I just read Wiki's history of the town of Cheney.
Even the town acted like VP Cheney today!
It must be a legacy of getting away with whatever you can.
On a fight with Spokane, the town of Cheney wanted to be the county seat - Cheney seemed to win the election but because
of IRREGULARITES AT THE POLLS, Spokane was made the county seat.
"....On a night when most of the residents of Spokane Falls were at a gala wedding celebration, a delegation of armed "Cheneyites" invaded the Auditor's office, took possession of the books, did their own ballot recount which showed Cheney [the town] the victor, and made off into the darkness with the records. The "Grand Steal" was not contested and was confirmed by a court decision in 1881."