White House Under Fire for Cheney Shooting Announcement

[Divine Discontent]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11312757/

WASHINGTON - President Bush knew Saturday evening that Vice President Dick Cheney had accidentally shot a hunting companion, but the information wasn’t made public until the next day — by a private citizen — the White House acknowledged Monday.

In a contentious briefing on Monday, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the vice president’s staff was focused on making sure that the shooting victim, Austin, Texas, attorney Harry Whittington, was receiving adequate medical care after the shooting on the private Armstrong Ranch in south Texas. Whittington and Cheney were hunting quail together.




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friggin liars. waitin to see if he died, or if no one would report it.


http://www.cafepress.com/sureshotcheney

[maddezmom]

1. great headline

:D

[Divine Discontent]

3. HA! just got it, was busy posting it, didn't catch it! FUNNY! n/t

[central scrutinizer]

42. was Snotty "peppered" with questions?

28 gauge is a pretty small bore - kind of like Snotty, himself

[neuvocat]

56. Argh!

That pun was so bad it needs to be in jail.

[Divine Discontent]

2. and...

it takes his whole staff to make sure the guy's alright??? Isn't that what the DOCTORS & NURSES at the hospital are for? WEAK ARGUMENT SCOTTY! ya friggin idiot shill!

[shaniqua6392]

4. They were hoping it all would just go away.

They have probably got away with a lot of stuff we do not know about already. Snotty McLiar could not tell the truth if his life depended on it.

[Virginian]

15. Why bother with WH news conferences

What Scotty does tell are lies. That isn't where any of the news is coming from.

[MadMaddie]

74. They are so predicatable....

It could have been so simple...
There was an accident...all they had to do was inform the press and the public of the incident and it might have gone away.


But No...
Instead they fuck it up and delay reporting it, leave it to one of their largest contributors to inform the local press.

Same ole MO different day....

[sabra]

5. Bush Knew Saturday About Hunting Accident

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/13/ap/politics/mainD8FOD86G1.shtml

Bush Knew Saturday About Hunting Accident

(AP) President Bush knew Saturday evening that Vice President Dick Cheney had accidentally shot a hunting companion, but the information wasn't made public until the next day _ by a private citizen _ the White House said Monday.

Spokesman Scott McClellan said the vice president's staff was focused on making sure that the shooting victim, Austin, Texas, attorney Harry Whittington, was receiving adequate medical care after the shooting on the private Armstrong Ranch in south Texas. Whittington and Cheney were hunting quail together.

...

White House chief of staff Andy Card told Bush Saturday night about Cheney's involvement in the shotgun accident.

McClellan was informed Saturday night that someone in the Cheney hunting party was involved, but he didn't know that Cheney was the shooter until the next morning, the spokesman said.

Check out this earlier report:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-02-13-cheney-accident_x.htm

Man shot by Cheney recovering well

<snip>

Presidential spokesman Scott McClellan said Monday that Bush and senior aides were told Saturday night by the staff of the White House Situation Room that somebody in the Cheney's hunting party was shot, but he said he was not told until Sunday morning that Cheney was the shooter. He said he contacted the vice president's office about making the information public.

No menion of Andrew Card telling *....

[Divine Discontent]

13. I pray America wakes up... we have to believe they will soon!

or else we're F****d. These sob's at the White House make me so upset with their consortium of liars, cheats, and frauds!
Nearly all the bad news about politicians is about THEM!

Think of all the headlines they've caused, and it seems to me they get a pass from the Rethuglican "who are" controlled Congress.

[Dhalgren]

14. Why do the media continue to use the phrase

"accidentally shot"? There has been no investigation into the shooting; why are the media assuming that it was accidental? What if the two of them were fighting over a whore and drew down on each other? Cheney just got off the first shot - that is just as plausible as "accident" without an investigation...

[Wickerman]

20. Jeff Gannon was the un-named 3rd hunter?

What if the two of them were fighting over a whore and drew down on each other?

I had no idea. :shrug:

[Mz Pip]

6. This whole event is a metaphore

for the Bush Administration.

Shoot before you know what you're shooting at. Then blame the people you shot. Then get all pissy when someone asks questions. :eyes:

WHo said irony is dead?

Mz Pip
:dem:

[henslee]

40. 100%. Can you imagine how this plays internationally. Wait till a photo

of the victim gets released.

[MoJoWorkin]

44. Mz Pip, you are "dead eye" on target! n/t

[stevedeshazer]

76. You are right, ma'am

A very understandable one, I might add. Anyone with a grade school education can see it. :)

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

82. A most excellent post.

:thumbsup:

[savemefromdumbya]

7. Another thing they are covering up!

[HereSince1628]

8. I think they were looking for hunter #3 to offer to take the blame.

I am not a fan of Mr. Cheney so you can call me biased, but IMHO Cheney has demonstrated a pattern of lying and responsibility ducking for the past 6 years.

[Toucano]

29. If true, why wouldn't they have just found #3 anyway.

This doesn't make sense.

I think they're jerking our chain.

[truthisfreedom]

78 years old, shot in the face and neck from 30 feet. i think he came a

lot closer to dying than they're letting on.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

58. I doubt that. What critical organs exist in the head and neck of a GOP

supporter anyway?
They don't read
They don't speak the truth
They don't use their brains.

Oh, OK, the carotid artery is there, too.

[RazzleDazzle]

65. "in intensive care" -- that's what I heard this afternoon on cable

[goforit]

73. Yep...thats make or break alright.

[goforit]

72. LOL!!!!.........Too good!

[Zenlitened]

9. Man, they're not even good liars anymore. That was their one strength.

"...the vice president’s staff was focused on making sure that the shooting victim... was receiving adequate medical care."

Like, the entire staff was anxiously pacing back and forth in the hospital waiting room? Gimme a fucking break. What were they trying to cover up, and why?

[Divine Discontent]

17. welll.....

I like the 3rd shooter taking the rap theory that our other friend here at DU mentioned, because they couldn't get everyone at the hospital to cover this up, so maybe they were figuring out is there a way we can lie and easily get away with it, there wasn't so they accepted they had to admit it.

I think they thought that the ranch owner wouldn't even THINK of telling the press!

[0rganism]

21. It's certainly gone downhill since Ari Fleischer left town

If there ever was a man who could spin straw into gold, it was Ari Fleischer. That guy could take a simple yes-no question about a felony allegation against the president and turn the answer into a colorful fairy-tale that left in the minds of all present only a vague impression of the wholesome goodness of W. Simple Scotty isn't fit to kiss Ari's feet, let alone wear his shoes.

[TomInTib]

10. As if Whittington could not get adequate care w/o VP Staff....

after all, he's only worth about $20million.

[Virginian]

11. They weren't going to report it

On one post here, it was noted that the incident was not with the other police incidents available to reporters. (Suppressed?)

Maybe the VP is no longer friends with the Armstrongs who own the hunting ranch because it was they who "leaked" the information to reporters.

[CTyankee]

50. No, my take is that the Armstrong woman

was given a script and Rove thought it best to have her reveal it. That way, it could look so lah dee dah and of little consequence. It was a "soft" way of breaking the news, if you will.

[Virginian]

80. You called it correctly

Today we learn that Mary Matlin coached her on what to say and how to say it.

[janx]

81. Do you have a link for this?

?

I'd like to read it. It sounded very orchestrated to me from the start.

[Virginian]

83. Here's the Link : DU to WP

Another DU thread that links to Washington Post.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x412442

[gratuitous]

12. How DARE you question the White House?!

Don't you know that this is information crucial to our nation's security? Just imagine what aid and comfort will be lent to our nation's enemies if this further evidence of administration incompetence is aired in public! Shame on you all! We're trying to get Al Qaida to forget what a bunch of stumblebums is currently squatting in the White House, and here you all go, pointing out their complete ineptitude!

[TheCowsCameHome]

16. So much for free speech with these morans in charge.

20 hours to make sure the victim gets proper medical attention? Are you kidding me?

The local cops said the Secret Service wouldn't allow access to Cheney.

Whay a sorry bunch of bastards we have running this country.

[Divine Discontent]

19. exactly! sheesh.. can't wait to hear the SPIN from all the Bush-league

[Trillo]

33. Shades of Leona Helmsley

You wrote: "The local cops said the Secret Service wouldn't allow access to Cheney."

Helmsley is quoted: "Only the little people pay taxes."

Therefore: Only the little people are subject to law enforcement.

Hope it's a false premise!

[flordehinojos]

18. BIG COJONES CHENEY HIDING BEHIND MRS. ARMSTRONG'S SKIRTS, I.E.,

"Ranch owner Katharine Armstrong said no one discussed notifying the public of the accident Saturday because they were so consumed with making sure Whittington was OK. She said the family realized in the morning that it would be a story and decided to call the local newspaper, the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. She said she then discussed the news coverage with Cheney for the first time.

“I said, Mr. Vice President, this is going to be public, and I’m comfortable going to the hometown newspaper,” she told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. “And he said you go ahead and do whatever you are comfortable doing.”

he and bush are two miserly bastard cowards!

[CottonBear]

35. You know that KKKarl Rove gave her a script. n/t

[mitchtv]

22. A new Chappaquidick (sp) !

remember the hell Tedywent though for not reporting in a timely manner?

[against all enemies]

54. Why go there? It's not worth the trip.

[berni_mccoy]

23. A Simple Case of SHOOT FIRST, INFORM PUBLIC LATER

[jpak]

24. Old Deadeye is just damned lucky he was using a 28 ga shotgun

If it had been a 12 ga - things might have been more "serious"...

[stanwyck]

37. I guess our troops were lucky

ole Dick got his six deferments during Viet Nam. Who knows how many casualties we would have had due to friendly fire if the old chickenhawk had actually carried a gun for reasons other than his macho poser quail hunting.

[jobycom]

25. You're right, that's EXACTLY why they waited. To see if he died!

It was a lot more serious than first reports suggested. They had to decide how to spin it.

I love Scottie's line about the VP's staff focusing their attention on making sure Whittington got the medical attention he needed. How big is the staff? How many people does that take? I guess they were all on the phone, calling every hospital in the country for a quote and references...

[stanwyck]

39. well, that, and waiting for Cheney

to sober up.
There really is not reason for a 24 hr. wait. No legal or medical reason, considering the spin is that Whittington is doing "so well he's flirting with the nurses". (gag).
They were in "Oh, my God, the VP's killed someone" mode. And they can't tell the American people the truth. Ever.

[Divine Discontent]

51. "oh my God, the Vice President's killed someone mode"

OH MY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


HYSTERICAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hope you all like my shirt up above?

[jobycom]

63. I don't know that he was drunk.

I do know that the wounds were more serious than they claimed at first and that they waited a day before telling anyone. So that's all I can surmise for sure. If it were Bush, I would assume he's drunk.

[pdurod1]

26. Them were al-Qaeda birds... and were hiding WMD's

[pinniped]

27. The lame fucks said the time was needed to get the facts( LIES ) straight.

.

[Divine Discontent]

28. couldn't help

But snicker when I read that again, yeah, get the facts straight...

um, it's pretty simple -

one rich old crony shot another rich ol crony when they were out hunting together, and in an attempt to hide the shooting, they waited til news leaked out to the press to admit it at the white house through, speaking-extraordinaire - Scotty "hot pants" McClellan!


I crack myself up!

[libhill]

30. Hmmm -

I have to wonder if the victim was a Democrat?

[libhill]

31. Hmmm -

I have to wonder if the victim was a Democrat?

[libhill]

32. Hmmm -

I have to wonder if the victim was a Democrat?

[Divine Discontent]

34. I have to wonder if you hit enter two times too many, hehe.. we all do it

[President Kerry]

69. nope.

Donated $2000 (max) to the shitheads in the 04 campaign. Some belated thanks from uncle dick.

[Pastiche423]

36. Their lies are getting more lame by the day

They are getting weaker!

[LynnTheDem]

38. "Fire, Ready, Aim"...

:rofl:

[boddhi]

41. you have it all wrong....

someone from FEMA flew over the site and saw a glint on a nearby grassy knoll that required further investigation before any action could be taken

[mitchum]

43. Scotty's a snippy little flack who can't help lashing out...

I wonder if he also suffers from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome like his boss?

[DearAbby]

67. Snotty Scotty's answers sounded like a kid busted trying to steal a cookie

The lid on the jar was already like that...eh hum... I was just reaching up to straighten the lid so ...eh hum...wouldn't get broken.

Something stinks here....

[Xenotime]

45. You need 24 hours to destroy the evidence and pay off those involved.

There needs to be a full investigation into EXACTLY what happened.

[jaysunb]

46. Calling Ronnie Earle, Calling Ronnie Earle !

or who ever the DA is in that county. It's called negligence. At least investigate it as such !

[judaspriestess]

47. shot in the face and neck?

while fukcing quail hunting? how fucking stupid do you REALLY have to be? Cheney is so spooked he'll probably fire at anything if he has a gun in his hand what does this eqaute to?

obvious MADNESS, Dillusional fucking C.H.U.D.

[Divine Discontent]

52. OH SHIOTT! President Bush just came back from Hunting with the Veep!

[Nightwing]

48. Did Frist do a video prognosis???

And if so, what were his findings??

[stanwyck]

59. Just a bit of dermabrasion

that's all. Purely cosmetic. AND intentional. Big Dick was merely doing the old guy a favor...helping even out the sun damage and liver spots. Why...Wittington should be thanking Cheney. And doesn't he look great after his "treatment"?

[earthside]

49. Where was Mrs. Cheney?

Let's not be naive.

[Divine Discontent]

53. off doing her own brokeback somewhere else I assume...

you know how the Republicans hide their being gay.. and come on, they DOOOO have a daughter who offends their party, so they have to hide their affairs out hunting like Dick did! Apparently the argument turned ugly when the older gentleman told Dick that he was done with him....
Bang! Another lover's spat turned violent!

[Bosso 63]

57. I'm not a quail hunter, so maybe some one could help me out?

When you flush a covey, it would seem to me, that you would be shooting at an angle towards the sky. To hit a man 30 feet away, in the head and neck, would mean that Dick was fired when the shot gun was parallel to the ground. That seems odd to me, I used to go duck hunting a long time ago, and as I remember, the ducks tended to be above me. Just wondering.

[stanwyck]

60. don't know about quail

I'm from pheasant country....the prairies of Illinois. And the rule with pheasant hunting is you don't shoot if you don't know where the members of your hunting party are. I guess that's the difference between Illinois and Texas. About 70 I.Q. points.

[burythehatchet]

55. Simple question:

If you shoot someone, do you not have to report it to the police immediately so they can investigate?

[FVZA_Colonel]

61. It's been said before, but I dearly hope that the agency responsible for

the issuing of hunting licenses in Texas considers revoking VP Cheney's, if it is proven that he was not looking in the direction he fired the gun.

[mvd]

62. Scott McClellan is such a liar!

They thought they could cover this up. If it wasn't for Whittington's wife, who knows how long it would have taken.

[grace0418]

64. Great t-shirt. Here's mine...

http://www.cafepress.com/geelove.47599681

[superconnected]

66. Just what bush co needs, more bad press :)

And notice they didn't report it - likely trying to sweep it under the rug in the hours before the person came forward.

ah foiled again.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

68. I expected as much.

They need at least 24 hours to think up the spin they'll use.

Love that t-shirt! I'm going to oreder on for my mom for Mother's Day.

[teryang]

70. What's all the fuss? It's only collateral damage!

They had to wait until the blood alcohol level was sufficiently low.

A few years back, the colonel was out deer hunting with the general and his friends in Texas. One of them shot the colonel in the back "by mistake." Fortunately the wound was only superficial and didn't penetrate the outer layers of large back muscles. The missile track, a good eighteen inches long plowed a groove down his back and took 55 large stitches to close externally. The colonel was treated by a doctor within the groups network at a clinic. The gunshot wound wasn't even reported to authorities. He left Texas immediately. He told his acquaintences different stories as to how he was wounded.

[connecticut yankee]

71. Hannitty said

the "Liberal Press" is making a big deal out of it. That it was "only an accident."

The Repukes are trying to deflect attention from Cheney by bringing up Chappaquidick for the umpteenth million time (slimeballs).

[kskiska]

77. Maybe someone should bring up Laura Bush's little accident

in Texas where a guy was killed.

[pro_blue_guy]

75. Someone needs to revoke Dick's NRA membership! LOL

[lumpy]

78. If Wittington had died would a manslaughter

charge been in order? Perhaps that is why the 'powers that be' waited to go public immediately. It would have been a different case if Whittington hadn't survived the shots to his head.

[Dhalgren]

79. And why has there not even been an attempt at an

investigation? This just pisses me off no end! These fuckers are not royalty; they are not above the fucking law! They should at least pretend to make an investigation...

[Roland99]

84. Time Magazine article on the 20-hour slow leak...(what were they hiding?)

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1159347,00.html


I wonder if Cheney had been drinking?