Finally! Some evidence on drinking at the Cheny shooting, and why to cops could not get in right away; but will it come to light?  Will this net blog news item get currenccy and “Feet”  Go to in the Capitol Hill Blue’s Blog -

Secret Service agents say Cheney was drunk when he shot lawyer#comments#comments. You can view it at, http://www.capitolhillblue.com/blog/2006/02/secret_ser vice_agents_say_chen.html#comments

I think the media is missing the point.  What was our V P doing as the guest of a registered lobbyist?  Who does she represent?  What was she trying to get from the Vice President?
Also, that must be fantastic quail country where after one man shoots and retrieves a bird on foot a second covey of quail is still within shooting range. Sounds to me like they were shooting caged birds.

Just a word to two.  Yes, I believe Cheney’s shooting of his co-shooter was an accident.

What bothers me most is the reports that Cheney did not have a hunting license, and that makes it a crime.

Had it been me, I would have been arrested, booked and jailed.  I would have gone to trial or pled guilty and the odds are that I would have done time.
This says to me that those in the Oval Office are, indeed, above the law and it makes me literally sick.  If our laws do not apply to our leaders, where the hell did they come from?  Neptune?

Here’s a novel thought:  lawyers think of shooting people as constiuting the crimes of assault and battery, when they survive the shooting.  The elements of the crime don’t require the victim’s consent, nor do they require the defendant to intend to shoot the victim, they only require that he intended to shoot the gun.  When you don’t have a proper license for hunting the critter you’re after, it is called poaching.  That also is a crime.  When do you suppose America’s “liberal media” is going to tell the American people that Dick Cheney committed 3 crimes ten days ago?  Hint:  The day after they disclose that George W. Bush wasn’t “charged” with a crime in the State of Maine; he was convicted by a court of law!  Yes, convicted.  Do you realize the Shrub is the only president in American history who was convicted of a crime by a court of law.  The fact that the used to be “free press” doesn’t care about such things tells us why they ain’t free any more.
So which Saudi bought his stock?  That’s what I want to know before he leaves office.

Hmmmm! I wondered what would have happened
if Whittington had shot Cheney? AY CARAMBA!!!

I’ve always wondered…why do bad guys
never die or get - as the “Governator” says-
“terminated”?

The same hubris that uses “taking responsibility” as a shut the hell up pill was used in abu grahab,the katrina disaster, and will later be used on the final wmd confession.
    This administration doesn’t know how to fix anything because third best is not just good enough but “a great job.”
    This anti-government administration proves itself through profligate cronyism on a daily basis.
    President Bush has become Jeter to the United States as “God’s Little Acre.”
    In sum we must assume that there was something to hide because he hid it for 14 hours.
The something….drunkeness resulting in the injury of a friend….the zip drinking became one beer….So what of domestic spying only looking at calls from foreigners to their political operatives…or should we assume spying domestically for partisan political advantage….should we assert there is a precident with this party of the cyclopsian view of politics as friends and enemies and not as the art of the possible..
    And should we ask how strong is our republic? Strong enough to endure the drunken ravings of simple people who ARE WONTING SO IN STRENGTH OF CHARACTER THAT THEY CANNOT ADMIT AN ERROR UNTIL FORCED TO IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION?

Some of us took oaths to protect our nation and constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Some of us served honorably, and our children served as well. Some of us have lost our children to these criminal sociopaths, because of the lies told by evil people seeking wealth and power.

Perhaps the founders of this nation were fools. Perhaps only barbarians take up arms against their oppressors. Perhaps George Washington wouldn’t have waged open war aganst the administration now destroying our country. Perhaps.

Then again, perhaps they shouldn’t have murdered our children.

Is there no Texas law concerning the immediate reporting of a gun shot wound, by either the hospital or the parties involved?  If so, is Cheney “above the law”?  If a driver injures someone with a car, even accidentally, is the driver not given an immediate intox test, but if a hunter injures someone with a shotgun, is there no intox test? Whassup wid dat?

When will this madness stop? These guys and gals are ruining this country and the world

“I’m still looking for something in the Constitution that makes levees the responsiblity of the Federal government.”

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

I’d say you could call the levees part of domestic Tranquility, common defense, general Welfare, or Blessings of Liberty.  It’s all subject to interpretation.

Molly, Yours is the very best of many many fine columns, and your readers’ comments are wonderful! I especially loved the “Keystone Kops on steroids” comment—perfect!

Keep at ‘em, Molly—we love you dearly (& we need you, desperately)...

A professor friend of mine has been calling the Bush administration “the gang that couldn’t shoot straight.”

The Cheney hunting accident incident made me think of this.

I hope that this incident doesn’t lead to speculation that it might be helpful if some of our leading neocons went hunting with Cheney.  Hopefully, no one will make such a suggestion, and we trust that people from the blue states will not begin submitting lists of names.  Actually, this experience might just be good for our esteemed DICK, as he might now realize what it means to shoot someone, even if not fatally, as soldiers do in wars.  Perhaps some introspection, a situation with which he seems only distantly conversant, might lead him to speculation about being shot at himself, in a jungle, say, or in a desert.  Interesting too is the excessive and often speculative by the press, not new in cases involving celebrity trivia, showy trials, or car chases, but here tinted with a distrust in DICK’S credibility, perhaps because of his history , so replete as it is with misleading assertions [“mushroom clouds, WMDs,” etc.].

I suspect the V.P. (or is it V.I.P.) was seeking the legal opinion of Mr. Whittington, Esq. concerning the probability of his indictment in the Plame case.  Mr. Whittington could not find a delicate way to present his legal assessment, and stated forthrightly, “Soon you’ll be as free as a jail bird.”  The V.P. retreated slightly, and slowly shapeshifted into Darth Vader.  Frightened, Mr. Whittington began to flee, with Darth Vader (aka the Veep) in hot pursuit, yelling, “And you’ll soon be as dead as these quails!”

You’re the best of the best, Molly.  Never leave us!!  At least George only got a black-eye (remember that old corny story) - nobody shot him or nuthin’!!  These guys are like some kind of Keystone Kops on steroids - really goofy, but really dangerous. You and Jon Stewart are doing some of the most important journalistic work going on right now - keep on!God help us - PLEASE!!!

Did someone say DUI?  Local police got to the ranch bright and early the NEXT morning (8 AM) to check that out.  But they weren’t given permission.
  Compare to average Joe waking up at home surrounded by Storm Troopers for a dangling license plate or a broken tail light.

My feeling is that the Cheney hunting shooting was providential, to remind everyone that trigger-happy Cheney in Iraq is trigger-happy on the home front!

“ONLY A BEER OR TWO”.  Right.  DUI Suspects Number one answer to that oh so annoying question “Have you been drinking?” with “ONLY A BEER OR TWO”. 

How many DUI’s did Dead Eye Dick rack up?  “ONLY A DUI OR TWO”.  I am so tired of this administration, I hope they nail his ass and mount his head.

Actually, “Bush” in Italian is “il stronzo”

Any of you critics of Bob Scheer please tell me one major area from Vietnam to the current Iraq stupidity that he has ever been wrong on.  The easy answer is that Bob has been right where the pols from LBJ to W have been wrong.

It’s all a ploy to keep our mind off of rising gas prices.

The popular (and desperate) comparison to this incident from the right seems to be Ted Kennedy. That they have to reach soooooo far into the past for a comparison speaks volumes.

Thanks for a great piece, you and Jim Hightower still give us hope for some common sense in all the political garbage.  Great post too by Mike P on seeing through all the smoke in this story.  As a vet I am sick and tired of seeing the chickenhawks in this admin posture, boast, and and try to look like supermen.  They like the credit, but duck and hide when things go fubar.  A question for all vets and hunters out there.  How would you like this guy next to you on the perimeter at night in country, or on the line next to you at your next hunt?

Someone needs to ask, “Who is paying Harry Whittington’s hospital bills?”  It is possible that taxpayers will be paying through Medicare, and that Dick Cheney won’t pay a dime. 

Here are the apparent facts of the matter:

1) Cheney has admitted he is responsible for the shooting.

2) Cheney was hunting illegally.  He reportedly violated Texas game law by failing to buy a permit before going shooting. 

3) At least one deputy showed up at the Armstrong ranch and asked to speak to the Vice-President but was turned away by the Secret Service.

4) The cost of Whittington’s medical care, resulting from Cheney’s reckless actions, is likely to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

5) Cheney has not announced any intention to pay for Whittington’s care.  (Nor has the NRA said he should pay for it).

6) At age 78, Whittington will likely have Medicare coverage for these costs, and as a Medicare beneficiary his bills will be discounted, likely not even covering the true cost of his care.

7) Cheney says too much money is being spent on entitlements.  He and president Bush advocate cuts to Medicare and Social Security programs, while continuing to push for tax cuts for themselves and other very wealthy Americans.

———————— ————

A second question is, “Does Cheney have a pattern of disrespect for the Law?”

In addition to hunting illegally when he shot Mr. Whittington, Cheney has a past history of arrest for fishing without a licence, about which he commented “The $25 fine was not the worst part,” he commented later. “They took my f***ing fish.”

———————— ————

A third question is, “How much do Cheney’s expeditions cost taxpayers?”

Cheney travels for personal business much of the time.  This entails the repeated use of massive taxpayer resources (numerous secret service agents, special motor vehicles, and aircraft), for his private interests, recreation and enjoyment.  Administration officials have repeatedly demanded sacrifices from American families, yet it appears Mr. Cheney has not been willing to make any personal sacrifices.

>>>Perhaps the VP should have consulted Senator Kennedy regarding how to promptly report accidents.  Oh well, at least the VP didn’t leave him there to die!<<

Had not the Secret Service and ambulances been there for Cheney, we really don’t know if he would have let the guy die or not.
Considering that he refused to serve one day for his country in time of war he has no problem extending deaparture dates for those that love their countries and went to war from

How could the rest of us nontexasers navigate without Molly? Mike Prilla’s comment reads as if it were a detective novel. One based on facts. Why isn’t Mike running for president?

Another bug in the story….why was a 78 year old billionaire retrieving his own birds?

Don’t they have dogs (like all “experienced hunters”)? Or perhaps “guest workers”  to pick up the birds?

This story smells fishy, I suspect drinkin’ & huntin’ AT DUSK(?) by a blind as a bat, quadruple bypass recipient with a penchant for killing things and then ducking back into the shadows….

What is DEAD EYE DICK covering up?

The Republican Hall of Shame can now place a bust of “Deadeye Dick” next to its bust of “Tricky Dick.”

“But is it an accident if your home and your life are destroyed by the flood following a hurricane? Especially if the flood was caused by failed levees, a government responsibility?”

I’m still looking for something in the Constitution that makes levees the responsiblity of the Federal government.

Of course, I’m still looking for any data to support the idea that more spending per pupil equates to better educated pupils.  So far, all the data show very little correlation.

Perhaps the VP should have consulted Senator Kennedy regarding how to promptly report accidents.  Oh well,  at least the VP didn’t leave him there to die!

Oh the outrage! I wonder how many of these same people would have expressed half the indignation against Ted Kennedy when Mary Jo Kopechne was left in the waters at Chappaquiddick.

Molly:

Super post with great humor, as always.  I love how one of your readers should: You shouldn’t drink and shoot.  If you do, wait 14 hours before notifying anyone!

Hilarious.

Molly,
Since the administration seems to feel this is a non-issue, why don’t we have Cheney shoot Scott McClellan at 30 yds with his 28 gauge to show the “non-importance” of this situation. Maybe Dick should have a few pops first to “get his nerve up”....or, maybe, Scott should have them.

This administration has been an accident waiting to happen all along.

Welcome to the new republican party.  Shoot first, ask questions—or give-excuses-and-blame-somebody-else…later.

What can we as concerned citizens do to demand that the police force look into this.  I studied law.  This sounds like a serious case of unlawful behavoir…no proper hunting permit, drunk while hunting (HUGE)...aiming at a human target (you do not shoot up to quail, you shoot down).  The story has too many holes in it.  Whittington walked up behind and Cheney turned 180 around to shoot up at a quail?  Can I as a third party bring a law suit on behalf of the American people because Cheney has placeed all of us in harms’ way.  HELP!!!

Listening to John Nichols of The Nation interviewed by Ed Schultz on his radio show, it is purportedly common knowledge in some Wyoming circles that Cheney is basically a “Gucci hunter”.  Additionally, it is rather easy to speculate that even a hardened soul such as Cheney is under a great deal of stress, particularly these days, and that it might be a form of release to have some drinks and shoot some birds.

Molly Carpenter: “Does this seem at all similar to Chappaquidick?”

CHENEYQUIDDICK!

by Frederick J. Azbell on 2/14 at 4:02 pm

This Christian Right, holier than thou, Facist Regime is finally starting to reap their rewards.

You’ve got that right!

Dick Chaney or Lon Chaney? Wheres Frankenstein when you need him? Or maybe Abbott & Costello. Opps, they are at the White House

Molly, Wonderful as usual.  But please, please someone talk about the big picture here. While our soldiers (and soldiers representing the “coalition” we’ve assembled) are fighing a war launched under false pretenses, the Vice President of the United States had the AUDACITY to take the weekend off and go hunting. 

Why wasn’t he sponsoring a fundraiser so that we could buy adequate body armor for our troops?  Why wasn’t he hunkered over a table with diplomats and advisors?  As long as we’ve sent our troops to war, these people don’t deserve weekends off in the country sipping Knob Creek from silver flasks, fondling guns, and driving around with a taxpayer-sponsored cardiac team entourage.

Headline: Vice President Dick Cheney shoots lawyer-hunting companion mistaking him for a quail. You have all read the headlines and the White House sticks –as usual - to this official press release.

Last night the spirit descended upon my humble person and said: “Rogerrrrr…” with a resonating out of this world voice!

I said trembling, “Who is this that I can hear and not see?”

Voice, “It is MEEeeee …. The big Geeee!”

Moi, “You mean George Bush is dignifying me with a personal spiritual visit?”

Voice, “NON! I mean no! While the Christians believe George is THE big G. he is only trying to muscle in my own territory! I am the one and real one, and I don’t lie!

Moi, “Oh big G., what gives me the privilege of your divine visit to the home of this poor sinner?”

Voice, “Well you heard of the event yesterday involving Cheney”

Moi, “Yes, I understand that it was an accident that Dick blasted into the attorney face thinking that it was a quail!”

Voice, “Accident maxilient! Do you believe that someone can mistake a person’s face for a quail?”

Moi, “Gee…. Not really big G! But what really happened?”

Voice, “I will let you know the exact events as they unfold, because if you rely on the B administration, you know that there will be a cover-up of some sorts.

Moi, “I am all ears big G!”

Voice, “Work with me! Imagine the conversation between Attorney herein referred to A and Cheney herein referred to C.
A: “You know Cheney, I don’t really believe in your weapons of mass destruction!”
C: “What did you say? His eye bulging hatefully from their socket, he pulled his gun and shot the attorney directly in the face.
A: “Ouch that hurts! What did you do that for Dick?
C: “Nobody and I mean NOBODY questions our policies and so you had it coming!”
A: “Yes but now I will have no choice but to sue you for all you got! Me, being a rich influential attorney from Texas and all that!”
C: “ No you won’t do that if you know what’s good for you, because we will immediately classify you as an enemy combatant, a SHE-man, a Pinco and a liberal democrat, this way your reputation will be so soiled for ever! You know … we are VERY good at this game which we practiced ever since 9-11. 
A: Ok ! OK! You got me beat! What can I do for Adolph? Euh … I mean George, to repay for my own sins?
C: “I knew you would come around of seeing things OUR way! Well… for starter we could say that this event never took place!”
A. “What about my friends who saw me in good shape before?
C: Ok …! OK! I’ve got it! Let’s call this a “hunting ACCIDENT”

And thus concluded a very private communication from one of the two big Gs of this universe to this insignificant pebble on the beach.

RGH

I like to draw a firm line between personal and professional behavior.  The private and legally conducted lives of movie stars, sports figures and politicians, for example, I consider none of my business.

So don’t start pounding on our VP Cheney for being quick on the trigger and shooting a man while enjoying a little time off hunting birds.  It’s rude and really unnecessary.  For, unlike President Clinton, there are more then enough professional behaviors attributable to Mr. Cheney, his Presidential front-man and the rest of the Cabinet to warrant many long prison terms.

Double DUI Dick shoots the prosecutor of the Texas Funeral Gate case.  Whittington is off the job.  Mission accomplished.

Mike Prilla. You should ask the questions at the White House. Does that 28 gauge mean less recoil for those weakling hunters? Maybe the kick was approved for veeps,fragile health?

This Quail’s got legs!

Chappaquiddick, Rosemary Woods’ magical 8 1/2 minute tape erasure, the blue stained dress and now … the Hunting “accident”

In the same way every reference by the Right to Sen. Edward Kennedy has always been followed by the quote, “When I returned, Mary Jo and the car were gone.” Ad nauseam.

I guess now the Left will have something to say following each reference to Richard Cheney for the rest of HIS life,
“This was a hunting accident.  There was no alcohol…”

Thanks Dick!

Obviously, so much of this story is a lie.  Why else would you take so long to tell your story, if you didn’t need time to concoct some tale that seemed like it might have some degree of plausibility, when finally heard.

Here are the implausible parts of the “tale” for me:

As an older child and then as a young man, I enjoyed accompanying my Grandpa on quail hunts in rural West Virginia.  He did the shooting and I just walked along side of him.  (My passion was spin fishing for bass and crappie and fly fishing for trout)  But it was exciting and enjoyable to me to watch him demonstrate his skill. 

As I said, I’d walk along beside him.  I never once had any concern that he’d turn to the side and shoot me.  He only shot at birds that flew up in front of us.  I’ve used the words “beside” him, “along side” of him.  That implies somewhere in the 90 degree area. 

The “tale” told, keeps using the word “behind”, Mr Whittington came behind them and didn’t announce his presence, etc.  In my book behind is “not” beside..it’s in the 180 degree neighborhood.  I know no “experienced” hunter who would turn and shoot at anything that’s behind him, unless it was an attacking Grizzly bear or the like.

The shamelessness of this liar, in trying place the blame on the victim, is akin to the old rape defense, “it was her fault, her actions and the way she was dressed, said she was asking for it”.

The other issue for me is the bogus distance described.  I suspect, as others have indicated here, that the distance was much, much closer than as told.  A basketball court is 94 feet long, about 30 yards (the distance quoted).  I just can’t image such a small gauge shotgun, as described, inflicting the damage done (we now know some of the shot penetrated deep enough to migrate into heart tissue/vessels. Or to hold such a tight pattern over that distance.

To shoot some one in the face, neck “and” chest, your gun would have to be aiming slightly below horizontal.  As I said, my Grandpa would only shoot birds (real, wild quail, I might add) that flew “up” in front of him, not down below the horizon line.

This is so phony and unfortunately we’ll never know the truth.  But the tale, as told, let’s us know it’s a lie.  What really happened, is probably a really scary story, just like the story of this administration - really scary!!!!

2/15/06
                      1:10 A.M.
                      By Rose

Yep! We believe it was attempted murder on chaney part, to harm Harry.
And he’s no better than the next person… so why should he have a no fly zone over his home???
What’s he afraid of?

I am a hunter, and I second everything Mike Prilla and Joel Vance and Blue Shark and Truman Dean said. Cheney has utterly disgraced the sport of hunting, and does not deserve the label of “hunter” at all, much less “experienced hunter.”

And Robin Monroe, I am also a liberal woman, and you clearly have a lot to learn about the responsible handling of firearms. I sure as hell wouldn’t go hunting with you.

I don’t understand the big surprise concerning this cover-up. this administration had done nothing but cover-up, lie and decieve us poor suckers since day one. we let them get away with it, so they will continue on their merry way with no consequence

Cheney’s aim is almost as bad as his advice but it is still better than his attempted cover up. Most liars change their story to fit the facts.  Cheney, like his boss, changes the facts to fit his story.

Even if the victim did not announce that he might be in Cheney’s line of fire, Cheney’s responsibity was to identify his target and to know what was in his line of fire before he pulled the trigger. He didn’t and the consequences are traumatic.

Bush, Cheney, Rumsfield and the rest of the neocons failed, intentionally or negligently, to identify their target before they pulled the trigger that started the invasion of Iraq. They attempted to cover up the error by multiple, sometimes contradictory, accusations that were not justified by the facts. The consequential suffering of thousands is beyond description.

Cyborgs don’t make this kind of mistake.

I am disappointed in all this levity. I think there is a much more serious issue, namely the curent condition of our Vice President. With the greatest respect I suggest that perhaps he should have an eye exam, an eye hand cordination test, and perhaps general testing of his central nervous system. This might explain why he could see a quail, a relatively small bird, and could not see a large man in the same line of sight. If the tests, which would be of value not only to the Vice President, but also to the country, come back all right, I suppose we would just have to attribute this gross error to fatigue and exhaustion….after all he has been waiting a long time for the “final throes” in Iraq.

I think it’s all a conspiracy. The shots really came from a book warehouse window. Or a grassy knoll.

by the way

where is the NRA?

Shouldn’t they be the people who would know about gun safty and hunting situations?
what better time to teach people about gun safty while hunting then when it’s in the news?

hmmmm… it’s quiet… too too quiet.

a modern western…
dick Cheney:
Have gun
will shoot you in the face!
and then travel.

seriously, he will.

“Comment #3684 by Robin Monroe on 2/14 at 11:02 am

Frankly, I think it is stupid that people are making such a big thing out of this.”

it’s a big deal because the bush admin made a big deal about responsibility coming into office. and now blame the man who got shot instead of the man in control of the gun.

it’s a big deal because we have a president who has no problem telling everyone that he saw the first plane hit the towers on sept 11th and a vice president who can’t own up to a sloppy innocent mistake.

old whitty was not bending in the grass in the line of fire. he was coming up behind where cheney knew he would be and where he shouldn’t have been shooting. he followed the bird out of his checked area. sloppy amd inept.

it’s also a big deal because it’s cheney telling everyone it’s a hunting trip when in fact it’s an RNK spree (“Release Now Kill”) with birds that were raised and are released in certain spots. it shows how the president and the vice president can’t be honest about even the simplest things. that they inflate everything they do. that they work on trying to create nothing but illusion. 

why would bush lie about being able to see an impossibility? (or does he really believe it?)no one in the world saw the first plane hit on television. what did he have to gain by lying about the biggest travesty in recent history? why do people believe him?

why would cheney lie about this if it’s just an accident that happens to everyone? why didn’t dick come out and say “there was an accident hunting, i got sloppy and shot when i should have pulled up. let this be a lesson to you kids!”
instead of blaming the victim first?

and why do so many people not want anyone to know they were out shooting caged animals with the vice president? everytime there is something not right going on there are people in the background who never want to be seen with the pres or the v.p.

no one has come out proudly that they helped with our energy bill. it would be a huge free advertising.

this is a big deal because it shows their character. they are inept, they don’t follow the rules, they try to hide their mistakes, they blame everyone else first, they always have a cock n’ bull half cocked reason for the “mistake” that never makes any sense or common sense, and they are always surrounded with secrecy and secretive people. nothing is real with these people. “hunting” animals raised and caged just to be released in front of armed men just to be shot for the thrill of it.
RELEASE! NOW KILL!!!!

why lie about it, why not own up to it and be done with it?

that’s why it’s a big deal. or at least it should be to any one who wants true leadership and responsibility. for anyone who wants decisions and poicies to be based on some kind of truth and factual happenings.

what kind of hunting trip is it when the birds aren’t going to be scared off by someone yelling from over 30 yards away?

sheesh!

Ms. Ivins:

It was an “accident” - wasn’t it? Was the VP drunk (he does still drink heavily doesn’t he)? Mr. Whittington could not possibly agree with this administration’s policies. He is too honest to do so. Was he arguing with Cheney? Since when has Mr. Chaney learned to control his temper? Certainly not until just before this “accident.”  Maybe he learned to control his temper the day before this “accident.” For a 7 1/2 birdshot to penetrate the body to the heart, the shot would have had to be no farther away than about five feet away. Thirty yards is a lie. What really happened and was this a simple “accident”? Maybe the “Spin” will backfire this time! That is the way I see it.

Thank you for bringing us a little levity in this most serious mess.  As we all know this is one evil man, who can get away with anything (and maybe even murder!) I wonder every day what these jerks will do next and there is always something.  Keep reporting the truth, Molly.  Hopefully they will tie a noose around their own necks.

What a dip.  I hope they throw the book at him.  And they can.  They won’t but they can. Then again it is up to the state of Texas Game commission and not anything federal to decide that so they might you never know.  I doubt it though.  He will get away with being a dip and nothing will happen to him I am sure. 

First off when you are 500 years old and have a pacemaker with a defibrillator in your chest and who knows how much medication hunting isn’t your sport.  Your sport is breathing.  Just breathing that is all you should concentrate on.  Hunting is not for you anymore. 

Second you never turn around and just fire at sound.  You have eyes use them.  If you can’t see clearly what you are shooting at you don’t shoot.  It is that simple.  You never ever shoot at sound when hunting.  Not ever.  And since Cheney ducked out of Vietnam he can’t claim any flashbacks.  Personally I have not taken shots several times when hunting because I could see that the shot wasn’t 100% safe when hunting.  Yes the game escaped but so what no one got hurt and there is always another bird or whatever.  There is no screwing around with guns not ever.  When you shoot you expect what you hit to die.  So you had better make sure of what you are shooting at. 

Third notice the glass’s Cheney wears?  Maybe he can’t see anymore?  He is 500 years old after all. 

Fourth if you are so sick that an ambulance with a complete medical team follows you everywhere you go then hunting isn’t your sport.  OK?  Can we face up to that fact please?  Again your sport is breathing not hunting, not football, not even playing pool just breathing.  Your out of sports OK. 

This article says they were wearing orange vests but doesn’t mention orange hats a big no no.  Even if the state doesn’t require an orange hat an experienced hunter will wear one when hunting any type of upland game like quail.  Because that hat will be seen by you faster than a vest which is lower on the body.  We all know that. 

If Cheney was using a mans shotgun a 12 gauge and not that wussy 28 gauge he might have killed his friend.  Or is he really his friend?  Or if he was is he still his friend.  I mean do you stay friends with the guy who shot you in face?  The lower the number of the gauge the bigger the shotgun.  I know that doesn’t make any sense to non shooters but that is the way it is.  Even so I don’t even know anyone who owns a wussy 28 gauge shotgun.  It is utterly ridiculous.  I can’t remember actually ever seeing one in person to tell you the truth.  Or if I did I wouldn’t have paid any attention to such a ridiculously small shotgun I can assure you of that.  What in the hell would I ever use it for hunting fly’s?  And I have seen a lot of weird weapons. 

20 gauge, 16 gauge, 12 gauge, 10 gauge are common even .410 (Which isn’t in a gauge but is a shotgun all the same though the smallest one) for teaching kids to shoot even but 28 gauge?  That means Cheney is a wussy.  Good for Whittington though I am sure.  The distance helped too such a wussy gun would lose all serious energy at 30 yards.  I am sure it hurt and broke the skin but a 28 gauge at 30 yards isn’t going to do much damage.  Even a real shotgun loses energy fast and will likely not be so deadly at 40 or 50 yards.  Now I realize quail are small but that means many people go to a 16 gauge or a 20 gauge but you don’t bother with a 28 gauge or a .410 that is asinine.  The all around shotgun gauge is of course the 12 gauge and it is the most common.  16 is silly since it isn’t that far off of 12 but requires special shells and loading equipment for a re loader.  .410 is for practice 10 if for serious turkey, duck and goose hunters and 20 is common for dove and quail hunters and it to most hunters myself included the smallest shotgun I would ever recommend for any hunting at all.  28 is so uncommon and so small it is utterly stupid to hunt with.  Maybe for skeet and trap practice to use less powder and shot if you are a re loader but to actually hunt with it?  NO!!! 

And yes I am a hunter and by the way 10 gauges (the largest shotgun size today) and 28 gauges are the least common with only about 2% of sales for shotguns and most of them being 10 gauges not the 28 gauges.  The 10 gauge is huge (mostly used for turkey, duck and goose at longer ranges when you need extra power but are not walking around all day) but the 28 gauge is too damn small for anything useful.  But then again Cheney likes to send out troops to war with the wrong weapons too.  If Cheney can’t carry at least a 20 gauge or 16 gauge anymore because he is that sick then it is time to pack it in and put on a dress. 

One more thing this news story seems to indicate they were road hunting.  In other words driving around to see game then getting out to shoot at it.  That is illegal in every state.  It leads to accidents as you can see.  So I suspect they were screwing around and doing that and perhaps more things that they knew they shouldn’t have been doing.  Who knows Cheney might have been drinking too he does have two DWI’s after all.  There are valid reasons why many things are illegal when hunting some to give the game a fair chance others for safety.  Road hunting happens to be illegal for both reasons.  So not only is Cheney a wussy for carrying his tiny 28 gauge he is an unsafe hunter and also wants to take unfair advantages over the little birdies because he isn’t a very good hunter.  He clearly isn’t a good shot. 

So too good things.
One Cheney wasn’t using a mans gun (hell he wasn’t even using a boys gun) so that helped and
Two Cheney is so sick that a medical team with an ambulance on call follows him everywhere so the guy he shot got medical attention right away.

It is apparent to me that Cheney and his hunting buddies were road hunting.  Driving around looking for game and then jumping out of the car to follow it.  This is illegal everywhere in the USA.  Not only because with deer and game like quail it is an unfair advantage but also because it is dangerous.  People jumping in and out of cars with loaded weapons to chase game leads to accidents.  That is what this sounds like to me.  Also the TV News has been reporting that not only didn’t Cheney tell the President or anyone at the White House everything right away he refused to talk to the local Sheriff about what happened when the Sheriff asked him to.  The Secret Service wouldn’t let the Sheriff ask him a few questions until the next day.  Now had you or I done that they would charge us with obstruction of justice, fleeing the scene of an accident and possibly hunting while drunk since they would automatically assume you are avoiding the law because you are still drunk.  And No I am not joking they would do that and should do that.  Avoiding the law after a shooting incident like that would get you and I in serious trouble and it should do the same thing for Cheney.  It won’t but it should.  Is this the man you want to be next in line for the Presidency?  Clearly something is wrong about this shooting.  Either they were drunk, it wasn’t an accident, they were road hunting or otherwise breaking the law or something is wrong.  You don’t avoid the law like this unless you have something to hide.  If you have an accident and you call the law right away you get it cleared up right away.  If you hide stuff and avoid the law you are doing that for a reason.  If you don’t think there is more to this and something is fishy then you are a MORON.  Something is wrong here.  Very wrong.  I wish that Sheriff had arrested the Secret Service agents on the spot and hauled in Dick Cheney for questioning and a breathalyzer on the spot.  That would be justice in America.  You don’t refuse to talk to the law and just because you are the vice President doesn’t make you above the law.  And not telling Bush everything right away also indicated that Cheney is hiding something. 

I knew he was up to something illegal.  I could smell it.  Cheney didn’t have the proper stamp on his license who knows what other hunting laws he was breaking.  And this attempt at blaming Wittington for getting out of the hunting line and not saying here I am is complete bull.  It is always on the shooter to know where everyone is.  And when Wittington stopped to get his bird they should have all stopped.  The fact that Cheney and the others didn’t wait for Wittington indicates they were all in the wrong.  I guess Wittington was getting his bird because these men aren’t even trusted by dogs.  I do find it interesting that they determined that Alcohol wasn’t a factor when the sheriff only interviewed them the next day?  Something smells like Booze in Texas to me.  I get the feeling we aren’t ever going to be told the whole story in this very obvious cover up.  But hey covering up stuff is what Republicans do. 

Since Wittington just had a heart attack lets all have a Pop quiz if this guy dies of a heart attack is Cheney still responsible?  Answer Yes common law in every state in the Union makes you responsible for death in such situation (no matter what the ultimate cause of death is as long as it is linked to what you did) up to a year and day from the incident.  That is the year and a day rule.  Many states have amended this rule to make it far longer than a year and a day due to medical science keeping people alive for so long today.  So if he dies of a heart attack or infection or whatever as long as it is linked to the shooting Cheney is at fault both civilly and criminally. 

Oh and bonus question.  Which of his wounds are most likely to get infected the ones in his face or the ones in his chest?  Answer the ones that were under his clothing because pieces of fiber from the clothing get logged in the wounds and cause infection.  The ones in his face are probably cleaner than the ones in his chest since you don’t usually wear anything over your face.  This is also the reason many bullet wounds are left open for a while incase of infection.  As a result they scar more than most people think.  Of course with a shotgun wound you have a lot of wounds and they leave much of the shot in. 

Since Cheney was hunting Quail and likely was using very small shot no 8 or no 9 shot and since Cheney is nuts perhaps even smaller shot (he was using a 28 gauge shotgun after all and that is nuts in and of itself).  So thought the shotgun gauge was small the shot too was very small meaning it was a large number of very little pellets. 

Since force = mass X acceleration (And smaller shot has less mass for each bb) I think the claim that he was 30 yards away when shot is bullshit.  Because that tiny shotgun a 28 gauge using Number 8 or number 9 shot at 30 yards would likely just bounce off your clothing.  It didn’t bounce off it penetrated.  And it should have spread to all hell and back it had a tight pattern indicating to me Cheney was closer than 30 yards.  No 8 and No 9 shot is light since it is small and it would spread more.  In fact that is the whole point of going to smaller shot for a small bird to get a larger spread so you can get that tiny bird better. 

Whittington was hit with a lot of shot on the face neck and chest that isn’t a 30 yard spread with that little shot size and little shotgun.  Some one’s lying I can tell.  And yes I am a hunter and I have reloaded shot shells and I did learn ballistics in college since I majored in Criminal Justice.  I smell bullshit here.  At 30 yards No 8 and No 9 shot fired from a 28 gauge shotgun might be lethal if it hits you in the cerotic artery or femoral artery.  But it is unlikely to penetrate to the heart.  Since it did I strongly suspect they were closer.  And I am basing that on years of experience here.  Yes it is possible for that to penetrate well at that range but unlikely.  Keep in mind Cheney was using a wussy shotgun with a pussy load for little birdies.  You can’t get a smaller shotgun with a wussier load.  This is not buckshot from a 12 gauge magnum at point blank range this is No 8 or No 9 from a 28 gauge at 30 yards or so we are told.  So I think there is some Texas tall tales going on here.  Such a weak load from such a weak gun should have spread more and lost more energy.  It didn’t.  Logical conclusion Cheney was closer than 30 yards when he shot Wittington. 

Cheney must have been closer than 30 yards.  A 28 gauge shotgun loaded with 3/4 oz to 1 oz of number 8, 8 1/2 or 9 shot which is what you use for quail would spread a larger pattern than just 1 to 1 1/2 foot diameter at 30 yards. Wilmington was hit from below his eyes to his chest a small pattern for such a shotgun with such a load.  And they penetrated very well.  Especially considering at least one made it to his heart.  I smell bull here and I am an experienced hunter and reloader of shotshells and I have taken classes (Criminalistics) since I have a BA in Criminal Justice that tell me he was closer.  At 30 yards a light load in an already light gauge shotgun (which is what a 28 gauge is) would spread all over the place and lose so much energy that it might not even penetrate the human body or if it did not very far.  Since it did hit him in a small pattern and penetrate far enough to hit the heart I think Cheney and company are lying and he was closer.  Considering that Cheney didn’t have the proper licence and was busted for that I suspect more lies as well.  Oh one more thing the 28 gauge shotgun only comes in 2 3/4 inch shells so it has no 3 inch magnum shells at all.  So if you are thinking Cheney was firing some kind of hot or more powerful load that just is not possible in a 28 gauge shotgun.  They are all weak loads for skeet shooters or dove and quail hunters.

Many people have been insisting it wasn’t just an Accident.  If indeed Whittington is a little bit liberal they might have something.  Not all of Texas is Republican and not all Republicans are Neo Conservatives.  Perhaps Cheney wanted to take this guy out?  Who knows?

Only goes to prove:  You shouldn’t drink and shoot.  If you do, wait 14 hours before notifying anyone!

LOOK AT CGHENEYS HISTORY OF DRUNK DRIVING,,,,,,,,,MAYBE CHENEY HAD TO SOBER UP 24 HOURS BEFORE REPORTING THE INCIDENT!!!!!!!1

Headline: Cheney shoots a Texas liberal. I thought he shot a man; a friend of many years. Read most of the comments in this blog, read the inane comments, the foolish speculation…if he had only gone to Nam. Accidents do happen while hunting, while riding a bike next to a friend, in everything we do with others.
Nothing suggest this was anything other than an accident.
If the NBC inquisitor had the information before Whittington was in the hospital and his family with him, the press dogs would have descended on them like vultures. Does any person not know the press are vicious and often idiotic? Listen to some of the dumb questions being asked by them.
This story, rather than those that impact America, has become the story. WE have an obligation to ask the press why have they not reported on Al Gore’s speech in Saudi Arabia where he was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to make anti-American statements that are not supported by facts but do serve to inflame anti-American hatred. One week ago the press-including NBC, Chicago Trib, LA Times- were in Iraq for a briefing. They were given stats that show the Iraq Army are conducting 25 percent of operations. What paper printed that story? Where are the investigative reporters looking into this story to prove it right or wrong?  Oh. I know. They are comfortable in DC demanding answers to a non-story: a sad accident involving 2 old friends.
Tomas

LOL at the line, “Of course he did, Ms Matalin…”.
My dear old father in his morning and afternoon coffee conversations at the cafe used to use a similar line when his very “conservative” equally old clatchers would cuss out Bill Clinton…“That SOB never did anything!”  My father would stop the conversation by saying, “Sure he did…he became President.”

I am a quail hunter of 50-plus years, own five Brittanies and love to quail hunt.  I also write a conservation column for “Gun Dog Magazine.”  For anyone to defend what Cheney did or to claim he did not violate every precept of safe bird hunting is to deny reality.  He screwed up, big time, for whatever reason.  I’ve hunted pen raised birds and hate it—most quail do not get the exercise of their wild fellows and thus fly low, slow and not very far.  I’ve always told my hunting partners never, never to shoot at low-flying birds.  The risk of killing a dog is too great and there always are more planted birds. 
    Yes, shooting accidents happen and they are rare.  All are the result of carelessness.  It’s incumbent on a hunter to know where his partners are and not to shoot unless he is sure of the target.  Cheney’s cherished NRA says exactly that, as well as that a shooter must always be aware of what’s in front and what’s behind…or as one Missouri kid, taking a gun safety course once said, “Be sure of your before and your behind.”
      Cheney seems to be covering his behind after the fact.

Let’s see.  Cheney was 30 yards from his “target” when he hit him in the chest and head.  He must have been aiming to hit the quail on the ground.  Sportsman?

This Christian Right, holier than thou, Facist Regime is finally starting to reap their rewards.

Molly Ivens hits the nail on the head as always. What I cannot help wondering is this:  If Cheney loves to shoot things so much why did he not go to Vietnam where he would have been on a level playing field?  Anyone else ever wonder about that?

Good thing Dick got his deferrment in Viet Nam or there would have been more Ameican casualties.
A few good laughs at his expense will never make up for the destruction and evil he has cast upon this earth.
But we do need some laughs!!!!