Vice President on Fox News

[Jimbo]

"Mr. Cheney, don't you know that in Texas, lawyer season doesn't begin until March?"

Seriously, this is the most overblown "controversy" I may have ever seen. Take a look at The Huffington Post; the site is almost completely about this.

At least one of the writers at least has the sense to says "So what is it about Dick Cheney that brings out the worst in us?" I'm not a big fan of Cheney, but anyone that enables these Huffingtonites to look so foolish is OK by me.

 

[bsnyder]

The fact that some reporter is comparing the delay to Chappaquiddick, which no one on this thread has stated they agree with, does NOT excuse the lack of press releases from Cheney's and GWB's respective press secretaries, does it? And in fact, statements from Fleischer and Fitzwater seem to support that proper protocol was not followed, don't they? Who better would know the proper protocol than former press secretaries?

And I haven't stated that I disagree with the statements of the former press secretaries. I'm disagreeing with the national press's conduct - they've gone completely around the bend because the VP did an end around them and gave a scoop to a local newspaper. Obviously, they feel threatened by that. Their oversized egos can't handle it. And they've reacted like spoiled children, stomping their feet and throwing a tantrum.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Inbelievable! The press corps hatred of the Bush Administration has led them to become completely irrational.

Ay yay yay! Now, one Washington Post Op-ed columnist's piece equals the entire press corps!

Bet, you're going off the deep end with this one (Kennedy pun absolutely intended)! Should we start saying that every David Brooks statement or Micheal Malkin Op-Ed piece equals "the press corps" as well. I certainly wouldn't. The hyperventilating of the some of you on the Right is beyond ridiculous. Ari Fleisher had it right, they should have come forward quicker. It was a mistake in judgement on the Veep's office, but that's all it was. All of this Conservative hand wringing is making this story much more than it is and entertaining those of us on the Left who enjoy watching you guys get your panties all in a wad...

The man shot a friend accidentally, I'm sure he feels horrible, end of story.

Man, if I got this upset about all of the things that Coulter, Limbaugh, Snow, Malkin, Hannity, Brooks, etc. said about the people that I admire, my blood pressure would be through the roof. Noone's going to jail, Cheney will hunt again, and the sun will rise in the east tomorrow...sheesh...

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

From a PR point of view, yeah a statement should have been released sooner. But really, this is getting out of hand. The press is totally .

Can someone explain to me when Op-Ed pieces became "the press". "The press" reports..."the Op-Ed columnists" give their biased opinions. Can we please pull it together here?

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

"Mr. Cheney, don't you know that in Texas, lawyer season doesn't begin until March?"

Seriously, this is the most overblown "controversy" I may have ever seen. Take a look at The Huffington Post; the site is almost completely about this.

At least one of the writers at least has the sense to says "So what is it about Dick Cheney that brings out the worst in us?" I'm not a big fan of Cheney, but anyone that enables these Huffingtonites to look so foolish is OK by me.

"The Huffington Post" is does nothing but opinion pieces...please....do you think "The Limbaugh Letter" is "news"?

 

[Jimbo]

"The Huffington Post" is does nothing but opinion pieces...please....do you think "The Limbaugh Letter" is "news"?

Who said it's news? What are you talking about?

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Who said it's news? What are you talking about?

Good point, Jimbo! You of all of the right wingers that have posted on this thread does understand the difference...sorry...I was on a roll...

 

[bsnyder]

Ay yay yay! Now, one Washington Post Op-ed columnist's piece equals the entire press corps!

Bet, you're going off the deep end with this one (Kennedy pun absolutely intended)! Should we start saying that every David Brooks statement or Micheal Malkin Op-Ed piece equals "the press corps" as well. I certainly wouldn't. The hyperventilating of the some of you on the Right is beyond ridiculous. Ari Fleisher had it right, they should have come forward quicker. It was a mistake in judgement on the Veep's office, but that's all it was. All of this Conservative hand wringing is making this story much more than it is and entertaining those of us on the Left who enjoy watching you guys get your panties all in a wad...

The man shot a friend accidentally, I'm sure he feels horrible, end of story.

Man, if I got this upset about all of the things that Coulter, Limbaugh, Snow, Malkin, Hannity, Brooks, etc. said about the people that I admire, my blood pressure would be through the roof. Noone's going to jail, Cheney will hunt again, and the sun will rise in the east tomorrow...sheesh...

My panties are just fine. I checked!

Seriously though, I'm having a fine time with this. It's entertaining! And no, the one WP columnist does not equal the entire press corp. Have you watched some of the breathless television coverage? Seen David Gregory's tantrums at the WH press briefings? Heard the reporter who ask at that press briefing if the VP would submit his resignation, or if he should? Noticed the headline placement of the stories in the NYT online edition? (top of the page since the accident was first reported). Seen the clueless reporters straining to cover some of the details of this story when they've had a life long abhorance and aversion to anything related to guns and hunting?

The man shot a friend accidentally, I'm sure he feels horrible, end of story.

I totally agree with this statement. But that's not how it has played out, and it's certainly not me that's keeping thsi story going. I'm merely reportering on the reporters.

 

[Chuck S]

And I haven't stated that I disagree with the statements of the former press secretaries. I'm disagreeing with the national press's conduct - they've gone completely around the bend because the VP did an end around them and gave a scoop to a local newspaper. Obviously, they feel threatened by that. Their oversized egos can't handle it. And they've reacted like spoiled children, stomping their feet and throwing a tantrum.

Actually, it is my understanding that the VP didn't even give the local press the story. The local press found out from Ms. Armstrong, the ranch owner. If the VP press sec'y had simply dealt with it properly, there wouldn't be any way for the strange Chappaquidick comment to have been made, as improper as it is.

The respective press secretaries, by their own lack of action, in a way made this story bigger than it should be...and THAT is what Ari Fleischer and Marlin Fitzwater are saying...and that the WH press corps is justified in their complaint that is should have been handled properly. It isn't a party line thing when Republican press secretaries state that they flubbed it.

 

[dcentity2000]

It saddens me that a terrible incident is being politically capitalised on by members on the right and on the left.



Rich::

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Can someone explain to me when Op-Ed pieces became "the press". "The press" reports..."the Op-Ed columnists" give their biased opinions. Can we please pull it together here?

Did you happen to see the White House Press Briefing the other day? Definetly, . That's where I got press from. Not from one op-ed piece, I got it from what I watched with my own two eyes.

 

[bsnyder]

Actually, it is my understanding that the VP didn't even give the local press the story. The local press found out from Ms. Armstrong, the ranch owner. If the VP press sec'y had simply dealt with it properly, there wouldn't be any way for the strange Chappaquidick comment to have been made, as improper as it is.

The respective press secretaries, by their own lack of action, in a way made this story bigger than it should be...and THAT is what Ari Fleischer and Marlin Fitzwater and saying...and that the WH press corps is justified in their complaint that is should have been handled properly. It isn't a party line thing when Republican press sec'y state that they flubbed it.

I'm sure the VP's ranch host handled it in exactly the way he wanted her to. And I can almost imagine them envisioning the tantrums the elite ego-manics in the Washington press corp would have.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I totally agree with this statement. But that's not how it has played out, and it's certainly not me that's keeping thsi story going. I'm merely reportering on the reporters.

It's also front page news for the Right wing media establishment as well, bet. Fox News, Washington Times, Wall Street Journal, Limbaugh's "What if Cheney were a Dem" on his home page, Drudge, etc. It's not some hateful liberal media conspiracy...

The Veep shot somebody in the chest, people are gonna talk, human nature. I tell you one thing, it sure beats talking about Britney Spears driving with that punky brat on her lap some more, that's for sure!!

 

[Chuck S]

I'm sure the VP's ranch host handled it in exactly the way he wanted her to. And I can almost imagine them envisioning the tantrums the elite ego-manics in the Washington press corp would have.

I don't know, I'd think they (the adminsistration) would rather have handled it properly and avoided the controversay, instead of making them look like they are "hiding something" with a delay.

 

[bsnyder]

Love the smilie, Miss Jasmine!

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Did you happen to see the White House Press Briefing the other day? Definetly, . That's where I got press from. Not from one op-ed piece, I got it from what I watched with my own two eyes.

The press asks questions...big deal. Did one of them report anything other than what they were told? No. The quoted Scott McCellan and shared it with the rest of us...it's their job. Maybe they should only ask nice questions, or unrelated questions. I've got a good one... "I heard something about Cheney accidentally shot a while hunting, so my question is this: How's the Veep's golf game?" Everyone's talking about it, so they're getting the story...

 

[bsnyder]

I tell you one thing, it sure beats talking about Britney Spears driving with that punky brat on her lap some more, that's for sure!!

Something else I totally agree with you on! We shouldn't keep this up, people will talk!

I'm certainly not saying this isn't a legitimate newstory, worthy of a certain amount of coverage. But surely there can be some perspective. I'd say it's the media's panties that are in a wad.

 

[LakeAriel]

A) Why did the administration wait till the next day to report the shooting of this man?
B) Why were we told he was peppered with birdshot and his wounds were superficial? An outright lie, the man had a pellet in his heart!
C) How could Cheney NOT have accompanied his friend to the hospital after he shot him? Therein lies a real question. What was he hiding from?
A breathilizer test?
He needs to hold a press conference, not run to Fox news for coddling and gentle prodding.

 

[Chuck S]

He needs to hold a press conference, not run to Fox news for coddling and gentle prodding.

That is probably my main gripe, they STILL aren't handling properly...why give an exclusive to Fox rather than a regular press conferece, or even a direct statement to the entire press with no questions? It's just weird.

 

[Galahad]

It saddens me that a terrible incident is being politically capitalised on by members on the right and on the left.



Rich::

A moment of sanity from across the pond.