussed by Cheney and McLellan.

Alex Swann, spokesman for McLellan, said when the deputy minister invited the vice-president last year she asked not simply to visit Canada but Alberta and the oilsands.

“So energy is going to be the focus of the discussion of the whole visit. Naturally, because of (McLellan’s) role as the minister of national security, she will update him on what Canada is doing to help secure North America. Given the current situation she will be raising the softwood issue,” Swann said.

Michael Walker, executive director of Fraser Institute, told Today Cheney’s visit all started as a private trip to visit friends.

“It’s a private trip and then I suggested that he visit the tarsands,” Walker said.
The government got hold of the information and made a public event out of the visit, he said.

Walker will hold a private banquet for the Cheney on Sept. 8 but he declined to comment about its details.

“It’s a very private function. The media had made a bunch of speculations about it but I haven’t talked about it with them. So I’m not confirming or denying anything,” said Walker.

He confirmed however that Alberta Premier Ralph Klein and B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell are among the invited guests to the banquet.

Walker also said he and Cheney fished together, before Cheney became the vice-president, and that they share a lot of interests.

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Vice President Watch

From wire reports
Casper Star Tribune

Friendly visit: After a busy week stumping for Republican re-election campaigns, the vice president went to ground. But he'll reappear soon at a for-invited-friends-only bash at Canada's Fraser Institute.

"It's a private dinner for a few friends of ours with the vice president," said Michael Walker, executive director of the Vancouver-based institute and fishing buddy of Vice President Dick Cheney.

The friends will pay $5,000 to $10,000 a plate for the Sept. 8 feast.

Expected to attend: Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell, and former Ontario Premier Mike Harris.

No word on who benefits from the money raised.

Walker said the dinner isn't about trade issues; he counts Cheney as a personal friend.

More food, more fun: On Sept. 16, the veep will attend a Houston luncheon to raise money for embattled Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas. Dedicated veepers get two tickets, the de rigeur photo with Cheney, and a "V-VIP" reception for $12,600. "Sponsors" get in for a mere $8,400, but that $4,000 savings means no priority seating. For the truly cheap, "friends" get one seat and entry to a single-V VIP reception for $2,100.

Ouch: In an interview with the t r u t h o u t website (www.truthout.org), retired Army Reserve Brigadier General Janis Karpinski, the highest ranking U.S. officer at Abu Ghraib prison when the infamous photos were snapped, said of the incident and the war, "This is about instructions delivered with full authority and knowledge of the Secretary of Defense and probably Cheney."