[Utah Girl]

I'm not quite sure I agree with this editorial. The press found out 18 hours after the accident. That is where their outrage is, not how Whittington is doing, but how they can get Cheney. No matter how it would have been played, the press would have reacted the same way.

[jdm]

"Cheney himself should make a public appearance on the matter, and the sooner the better. He should get himself with a respected national anchor — perhaps Brit Hume of Fox News — as soon as this evening to express his regret and explain in his own words what happened."

Disagree strongly. This was a private accident.

[jazusamo]

This accident in no way affects the American people or the well being of our country, it's a private matter. The number one consideration should be for Mr. Whittington. The only people I see that are blowing their minds are journalists and Dem political pundits. They want a piece of Dick Cheney and they won't back off until they get it. It's simply "gothca" politics.

[Theresawithanh]

First paragraph is good. Second and third are stupid.

[roses of sharon]

Cheney should give them no quarter, unless the President asks him too.

The Republicans and conservatives have been appeasing the liberal press for 30 years.

[Cicero]

Why should Cheney dignify this ridiculous spasm of stupidity with an interview? And why should he apologize to the press or the public?

To his friend, sure, if it's called for. But the press can stuff it.

[PLK]

An MSN piece is referring to Whittington as the Vice President's "victim." Those libs in the MSM LOVE their semantic games. I thought it was so obvious as to be laughable.

[Noachian]

I'm waiting for Ted Kennedy to call for Cheney's resignation due to Cheney's delay in reporting the accident to the press.</p>

[RobbyS]

They are enraged because a local reporter scooped them. The national media prides itslf on being the fourth branch of government. To be scooped by a reporter of a mid-size paper in Texas is intolerable.

[Soul Seeker]

It was a mistake not to alert the national press of the incident immediately.

So National Review, which is a part of the national press though they delude themselves into thinking otherwise, is ticked off a small town paper scooped them. Just like the Gregory's of the world. And they don't have the guts to admit it.

I've said it before. I've had it with the stuck up pretensious beltway clique of superior" conservatives in the D.C. circuit who seem to think they have the right to dictate the actions of this administration whenever they damn well feel like it.

My own little editorial to National Review and JPod in particular. Shut Up.

Get a life out of washington. Meet real folks that don't hyperventilate because the MSM is in a tizzy. Folks that care more about the life of the man, and emphasize with the VEEP, then they care about cold blooded elites sipping wine with noses in the air contemplating the percieved "faux pas" committed by the PR staff of the Vice's office.

Good Grief. The man is in the hospital and NR thinks its more important Cheney play patty cake with the press? Just who's priorities are out of whack here, K-LO?

Thank God we don't have useless idiots that don't have the sense to evacuate before a hurricane strikes on a roof again, or NR would be declaring Armagedon for the admin...Again.

Only a couple people over there making any sense. Mark Levin, of course. Mark Steyn, little surprise there either. And one other, name escaping me.

Oh, and to answer the question for a certain someone at NR, if Al Gore shot someone on a hunting trip during his turn as VICE and didn't report it for 18 hours...I would have thought nothing of it. Well, other than whether there was an election coming up that he had to impress gun owners. But then even us non hunters out here in the real world have seen movies and have some idea that accidents happen and people injured should receive first priority. Not the press core. Certainly my life isn't going to fall apart at not knowing there was a hunting accident within seconds of its occurence. I'm more concerned with earning my paycheck

[Mike Darancette]

Never has an accidental shooting occasioned so much glee.

I think the RATS are hoping that the guy dies.

[rwfromkansas]

Cheney is the VP of the United States of America. This is big news, regardless of it being an accident on private property.

However, the media has gone nuts and overplayed this.

[billhilly]

I agree with you entirely. Where was that outrage when Vincent foster "killed himself" in Fort Marcy Park?

[PISANO]

PR types are going apoplectic as are most journalists. They either criticize the VP for NOT immediately calling the WH Press Corps or criticize him for not REALIZING he should have immediately called the WH Press Corps.

The next step is to criticize the VP for NOT making a public appearence to get this STORY behind him. You can be sure that IF/WHEN he does come forward they will criticize him for taking so long to do so.

Which leads me to the beginning of this silly story about an unfortunate accident. IF Cheney notified the WH Press Corps immediately there would have been wide spread media speculation as to WHY the VP found it necessary to get out in front of this story and not devote his attention to the well-being of his friend.

I am sure that there may even have been some whispered speculation that the shooting could have been premeditated because a statement was released so soon after the shooting that it makes you wander if the statement was prepared IN ADVANCE.

[cvq3842]

The authorities were promptly notified.

There was no alcohol involved.

The MSM is misreporting the story.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0213061cheney1.html