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Why weren't we informed? Isn't it obvious? (Mona Charen on Cheney)
Townhall.com ^ | 2/17/06 | Mona Charen

Posted on 02/17/2006 5:51:20 AM PST by blitzgig

There are few less edifying sights than Terry McAuliffe in full battle cry. But alas there was no avoiding him after the Cheney hunting accident. There he was demanding to know why the vice president waited 22 hours before informing the press and shouting that if Al Gore had done something like this he'd be in Leavenworth by nightfall (a dubious if pleasing supposition). The White House press corps was even more insufferable. One reporter asked, "Is it proper for the vice president to offer his resignation or has he offered his resignation?" Another demanded, "Scott (McClellan), would this be much more serious if the man had died?" Our pressies asked dozens of questions about the timing of the disclosure -- some wondering aloud whether the White House purposely delayed the announcement to avoid its becoming Topic A on the Sunday morning chat shows. One particularly eager journalist asked, "Under Texas law, is this kind of accidental shooting a possible criminal offense?" The transcript does not indicate whether he was rubbing his hands together at the time.

Is there something missing in the mental architecture of reporters? When they get credentialed, do they lose ordinary human reactions?

An ordinary person, hearing about such an accident, would respond as follows: How horrible! Cheney must be in agony. What's the prognosis on Whittington?

I honestly don't see why it was so essential that the press be informed about the accident immediately. Admittedly, if the vice president had shot someone in the Oval Office, or better yet, in the pressroom, that would be a story. But these kinds of things happen all too often when people hunt. It is terrible for the two men involved and for their families, but it has zero public relevance.

(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial
KEYWORDS: charen; cheney; harrywhittington; hunting; leftistmedia; monacharen; shooting
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To: pollyannaish; notigar
There wasn't a cover up in any way, shape or form.

It is however, a DNC talking point to claim there was.

(This man's been listening to James Carville).

41 posted on 02/17/2006 7:42:50 AM PST by ohioWfan (PROUD Mom of an Iraq War VET! THANKS, son!!!!)
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To: blitzgig

You said it exactly correct. I am in total agreement.


42 posted on 02/17/2006 7:43:02 AM PST by maplenut
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To: notigar
The number of people injured in hunting accidents in Texas decreased from 44 in 2003 to 29 in 2004". out of the whole state. sounds quite rare to me.

Not at all. First, the whole state does not go hunting. Second, there are 12 months in a year, so even without doing any arithmatic, 29 injured in hunting accidents per year means it's more than one a month. Third, hunting happens in seasons, not all 12 months of a calendar year, so the rate of injuries is actually higher per the number of months in which hunting is permitted.

43 posted on 02/17/2006 7:45:23 AM PST by Wolfstar (Someday when we meet up yonder, we'll stroll hand in hand again, in a land that knows no parting...)
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To: blitzgig

I heard of a interesting statistic. More people die in swimming pool accidents than shooting accidents. Don't see the press sitting around all of the swimming pools waiting for an accident. There are more guns than swimming pools also.


44 posted on 02/17/2006 7:46:11 AM PST by wattsup ("It's best to stay silent and be thought of as a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.." ..Abe L.)
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To: notigar
Have a drink, shoot someone, and see how many hours can pass by before you have to talk to the cops.

What facts do you have wrong??.......All of these, by implication and innuendo.

The last part, "see how many hours can pass" is an outright lie.

btw, you DO know that the Secret Service is law enforcement, don't you? They were there on scene.

But nice try at passing off leftist talking points as facts, Terri.

45 posted on 02/17/2006 7:46:19 AM PST by ohioWfan (PROUD Mom of an Iraq War VET! THANKS, son!!!!)
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To: ohioWfan

Exactly. My point is, if there was we would not even know about it. We not only know about it, we know EVERYTHING about it.

Clumsy attempt to say...look what they could have done.

(I'm not running on all cylinders this morning!)


46 posted on 02/17/2006 7:47:42 AM PST by pollyannaish
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To: Mercat

That applies to medical providers who transfer information electronically...what does that have to do with Cheney? That would have something to do with the victim's medical condition and information. Let's not get off topic here.

The public may or may not have a right to know...that is irrelevant because we all know now.

The issue can therefore only be how quickly they have a right toknow on something that is arguably uninvolved in the governance of the nation.

It is a stretch to say that Cheney's hunting accident had anything to do with governance...it has less to do with governance than Clinton shooting at Monica in the Oval oriface...


47 posted on 02/17/2006 7:48:11 AM PST by LachlanMinnesota (The real Churchill knew a blood thirsty gutter snipe when he saw one.)
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To: ohioWfan

You are funny, but I don't think intentionally so.


48 posted on 02/17/2006 7:51:34 AM PST by notigar
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To: pollyannaish
What's funny is that this 'cover-up' nonsense is coming from supporters of the most diabolical, dishonest, secretive administration in the history of the U.S. (Clinton makes Nixon look like a spill your guts in honesty guy).

Why even last summer it took 3 days to find out Harry Reid had a stroke. And think about Ted Kennedy's murder. He didn't even report it, and left Mary Jo to die in an attempt to cover up his evil and keep his political career going.

The left wouldn't know honest disclosure if it hit them in face.

Anyone who even implies that there was a cover-up here is disingenous at least, or a lying leftist at worst.

49 posted on 02/17/2006 7:53:07 AM PST by ohioWfan (PROUD Mom of an Iraq War VET! THANKS, son!!!!)
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To: blitzgig

I heard a woman on MSNBC complain that Cheney showed emotion in his interview with Hume but "we've never seen him cry" about the troops killed in Iraq. I was so offended that I changed channels. Is there anyone who heard this and can tell me who she was and what response she got?


50 posted on 02/17/2006 7:53:41 AM PST by joylyn
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To: notigar

As I understand the timeline, the sheriff was notified about and hour and fifteeen minutes after the accident.

The sheriff chose to wait until the next day to interview the VP. In the meantime, the sheriff initiated the investigation by talking to some people he knew and trusted.

How can this be construed, reasonably, as a cover-up?


51 posted on 02/17/2006 7:53:58 AM PST by swain_forkbeard (Rationality may not be sufficient, but it is necessary.)
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To: notigar
Please explain.

You're making up things, making misleading statements, quoting DNC talking points, and that makes ME 'funny' exactly how?

Do tell.

52 posted on 02/17/2006 7:54:35 AM PST by ohioWfan (PROUD Mom of an Iraq War VET! THANKS, son!!!!)
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To: tcostell
Accidents relating to gunfire are exceedingly rare.

Actually gun shot accidents are more frequent than reported in bird hunting. Most gunshot accidents are not reported because getting "Peppered", the most often occurring accident, most often doesn't break the skin. It just raises a whelp. Those occasions when there is penetration are rare and often self treated. These accidents are not reported. No harm. No foul. (No pun intended) I have been bird hunting in Texas for 55 years and can't count the times I have been peppered.

53 posted on 02/17/2006 7:56:44 AM PST by River_Wrangler (Nothing difficult is ever easy!)
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To: swain_forkbeard; notigar
How can this be construed, reasonably, as a cover-up?

It can't...........but the operative word is 'reasonably.'

Ms notigar is either deliberately or unwittingly missing key information necessary to draw a rational conclusion about the situation.

54 posted on 02/17/2006 7:58:31 AM PST by ohioWfan (PROUD Mom of an Iraq War VET! THANKS, son!!!!)
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To: blitzgig

Rotate the White House press corps.

What they should rotate on is another story. :-)


55 posted on 02/17/2006 8:00:20 AM PST by JoeSixPack1
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To: blitzgig
Cheney is like a brainy Gary Cooper

************

Exactly!

56 posted on 02/17/2006 8:01:48 AM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: longtermmemmory
Democrats: stuck on stupid.

Democrats: On the cutting edge of stupid.

57 posted on 02/17/2006 8:04:33 AM PST by N. Theknow (Kennedys - Can't drive, can't fly, can't ski, can't skipper a boat - But they know what's best.)
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To: ohioWfan
The left wouldn't know honest disclosure if it hit them in face.

When good and bad are situational, there is no such thing as honestly. I really believe that is the demise of the left and the democrats. The death of right and wrong. When they began to embrace that philosophy, the stepped out of the mainstream of American values. As a result they have been trying to convince us they are right ever since.

Ok...I'm out of here. Have a terrific day!

58 posted on 02/17/2006 8:11:33 AM PST by pollyannaish
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To: pollyannaish
Exactly it, polly. When the left dumped moral absolutes beginning in the 60's, they lost most Americans who have the sense to know that there IS a right and a wrong.

But who would have known that they would have gotten so loopy in the process? Sometimes I wonder if they can even think any more.

It's both entertaining and scary to watch them dissolve into a puddle of irrational and childish nothingness.....

59 posted on 02/17/2006 8:27:33 AM PST by ohioWfan (PROUD Mom of an Iraq War VET! THANKS, son!!!!)
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To: blitzgig

Mona is a class act. She's a low-key, more restrained version of Ann Coulter--kind of a cross between Ann and Peggy Noonan. I always love reading her articles.


60 posted on 02/17/2006 8:31:02 AM PST by stockstrader
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