Are the reflexive Bush admin defenders (I heard one WABC host dismiss the wounding as "just a few pellets") losing sight of the fact that some very, very basic rules of gun safety were violated?
It would seem to me that it is the responsibility of the shooter to follow all safety rules and be very careful. Otherwise, at the very least, it is much easier for others to criticise an accident. When one is VP, it would then lead me to think that he should have been much more responsible than he was. A man was seriously injured by his carelessness. That fact cannot be ignored in a time when he is viewed as a person in support of gun ownership. He is the one who did the disservice to all of us, not the press.
"When one is VP, it would then lead me to think that he should have been much more responsible than he was."
Yes and no.
When does the Vice President stop being a human being with all (or at the very least, most) attendant flaws?
"He is the one who did the disservice to all of us, not the press."
He made an error, the last in a chain of them. He was the guy behind the trigger in a gun accident. I don't define that as a "disservice." You may. Your perogative.
The press, so far as I've seen, hasn't done a disservice to us, the gun-owning public. It has done a disservice to its much-vaunted objectivity, however.
The gun-control groups, however, have done their standard dance in the blood of the victim, as is their wont.
"losing sight of the fact that some very, very basic rules of gun safety were violated?"
I wouldn't say that many verys.
What's happening, as anytime there's a gun involved with ANYTHING, the press, who don't know anything about guns, suddenly become experts. (Example, Elian Gonazales's raid: "Well, he had his finger off the trigger, so it's OK...")
Cheney's admitted that he failed to be certain where people were, and there's not any argument. So... what exactly are we supposed to be arguing with you about?
I didn't think I was asking for an argument, just pointing out that this was a serious incident and it seemed all attention has been on the press and off of Cheney's action. I also believe that we should hold our VP to a higher standard than we do the average hunter. Higher standard equals a higher level of responsibility.
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Title: What's (Not) Happening
Excerpt: Dick Cheney's Marksmanship:...The transparency of the attacks and self-serving whining about conspiracies is laughable. Speaking of laughable, here's a good cartoon, courtesy of The Smallest Minority and Mostly Cajun.
Muhammad Cartoons:...The ...
Blog name: Kevin's Korner
"seemed all attention has been on the press and off of Cheney's action."
That's because Cheney acted responsibly and maturely, shall we say, professionally? after making a mistake.
The Press, immediately acted _un_professionally. Insinuating that he was drunk, without evidence. Demanding an Explanation Right Now, By Bernstein's Ghost! (can't use God anymore, you know). How DARE you not page us before calling for medical aid!
Therefore, the _critisism_ should be levelled at the press. Cheney made a mistake, _didn't_ cover it up, got the victim immediate attention (And notice, the victim isn't as angry and frothing over this as the press). And the Press is angry that somehow, they should Have Been Involved.
The Press holds itself to the gold standard of TruthBearer, if you want to talk about standards - a standard that the vast majority of members of the press are woefully ill-fit to gaze upon that standard, much less bear it.
Rosen starts out fine, but look at what the comments (Which are incredibly enlightening) degenerate into. Steve Lovelady is the editor of the Columbia Journalism Review (he's in comments)
"Cheney is so deep inside the self-sealing bubble that he might as well live in some sort of bizarre parallel universe, one in which if you shoot a guy in the face and heart, you just pack him off to the nearest hospital --- and then go to bed without calling the police."
later: "The very citation you supply makes it clear that it was the Secret Service who called the sheriff, not Cheney." So, apparently, if Bush and Cheney themselves don't call 911....
Anyway. That's why we're more critical of the press than Cheney. Cheney screwed up, no doubt. And admitted it, apologised, and took the necessary and required actions. What did the press do? Have they apologised to McClellan? (hell, he's got a victory in a "hostile workplace" suit all but assured these days)
I agree with Aaron. Safety rules were violated and a tragic event occured. Mr. Cheney is solidly in the pro-gun camp so we're letting it "go" with a few lawyer jokes and general grousing about the press.
If the shooter had been someone we collectively dislike we'd have been screaming that he/she be drawn and quartered. Imagine the same incident if the shooter were H. Clinton, M. Moore, or some chowderhead Hollywood personality like Bono. Seriously, if Clinton's finger had been on the trigger would we be complaining that the press is "making a big deal of it"?
Giving Mr. Cheney a "pass" because we tend to like him does a disservice to us all.
(If you'll excuse me now I'm about to run for cover...)
One of the guards at work today was telling me of a bumper sticker or some such he had just seen. It said "I'd still rather go hunting with Cheney than get in a car with Ted Kennedy" or at least something to that effect.
Andrew, you bet. Especially since I'm neither a lawyer nor a reporter. ;-)
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JS-Kit/Echo comments for article at http://smallestminority.blogspot.com/2006/02/pretty-much-all-i-have-to-say.html (18 comments)
Tentative mapping of comments to original article, corrections solicited.
What's really bad is the reporters seem to think that's what he should have done.
Since when did it become government's job to find and tell the news to the reporters?
Since never, but it seems the 4th Estate are taking themselves very, very seriously these days.
Unfortunately, it would appear that the 4th Estate has taken upon itself the mantle of the 5th Column.
If you're not reading Larry you're missing a treat. He covers this incident adequately, I think.
"rws," that link was excellent.
Unfortunately it's sometimes difficult to tell satire from reality any more.
That is some funny shiite.
"It's funny because it's true!" - Prophet Homer Simpson
Are the reflexive Bush admin defenders (I heard one WABC host dismiss the wounding as "just a few pellets") losing sight of the fact that some very, very basic rules of gun safety were violated?
Define "reflexive Bush admin defenders," if you would.
With most of us shooters, like any accident we learn from it, hopefully.
And of the "reflexive Bush admin attackers"? What did they lose sight of? Or never have sight of to begin with?
Could it be...
Objectivity?
It would seem to me that it is the responsibility of the shooter to follow all safety rules and be very careful. Otherwise, at the very least, it is much easier for others to criticise an accident. When one is VP, it would then lead me to think that he should have been much more responsible than he was. A man was seriously injured by his carelessness. That fact cannot be ignored in a time when he is viewed as a person in support of gun ownership. He is the one who did the disservice to all of us, not the press.
"When one is VP, it would then lead me to think that he should have been much more responsible than he was."
Yes and no.
When does the Vice President stop being a human being with all (or at the very least, most) attendant flaws?
"He is the one who did the disservice to all of us, not the press."
He made an error, the last in a chain of them. He was the guy behind the trigger in a gun accident. I don't define that as a "disservice." You may. Your perogative.
The press, so far as I've seen, hasn't done a disservice to us, the gun-owning public. It has done a disservice to its much-vaunted objectivity, however.
The gun-control groups, however, have done their standard dance in the blood of the victim, as is their wont.
"losing sight of the fact that some very, very basic rules of gun safety were violated?"
I wouldn't say that many verys.
What's happening, as anytime there's a gun involved with ANYTHING, the press, who don't know anything about guns, suddenly become experts. (Example, Elian Gonazales's raid: "Well, he had his finger off the trigger, so it's OK...")
Cheney's admitted that he failed to be certain where people were, and there's not any argument. So... what exactly are we supposed to be arguing with you about?
I didn't think I was asking for an argument, just pointing out that this was a serious incident and it seemed all attention has been on the press and off of Cheney's action. I also believe that we should hold our VP to a higher standard than we do the average hunter. Higher standard equals a higher level of responsibility.
Trackback message
Title: What's (Not) Happening
Excerpt: Dick Cheney's Marksmanship:...The transparency of the attacks and self-serving whining about conspiracies is laughable. Speaking of laughable, here's a good cartoon, courtesy of The Smallest Minority and Mostly Cajun.
Muhammad Cartoons:...The ...
Blog name: Kevin's Korner
"seemed all attention has been on the press and off of Cheney's action."
That's because Cheney acted responsibly and maturely, shall we say, professionally? after making a mistake.
The Press, immediately acted _un_professionally. Insinuating that he was drunk, without evidence. Demanding an Explanation Right Now, By Bernstein's Ghost! (can't use God anymore, you know). How DARE you not page us before calling for medical aid!
Therefore, the _critisism_ should be levelled at the press. Cheney made a mistake, _didn't_ cover it up, got the victim immediate attention (And notice, the victim isn't as angry and frothing over this as the press). And the Press is angry that somehow, they should Have Been Involved.
The Press holds itself to the gold standard of TruthBearer, if you want to talk about standards - a standard that the vast majority of members of the press are woefully ill-fit to gaze upon that standard, much less bear it.
http://journalism.nyu.edu/pubzone/weblogs/pressthink/2006/02/16/chn_ftz.html
Rosen starts out fine, but look at what the comments (Which are incredibly enlightening) degenerate into. Steve Lovelady is the editor of the Columbia Journalism Review (he's in comments)
"Cheney is so deep inside the self-sealing bubble that he might as well live in some sort of bizarre parallel universe, one in which if you shoot a guy in the face and heart, you just pack him off to the nearest hospital --- and then go to bed without calling the police."
later: "The very citation you supply makes it clear that it was the Secret Service who called the sheriff, not Cheney." So, apparently, if Bush and Cheney themselves don't call 911....
Anyway. That's why we're more critical of the press than Cheney. Cheney screwed up, no doubt. And admitted it, apologised, and took the necessary and required actions. What did the press do? Have they apologised to McClellan? (hell, he's got a victory in a "hostile workplace" suit all but assured these days)
I agree with Aaron. Safety rules were violated and a tragic event occured. Mr. Cheney is solidly in the pro-gun camp so we're letting it "go" with a few lawyer jokes and general grousing about the press.
If the shooter had been someone we collectively dislike we'd have been screaming that he/she be drawn and quartered. Imagine the same incident if the shooter were H. Clinton, M. Moore, or some chowderhead Hollywood personality like Bono. Seriously, if Clinton's finger had been on the trigger would we be complaining that the press is "making a big deal of it"?
Giving Mr. Cheney a "pass" because we tend to like him does a disservice to us all.
(If you'll excuse me now I'm about to run for cover...)
Joe:
Who's giving Cheney a pass? Cheney hasn't denied he's responsible, that it was his mistake.
I mean, yes, I imagine that we'd be blasting Kerry or Moore ... but I can't see them _Admitting it was their mistake_.
John "I don't fall down, that son-of-a-bitch knocked me down" Kerry, ferinstance?
What else would you have us do? Demand his head? As the press is? And.. for what? I mean, what else should we do?
One of the guards at work today was telling me of a bumper sticker or some such he had just seen. It said "I'd still rather go hunting with Cheney than get in a car with Ted Kennedy" or at least something to that effect.
Andrew, you bet. Especially since I'm neither a lawyer nor a reporter. ;-)
Note: All avatars and any images or other media embedded in comments were hosted on the JS-Kit website and have been lost; references to haloscan comments have been partially automatically remapped, but accuracy is not guaranteed and corrections are solicited.
If you notice any problems with this page or wish to have your home page link updated, please contact John Hardin <jhardin@impsec.org>