An emotional response is often the easiest one, which is why it's seen so often. Also, in this case they were likely prompted (if obliquely) by Meriadoc's personal opinion of Dick Cheney. Additionally, Meriadoc hasn't provided any details on the context of why Cheney will be speaking there, who he will be speaking to, or why he will be answering questions. I think it would be helpful too, for Meriadoc to think about why he wants to ask questions and how he'll be able to capitalize on the answers. "What do you get on your hotdogs" might be an innocuous question in a vacuum, or to most people, but to certain people in the right contexts it could easily lead to a broader, much more interesting discussion. Memory often triggers emotional responses too. It's unlikely that it'll be that easy with this particular speaker, but researching a person is a good way to go before asking them questions.