Cheney shooting accounts consistent

[Flabbergasted]

Eyewitness statements offer details of the hunting accident

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3679056.html
By TERRI LANGFORD
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

Statements given by eyewitnesses to the hunting accident involving Vice President Dick Cheney largely confirm previous accounts of the recent mishap, according to affidavits obtained by the Houston Chronicle on Wednesday.

The affidavits, released by the Kenedy County Sheriff's Department, give the most detailed accounts so far of the Feb. 11 incident, in which Cheney shot Republican activist and Austin attorney Harry Whittington while the two were quail hunting on a South Texas ranch.

"Mr. Cheney, not knowing that Harry had made his way into the shooting area, shot at the bird," wrote Michael "Bo" Hubert, an El Campo-based hunting guide. "And at that time is when Harry was shot."

Whittington, Cheney and Pamela Willeford, the U.S. ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, were hunting together at the Armstrong Ranch when Whittington, 78, walked out of the hunting line to search for a downed quail he had shot, according to previous accounts and the newly released affidavits.

[joemurphy]

1. He mistook Mr. Whittington for an emu. Accidents happen. n/t

[Zenlitened]

2. And when were these affidavits taken? Hmmmm.... several days...

... AFTER the shooting.

Yup, everything's hunky-dory here. Move along, citizens!

:crazy:

[mzteris]

3. remarkably consistent

so much so, they sound like the SAME story told over and over. Almost like it was - uh - rehearsed or something! :shrug:

[yellowcanine]

7. Hey I served on a grand jury and I can tell you that eyewitness accounts

are never completely consistent if everyone is telling the truth. Eyewitnesses just don't all see the same event the same way. It is only when people are lying that the stories are all consistent. You would think that when people are rehearsing a "story" they would figure that out. But they don't seem to.

[Canuckistanian]

4. Ok, we get it

There was

"no alcohol consumed

during the afternoon

of the hunt

in the field",

according to Willeford. That seems to me to be a VERY specific statement.

And she forgot to say "to my knowledge" as the other 2 did.

[Disturbed]

5. Pamela Willeford

was the only actual eyewitness yet she gave no initial statement. This case is of course over but it has shown those who are not Bush/Cheney Cult members that this VP is an arrogant control freak who felt that he didn't need to follow proper procedure in a serious hunting accident.

[Canuckistanian]

9. I don't think she made a statement to the press, either

At the time. I have no idea whether they were all plastered or not. But this ties things up just a little too neatly.

And the 12-hour wait to inform anyone outside of Texas of what really went on is the real story here.

[longship]

6. I basically believe the accounts.

They are very plausible, even probable. Cheney wasn't paying attention to where Whittington was. He took a shot and Whittington happened to be in the way.

I have absolutely no problem with this account. Cheney was clearly wrong here, and he has accepted responsibility. So far, so good.

My problem with this matter is the accountability issue and also the fact that they seemed to have covered this up for almost a whole day.

I think Crashcart had been drinking and he knew that he could go to jail for this.

So how does one hold him to account? If they hadn't attempted to sweep it under the rug for a day, I would have said that he should pay a stiff fine and that Congress should decide what to do. If they decided nothing, I could have accepted that. Minor misdemeanor based on an honest mistake, possibly not worth impeachment.

But since he was likely drinking and deliberately attempted to escape justice for it, we're talking felonious actions here--obstruction of justice, failing to report, mishandling a firearm while under the influence of alcohol, reckless endangerment. None of this is trivial. Any one of them could and should bring action in Congress for impeachment.

In my opinion, we should add this to the litany of impeachable offenses ChimpCo and Crashcart have committed.

These guys have to go.

[PBass]

8. I agree with Longship, it was an accident IMO

However I'm not even sure he was drinking to any excessive degree.

I think the overnight delay was due to the discussion whether they'd absolutely have to come forward and name Cheney as the shooter. I think they were all hoping it was all just superficial wounds at first, and then they could basically hide the whole thing from the public. When the wounds were found to be more serious, I think they realized that wasn't in the cards.

My little theory...

[Canuckistanian]

10. Agreed.

IF the story happened as you say, and if he had just 'fessed up' when it happened (never mind the severity of the injury), then no one would have blinked an eye.

[MrBenchley]

11. They were given time to coordinate their accounts....

A lie agreed upon by some is still a lie.