Anyone watching the press conference about the accidental shooting in Texas?

[tsmith130]

What keeps McCellan from taking off his shoe and throwing it at these people?! I'd last a nanosecond in that job. They keep badgering him about the EXACT time of everything. They're pissing over a few hours!

[Inspectorette]

I used to feel the same way about Scott, but I've gotten a new respect for him, simply because of the fact that he is totally unflappable! No matter what they spew at him, despite their best efforts at throwing him, he never loses his cool.

He drives the shrieking hyenas in the White House press corps nuckin' futz with his calm demeanor. Thus, causing them to foam at the mouth and shriek even louder, asking ever more stupid questions, making themselves look even more ridiculous.

Yes, I still miss Ari - he was wonderful, and had a sense of humor that Scott unfortunately does not possess, but Scott has definitely "won his wings" IMHO.

[ER Doc]

I don't mean a personal apology, I mean an apology for the delay. The delay was obviously a mistake; is that so hard to say?? It feeds into the tinfoil hat mentality. The reason he gave for the delay was to be sure Whittington was getting the best care he could. There'd be a lot less anger in the MSM if they'd announced this as soon as he was safely in the ICU at the trauma center; i.e., Saturday evening.

[dirtboy]

I have to agree this was probably poorly handled by Cheney's media team. This was bound to get out. Why not release it earlier?

I think he might have been too shaken up to think through this - it's not every day that you accidentally shoot someone - and in another article, he said that he wanted the ranch owner to make the story public, which is a sign that he wasn't thinking clearly.

But someone needed to gently tell him that the White House needed to break the story in a timely manner as to not create more problems. I see this as a screwup in the White House.

[clawrence3]

Yeah - we already know your answer to my first question - how about answering my second question now?

[clawrence3]

If something similar happened at midnight and the press release was released first thing 9:00 a.m., would that be "too long" in your opinion?

[debg]

[dirtboy]

" really want to know your opinion - if something similar happened at midnight and the press release was released first thing 9:00 a.m., would that be "so long"?"

I've answered that multiple times. They should have released it by first thing the next morning at the latest, and probably earlier.

[Jhohanna]

Or on SUNDAY! Day of Rest! Hullo... 150 years ago, that's all people were ALLOWED to do on Sunday, was rest. Now it's all about getting things done you don't have time the rest of the other 7 days a week. *FEH*

[sinkspur]

But someone needed to gently tell him that the White House needed to break the story in a timely manner as to not create more problems. I see this as a screwup in the White House.

The White House didn't release the story until it made sure, this time, that the mayor of Los Angeles was notified.

[clawrence3]

Thanks for answering - we will have to agree to disgree on this one.

[ER Doc]

<< No laws were broken, >>
I'm not a lawyer, but actually, wouldn't this be chargeable under whatever Texas calls "reckless discharge of a firearm?" A misdemeanor, since Whittington apparently wasn't seriously injured. I know the landowner called it Whittington's fault, but I think the lawyerly phrase is "strict liability" when you fire the gun that accidentally shoots your buddy.

[dirtboy]

The White House didn't release the story until it made sure, this time, that the mayor of Los Angeles was notified.

Good one, sink.

[Jhohanna]

I don't get it. MSNBC had this on their website on Saturday night. Well, that's when I saw it anyways. It was late, though... but still, it was there. What's with this whole Delay crap? Oh, are they going after Tom again?

:P:P

Honestly, though... the MSM is *obviously* trying to create problems for the administration, anyone with a brain can see that. Appearances to the media can deceive, but we all know what morons they are, so no big deal. It was a SMART thing to delay it past the Sunday talk shows. I think it's all being made up that they actually DID that, because I KNOW I saw it on my MSN Alerts as breaking news on Saturday night, then MSNBC.com, and then again yesterday morning at Yahoo.com.

Maybe the Press Corps should start doing their job and actually do the research.

[Peach]

I just got back home. Sean Hannity replayed the reporters' questions and I was wrong about WMD. The reporter asked if this was reminiscent of the levee problem.

[BluH2o]

I completely agree about McClellan looking weak... but I've heard that he has a history with Bush and that he was awarded this job.

Perhaps ... Dede Miers, Clinton's first press secretary (who was obviously in way over her head) had a history with the Clintonistas and they didn't waste any time getting rid of her. Although, as I recall, it was made to appear it was her idea to leave.

[Wasanother]

Maybe Cheney knew the MSM would misrepresent facts so he didn't tell them?

[Jhohanna]

Do you even know the difference between BIRD shot and BUCK shot?

Well, then... maybe you can tell us why this is such a HUGE deal when someone got shot with BBs. :D

[Jhohanna]

Unless it was John Kerry and someone gave him a freakin' medal. :P

[Mo1]

Hospital press conference on FOX now.

You've got to be kidding me

[dirtboy]

Do you even know the difference between BIRD shot and BUCK shot?

Uh, yes, I do. When I was a kid I hunted doves with birdshot. As an adult, I have a Mossberg loaded with 00 Buck in case Big Bird shows up uninvited.

Well, then... maybe you can tell us why this is such a HUGE deal when someone got shot with BBs. :D

Tell you what. The man in question was shot with 8 shot at 30 yards with a 28 gauge. I'll drop it down to a .410, use 9 shot and you can stand 35 yards away and I'll shoot at you. And then I'll believe you when you say it isn't a big deal.

Oh, and 8 shot is a lot smaller than BBs. Still doesn't make it any less dangerous to get shot with at a 30 yards.