Maybe the NRA will give Cheney a free gun safety course. I was taught there is no excuse for shooting another hunter. Of course they used to teach people not to have a loaded gun in the house so ...

Bush & Cheney: The team who couldn't shoot straight...

These guys are like keystone cops, whatever they touch goes bad. I wish the D's would start pointing out they are so incompetent it doesn't matter whether you think they are right or wrong. No one really thinks they planned to let bin Laden get away, that they planned to get bogged down in Iraq, that they planned to leave tons of weapons caches where terrorists could have them for the taking, that they intended to build bin Laden into a hero of anti-Americans around the world and then help him recruit more followers, that they intended to give the United States a new image as land of torture, that they intended to let New Orleans flood, that they intended airport security to be a joke that industrious teenagers could get around, while costing travelers billions of dollars in lost time.

Who cares why? Ideolog? Stupidity? Venality? These guys are incompetent and a danger to themselves and the country.

Maybe we should ban quail hunting and shotguns now that somebody got hurt. Of course, we'll have to ban motorcycles, all terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, mountain bikes, downhill skiing, crab fishing, ice-hiking, rock climbing, hang-gliding, smoking/chewing tobacco, 16 year old licensing of drivers, and privately owned/operated aircraft. The list goes on and on. Because lots of people have hurt themselves, or their friends, engaging in all of the above activities.

They're called accidents for a reason. I find it hard to believe this merits mention on BlueOregon (what's the connection to Oregon?), except for the cheap laugh at some wealthy Republican's expense.

If you want to reach for a national story with local impact, how about the cheap shots your liberal brethren took at the Coretta Scott King memorial service? Or maybe Oregon's "Worst in the West" (number 44 out 50 States) unemployment numbers? Or why no mention of how Urban Renewal Districts and Tax Increment Financing are robbing the schools to support wealthy developers?

What a maroon! Cheney and the gang are responsible for letting 911 happen so it's only fitting that they should try to off each other in an orgiastic killing spree. Too bad Antonin Scalia wasn't there and that Cheney is such a bad shot.

Of course, if the other guy had shot Cheney there wouldn't have been an attempt to cover up the story. The Sneakret Snervice would have killed the guy and reported it as a terrorist attempt on the GREAT MAN.

Way to go Dicky Boy!

Bubba:

I remember the '94 newscast... our esteemed Mr. Bush did in fact shoot an endangered species during an open-air interview. (Since it was on film, he promptly paid his fine.) If memory serves, I believe he downed an eagle.

W. Bruce, Remember "let he who is without sin cast the first stone"?

Think of all the trumped up stories (not even true) being told about 10 years or so ago like the one expressing outrage about using "White House pull" to have someone buried at Arlington who died while as a Clinton appointed ambassador ---only to fold as a "sensational" story after about 48 hours when it was discovered that the deceased was a decorated war hero and thus qualified to be buried there.

You don't think if Clinton or Gore had such an accident they would be written up in the press?

And apparently you don't believe in free speech at funerals? Ed Schultz read excerpts of the eulogies at the ML King funeral in 1968 on his radio show and they had some themes. Is it inappropriate at a funeral to say "the deceased cared about..." if those concerns were something other than "the current president is doing an excellent job"?

Or are you upset that anyone would question the fearless leaders of our country who since Sept. 11 have demanded unquestioning obedience lest we be called unpatriotic?

Anyone in high government office lives in a fishbowl. Just because Cheney is VP doesn't mean he shouldn't have reported the accident to the authorities. Now, if Texas has a law that "hunting accidents on private property requiring hospitalization don't require police reports", that is another story. In that case, since he was on private property with a hunting license, he needn't have made a report. But do you know for a fact what the laws are regarding hunting accidents in Texas?

Or are you just upset that Democrats would notice that Cheney finally got himself into a situation where he couldn't claim "national security" as an excuse?

How Aaron Burr of him...

Actually LT....CNN reported that Cheney's secret service detail contacted the local sheriff's office almost immediately after it happened. We can't make any hay on that. Don't you wish Ted Kennedy would have had the good sense to do the same years ago at Chappaquidick? Oh well. He took a swim instead.

"kind of like shooting fish in a barrel..."

...or millionaire Republican donors during a quail hunt.

-oops! Too easy!

"They're called accidents for a reason."

There was a time when we held people personally accountable for the "accidents" they caused. Anyone who has a gun in their hands is responsible for making sure no one is in the line of fire.

The other question is had Cheney been drinking. Thats usually what causes hunting "accidents". It used to be the NRA taught that drinking and firearms didn't mix, but I suspect that rule has been thrown out the window as well.

I'm not complaining about the press coverage. I'm complaining about a bunch of yahoos on BlueOregon taking public delight in an unfortunate accident. In fact, with the possible exception of late night comedians (the keepers of bad taste), I don't know why the rest of America would see any humor in this story. A guy got shot: it's not funny.

How about a thread on yesterday's wrong way drunk driver on I-205? That ought to be good for a few laughs. How about an intelligent discussion on the benefits of taking automobiles away from repeat drunk drivers (in addition to revoking their drivers license)? That would appear to have a greater impact on all Oregonians than a hunting accident in Texas.

I'm a vegetarian, yet I don't begrudge others their right to hunt. Provided that they consume what they take.

The real problem that needs to be highlighted (other than the delay in reporting the incident) is that the hunt took place at a private club where they slaughtered penned raised animals, over 400 of them! Vile and despicable.

Jeebus, if you want to shoot for the sake of shooting go shoot skeet.

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Given that the Nine-Eleven Op never presented a shred of evidentiary fact to substantiate the whole-cloth fabrication of religious fanatics hijacking planes -- for example, the airlines-supplied passenger lists should show hijacker names or aliasses somewhere in the manifest, but in fact there were no boarding tickets sold or issued beyond the named and counted civilians all known to their relations to be on-board; and,

relatedly, given that evidentiary facts -- and motive -- are produced to substantiate Cheney's pre-knowledge, planning, and control of Nine-Eleven Op, and can be examined by you, the reader, in one starting point here, Facing the truth: Dick Cheney planned and executed the 9/11 attacks, "I will name Richard Cheney as the prime suspect in the mass murders of 9/11 ...;" and,

given the most potent story this weekend offered the announcement of Republickin' senators that they support an investigation of Cheney's guilt in divulging classified intelligence information and outing Valerie Plame, and the magnified pressure on Cheney's office from such a congressional investigation starting Monday, today, first thing on the agenda after the weekend ...

my comment on gunplay -- unseen and unsubstantiated -- on the secluded Texas ranch owned by the person who hired Cheney at Halliburton, is simply that I am going to wait to see the body, now in hospital isolation from all media contact but not for any apparent medical reason, and I am going to wait to hear the body's story and version of events, and I am going to wait for doctor-displayed birdshot b-b's removed from the patient, and (media) meeting the doctor who provided the treatment, and hearing the particulars of the medical procedure performed between hospital admittance time and press disclosure time, and, broadly ... the rest of the story in evidence,

in order to have myself a shred of basis to judge any delivered media claim, from the least -- that Cheney was in Texas at a secure undisclosed location, say; to the most -- that Cheney's trigger finger caused a shotgun wound to a hunting partner.

Dear readers, would someone offer any links for the rest of us to any evidence in the media reports which can document Cheney was there, Cheney fired a shotgun, someone was injured by it, or such?

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As a right-wing admirer of the Vice President, I have to take issue with W. Bruce Anderholt. Bruce's sobriety and compassion are laudable, but this is a priceless opportunity for joke-making. Democrats have suffered their share of reverses lately so I think it would be churlish to deny them this opportunity. And besides, as Justin notes, it's just too easy.

Personally, I think even if the guy had died, this would still have been an occasion for humor, black as it might be. Then again, I admired the cleverness of Tom Toles' quadriplegic soldier cartoon. No insult to the unfortunate victim of Cheney's shotgun blast need be implied. As it is the guy just got a dose of small pellets from a 28 gauge (albeit at pretty close range). As someone at another blog observed, "It's not as if this is the first time someone on a dove hunt got an ass full of birdshot."

And as another noted: "On the bright side, the guy he shot was a lawyer..

What I do find objectionable in the comments is Ross Williams' promiscuous speculation about whether Cheney had been drinking. Might as well say snorting cocaine before the hunt during a pedophelic orgy, since he has as much evidence to support that. In fact, the owner of the ranch said that the victim walked into the line of fire without having provided the warning that was his responsibility to do.

Also, when it comes to humorlessness and misplaced compassion, Simp takes the cake. "Vile and despicable"? Get a life.

(ab)normo's comments don't even merit a response.

I would like, however, to mention this idiotic comment from drama queen LT: "...apparently you don't believe in free speech at funerals?" Bruce just took issue with the dignity of political cheap-shot mongering at funerals. How is it that criticizing what someone said amounts to a repudiation of free speech?

WBAII,

Of course, righties would not see anything humorous in Al Gore hitting a pedistrian while driving a hybrid car, eh?

I'm sure no one writing here is happy that a fellow was wounded while hunting. Gallows humor, however, has a long illustrious place in political discourse. How can perceptive citizen not notice the irony of one of history's great warmongers making a buddy into collateral damage?

Absolutely right, Tom. And just think of all the wheel-chair bound Germans and Japanese ironically incinerated by bombing raids ordered by that far greater warmonger (and concentration camp proprietor) Franklin Delano Roosevelt!

Why is it that none of the proposed gun control measure strive to take firearms away from a government that has been responsible for the slaying of millions of innocent unarmed civilians?

Too bad he didn't take a shot at W... Bush woulda shot back!

What I do find objectionable in the comments is Ross Williams' promiscuous speculation about whether Cheney had been drinking.

What is promiscuous about it? I should only speculate with my spouse?

I haven't known a hunting season that didn't fill the taverns. And an awful lot of hunting accidents seem to involve alchohol. Do you suppose the 24 hour delay in the story getting out might have been to avoid having it obvious to the press?

And yes - this is speculation, promiscuous or otherwise.

A lot of hunters play cards too, so we have to wonder whether Cheney might have been gambling!

With regard to the supposed delay, if Charlie in Gresham's claim is correct, then that theory doesn't fit. Charlie said: "CNN reported that Cheney's secret service detail contacted the local sheriff's office almost immediately after it happened."

So not only do you speculate loosely (to use a word that won't test your semantic limits), you actually ignore testimony that would cut off that speculation.

Oh, and I love this: "Hmmm. And yet the report was also that a new bunch of birds had just been flushed and Cheney was shooting in a different direction from where the action had been immediately before."

Do I sniff a conspiracy theory in the making? What does this mean? That Cheney shot his mate on purpose or what? The "excuse" as you put it, was not made by Cheney, but by a witness. I'll leave it to any hunters here to opine on the sinister implications of finding the action in a different direction than "immediately before."

Can't just enjoy the rich opportunity for humor (and the embarrassement of your political opponent) that this incident affords without lapsing into the bile, conspiracy theorizing and cheap shottery for once?

"So, is that a shotgun in your pocket, or did you just finish reading "Sisters", the lesbian porn novel written by the Vice-President's short, sullen wife, Lyn?"

"Thought so."

you actually ignore testimony that would cut off that speculation.

I'm not sure why the secret service reporting it to a rural Texas sheriff is likely to bring anything down on Cheney even if the event included alcohol. My point was that it would be unusual if it didn't. If the sheriff said Cheney was stone sober, that would cut off the speculation. Unlike Bush, Cheney doesn't even pretend to be a teetotaler.

A lot of hunters play cards too, so we have to wonder whether Cheney might have been gambling!

So shooting a gun while under the influence is the same as playing cards? My NRA instructor would be rolling over in his grave.

It would probably be helpful if the sheriff came out and said that Cheney was neither drunk, nor gambling, nor cocaine-snorting, nor eating babies, nor communicating with space aliens while hunting, just to cut off speculation.

Is anybody else reminded of that scene in Pulp Fiction where Vincent accidentally shoots Marvin in the face?

...of course, Marvin didn't live...

Too bad Dark Dick was such a coward in the 1960's... if he hadn't begged the Pentagon FIVE TIMES not to draft him, he might have actually gone to Nam and learned how to operate firearms, like my Daddy taught me when I was in knee pants.

In the meantime, here's a tip for Deadeye Dick:

Ducks don't wear BRIGHT ORANGE vests, as a rule.

I think there is something here that rather smells. 30 yds is 60 feet, peripheral vision covers a rather large area at 60 feet out. People have little similarity to little birdies. There is such a thing as an accident and there is such a thing as the outcome of stupid behavior. You never, ever shoot at something without knowing exactly what it is. You want a bet? Cheney came up on the birds, lead them, and fired with his eye still on the birds. Tunnel vision. You don't get to think you know whats going on with a gun, you get to KNOW what's going on.

Geeeeesh.....no wonder we can't win a dam election anymore. What a bunch of crap is being spewed!!!

For the record...I have NO FRIGGING USE FOR CHENEY....but some of you clowns are REALLY fabricating a bunch of crap.

IDLER....The county sheriff announced today that he met with the VP one on one this morning and interviewed him. NO secret staff prevented it! It was ruld an accident. Cheney was given a "warning" ticket becasue he lacked one stamp on his hunting license. He paid the $7 fee.

ROSS....you should be able to indentify a non-issue by now. I gave you too much credit. I thought (until now) you were one of those that actually stuck to the issues that mattered.

SID....I have no dount Cheney is a coward given the right circumstances....but not a coward rivaling our friend Ted Kennedy at Chappaquidick....the dickhead took a swim rather than calling anyone.

CHUCK...ignoring your normal bizarre paranoia....you don't know your azz about bird hunting.

FOLKS....it's reactions like I've seen on this string of posts that cause the liberal movement to be scoffed at by 55% of Americans.

I'm sick of losing elections because of this perverted facination you all have for Bush/Cheney. THEY ARE RETIRING DAMN IT! MOVE ON!

We need victory in 2006! Work for it on the issues that matter!

The bird Bush shot in 1994 was a killdeer, which is endangered or threatened ( I forget which). In his defense he was hunting doves (no double meaning intended) and the killdeer is kind of dovish looking.

Jm

Charlie, OK, you don't like what people post here. You want to win elections in 2006--OK. Which campaigns are you involved in, besides telling us you decide what is important for us to concentrate on? Who is running in your legislative district? Who do you like for Gov? Or is it easier to just tell us we should all see things from your point of view?

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Funny is -- HA HA we are laughing at you -- the pair of lip service nazis who come on this blog to see what normal people are saying about them and then they are Shocked! Shocked! to see that we know they are nazis.

And then, they're like, inDIGnant, as if they had any dignity to insult. And then, THEN, they start in with their lies and name-calling like they think they are going to change anybody's mind who already sees their swastikas with their propaganda snot for brains.

Look, guys, you got your own websites to go to where you can feel the love of the unloving. Your hitler heroes in The Fright House screwed you for your efforts on their behalf, so it is understandable why you're running away from them. But you need to go re-read how the villages and burgs (German civilians) treated the nazi soldiers who survived that little Big Lie thing they swallowed and tried to come home and fit into where they were before they threw away their conscience and human decency and after they burned their nazi uniforms, (today's equivalent might be trying to erase a voter registration mistake of being branded 'R', the scorn letter).

They weren't welcome. Get a clue. The returnees were tolerated, but not trusted to think in civic affairs, (after all, they were weak-minded against brain programming before), and kept silent, paying attention to learn humanitarian ideas and thinking, or they were outcast. Get a clue.

You are in Wile E. Coyote space, in empty air off the cliff where the Big Lie led you. Cheney's a war criminal, committing nazi-grade atrocities, and really ain't going anywhere. If you are going to follow him to the doom, that path does not come through BlueOregon blog.

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"why on earth would anyone want to hunt an animal that is the symbol of peace?"

Just listen to yourself! It's like something out of P.G. Wodehouse. And you wonder why you can't win red states...

Well, since you ask, here's an answer:

First, because hunters are not self-dramatizing navel-gazers focused on conventions of symbolism.

Second, because the animals are yummy.

Hey W. Bruce Anderholt II,

God asked me to tell you he's fed up with you. Get it in gear soon, or there will be hell to pay.

Blowing it to showing it,

Gabbie

I thought (until now) you were one of those that actually stuck to the issues that mattered.

You mean this isn't one? People won't vote against Republicans in the fall because Dick Cheney isn't a safe person to go hunting with?

This is just another example of what a complete loser Cheney is and how far his vision of himself is from reality. The first rule of hunting is to know where the other members of your party are. When you don't, this kind of thing happens. Its just lucky that the mighty hunter Cheney was shooting a 28 gauge popgun instead of a 12 gauge shotgun.

CC,

What exactly was the argument that was full of holes?

Getting to the birds, actually they aren't white. You can't be faulted for not knowing that, but you can be expected to know that recognizing one's flag is not the same as being focused on the symbolism of fauna while hunting. If a hunter did turn to poetic reflection while pursuing his quarry, he might associate doves with another entity those creatures symbolize. They symbolized something else even before they symbolized peace and it wouldn't be surprising if the hunter thought of that symbol first.

On the subject of reaching out to people not immediately like oneself, you show yourself blithely bigoted. You know without penetrating into the wilds of red America what those people are like and you're not even interested in reaching them. In expressing yourself you betray traits worse than the self-dramatizing pedantry of the "dove as peace" business.

You profess respect for the flag to rival your countrymen, but you attribute to them a willingness not to just disapprove of flag burning but to shoot those who try to do it. (Though they're just as likely to be bored by such antics at this stage of the game.) Then you have a nice laugh at Southern weddings. Of course, YOU'RE KIDDING. But substitute "Southern" for "black" and "kill-it-and-grill-it" for something about fried chicken and watermelon and even you should be able to recognize your contemptuous stereotyping. Whether you're prone to imagining murdering rednecks or raping darkies, you're dehumanizing a group of people through the same callous—and sloppy—mental process.

If you want to talk about irony unperceived, it's that an effete snob like you thinks she's "progressive."

cc is Southern? Figures.

LBJ's free Welfare Checks built the south... and then God washed it all away.

Idler wrote,

"Absolutely right, Tom. And just think of all the wheel-chair bound Germans and Japanese ironically incinerated by bombing raids ordered by that far greater warmonger (and concentration camp proprietor) Franklin Delano Roosevelt!"

Is this a suggestion that Iraq was as great a threat as fascist Germany, Italy, and Japan?

Perhaps you are as bothered as I am that war crimes are committed by all sides. The US did firebomb Dresden and drop A-bombs on Japanese civilians - on Truman's watch.

Or maybe you just love dick.

Without talking about a man being hospitalized, even a VP is required to pay the money and buy a bird stamp.

And if Cheney thought he was above THAT law because he is VP, I hear that the Texas authorities have said otherwise.

Cheney's hunting license should be suspended pending investigation.

Easy, cc, I worked for Ted Turner in Atlanta for many years and married a southern gal whose family never was on food stamps, unlike much of the people living south of the Mason-Dixon line.

And as for racism, I've had more "Jew" jokes thrown my way (even though I am a Catholic) here than I ever had in the South.

Ever.

It was clearly an accident and Dick Cheney was clearly careless with a gun in his hand. You have to be hopelessly partisan not to believe both of those things.

I agree. By the way. According to one account the local sheriff determined that alcohol use at the event was not a cause of the accident.

Unfortunately this has now taken on a more serious note since apparently one of the pieces of shot lodged itself in the victim's heart. It caused a heart attack and he is now back in intensive care.

Man it is not even safe to be his friend!!

Coincidence?:

Cheney shot his friend with a .22 rifle The White House waited 22 hours to report the incident publicly The White House press conference about the shooting lasted 22 minutes The accident occurred on 2/11 (2x11=22)

<h2>He belongs in jail. he could care less about who he hurts or kills. to me this story seems fishy.</h2>