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Dead Constitution See other Dead Constitution Articles Title: Wiretap program to continue, Cheney tells 600 in Tucson Vice President Dick Cheney repeated the Bush Administration's stance on national security yesterday as he spoke to a crowd of 600 at a Tucson fundraising dinner for Sen. Jon Kyl at a local resort. Cheney tied the war in Iraq to the broader war on terror, promised the administration will continue a surveillance program some call illegal, and said tough action is needed in this "time of tremendous consequence." The evening at The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa, 3800 E. Sunrise Drive, began with a bit of levity as Kyl joked that Cheney was the "straightest shooter in Washington." The vice president accidentally shot a friend in the face last month during a hunting trip and the incident led to media uproar and comic fodder. Cheney's visit raised $500,000 from supporters gathered in a tent outside the main resort. Much of the vice president's 15-minute speech was devoted to America's efforts to stop terrorism. Cheney was a key architect of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, which polls indicate has lost public support. "Progress has not come easily but it has come steadily," Cheney said, alluding to the establishment of a democratic constitution - if not yet a seated democratic government. Establishing and encouraging democracies throughout the Middle East will stabilize the volatile region, Cheney said. "We are serving this cause today because the world will be a better place for our children and for our grandchildren," he said. The vice president also lashed out at Democrats who supported a symbolic congressional censure of President Bush over the administration's program of wiretapping phone calls between Americans and suspected terrorists without court-issued warrants. The president has said that intelligence agencies only tap into overseas calls involving suspected terrorists and resists suggestions that the program should require court oversight and a warrant. The president has re-approved the program more than 30 times and most likely will continue approving it, Cheney said. "He will continue to renew this program so long as al-Qaida is a threat," Cheney said. The vice president did not include immigration in his remarks as the U.S. Senate, the body he presides over, debates the issue in Washington. Republicans at the event included local car dealer Jim Click, University of Arizona football coach Mike Stoops and a slate of local GOP politicians. The crowd gave Cheney an extended ovation and punctuated many of his statements with applause. "He's straightforward and he speaks a lot of truth," said Tucson businessman Mike Teufel. Cheney was set to leave town early this morning.
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#3. To: Brian S (#0)
Don't have to guess who the Tucson Citizen works for.
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