Posted on 02/21/2006 4:07:48 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez
"I thought the vice president handled the issue just fine." — George W. Bush, Feb. 16, 2006
"Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." — George W. Bush, Sept. 2, 2005
Some of us have always thought of Dick Cheney, vice president of the United States, former secretary of defense, industrial magnate and general mover-and-shaker, as The Brains of the Outfit.
We still do, but intelligence isn't everything in a leader. Or even the most important thing — like judgment or honesty or prudence or modesty or, well, name your own favorite character trait. Lest we forget, the smartest people can do the stupidest things. (Cf. The Hon. William Jefferson Clinton.)
It's become almost a Washington mantra since Watergate: What really gets a politician into trouble isn't the mistake, even a serious mistake, but how it's addressed afterward — promptly or tardily, candidly or evasively, well or badly enough to amount to a far more serious mistake, as in cover-up.
Dick Cheney now has stepped forward (finally) and taken responsibility, full responsibility, for firing first and looking afterward on that quail hunt, or maybe looking simultaneously, which can be just as dangerous. That's good.
But he's still sticking with his story about its being perfectly proper to wait till the next morning to let the country know that a vice president of the United States has shot a friend in a hunting accident. Even though presidential counselor Dan Bartlett and the president's press secretary, Scott McClellan, both advised him to get the story out — widely — as soon as he could. But the best advice is of no use if one doesn't take it, and the vice president didn't. .
(Excerpt) Read more at jewishworldreview.com ...
Well the VP handled it fine. The media botched it as usual. Brownie did work hard but it wasn't enough for such a huge disaster. But if those are the two big concern this writer has with Bush, so be it.
I've been out shooting at stuff a few times. I don't see the deal. I'd laugh if it were Gore, because he's a gun idiot. But that's about it for me, old friend.
These dirty little bastards in the press corps think that
they are an important part of the government. The have every
right to print their crap, but they have no right to a
briefing by elected officials--particularly in completely
personal matters. By releasing the story to the Corpus paper,
Cheney did exactly the right thing.
NO BIG DEAL, move along is what I would have been saying in 1998....NOW, regarding a sitting PRESIDENT LYING before a Grand Jury, THAT's NOT a "move along" point. Get over it. Dick Cheney and his staff made sure they had the CORRECT information AND, that his friend was OKAY BEFORE they called in the press....there IS NOTHING wrong here. Sheesh.
They are beating a dead horse. He showed a picture of a dead horse, what's not to get?
OK. This is bad. It is going to be bad no matter what.
The MSM already hates the VEEP, and will play this to the hilt about how the VEEP is reckless and trigger happy and this quail hunt is a perfect analogy to the Iraq War.
The stories are practically typesetting themselves. So what is the VEEP to do?
What other story can possibly overshadow the one that practically cries out to be written? What other angle can deflect the MSM from their inevitable response? This is a chance of a lifetime to destroy the VEEP, which the vultures in the press have wanted to do, more than anything else, for the last five years.
What could possibly distract them? What does the White House Press Corp care about even more than sticking it to George W. Bush and Dick Cheney? What one thing in the Whole Wide World could possibly take precedence over taking down a Vice President and seriously wounding the President?
What matters to them more than anything else is their own positions. What the primping, preening Prettyboys in the White House Press Corp care about most is their own image as dispensers of the Nation's news. What they love, above all, is that they be respected, kowtowed to, and that they be the first to know.
So what does an intelligent, insightful, and fearless political pro do?
He stiffs them. He keeps them in the dark. He refuses to inform them for hours, as long as possible. He lets them know that proper respect is not being, and will not be, paid.
And then to twist the knife, he releases the story to the Corpus Christie Caller-Times.
And the White House Press Corp and the rest of the MSM has fallen for it, hook, line and sinker. Now the story is about privacy, and responsibility to inform and pay respect to the one group that the American People hold in even lower regard that Washington politicians.
It was a master stroke. It was bold, innovative, and perfectly executed. I have never seen the like in my whole life, and probably never will again. And still the MSM has still not caught on. They probably never will.
Brilliant!
The Secret Service called law enforcement within the hour. There is no law as to when or if the press MUST be called.
I love that graphic. It is my new desktop background at work. I can't tell you how many people laugh out loud when passing my cubicle...
...Even more than usual!
That was a snappy answer. Fact is, going out shooting at stuff is an old past time of mine. My ears ring now because of it. Always. It never leaves me. I just can't worked up over what happened with Cheney...all I know is that I'd feel just aweful if I were him.
Sad.
By the way...it's us he didn't tell, not the press.
He should have trusted us.
"...Bush really doesn't care or maybe just doesn't "get it" on how bad he looks by turning over our ports to a country that has verifiable ties to terrorism or at the very least.
I don't think so. This administration has been run pretty smartly aside from a few gaffs (Harriet Miers for examp.)
After watching tonight's News I can see that there is some sort of game going on here. I'm ready to bet that when this is all settled, Bush will come out smelling like a rose Bush.
What do you suppose Arabs are thinking right now about this stuff? Democrats are their friends? The libs are being played again. Bush promising his first veto so that there might be a bipartisan overide? Thats a tough one to extrapolate, but it'll come to me.
Where would you have been?
Go back to bed - it was an honest mistake, my first when posting images, I believe.
A
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