BACKSTAGE RIDER: Politicians

Dick Cheney

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Dick Cheney Backstage Rider

Dick Cheney

After posting the performance contracts of artists like Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, and U2, The Smoking Gun has finally obtained the backstage demands of a real rock star. That's right, here's a copy of Vice President Dick Cheney's standard "tour" rider.

The document is provided to hotels where Cheney will be bunking and lists how the Republican pol's "Downtime Suite" needs to be outfitted. While the vice president's requests are pretty modest (no extract-the-brown-M&M demands here), Cheney does like his suite at a comfy 68 degrees. And, of course, all the televisions need to be preset to the Fox News Channel (what, you thought he was a Lifetime devotee?). Decaf coffee should be ready upon his arrival along with four cans of caffeine-free Diet Sprite. And when Cheney is traveling with his wife Lynne, the second family's suite needs an additional two bottles of sparkling water. Mrs. Cheney's H2O should be either Calistoga or, curiously, Perrier, a favored beverage of French terrorism appeasers.

Prepared by the vice president's advance team, the document was obtained by TSG after it was provided to a hotel employee prior to a Cheney visit. When we asked Cheney spokesperson Jenny Mayfield about the document's reference to gifts that hotels might leave in the suite for the vice president, she told us she was unable to address that question since she had not seen the "downtime requirements" rider (she asked for a copy, which we declined to provide in advance of its publication here).

At our source's request, we've blacked out the handwritten name and Washington, D.C. phone number of a Cheney staffer. As for the notations regarding extra lamps, specific newspapers, and a carafe, it is unclear whether they were added by an advance team staffer or a hotel official. (1 page)  

Comments (5)

If I were in charge of ensuring Mr. Cheney's demands were met, I'd have all the televisions tuned to The Daily Show, and have taken the batteries out of the remote, since he apparently is too important to chance the channel himself. Seriously, what a tool. Why tune to Fox News? Is he that desperate for re-affirmation? Does he fear being criticized?
I would take Cheney as president 10 times out of 10, as opposed to that panko commie Kerry, sleazebag John Edwards, or pseudo-environmentalist Al Gore. What a bunch of pantywaists. If any of them end up in the Oval Office, you may as well paint a big red "We are Here" target on our country for the terrorists.
FOX NEWS WOOOO!!!!!!!
Where the part about him heading straight to hell with gasoline drawers on ?
Pretty normal stuff..... I LOL'd at "all lights must be turned on" .

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