Utahns filling coffers for Bush and Cheney

The Bush-Cheney Campaign 2004 is about $300,000 richer after Monday's visit by Vice President Dick Cheney to Salt Lake City.

Arriving a little late and appearing a bit tired, the vice president thanked the 300 or so Utah GOP stalwarts who paid $1,000 to $2,000 apiece to attend the luncheon event in the Grand America Hotel. Organizers praised the good turnout, but about two dozen seats remained vacant at the back of the ballroom.

"I don't know if they really need my money," said Nolan Karras, a former Utah House speaker and current Board of Regents chairman who is considering a run for governor next year. "The president and Cheney have, what, around $40 million in the bank? But these are events where many of us need to show up and support them."

Bush-Cheney spokesman Dan Ronayne confirmed the $300,000 raised at Monday's luncheon and the $40 million figure — a record-setting presidential campaign cash effort reached just since mid-May.

Cheney left after his 17-minute address for a Sun Valley, Idaho, fund-raiser that was expected to bring in another $150,000. Wednesday, he'll be attending events in Sacramento and Billings, Mont., Ronayne said.

Cheney recounted some of the successes of the Bush administration over the past 31 months but said much remains to be done.

Three rounds of tax cuts are putting more money into Americans' pockets, he said, and education reform is changing the way students learn and are evaluated.

But, said the vice president, it's Bush's tough attitude on terrorists and national security that will define his first term.

The world changed forever Sept. 11, 2001, he said. The old strategy used against the Soviet Union of putting at risk what adversaries hold dear — so they won't attack you fearing destruction of their lives — no longer works.

Terrorists "have nothing of value" that they hold dear, he said. No treaty, no defensive action against terrorists will work, he said. "You have to go on the offense, go after those who threaten the United States."

The war on terrorism will continue, "perhaps" four more years of the Bush administration, said Cheney. "Possibly even longer."

"We will stay at it until we've wrapped up all the weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq that threaten the United States, friends and allies, he added. And around the world, the war on terrorism will go on "until those who plot against the American people are confronted and defeated."