Cheney chatter

OK so this is old news. But I wanted to put my two cents in. I'm sure more facts will later be revealed that might change my mind on it, but here is my snap opinion on it.

There is a temptation to find this story funny (bring out the Aaron Burr jokes), but the fact that someone got shot in the face and is in critical condition makes it a very serious story.

But one thing that I can't help find amusing about it now is the degree to which the Washington press corps is pissed that a po-dunk Texas newspaper would be informed before them. There is something that feels almost juvenile in the press' response. "How dare the White House not tell us immediately!! Scooped by the Corpus Christi Newspaper??!" This is the same press corps that made nary a peep (at least to my recollection) when the Clinton people were routinely burying damaging stories with late-Friday-night press conferences and other like tactics.

Of course, while illustrating some of the silliness of the Washington press corps, this also illustrates Cheney's complete media ineptitude, antipathy, or apathy. My guess is that it is mostly a tall heaping of the latter with some smaller portions of the others. In my mind, Cheney is a no-nonsense guy, not running for anyting in '08 (when was the last time that happened?) and doesn't really care how popular he is (I have to admit I find that sort of attitude very appealing in some respects, especially when contrasted to other politicians, who will do anything for the smallest of political payoffs).

Not being a hunter, I'm not sure what to think about all the surrogate finger-pointing that is going on. My guess is that there is fault to be placed on both Cheney and Whittington. But I am sure hitting a person is every hunter's worst nightmare, and that Cheney feels awful about the whole thing (I don't buy into the Cheney-as-Satan mantra).

BUT he broke a cardinal rule - thou shalt confess everything to the public right away. For a strong critique of Cheney and the administration's response, see John Dickerson's article here.

Perhaps the most scathing portion:
"And at some point Cheney's starchy behavior is also insulting. Shouldn't there be some minimum level of explanation he's willing to offer as the second-highest ranking public official? When you nearly commit manslaughter as a public official shouldn't the honor of your office compel you to stand up and explain yourself in some fashion, at least say something in a press release and not just whisper it to a Texas rancher?"

As Dickerson points out, Cheney could have diffused this situation to a large degree with a quick statement, acknowledgement to the press... SOMETHING. I really had expected some sort of public apology or statement from Cheney at least by Monday. As Captain's blog suggests, this kind of behavior does you no favors when you are already unpopular. While Cheney might not care about popularity, he SHOULD. "As a veteran staffer of two administrations and a cabinet secretary in another, Dick Cheney should know that he is not supposed to embarrass his boss."

Maybe while on vacation Cheney forgot he HAS a boss...

Most importantly, I am hoping for the recovery of Mr. Whittington.