There is a certain phrase that may forever be associated with Vice President Dick Cheney, that writers about him cannot void. The Everett Herald's reporter did not resist on occasion of the vice presidential visit to Snohomish County:
"Vice President Dick Cheney arrived Sunday evening at Paine Field, where he was greeted by area Republican leaders before stepping into a limousine and heading to an undisclosed location for the rest of his Easter."
Yes, his location was largely undisclosed during much of his visit to Washington last weekend. But there's a point in that.
Cheney came to raise money for 2nd U.S. House candidate Republican Doug Roulstone, opposing Democrat Rick Larsen. Mission accomplished: He raised the money, which will no doubt be highly appreciated by Roulstone's uphill campaign. But the fundraising was just about all. For a vice presidential visit, it was a sturdily low-key matter.
This wasn't a matter of parading around in public, at least any more than necessary, as a means of boosting the local Republican candidates - or support for the Bush Administration. This was a case of recignition that while Cheney may be a strong draw as a fundraiser, that his popularity overall is so weak that greater visibility might be a serious detriment.
At least, what part of his visit proved that proposition wrong?