The boys of 'Scoop', hot on the hunt (LOL! Wes Pruden nails it!)

The Washington Times ^ | 2-14-06 | Wesley Pruden

[smoothsailing]

The boys of 'Scoop,' hot on the hunt

By Wesley Pruden

Published February 14, 2006

Alas, a scandal the city slickers in the White House press room, who know everything, can't understand. Dick Cheney peppers a man with birdshot on a quail hunt in Texas.     

Guns, bad. Quail hunting, bad. So far, so good. There must be a capital crime in here somewhere. But what happened next could have been out of a rewrite of "Scoop," Evelyn Waugh's classic press novel about the empty vanities of posturing journalists trying to cover their ignorance with bluster and bullying.     

The man who took a face full of birdshot -- tiny pellets the size of BBs -- was quickly relegated to a bit part. He wasn't seriously hurt, he's recovering, and he isn't mad at the vice president. But in Washington, where making a set of matched luggage out of a sow's ear is a thriving industry, the politics are far more important than what happened to Harry Whittington, a 78-year-old Austin lawyer who was a member of the hunting party. The shooting was an accident; no one suggests otherwise (yet). Mr. Whittington violated the protocol of the hunt by not announcing that he was walking across the line of fire when a covey of quail suddenly took flight, and Mr. Cheney fired.     

For many of the White House reporters, accustomed to getting their snippets of news out of a government spoon, having to learn about the incident from the local newspaper was the insult beyond injury. The posting of the transcript of the "gaggle," the mid-morning torturing of Scott McClellan, the president's press agent, offers the full flavor of Men at Work around his desk:     

David Gregory of NBC News: "The vice president shoots a man, and he feels...

[6SJ7]

Ain't that David Gregory a lulu? He looked like a mad teenager at the press meeting.

Gregory reminds me of Curious George; only Curious George has a greater intellect, looks better, and is funnier.

[Dog]

Great post!

[JoeGar]

What outstanding writing! I wish I could write like that.

[relictele]

More karma for you - great post.

[Let's Roll]

Yeah, when I saw that clip on FOX News last night, I thought, "Bozo, you better keep your hair stylist on retainer if you want to retain your career."

And the woman who asked if Cheney should resign? A blonde Helen Thomas. No wonder she's so angry.

[alwaysconservative]

I love your tag! It's been a good week for us, watching the presstitutes in a snit that they weren't called FIRST, and the Muslim fake outrage over cartoons that depict the real outrages of their followers.

[GladesGuru]

Unless they shoot doves in the nest in your area, a 28 ga gun is absolutely the worst choice after the .410 shottie.

Dove are usually shot on the wing, and that means they are hauling tail feathers, and how! Add the fact that they often are not right on top of you and a larger, and wider, initial pattern of shot is a good idea. Fewer cripples and/or wounded birds flying off to die later.

The 12 ga simply has a better pattern for the same amount of shot. If you are a retired Vandalia winner, then enjoy the lighter, more maneuverable 28 ga, and I'll claim my misses are due to the recoil of my 12 ga.

;-)

[kublia khan]

Jimmuh stuck his foot in his mouth at the King funeral by bringing up the wire tapping of the King family done at the behest of Bobby Kennedy.

[MNJohnnie]

Ain't that David Gregory a lulu?

I suspect he's more of a "Lulu" than most of us know.

You know, I think you are ON to something here. It really explains a lot about his behavior. Really sounds like an serious case of in the closet rage there.

[MNJohnnie]

Hmmmm a Press "Gaggel" a VP that "bird" hunts. Say Davie, why don't you and the insane clown posse go WITH the VP next time?

[smoothsailing]

Hey,MNJ! I don't know if you've seen this yet, but it's a real hoot!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1578302/posts?page=6

Check the pic at post #6. ;)

[sageb1]

"They were denied a kill and they're not happy."

That sums it up. Gregory, et al, make me sick.

[sageb1]

"What we saw today was significant. It was the last vestige of professionalism of the press finally removed. The contempt of those people was available for all to see."

This is scary, actually, because it shows the product of the leftists who are teaching our children. It shows the product - the brats of the self interested socialist feminists. Wanna see what I am talking about? Visit DU. Visit Daily Kos.

[TAdams8591]

"Though the actual shooting of Mr. Whittington was an accident, there is certainly a very, very serious crime here, and Mr. Gregory nails it. Telling the Corpus Christi Caller-Times the news first is capital crime writ large."

The author nails it.

[onyx]

His would have to be closet rage....


Gregory lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife Beth Wilkinson, an executive vice president and the general counsel of Fannie Mae, along with their three children.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3688588/

[ClaireSolt]

I am amazed at the idea that any of them earn $350,000/yr when the President makes $400,000. No wonder they act the way they do. Fire Gregory and get someone who will work, for a change.

[pageonetoo]

..Unless they shoot doves in the nest in your area, a 28 ga gun is absolutely the worst choice after the .410 shottie.

Skill is to be considered as well. My eldest son shot in competition with a 28. He shoots "clay pigeons", but they fly pretty quick, too. I have witnessed him shoot 96 out of a 100, with his Italian wonder.

[onyx]

I would pay to serve as WH press secretary for just ONE day.

[SE Mom]

Guns, bad. Quail hunting, bad. So far, so good. There must be a capital crime in here somewhere

---

I LOVE IT!!!

[shhrubbery!]

Ain't that David Gregory a lulu? He looked like a mad teenager at the press meeting.

I'm now convinced that it was VP Cheney who decided to alert the Corpus Christi newspaper first.

The purpose? To "jerk" David Gregory's chain.