Wondering what the big story in the blogosphere will be this week will be? Wonder no more…
WASHINGTON (AP) – Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot and injured a man during a weekend quail hunting trip in Texas, his spokeswoman said Sunday.
Harry Whittington, 78, was “alert and doing fine” after Cheney sprayed Whittington with shotgun pellets on Saturday at the Armstrong Ranch in south Texas, said property owner Katharine Armstrong.
Armstrong said Cheney turned to shoot a bird and accidentally hit Whittington. She said Whittington was taken to Corpus Christi Memorial Hospital by ambulance.
Cheney’s spokeswoman, Lea Anne McBride, said the vice president was with Whittington, a lawyer from Austin, Texas, and his wife at the hospital on Sunday afternoon.Cartoon protests? That is so last week… This week it’s “peppering“
This story should make for some positively insane postings at Democratic Underground…
Update: Among the DU quips about Cheney hunting more often with Bush, I did find this semi-ironic tidbit. Cheney’s “victim,” Harry Whittington, is the presiding commissioner of the Texas Funeral Service Commission…
It’s interesting to see the different headlines from the different outlets on this story.
Fox News: VP Cheney Accidently Shoots Man While Hunting
CBS: Cheney Shoots Man While Hunting
Wonder how bad. There’s the light “a few pellets” variety, and then there’s the “whole blast” variety of shotgun wound.
It’s the lead on Drudge, with police light…..
Waiting for the DUmmies to start asking if this incident was MIHOP or LIHOP.
AP BREAKING: Cheney reported to say: “I thought it was Cindy Sheehan.”
from CNN
At least Cheney didn’t blame some poor Secret Service agent for the accident.
At least Cheney didn’t blame some poor Secret Service agent for the accident.
…like a certain recent presidential candidate.
Cheney mistook Whittington for a bird? Now I understand why the administration never found Osama.
I was telling Deb it was strange for “Quayle” to be back in the news after all these years.
Ha, Jay – I thought of Quayle, too!
As soon as I heard about Cheney’s bad aim, I said “damn!” Now we are going to have to deal with all the anti-gun people about this. And I don’t even hunt – but I sure as heck like to shoot guns!
Sorry to keep kicking a dead horse, but media bias is even more amazing when you get a story like this that has absolutely nothing to do with policy:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11312757/
First off, the second headline (the medium print under the headline before the story starts, I don’t know what that’s called) says “Man wounded in accidental shooting in intensive care unit.” That’s a total mischaracterization of the situation.
Also, they call him a “millionare” attorney. What does being a millionare have to do with his getting accidently shot by the VP?
Hmmm.
This sort of thing happens when people move out of line or advance without warning fellow hunters. *shrug* it happens when you’re hunting birds.
How long before the hand-wringing about gun control?
A comment seen elsewhere in the blogosphere:
I’d rather hunt with Cheney than ride with Kennedy.
Someone needs to tell the Veep its Wabbit season not Whittington season. Nice shooting Elmer.
Raymond B
http://www.voteswagon.com
Man steps in front of pellets – story please?
Brady bunch will come out in droves on this one, but it is such a common thing when hunting birds.
Yea and on HuffPo with scarequotes, Cheney “accidentally” shot him. As if it was on purpose.
Cheney should follow this up with “I shot him….and I liked him, and I was in a good mood…imagine if I was pissed and he was a Democrat. Go ahead f*** with me in ’08″…
So is this Whittington fellow the first person shot by a sitting Vice president since Alexander Hamilton?
Interesting side note for the history books.
What a big man he is.
Wow. See what 5 deferments gets you? Terrible aim.
“My belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators.”
This shooting is just the sideshow before what
could be the main event; i.e. the
Cheney ‘Dump’.
Although it could be his Presidential aspirations,
Senator Allen calling for Cheney to be investigated in the Plame matter,
is not just donuts and coffee.
Allen is no maverick and wears suspenders as well
as a belt (looks both ways on a one-way street)
and may reflect the exponential growth of white
cells, the inflammation of which, will require
an immediate congressional lancing.
I don’t see how drop-kicking the Veep is going
to have more than symbolic meaning, as he will
no doubt continue his power under a
different flag. Just as DeLay has been a hiccough
in the clean-up of HR and has been punished
by being appointed to the Appropriations Committee, so too, Cheney will ply his trade
even more covertly than before.
DUDE RANCH BOO BOO!! Veep was NOT drunk!! (hic)
HAHAHA. Talk about the gang that couldn’t shoot straight!!! I used to be annoyed that Cheney was a total chickenhawk during Vietnam, but now I’m glad he didn’t go. Imagine the “friendly fire” casualties he would have caused? Mistaking a 6′ tall man for a small bird. What a moron.
As for all you bloggers making comments comparing Cheney with Kennedy – yawn, you bore me. You’re like Henny Youngman – new materails PLEASE!!
“”Man wounded in accidental shooting in intensive care unit.” That’s a total mischaracterization of the situation.”
How is that a mischaracterization? He’s still in intensive care two days later. Anyway, how can you criticize the press for the way they cover the story? The VP shoots somebody, and the White House doesn’t even deal with the story. They let the woman who’s ranch it was on deal with the press. How irresponsible is that?
And it’s interesting how everyone’s so eager to let Cheney off the hook. The witness says Whittingot came up behind Cheney. That’s hardly walking into the line of fire, unless Cheney’s swinging around and shooting. I’m not saying he did anything nefarious, but it looks as though he likely screwed up, and as usual the Administration can’t take responsibility for anything. I mean really, everyone immediately blames the guy who got shot?
From mantis link:
“The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported today that 500 farm-raised pheasants were released yesterday morning at the Rolling Rock Club in Ligonier Township for the benefit of Cheney’s 10-person hunting party. The group killed at least 417 of the birds, illustrating the unsporting nature of canned hunts. The party also shot an unknown number of captive mallards in the afternoon.”
Assuming an 8 hour hunt that would be over 50 birds an hour, not counting the mallards. This did not, could not happen. This comment and others indicate none of you know the first thing about bird hunting, of course being ignorant is not a deterent to left wing thought or rhetoric it seems. I especially like this from Chris:
” That’s hardly walking into the line of fire, unless Cheney’s swinging around and shooting.”
Swinging around and shooting on a bird hunt? Who ever heard of such a thing?
Another problem with this story is that it took 18 hours before the VP was questioned about what happened. Sorry to be a conspiracy theorist, but since Mr Cheney has 2 DUI’s on his record, could he have been drinking? Why wait 18 hours?
If supporters of the president/administration want to be annoyed with the coverage on this story, they should be annoyed with the White House who obviously delt very poorly in their handling of it – which these days sounds sadly familiar.
B Moe…no, I think you’re not following this through enough…you have all the pieces, just need to put them together.
First we have the ‘captive birds’ story, then the liberal theory that appears to hold that, while hunting birds, you stand in one spot and face in one direction and hope like hell a bird flies in front of your stationary gun.
So, put those together to see what liberals are thinking. After all, they were obviously just blasting away with shotguns into cages of tied up birds, right? In which case there would be no reason to swing around anywhere, right? See how it all comes together in liberal-land? They’re not that tough to figure out.
Falze:
Actually, most liberals don’t give a shit about how grown men shoot little birds. They’re more concerned about other issues like…..
Nuking the Economy
By PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS
Last week the Bureau of Labor Statistics re-benchmarked the payroll jobs data back to 2000. Thanks to Charles McMillion of MBG Information Services, I have the adjusted data from January 2001 through January 2006. If you are worried about terrorists, you don’t know what worry is.
Job growth over the last five years is the weakest on record. The US economy came up more than 7 million jobs short of keeping up with population growth. That’s one good reason for controlling immigration. An economy that cannot keep up with population growth should not be boosting population with heavy rates of legal and illegal immigration.
Over the past five years the US economy experienced a net job loss in goods producing activities. The entire job growth was in service-providing activities–primarily credit intermediation, health care and social assistance, waiters, waitresses and bartenders, and state and local government.
US manufacturing lost 2.9 million jobs, almost 17% of the manufacturing work force. The wipeout is across the board. Not a single manufacturing payroll classification created a single new job.
more…
Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration. He was Associate Editor of the Wall Street Journal editorial page and Contributing Editor of National Review. He is coauthor of The Tyranny of Good Intentions.He can be reached at: paulcraigroberts@yahoo.com
BMoe
I never said anything about standing in one place. But when you’re in a party of hunters, you have to have a safe fire area. If the victim was behind Cheney, then clearly Cheny wheeled around 180 degrees while firing. Go ahead and tell me that’s safe. When you’re in a hunting party, you don’t just shoot in any direction without knowing what you’re doing, particularly if one member of the party is not in sight.
And how funny that Cheney saw fit to ridicule Kerry last year for goose hunting. I don’t recall Kerry shooting anyone, except of course when he was serving his country.
My point isn’t that Cheny is a monster. Accidents happen, including hunting accidents. It’s the inability of people like him to step up and be a man and say “I messed up” that is the problem. It’s endemic in this administration.
Chris:
The right-wingers on this site will rip you apart for your last comment – but you were 100% spot on. the White House can’t ever and will never admit to mistakes.
To all those who disagree with Chris: it’s a character issue, stupid.
There MUST be an investigation of this event. Obviously, Cheney has resorted to personally trying to murder private citizens. I’m double locking my door at night as a result of this incident.
Cheney should be stripped nakked and made to lie in a naked pyramid with Helen Thomas and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I just hope that there’s no camera’s around to futher tramatize the American people.
/moonbat off
Seriously, this isn’t a political issue. Why didn’t John Kerry hold a press conference to announce that some Secret Service agent had pushed him down while snowboarding ? If it had been a car accident, would it have still required a press conference ? What about if it had been a car accidnent that where a politician ran his car into a body of water after leaving a party with a girl whose initial where MJK ?
– MikeB
“If the victim was behind Cheney, then clearly Cheny wheeled around 180 degrees while firing. Go ahead and tell me that’s safe. When you’re in a hunting party, you don’t just shoot in any direction without knowing what you’re doing, particularly if one member of the party is not in sight.”
I am assuming by the “If” you aren’t certain of the circumstance, as I am not. In which case why don’t we wait and see what really happened. The only consistent thing I have heard is the victim left the group temporarily, then came back and may or may not have properly announced himself.
“My point isn’t that Cheny is a monster. Accidents happen, including hunting accidents. It’s the inability of people like him to step up and be a man and say “I messed up” that is the problem.”
And just how exactly do you know he hasn’t?
And just how exactly do you know he hasn’t?
Posted by: B Moe at February 13, 2006 12:38 PM
Well, B Moe, if he has, show us the quote/link? No one questions that the VP feels badly about what he did, but, as someone pointed out, since he used taxpayer money to take Air Force 2 for his hunting trip, the public has a right to know. It’s just like Clinton’s bj.
So Cheney is required to make a public apology for a private hunting accident? Would a blanket “I’m sorry” at a press conference suit you, or do you demand a personal letter? Your ignorance is only exceded by your arrogance.
BMoe
“Whittington “came up from behind the vice president and the other hunter and didn’t signal them or indicate to them or announce himself,” Armstrong said.”
That’s why I said he came up behind him. The only reason I said “if” is because this woman’s a Republican mouthpiece, so she could be lying.
You’re obviously reacting to this exactly the way the White House wants you to. They refuse to release information, then you say we shouldn’t criticize because we don’t have the facts. Why do you suppose we don’t have the facts?
And he doesn’t have to make any kind of apology. Perhaps he could start by not having his mouthpieces blame the guy he shot. Again, it’s just about taking a little responsibility for your actions.
And MikeB “Why didn’t John Kerry hold a press conference to announce that some Secret Service agent had pushed him down while snowboarding ?” How about because Kerry was the one who got run into, and NOBODY GOT SHOT? Jeez, try to bring a little something to the table, will you?
Assuming an 8 hour hunt that would be over 50 birds an hour, not counting the mallards. This did not, could not happen. This comment and others indicate none of you know the first thing about bird hunting, of course being ignorant is not a deterent to left wing thought or rhetoric it seems.
First of all, the article that I linked to was about a previous Cheney hunting trip to a club in PA. On that occasion, there were 10 people in his hunting group. Assuming an 8 hour hunt as you wrote, that would be a little under 5 birds an hour per person. I do know a bit about bird hunting; wild bird hunting. No one shooting wild birds would get those kind of numbers, but assholes who shoot cage-raised birds released into a confined space probably could. Real sporting. Here’s the original Post-Gazette article about Cheney’s hunting “skills”:
Scott Wakefield, a dog handler at the club, said about 500 farm-raised pheasants were released from nets for the morning hunt. The 10-man hunting party that included Cheney shot 417 pheasants. The vice president was set to hunt ducks in the afternoon.
Damn the left wing rhetoric of Pennsylvania hunting dog handlers!
but assholes who shoot cage-raised birds released into a confined space probably could.
Give me a break Mantis… I’m so sick of you hunting purists; most game birds are pen raised now days especially at hunting clmbs. If they only got 417 pheasants that means almost 100 got “free”; better odds than if they were just on a farm for restaurant.
Different people hunt with different group rules. Very few people I have hunted with don’t turn 180 degrees in a quail hunt. Some even turn 180 degrees in pheasant hunt as well but not as often. It’s approximately 90 degrees on both sides that you don’t shot unless you are on the end.
I have known some that don’t follow many rules. For example, I knew a group that use to play around and pepper each other with birdshot as long as the person wasn’t any closer than 50 yards. It stings and get under the skin but didn’t do any real damage. Of course not to many people would hunt with that group.
In the end it just the media looking for anything to bash the Administration for. More serious accidents probably happens during campaign and protest rally’s.
” Why do you suppose we don’t have the facts?”
I would say because it’s none of your fucking business, but that is just me.
I suspect that if there was a video, showing every angle and aspect of the accident, that the leftists on this site would still insist that there is a coverup or that it didn’t really happen that way – one guy already doubts the word of the woman who hosted the hunting party simply because she is a Republican.
Face it, nothing that Cheney or anyone in the White House says will be taken as truth by the left. Too many of them appear to be extremely paranoid.
Must be the results of all that acid back in the 60s.
Chris:
You have never gone hunting, particularly bird hunting, have you?
When they say “Came up behind” it does not necessarily mean “was directly behind” or “Within a small 30º arc behind the shooter; however, it can mean the guy 50 ft to the left where the shooter has to to turn their head and slightly look over their shoulder to see them. Or imagine if the shooter has a 180º arc in front of them, or from shoulder to shoulder, so the guy is supposed to be standing at, say, 210º to be out of the firing zone; that would be “behind the shooter.”
This is how bird hunting works: 1.) Bird breaks from the ground 2.) Shooter raises shotgun to shoulder 3.) Shooter leads bird 4.) Shooter fires 5.)Shooter follows through on shot
Note number 5, it is very important. The shooter continues to move the barrel in an arc leading the bird after firing, causing the shot to spread outward within that arc, increasing the chances to hit the (often fast moving, sometimes low flying) bird.
Number 5 is why formations and firing zones are vitally important for groups that go bird hunting; it is just as vital that anyone breaking formation give a clear announcement of doing so.
Just by stepping up to be even with the shooter’s shoulder (albeit at a distance of some feet) without clear announcement creates a recipe for disaster.
Now, there are some questions that need detailed answers: Did Whittington break formation and step into another’s firing zone? Did he clearly announce himself?
Considering you do not trust the information Armstrong provided we shall have to wait on Whittington’s word, as well as the other members of the hunting party.
Until then let’s lay off the blame game, because for all we know it could very well lie entirely upon Whittington himself.
Clarification:
When I said
Number 5 is why formations and firing zones are vitally important for groups that go bird hunting; it is just as vital that anyone breaking formation give a clear announcement of doing so.
Naturally the follow through is not the only reason firing zones and their observation is important, just most bird hunting accidents, seem more likely to happen during the follow through (catching someone on the tail end of the shot’s arc) and not the initial trigger pull.
Firing zones are vitally important no matter what the type of hunting that is going on.
Imagine the reaction if Cheney and his friend had left the hunting party to sneak off and have sex, Cheney in his drunken bumbling had shot him at point blank range, then he had paniced and ran off to leave his friend to bleed to death overnight.
He would be facing 40 years in the US Senate.
Whittington left the party to retrieve a bird he shot. From the article it seems clear that the pary knew he had gone. So Cheney swung around and fired, knowing he wasn’t aware of the location of the rest of his party. Does this make him at fault? In the sense that many hunters say that if you shoot someone you’re always at fault, unless the victim was extremely reckless. I’m going on what it appears may have happened, which is all we have to go on because the White House has chosen not to be forthcoming about this.
And BMoe, please be real. I know you guys have gotten to the point where the Administration can pretty much do whatever it wants, but really. The VP shoots a guy, and it’s none of my fucking business? Do you honestly mean to say that if it was Vice President Edwards, you wouldn’t be screaming for an investigation? The guy shot someobody, the victim’s in intensive care, and Cheney leaves town and lets some private citizen handle the public announcement, which comes by way of a phone call to a local paper. Is that really how it should be handled?
Wayne, same for you. “More serious accidents probably happens during campaign and protest rally’s.” Yeah, people usually end up in intensive care after a campaign rally. Man, what knee jerk apologists.
Give me a break Mantis… I’m so sick of you hunting purists; most game birds are pen raised now days especially at hunting clmbs. If they only got 417 pheasants that means almost 100 got “free”; better odds than if they were just on a farm for restaurant.
My point was not that the birds were killed unnecessarily, it was that there was no sport in it. You may claim that most game birds are pen raised, but I’ve never seen it. Then again, I’ve never hunted in some pansy-ass club for rich assholes who can’t shoot a wild animal.
Hell, it would have been no less sporting if they cut the birds’ wings off, threw them all in a ditch and let the hunters go at them with a chainsaw.
“Do you honestly mean to say that if it was Vice President Edwards, you wouldn’t be screaming for an investigation? “
That is exactly correct. Shit happens. I rarely see conspiracies in any of it.
Ooops.
What I want to know is, how many similar incidents has Cheney not told us about. Has he “accidentally” backed into anyone’s car since he’s taken office? Has he “accidentally” stepped on Lynne Cheney’s toes while dancing? Has he “accidentally” bit his dentist?
It’s important that we all know about every one of these incidences at the moment they happen!
Oh, and, uh, it goes to prove that Cheney and Bush lied to us about WMDs too!
</sarcasm>
So kbiel, how about if someone shoots you in the face and compares it to stepping on their wife’s toes? I’m sure you’ll appreciate it.
And when you said “Oh, and, uh, it goes to prove that Cheney and Bush lied to us about WMDs too!”
I think what you meant was