FUX Legal Analyst just said: if Whittington dies, then Cheney could be

[npincus]

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/docs/PE/content/htm/pe.005.00.000019.00.htm

prosecuted for the "Texas equivalent" of criminally- negligent homicide (he stated "equivalent" because he was not sure of the law in Texas, though he was pretty sure it was similar to that of NY).

He said that the charges would be filed by a prosecutor and had nothing to do with whether or not the family wished to prosecute.

BTW, it's funny watching FUX anchors report this story... they look positively shell shocked and horrified.

So... I don't wish anything but a swift recovery for the old geezer, BUT... if the worst thing happens (to him) then Cheney could be prosecuted under the law. (What is Ronnie Earle's jurisdiction?)


*******(on edit) here's the Texas statute:

§ 19.05. CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE. (a) A person
commits an offense if he causes the death of an individual by
criminal negligence.
(b) An offense under this section is a state jail felony.

Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974.
Renumbered from V.T.C.A., Penal Code § 19.06 by Acts 1973, 63rd
Leg., p. 1123, ch. 426, art. 2, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974.
Renumbered from V.T.C.A., Penal Code § 19.07 and amended by Acts
1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, § 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994.

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. Cheney's strike three.

Lying us into a war with Iraq.
Halliburton war-profiteering.
Whittington.

[HereSince1628]

2. That's a hard moral choice...how many lives is a FORMER VP Cheney

worth?

One republican lawyer vs all the dead from a 100 year's war with the Muslim world.

I need a vulcan. Is the good of the many more important than the good of the one?

[NanceGreggs]

3. It's just another opinion, but ...

... we've seen none of the usually trotted-out photos of a smiling Whittington, enthusiastic statements from family members about how well he's doing, etc.

Unfortunately, I think the poor guy is already on every life-support system available to keep him alive, while the WH spinmeisters cobble together a story ...

My guess on the press release we can expect: "Mr. Whittington passed away due to a pre-existing heart condition which had gone undiagnosed and untreated. His passing was inevitable, and is totally unrelated to the shooting incident."

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. Not to worry! He'll be and un-indicted manslaughterer. n/t

[spuddonna]

5. Whoa...

They said that on Fux News? Is that allowed? The truth, I mean?

[npincus]

7. oh... you've gotta see it to believe it

I caught the tail end of 'Dayside" and there was a Dr. on the phone who was NOT spinning the FUX B.S. and was saying the situation sounds dior... extrememly serious and that is was probably underplayed by the hospital due to the scandal factor!!!!

The two anchors (especially that blonde f*cking RW witch) almost keeled over.

[displacedtexan]

6. Whittington won't be allowed to die.

Even Ariel Sharon is "stable."

[Geoff R. Casavant]

13. Agreed, he'll be Schiavo'd for a year

since if he dies before that, it's a homicide.

[Pirate Smile]

8. I flipped by when CNN went to a commercial and since MSNBC has on

hockey.

Faux had a Dr on the phone who was saying that this was more serious from the beginning and it was downplayed and perhaps mishandled. The Administration was already under suspicion because of how they waited to notify the public and press so they downplayed it.

She said this is very serious and it could go either way (live or die).

The anchors were completely shocked.

The DR slammed that sh@# out of the Administration and how they handled the entire matter, emphasizing that it was probably always much more serious then they were telling us.

The flustered anchors then said - lets go to a commercial so we can get ourselves together.

Priceless.

I wish we had a clip of that.

She was actually more damning but I just can't remember everything she said.

[npincus]

10. hey, I was just posting about that!

Fucking hilarious! We've gotta find that clip somehwere!

I'm watching FUX for news on this story from now on. All of the anchors look mortified.

[Pirate Smile]

12. They were totally freaked. Some real truth managed to make it

past them to the Faux viewers. It was the complete opposite of how they have been spinning it.

They were more stunned then I have ever seen any TV anchors look.

[Cassandra]

9. My, how this story...

is really moving right along. I would think criminally negligent homicide would be an appropriate charge, or perhaps 2nd degree manslaughter at most. (I'm not a lawyer, I've just watched Law & Order for umpteen years). ;-)

[npincus]

11. tee hee

I'd say you're qualified!

[gauguin57]

14. Cheney charged? Scandal? Resignation? CONDI! Nooooooo!

Be careful what you wish for.