Month: February 2006

What coverup? The Left side of the blogosphere and various ‘Democratic Strategists’ on cable news television keep eluding to various conspiracy theories involving VP Dick Cheney and the hunting accident, which are now being intentionally covered up by the Bush administration. Funny thing is, the moonbats can’t provide any proof of what is actually being covered up, yet they continue to toss unfounded allegations. For example, James Carville, in an interview on ABC’s Good Morning America, requested the release of blood alcohol results for Harry Whittington, Dick Cheney and other members of the hunting party. Obviously, the Democrats are pushing a ‘Cheney was drunk’ angle. 

The Texas sheriff today released his department report on the incident, which now joins the report which was released on Monday from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. In both accounts the facts behind the accident are identical. From a law enforcement standpoint, the case is closed.

So, again I ask, what is being covered up and who is the evil puppet master? So far, the theories I’ve heard are laughable.

According to Peggy Noonan, Vice President Dick Cheney attracts too much hate, consistently enough, that administration officials are privately talking about a replacement. Not because Mr. Cheney is incompetent, but because an election is on the horizon, and George W. Bush will want a successor who will continue his policies, on Iraq and the wider war on terror.

I believe Cheney would be the type to leave without a fight if it came down to Bush asking that question.  But, that’s not George W. Bush. The president rarely, if ever, ‘starts over’, so the only way Noonan’s scenario becomes reality is if Dick Cheney takes the lead and pushes Bush to make the change. The hunting accident alone won’t prompt this, and all indications are that Cheney is moving on with his job, not thinking about an exit strategy. It all comes down to the people around the president and the vice president. Are they strong enough to suggest a veep change to these two individuals who’s opinions aren’t the most flexible? Would they be able to convince Bush and Cheney, who together are the very definition of ‘stay the course’, that for political reasons alone, a shake up is necessary?

It’s doubtful.  

“It was one of the worst days of my life.”

Fox News won’t broadcast their exclusive interview with Vice President Dick Cheney until 6 PM Eastern Standard Time, but they have already filed a report highlighting some of Cheney’s remarks. So far, it sounds like a favorable and more importantly, credible interview involving a guy (who just happens to be the Vice President of the United States), who mistakenly shot his friend, and that the mistake was an horrible experience that will never leave him.

I’ll post a link to the video as soon as it is available.

UPDATE: Video

UPDATE II: I’ve watched the interview, and in my opinion, the story today from the Vice President is the same as it was when Katharine Armstrong, owner of the ranch where the shooting occurred, released the news on Sunday. I buy Cheney’s reasoning for the news delay. No one wanted any inaccuracies, and given the fact that competition among the news media often results in the transmission of breaking news which is less than accurate, the Vice President weighed the risks and chose to wait until doctors were confident about Harry Whittington’s condition. He was right to do this.

Cheney understands the media, and he knows that no matter how the report goes out, he’s going to be vilified. This is why his reason for the delayed news release is credible. There was no benefit to him to have the story out sooner or later, the final judgement was going to be the same either way.

One thing is completely clear. Cheney brought humanness to the whole thing. Contrary to the cold-blooded Darth Vader-like caricature built by the media, this interview shows that the man is clearly upset over what happened. Who wouldn’t be? But will Cheney’s remorse be the subject of the next cycle of headlines concerning the matter?

Don’t bet on it.

From a story filed by ABC News on the Cheney hunting accident, I noticed this status report on Harry Whittington’s condition.

Whittington, 78, suffered a mild heart attack Tuesday after a birdshot in his chest traveled to his heart, Christus Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-Memorial officials said. He is still in the hospital’s intensive care unit. A hospital spokesman said that was “strictly due to personal privacy issues,” and that he was sitting up, eating regular food, and planning on doing some of his legal work today.

Now, let me say up front that getting shot is a serious matter, especially if you’re a 78-year-old man. I’m not trivializing this. What concerns me is the disparate information coming from Mr. Whittington’s doctors and the media. The doctors, who know better than anyone involved in this matter, are painting as accurate a picture as they possibly can concerning the health status of Whittington. Yet, the media reports create the impression that Whittington is still in the path of death. As a result, the pot stirring continues, and speculation and what-if scenarios continue to grow hour-by-hour.

Just this morning I heard a sound bite from Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, who characterized Harry Whittington as a “very sick man”. How does this square with what Whittington’s doctors are saying about Whittington? I don’t want to get into a “what is the meaning of sick” debate here. I’m simply illustrating a serious gap in tone. What if Whittington was to appear today on video, “sitting up, eating regular food, and doing legal work”? Would anyone really think they’re looking at a “very sick man”?

I predict that we’ll see something exactly like this within the next 48 hours. Some brief video clip or sound-bite from Whittington will be released, probably with him smiling, laughing, and shrugging his shoulders over this whole thing. And then what can we expect, a story about Harry Whittington’s miraculous recovery? News about how a 78-year-old man beat back a visit from Mr. Death? An honest account of Whittington’s real condition as opposed to the hyped drama?

Nope, we won’t hear, see or read anything of the sort. The New York Times will probably file a story which floats yet another conspiracy theory – like, this:

“Was the man identified as Harry Whittington in video released today really Harry Whittington, or a stand-in hired by the White House?”

Michelle Malkin made a prediction yesterday that Hillary Clinton wouldn’t dare offer her opinion on the matter involving Vice President Dick Cheney and the weekend hunting accident because of the parallels between that story and one from 1996. Apparently, Hillary’s handlers forgot to read Malkin’s blog yesterday, or scour news archives to see if a Cheney comment could potentially backfire on the former first lady.

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Aug. 27, 1996) — The same day Hillary Clinton was scheduled to speak at the Democratic National Convention, newly released documents suggest she was behind the 30-hour delay in releasing late White House counsel Vincent Foster’s suicide note to authorities.

How the White House handled Foster’s 1993 death, and the possibility that administration officials improperly removed documents from his office or impeded an official search of it, has been the subject of intense scrutiny by congressional Republicans and the media.

The newly released memo, written by White House lawyer Miriam Nemetz, quotes then-White House chief of staff Mack McLarty as saying Mrs. Clinton “was very upset and believed the matter required further thought and the president should not yet be told” about Foster’s note.

According to the document, Mrs. Clinton “said they should have a coherent position and should have decided what to do before they told the president.”

That contradicts sworn testimony to the Senate Whitewater Committee from Clinton staffers that the first lady had no role whatsoever in the handling of Foster’s note.

A few points stand out here. First, the 30–hour delay before the release of Foster’s suicide note. Second, Hillary’s excuse for not informing the president, or the media, because she was upset and needed more time to think, and finally, Hillary’s claim that they should have a coherent position and a decision on what to do before they told the president (and again, the media).

Fast forward to yesterday. Hillary offered up this comment regarding Cheney’s accident.

Asked at a press conference for her reaction about how the White House has handled the incident, US Senator Hillary Clinton called the Bush administration’s failure to be more forthcoming “troubling.”

“A tendency of this administration — from the top all the way to the bottom — is to withhold information … to refuse to be forthcoming about information that is of significance and relevance to the jobs that all of you do, and the interests of the American people,” Clinton said.

“Putting it all together, going back years now, there’s a pattern and it’s a pattern that should be troubling,” she said at a press conference calling for a more robust federal response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster.

The former first lady continued: “The refusal of this administration to level with the American people on matters large and small is very disturbing, because it goes counter to the way our constitutional democracy … is supposed to work.”

Funny how this is such a disturbing and troubling story today, one which counters our constitutional democracy! Yet, if Hillary were to be reminded about her own decision to withhold for more than 24 hours information about a suicide which might just prompt other questions about Foster’s motives, involvements, and interconnectedness with the former first lady, would it be characterized the same way? Would anyone in the MSM claim that our constitutional democracy was in peril when Hillary’s husband was in the White House?

Heh, I wish.

Hillary is notorious for her selective memory, and I have no doubt that she would react with a throw back of the head and a chortle if any comparison between her and Cheney were to arise. Meanwhile, the MSM, whose selective memory is just as chronic, has already proven that they see no conflict between the Hillary of today and the Hillary of 1996.

For those keeping score, this is MSM double standard number 2,053,100.

Others: Gateway Pundit | Kevin Sites |

National Review Online has a suggestion for the Vice President.

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. He should stop relying on press aides who were not present at the accident to tell his side of the story. Not talking only feeds speculation, and aids the cause of those who want to lampoon and smear him. Let’s hear from the vice president.

I agree, only because it appears that with each passing moment, the MSM and the lefties add another hour to the delay of the initial report (first it was 12 hours, then 14 and now suddenly it’s 24 hours), they hypothesize, they dream up conspiracy theories, and they propagate unnecessary speculation.

It’s time to end this, and the Veep is the only one who can.

MORE: This is exactly the kind of crap I’m talking about.

STILL MORE: And here’s another example.

STILL STILL MORE: Cheney must read NRO. He’s scheduled to talk with Brit Hume today.

In an effort to keep the sensationalism alive, the MSM uses scary’headlines in order to mislead the public. I’m talking about the news that Harry Whittington, the 78 year-old lawyer who was accidently shot by Vice President Dick Cheney last weekend, suffered a heart attack this morning as a result of his injuries. Glancing at the wire reports, here’s what you read.

‘Hunter Shot by Cheney Has Heart Attack’

Word pictures. What do you see when you read this? A group of doctors and nurses huddling around Mr. Whittington’s bed, yelling out codes and’instructions, while one of the doctors holds two paddles and screams ‘CLEAR!’ before slamming Whittington with a jolt of’electricity in the hopes of restarting his ‘no longer beating’ heart. After all, isn’t this what we see on NBC’s’‘ER’ every week?

On the contrary, it wasn’t like that at all.

Banko said there was an irregularity in the heartbeat caused by a pellet, and doctors performed a cardiac catheterization. Whittington expressed a desire to leave the hospital, but Banko said he would probably stay for another week to make sure more shot doesn’t move to other organs or to other part of his body.

“Some of the bird shot appears to have moved and lodged into part of his heart in what we would say is a minor heart attack,” Banko said in a news conference outside the hospital.

The doctors said Whittington did not experience symptoms of a heart attack or any other problems. They left the birdshot in place and said he could live a healthy life with it there.

David Blanchard, chief of emergency care, called it “a silent heart attack, an asymptomatic heart attack. He’s not had a heart attack in the traditional sense.”

But that’s not what the MSM wants you to know. Nope, in a weird twisted way, hands are wringing in newsrooms throughout the country, as if the media had a pool going on whether Whittington would survive the accident. After all, the story would really get interesting if he were to die, right? I can hear them now…

“Cheney would have to resign.”

“Or, better yet, he’d be sued for millions by Whittington’s wife.”

“Maybe criminal charges will be brought and Dick would GO TO JAIL!!! Yeah…oh please, oh please, let it be, let it be.”

Given the attitude of the wolf pack yesterday, I’m probably not very far off on this. The blood is still in the water and I’expect even more inflammatory headlines to surface in the days to come.

UPDATE: Just as I predicted. Via Drudge – The New York Times reports, CHENEY FACES GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION IF MAN DIES… In Texas, Carlos Valdez, the district attorney in Kleberg County, said a fatality would immediately spur a new report from the local sheriff and, most likely, a grand jury investigation.

Others: Hugh Hewitt echos.

Paul Hackett, a popular Democratic candidate in Ohio’s Senate race has dropped out of the contest, and has announced his withdrawal from politics. On first glance you would immediately believe that health problems are prompting Hackett’s decision. Nope. Hackett’s getting out due to the ‘mafia like’ tactics brought on by his ‘friends’ – Senator Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid.

Mr. Hackett said Senators Charles E. Schumer of New York and Harry Reid of Nevada, the same party leaders who he said persuaded him last August to enter the Senate race, had pushed him to step aside so that Representative Sherrod Brown, a longtime member of Congress, could take on Senator Mike DeWine, the Republican incumbent.

During the last two weeks, he said, state and national Democratic Party leaders have urged him to drop his Senate campaign and again run for Congress.

“This is an extremely disappointing decision that I feel has been forced on me,” said Mr. Hackett, whose announcement comes two days before the state’s filing deadline for candidates. He said he was outraged to learn that party leaders were calling his donors and asking them to stop giving and said he would not enter the Second District Congressional race.

You see, it’s all about grabbing a seat and holding power, not about the ideas, the plans, or the implementation of positive solutions for the problems America faces. It’s not about what you do in office, it’s what you do to keep your office.

Democratic leaders say Representative Brown, a seven-term incumbent from Avon, has a far better chance of toppling Senator DeWine.

“It boils down to who we think can pull the most votes in November against DeWine,” said Chris Redfern, chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party. “And in Ohio, Brown’s name is golden. It’s just that simple.”

Mr. Fern added that Mr. Brown’s fund-raising abilities made him the better Senate candidate. By the end of last year, Mr. Brown had already amassed $2.37 million, 10 times what Mr. Hackett had raised.

Electability, then reelectability.

I’m not about to accuse the Democrats of exclusively using strategies like this, since I believe it’s a bipartisan problem. And you know what? It’s our fault. We Americans get all excited about electing ‘our guy’ to Congress, or to the Presidency, then suddenly, the excitement stops. We don’t actually require that our leaders do anything, or so it seems. If we did care, we wouldn’t reelect the same ‘ol bloviating do nothing wind bags term after term after term. We buy into their election year promises, giveaways, and pandering. We become intoxicated by their smile, their ‘can do’ attitude, and their sudden burst of leadership. It’s really about feeling good, and when you hear your guy selling patriotism with all the pomp and circumstance, you naturally want to stand up and cheer. Yet, when we see the same guy sitting on a congressional committee panel droning on and on using big words that don’t really mean anything, we change the channel.

But, it is what it is and there doesn’t seem to be anything that will change it, unless of course, Americans engage and become interested in the future of their country.

Don’t hold your breath on that happening anytime soon.

Based on the way Democrats react to every action and every utterance from the Bush Administration, it’s clear that Liberals interpret the president’s words differently than Conservatives do. I’ve often wondered what the Left actually hears when they listen to a speech by George W. Bush.

Well, now I know.

They’ve got to be kidding right? Time goes to great lengths to push this WEB EXCLUSIVE story which purports to show Bush alongside disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, but when we actually see the photo, it’s laughable. Yeah, sure, Abramoff appears to be in the same room as George W., but it looks like he’s 100 yards away from the president.

Do you know how easy it would be to create a photo like this in PhotoShop?

Puhleeze.