It was an accident, geez...Get over it already

I think Cheney is a corrupt man.

However, I think the media's milking this when there are valid news stories out there that Americans are interested in hearing about is stupid.

I agree. Get over it. He accidentally shot a friend. The friend is ok. The friend is cool with it. Over, done.

The White House press corps got their feelings hurt on this one. That is the only reason it is still a "story". Cheney had the nerve to not make it all about them. Apparently the WH Press Corps is under the impression that people in government owe them something. Just another example of the "entitlement mentality"... "Give us our due, or we'll make you pay!"

This little children need to get over themselves.

Tex~~I think Cheney is a corrupt man. However, I think the media's milking this when there are valid news stories out there that Americans are interested in hearing about is stupid.~~

I don't completely trust him, either (then again, there aren't many politicians out there you Can trust); however, I do agree with you in that there are more newsworthy things to report about than this.


Ted~~Just another example of the "entitlement mentality"... "Give us our due, or we'll make you pay!" This little children need to get over themselves.~~

I saw a press briefing the other day where they just kept at it...even to the point of getting all whiny on the press secretary...I would've been annoyed as well if I had to deal with their rants and complaints.

if you--or any of us--were the person who pulled that trigger, the amount of scrutiny to which you'd find yourself subjected by local law enforcement would increase in direct proportion to the amount of time you delayed reporting the incident.

should a deputy show up to take a statement, chances are you wouldn't successfully demand he return the next morning.

anyone who thinks otherwise very likely believes that 'only had one beer at lunch' nonsense too.

When I first read the title of this article I thought, hmmmm, an article about people finally getting over that Chappaquiddick accident.

Dude, I guess I'm the first one to say that I think getting non fatally shot by the vice president would be one of the most terrifying things that could happen to someone. Cause think about it, you're shout out in the middle of nowhere when all these secret service guys who know that you might be the reason that the vice pres. is convicted of manslaughter start lookin' around at each other and say "hmm, we better make this look like an accident, or cover it up really quick." Next thing you know they put another few rounds in you, dump your ass in the swamp and tell your family that they have no idea where you are.....maybe it was alqueda.

if you--or any of us--were the person who pulled that trigger, the amount of scrutiny to which you'd find yourself subjected by local law enforcement would increase in direct proportion to the amount of time you delayed reporting the incident. should a deputy show up to take a statement, chances are you wouldn't successfully demand he return the next morning. anyone who thinks otherwise very likely believes that 'only had one beer at lunch' nonsense too.

kb -

You crack me up. Always the clever misdirection play.

When I first read the title of this article I thought, hmmmm, an article about people finally getting over that Chappaquiddick accident.

Yeah, the outrage of it all. Dredging that up is just so wrong. Oh, wait... dredging may be a bad choice of word.

Suspeckted -

The White House press corps got their feelings hurt on this one.

That's exactly what this is about. Somebody else got the scoop... waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. Spare me.

~~That's exactly what this is about. Somebody else got the scoop... waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. Spare me.~~

I understand it was a serious situation...but the victim is out of the hospital, he is doing fine now, and he even expressed feeling bad for what the VP has gone through. It should just be left at that.

~~That's exactly what this is about. Somebody else got the scoop... waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. Spare me.~~

I understand it was a serious situation...but the victim is out of the hospital, he is doing fine now, and he even expressed feeling bad for what the VP has gone through. It should just be left at that.

On a more serious note, dismissing this as a "it was an accident....get over it" doesn't seem really fair. I mean, come on, opening a door into the hallway and hitting someone, stubbing your toe, or forgetting to invite a friend to your party are all accidents as well but they don't quite have the same impact as shooting someone does. Every hunter should be able to take enough precautions so as not to shoot someone, if they can't, then they shouldn't be hunting.

Suspect~~ On a more serious note, dismissing this as a "it was an accident....get over it" doesn't seem really fair. I mean, come on, opening a door into the hallway and hitting someone, stubbing your toe, or forgetting to invite a friend to your party are all accidents as well but they don't quite have the same impact as shooting someone does. Every hunter should be able to take enough precautions so as not to shoot someone, if they can't, then they shouldn't be hunting.~~

I am not trying to downplay the seriousness of the incident. I geniunely feel bad for what this man went through. Of course being shot is a serious thing...I'm not ignorant to that. My aim is SOLELY at the Media, who are trying to dig up a story that isn't even there. As horrific as it was, it was indeed an accident. The man who caused it got help for the victim and feels horrible about what he did...and the victim is fine now, and even expresses sympathy for the VP being dragged in the mud.
And just to make it clear, this stance is Not political; I lean to the left and am no fan of Republican leaders. I just feel the press are going overboard with their whiny attitude about wanting to know more, when it doesn't seem that there IS more.

"When I first read the title of this article I thought, hmmmm, an article about people finally getting over that Chappaquiddick accident."

If Cheney had been drunk, left the guy laying there to bleed to death, and wandered back to the party, you'd be right. There's a difference between a hunting accident and leaving the scene of an accident while your passenger drowns. Some might even call the latter 'taking care of a problem' with enough feigned negligence so that no one wonders if it was purposeful.

" if you--or any of us--were the person who pulled that trigger, the amount of scrutiny to which you'd find yourself subjected by local law enforcement would increase in direct proportion to the amount of time you delayed reporting the incident."

As I said on another blog, that isn't true. I know two people who were involved in similar hunting accidents, one of which resulted in a death, and it went about the same as it did here.

Kingbee:

if you--or any of us--were the person who pulled that trigger, the amount of scrutiny to which you'd find yourself subjected by local law enforcement would increase in direct proportion to the amount of time you delayed reporting the incident.

Non Fatal hunting accidents almost never even make the news, much less result in an arrest. This incident is about as newsworthy as Sen. Kerry's hunting trip in Ohio during the campaign...

If it was "anybody else" even the local paper would have yawned and given it an inch or two on among the "oh by the way" crap... and only if it was a slow news day anyway.

Suspeckted:

Every hunter should be able to take enough precautions so as not to shoot someone, if they can't, then they shouldn't be hunting.

Have you ever been walking through a field when a bird took off? You have about 3 seconds to identify the target, aim and fire before the bird is out of range.

This is the very reason quaille, pheasant and other bird hunters walk in a line. As long as everyone stays in a known place, it is a relatively safe sport.

If you can do all that AND make sure someone isn't out of the line in that 3 seconds, you are a better hunter than most. ;~D

know two people who were involved in similar hunting accidents, one of which resulted in a death, and it went about the same as it did here

i missed it and can't find it. one of your articles?

Non Fatal hunting accidents almost never even make the news, much less result in an arrest

prolly cuz the shooters involved in most non-fatal hunting accidents requiring hospitalization don't ask a third party to file a report nor when local law enforcement authorities show up to find out what's up do they fail to cooperate.

i dunno about you, but in my experience any time something goes wrong and and anyone who was there at the time initially, emphatically and incorrectly denies any use of alcohol, it aint an innocent oversight. just as inevitably, when, much to everyone's surprise, it turns out there WAS some drinking going on, the actual amount consumed is diminished by a factor of 3.

"i missed it and can't find it. one of your articles? "

Never really wrote about it, I mentioned it elsewhere in terms of Cheney. I had a friend who was hunting from a boat and the person in front of him stood up abruptly as he fired his gun. That was a situation where two people were out hunting and one was shot in the back of the head, and I remember that there was no huge scandal or dubious looks. Just an investigation that was over before the funeral and a really, really sad funeral.

"prolly cuz the shooters involved in most non-fatal hunting accidents requiring hospitalization don't ask a third party to file a report nor when local law enforcement authorities show up to find out what's up do they fail to cooperate. "

As far as I know it is law in the US that any gunshot wound is immediately reported to the police. If there are places without that law, I don't know of it. It's not really something you could keep quiet.

I haven't paid enough attention to this, evidently, but how did they fail to cooperate with authorities? Everyone involved could give a statement, so it would be difficult to cover something up, right? If someone was dead, sure, they could hide something.

any gunshot wound is immediately reported to the police.

how did they fail to cooperate with authorities?

whittington was shot late last saturday afternoon. someone (prolly the secret service?) reported the accident to the local sheriff's office. a deputy showed up at the armstrong ranch saturday night to take a report. he was told arrangements had been made for cheney to give a statement on sunday.

here's a report which seems as informed as any i've seen. i doubt very much you or i or anyone reading this woulda been sitting down to dinner--somber or not--if we'd have tried to turn the deputy away from the door the night of the shooting.

Link

"here's a report which seems as informed as any i've seen. i doubt very much you or i or anyone reading this woulda been sitting down to dinner--somber or not--if we'd have tried to turn the deputy away from the door the night of the shooting. "

Difficult to say, given that police let a lot of people wander around while they gather evidence, much to the dismay of the public. The Vice President isn't what you'd call a 'flight risk', is he?

I think we are far too comfortable with the whole "police grilling" thing, personally. If the police want you for questioning, they can get you. I would assume since the guy was in the hospital, and talking from what I understand, and Cheney told him when he'd be giving a statement, what reason would they have to strong-arm it?

The Vice President isn't what you'd call a 'flight risk', is he?

only if the kenedy county sheriff deputies outnumber cheney's secret service guys. otherwise, he's just one imminent threat away from an undisclosed location.

kb -

Your stretching muscles must be at the breaking point by now. This "story" has never been about Cheney's accident or at what time he spoke to police, it's been entirely about how the White House press corps felt stiffed & got their knickers all in a wad. You know it, too.

I've been cracking up at all the articles I've seen since Whittington was released citing "media relations experts" and describing what a "public relations disaster" the incident was. What horseshit. The only "experts" that matter are the public, and the public is, for the most part, laughing its collective ass off at the uppity, spoiled little kids in the press. The "media relations experts" are apparently unaware of the rule of thumb that says, "When you find your friend in a deep hole, give him something other than a shovel."

This "story" has never been about Cheney's accident or at what time he spoke to police

what time he spoke to police is exactly what it's about because it's one more example of the type of arrogant elitism assumed by dick cheney, boy monarchist--the man who "had other priorities in the '60s than military service" in vietnam.

The only "experts" that matter are the public, and the public is, for the most part, laughing its collective ass off at the uppity, spoiled little kids in the press

at the same time they're laffing, they're also indicating their disapproval of cheney making exemptions for himself by a margin of 55% to 39%.

Does this look bad on Cheney, or does it make obvious the ridiculous ends those who oppose him will go to in order to find fault. This is the second week pundits on TV have been complaining about this. I've heard more than one person talk about what a joke it is.