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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: longtermmemmory
The DNC talking points are out in force. The are STILL trying to relate the story to IRAQ! The DNC is trying to scream pattern. Democrats: stuck on stupid.

Actually I think the story that Cheney shot his friend in order to get the "Libby squealing on Cheney" off the front page - that one seems to be making the rounds in force. What a bunch of morons the Loony Liberal Left are!! There story has blown to the wind now that TX says no prosecution or further investigation. Err Amerika this morning saying they listeners should be calling their Congresscritters and Demand, I say DEMAND, a full investigation into Cheney's motives!! Incredible . . .

121 posted on 02/17/2006 10:06:44 AM PST by p23185
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To: notigar

"because by not, you are helping them."

Yes, helping them look like fools by over-reacting.


122 posted on 02/17/2006 10:07:52 AM PST by BadAndy (The DemocRATs are the enemy's most effective weapon.)
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To: notigar; All
Think so? Have a drink, shoot someone, and see how many hours can pass by before you have to talk to the cops.

Excuse me.......but this was your post #29.

You brought up the alcohol, with a strong implication (look it up in a dictionary), that it had something to do with anything.

It was NOT topical. It was a DNC talking point.

Now we have come full circle. Go away.

btw, for the rational folks on this thread..... Whittington just spoke and was PURE CLASS. He's doing great, and feels very badly about Vice President and his family.

God bless this man and his family, and God bless Vice President Cheney!

123 posted on 02/17/2006 10:09:03 AM PST by ohioWfan (PROUD Mom of an Iraq War VET! THANKS, son!!!!)
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To: notigar
I'm certain you say plenty of things without any evidence. Why stop now?

There is plenty of evidence of your trollish behavior on this thread alone.

Post 22, you suggest it looks like a coverup.
Post 29, you suggest drinking was involved.
Post 37 you somehow equate waiting an hour to report it is no different than 6 months.
Post 62 you state a half-truth about a cop being turned away.

You really don't want to go into attacking me do you?

124 posted on 02/17/2006 10:13:02 AM PST by Always Right
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To: Always Right

Hey, half-truth is a lot better than I usually manage!

And now, with fear (of you), I say good day.


125 posted on 02/17/2006 10:19:06 AM PST by notigar
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To: notigar
Hey, half-truth is a lot better than I usually manage!

That's the first thing you've said that anyone on this thread believes.....

126 posted on 02/17/2006 10:21:33 AM PST by ohioWfan (PROUD Mom of an Iraq War VET! THANKS, son!!!!)
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To: Neville72
" We are seeing in this episode another of our periodic culture clashes between those who came of age before the '60s and those who came after. Cheney was born in 1941 and reached mature adulthood before it became the fashion for men to bare their souls, emote and talk talk talk.

We're also seeing a clash of cultures between those who hunt or have hunted and a bunch of effete, metrosexual, bi-coastal snots who running screaming from the room at the sight of a (gasp) GUN.

The perfect example is the WaPost story that had Cheney hunting quail with a 28 gauge loaded with "buckshot". Too funny.

Well, Mona Charen's article is good to a point. That point is where her position as a journalist perhaps prevents her from more cutting perception into the essence of the problem.

The enemy here is not the powerful but corrupt, but simply masculinity. Not that the press corps etc. are consciously aiming at that, but it is the true object of their attack.

Cheney's reserve and privacy provoke these stalwarts who have grown up in a "corporate and government world where supposed men are forever apologizing for themselves and "handling" things and themselves in such a way as they perceive the feminist totalitarians in their private abd public lives demand. The "men" conceive themselves as "getting away" with "bad behavior" from time to time, but they inplicitly accept the transvaluation of morality that was improbably accomplished by the feminists in the 70's 80's and 90's.

In Cheney, and to a lesser extent in Bush, the arbiters of contemporary tastes find their antimatter. He refuses to cave to their shrill screeches. Out come all the media consultants and public relations experts to pontificate that things were not "handled" well. Hogwash.

127 posted on 02/17/2006 10:33:21 AM PST by ontos-on
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To: notigar
Think so? Have a drink, shoot someone, and see how many hours can pass by before you have to talk to the cops.

It's people like you who are so clueless about reality that make me afraid for this country.

Do you have the capacity to read? There's been a report Cheney had a beer at lunch...A ; as in one. Lunch in S. Texas is traditionally the NOON (you do understand noon is 12:00 during the midday?) meal. The accident happened after 5:00 pm...you know...FIVE hours later.

As far as the rest of your slur, I'm tired of pointing things out to you. Go look it up yourself as to when the sheriff's office was called. Learn to have facts at your disposal before making asinine assumptions.

128 posted on 02/17/2006 11:00:57 AM PST by Sally'sConcerns (Native Texan now in SW Ok.)
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To: Verginius Rufus

The press didn't seem to have the same concern when HILLARY withheld the suicide note of Vince Foster who DID DIE...and worked next to her in the White House.


129 posted on 02/17/2006 12:34:56 PM PST by Moby Grape
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To: Impeach the Boy
Of course there are doubts that it was really his suicide note, or that he really committed suicide.

I'd like to know what Hillary's role was in the decision to attack the compound in Waco that left 80 Americans dead...because the standoff was becoming a public relations disaster for the Clintons.

130 posted on 02/17/2006 2:32:42 PM PST by Verginius Rufus
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To: notigar
It also would make no difference if it was reported six months later, would it?

To the press? Or, specifically, to the White House Press Corps? No, no difference if it wasn't reported until 6 months, or even 6 *years* later. The authorities were informed, within the hour of the occurrence, and *that* is the only legal obligation. Anything above that is not obligated, either legally, civicly, or morally...

the infowarrior

131 posted on 02/17/2006 5:45:42 PM PST by infowarrior (The GOP runs the US, the Dems run their mouths... Freeper HardStarboard)
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To: Sally'sConcerns

Well, I'm sorry you are afraid. It must smell bad.


132 posted on 02/17/2006 7:55:51 PM PST by notigar
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To: GrandEagle

But this is not about "those in power" this is about getting Cheney and getting Bush - that is all they live for - it's their major goal in life.


133 posted on 02/17/2006 8:32:45 PM PST by CyberAnt (Democrat Leadership = No program - no ideas - no clue.)
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To: blitzgig
Those who easily showcase their feelings are often charlatans and manipulators (Oprah, call your office). The more we demand that people -- particularly men -- share their deepest fears and regrets, the more we will be inviting the worst sort to lead us...bump.....
134 posted on 02/17/2006 8:47:32 PM PST by Intolerant in NJ
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