Posted on 02/13/2006 5:16:58 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein on
February 13, 2006 - 08:06
Good Morning America took took a double-barrelled blast at the Vice President Cheney this morning over his accidental shooting of a quail-hunting companion, suggesting the White House might have tried to cover up the incident, and also calling into question his version of events.
GMA did at first describe the accident as having occurred because the victim, attorney Harry Whittington, failed to observe the quail-hunting rule by which hunters remain in a single line as they advance, indicating that the accident occurred after Whittington left the line to retrieve a bird from the tall grass.
But GMA host Charlie Gibson later claimed that there was "growing political fallout" from the incident, wondering:
"Why didn't the White House tell everyone when this accident happened? Why did they wait so long and did that make a bad situation even worse?"
Normally, the MSM loves to hate talk radio and the pajamahadeen of the blogosphere, but when it suits their purposes . . . ABC White House reporter Jessica Yellin stated that it took the VP's office nearly 24 hours to go public with the incident, adding:
"That delay has prompted speculation online and on talk radio that perhaps Mr. Cheney was hoping to cover up the incident.
So GMA wouldn't offer up the cover-up conspiracy theory on its own, but used the convenient hook of reporting that others - those disreputable new-media types - had.
Gibson then interviewed Kathryn Garcia, the youthful reporter at the Corpus Christi Caller-Times who broke the story. Garcia, manning the paper's news desk on a sleepy Sunday morning, had this world-class story fall into her lap when ranch-owner Katharine Armstrong called in and couldn't find the reporter she was looking for.
Gibson tried to lure Garcia into second-guessing Armstrong and Cheney's account of the accident:
"I know that she told you that Mr. Whittington did not follow protocol and came up from behind the VP and didn't announce that he was there having gone off to fetch a quail. But we've talked to a bunch of hunters who say they've never heard of that, that there's no protocol like that. That the real problem is that the shooter has to be aware of where everyone in his party may be. Do you know anything about hunting protocol?"
The engaging Ms. Garcia wouldn't buy into Gibson's theory. Disclaiming much knowledge of hunting, she did allow that while "you're supposed to look before shooting, I think it would have been smart for Mr. Whittington to announce his presence."
Sorry, Charlie!
Your post #54.
"Clinton was rightfully blasted"
What was the right to blast Clinton? I didn't blast him because I believe it was his own business.
Fort Worth is as far south as I've been in Texas.
VP Cheney has a press secretary and he/she should have been used to get out in front of the story.
I don't remember when that was but if there had been a thread on the subject then, you'd have been a loner on it.
I'd much rather be sprayed with #8 shot from a 28ga. than from 00 Buckshot. Chances are if he was hit in the face with buckshot he would'nt be in stable condition.
I'd also like to know what "hunters" the GMA crew spoke to to be able to come to a conclusion that there is no such "protocol". I grew up in a hunting family. Hunting for quail, dove, etc. in lines of 3-5 guys. It was known from the start "DON'T WALK AHEAD OF THE LINE" and "ALWAYS ANNOUNCE YOUR POSITION IF YOU LOSE SIGHT OF THE GUY NEXT TO YOU".
I have a 20 guage Winchester that I used for pheasants and a 12 guage Mossburg Ulti-Mag for geese. Haven't shot skeet in years. Was once on a company team that took 1st place...not because of me, though :)!
Don't hunt anymore because of health issues. We still won't live without hunting dogs, however. Our present is a 1 yo German Shorthair who's the best dog we've ever had. But he's just the family pet now, no hunting.
GSPs are wonderful dogs, they seem to have even more energy than Labs though. When we're at my parents' house near St. Simons Island, we take our Lab to the beach at low tide and she runs with a GSP that lives at a beach house. They both just run, and run, and run. Don't know where they find all that energy!
"That delay has prompted speculation online..."
GMA must be trolling (or maybe even charter members) of DU.
FYI, Federal Cartridge doesn't even list buckshot being available in 28 gauge, which doesn't surprise me as it is thought of as an expert's target and bird hunting round. Its Premium Wing-Shok High Brass is only available in 6, 7.5 and 8 shot and its lower velocity target load in 8 and 9 shot.
The same was true for us when hunting pheasant. When my son and I took a hunter safety course (my first one), it was taught in that (Illinois). It's just common sense not to advance beyond the line, and to make yourself known when approaching the line from behind.
We had a Brittany before him and cried for days when we had to put him to sleep. It was the wife's choice to go GSP this time after some research on the Internet. Best decision we ever made. This youngin' Hans is a winner!
My Lab is tiny - 43 pounds and 20" at the shoulder, thin like a field Lab but very short in the back like a show Lab (she's a hybrid - one parent of each type). But there's no guarantee that my friend could get a Lab of her size, because there was tremendous variation in size in her litter - she was the smallest.
I suggested a Brittany as a nice compromise . . . what do you think? I also saw some Boykin Spaniels at a recent Hunt Test and was very impressed by their intelligence and birdiness . . . and while they vary in size many are even smaller than Brittanys . . .
We never did hunt the Brittany, again because of my health problems. So I can't address that issue. However, as far as being good dogs, I'd rate him 2nd best to our GSP. I had a Weineramer years ago and hunted him but he was a runner. Never did like that in him. Also hunted an Irish Setter, but getting the burs out of her coat was a real chore.
Sorry I couldn't give better advice on hunting Brittanys. However, if one could find a Lab litter from smaller parents (like our friends did) that could be a good choice.
The senate should propose federal quail hunting laws after a through investigation.
According to the Census Bureau's "National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation", there we're about 13 million hunters in 2001, or about 4.6% of the population.
A reporter with some common sense. Yes there is a "protocol", although it's not really that formal, and yes one is supposed to know the target and what lies beyond it. (For a typical quail load, beyond is 50-75 yards max). Still people can "pop-up" into the line of fire between the time that the decision to shoot is made and the actual shot. One the decision to shoot is made, the concentration shifts to the target, and since quail are fairly hard targets, although not as much so as dove, it can take a few seconds to get on target and actually fire. In those few seconds, it's possible for the situation to change and for someone to "pop up" from a low area, or from behind cover.
The VP shooting someone (and not killing him) on a weekend is a lot different than the VP getting shot (or even Clinton requiring emergency medical attention). The voters would have the right to know that immediately. Don't you guys see the difference? I have no problem with the Vice-President's office waiting ONE DAY on this - this fake controversy is funny.
The lawyer's firm released a statement that he would NOT be discussing the incident out of respect for Cheney.
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