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73 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, August 3, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend July 29, 2004 A full house awaits Cheney By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Tickets for Vice President Dick Cheney’s planned visit to Jackson County went fast, which is a good thing for supporters of the Bush-Cheney ticket. But it’s also a bad thing for some staunch Republicans like Judy Nathan, who found out Wednesday she wouldn’t be able to get a ticket when he visits Friday. "I am very disappointed," said the Eagle Point resident. Like other Republicans, she learned that every one of about 3,000 tickets already had been passed out for Cheney’s scheduled 4:30 p.m. appearance at the Expo Center. Nathan, however, said her disappointment was tempered because she just found out that house guests also were coming to visit Friday, and she didn’t know their political persuasions. Advertisement "I already lost one friend that way when I said, ‘Bush might very well go down as one of the greatest presidents,’ " she said. Not generally shy about expressing her political views, Nathan said she went to the Medford airport two years ago to greet President Bush on his visit. "I was on the side street and I felt so proud when that plane flew in," she said. Bryan Platt, chairman of the county’s Republican Central Committee, said more than 2,000 Jackson County residents filed through the Republican headquarters in downtown Medford this week signing up for tickets. "They’re all gone," he said. "They also cleaned out all the Bush-Cheney paraphernalia." Leftover tickets from Douglas, Josephine and Klamath counties were brought to Medford so more Jackson County residents could go. He estimated that about 3,000 tickets were given out from all four counties, but didn’t have an exact count. "They won’t tell us how many are coming for security reasons," he said. Cheney is scheduled to fly into Medford airport at 4 p.m. He will then be escorted to the Expo Center where he will rally local Republicans to help get out the vote in a state that Bush narrowly lost in 2000. Secret Service personnel and other Republican officials already have come to Medford to pave the way for Cheney’s arrival. Bill Layton, chairman of the Jackson County Democratic Central Committee, announced in a written statement that there are no plans by the party to mount an organized protest. Layton acknowledged there could be protests from other groups and said authorities should allow any peaceful demonstrations to have their say in a visible place. "We believe that citizens who disagree with the policies of the Bush administration should be allowed to meaningfully express their First Amendment rights in full view of both the vice president and his supporters," Layton said. When President George W. Bush visited Jackson County in 2002, protests were limited to a confined area away from the president. Similar efforts to seclude protests into "free speech zones" have occurred at the Democratic National Convention in Boston this week. Because of the quick nature of Cheney’s visit, only a limited number of supporters and opponents are likely to see him. Central Point resident Bobbie Chavez is disappointed she couldn’t see Cheney, but plans to show her support for the campaign. "I’m going to put a sign on my front lawn, but it’s going to bug my brother-in-law," she said. "We don’t speak about politics because he gets a little worked up." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times