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Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Story:

This appears to be a gathering consensus:

Cheney was out hunting with his girlfriend-on-the-side. (That's actually pure speculation, but it's a part of the overall story mix.)
Cheney had a liquid lunch, and was blotto that afternoon. (Had "only one beer" mid-day and a cocktail after the shooting).
He was sloppy and shot Whittington at close range.
Cheney was pretty detached afterwards, and instead of being closely focused on the accident, had a leisurely dinner that evening.
Because he was drunk, he hid from deputies that showed up that evening.
Rove was brought in to decide how to do the PR.
That meant putting out a bogus story that Whittington was merely "peppered".
The White House is made to look foolish because of the failure to be open.
People wonder if Bush is in control. Bush is merely a genial front man for the real power.
Alan Simpson is drafted to say things like: "This is a hunting accident, created by the victim. Dick Cheney didn't do anything."
Whittington has heart attack. Things get serious.
Cheney finally decides to talk about the incident in the ultra-friendly environment of Fox News with Cheney-supporter Brit Hume.

This story is incredibly dense. There's all sorts of things to talk about:

Heart conditions and diagnosis.
Forensic details about firearm injuries.
The nature of 28 gauge shot.
Hunting safety. Hunting rules (including getting permits).
Cheney's drinking habits.
The changing explanations coming from Camp Cheney.
McClellan's big fight with the press corps.
Metaphors galore: Body armor; Shooting bin Laden; Iraq War; No WMD; Solution to Social Security / Medicare (just kill 'em); Anything goes with these guys, just like NSA spying;
Timeline of who knew what and when information was disclosed to whom.

posted by Quiddity at 2/15/2006 03:09:00 PM

5 comments

When quail are flushed, do they tend to rise UP or do they tend to race along LOW to the ground?

By brainhell, at 2/15/2006 5:01 PM

My understanding is that they fly low and horizontal.

By Quiddity, at 2/15/2006 8:53 PM

Right past 78-year-old Republicans.

By brainhell, at 2/16/2006 7:04 AM

Of course that depends on whether or not they are raised in a secure, undisclosed location -like a tiny cage where they live, force fed in darkness and overcrowded conditions until the the day they are seeded into a field in advance of a "hunt" or not.

By Anonymous, at 2/18/2006 5:02 PM

Bush may be a front man for the real power, and Cheney may be its executor, but he doesn't act like the real power, either.

In fact, no one in the Cabinet does, either.

Where does the real power lie in this administration? The Carlyle Group board room?

By kelley b., at 2/20/2006 11:58 AM