Smoking Gun has First Cheney Accident Report

[RamboLiberal]

From Texas Parks & Wildlife.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0213061cheney1.html

[varkam]

1. Looks like Whittington was...

decked out in a Blaze Orange vest and cap. Easy to see how Cheney could have mistaken his head for a quail.

[seabeyond]

3. i say who the f* knows if there were any birds. hears a noise turns and

shoots. duh..... we are trusting these people that cheney wasnt a complete ass, drunk whatever. who is to say there was a nest of birds flying. hubby says hands down, if they were wearing orange, cheney all the way

[ClintonTyree]

54. How the hell could they know alcohol wasn't involved?

They didn't investigate this until the day after the "accident". I guess since he's president of vice and such an honest guy and all, they just took his word for it. :grr: Anyone who'd lie about the resons for going to war with Iraq wouldn't think twice about lying about something like this. Cheney and his pals had a full day to get thier stories straight (and get sober) before making a report. Have I told you lately how much I hate Cheney? I have? Too bad, I hate Cheney so much blood shoots out my ears when I think about his sorry ass. :grr: :rant:

[RamboLiberal]

6. Note they have the cover as light

H'mmm, doesn't sound like cover that would obscure Whittington.

[redwitch]

2. See Dick. Run!

Hahahahahah

[yorkiemommie1]

49. lol!

good one!

[redwitch]

53. Smoking Gun's header, not mine.

I thought it was very funny too. :hi:

[RamboLiberal]

4. They wrote both Cheney & Whittington up for violating

Code 43,652. Anyone know what that is?

On edit must've been not obtaining the stamp they needed to hunt these birds.

In addition to the document's release, wildlife officials reported today that while Cheney had purchased a valid non-resident hunting license, he did not obtain a required "upland game bird stamp." As a result, a warning citation--which carries no fine or penalty--will be issued to Cheney, which state officials described as "routine."

[varkam]

9. Probably the code that has to deal with...

blowing your fellow hunters away. Just a guess.

[Igel]

10. No bird stamp for migratory or upland game bird.

I don't know if they apply the law for farm-raised/stocked birds or not.

On edit: You beat me to it. Google's great.

[dogday]

15. That should cheer Wittington right up nt

[old blue]

55. Cheney did not need an "upland game bird stamp," silly

His power to shoot birds (and friends, for that matter) is implicit in Article II of the United States Constitution. If you don't see it there, then, um, it's implicit in Congress's War Powers Authorization.

[Vickers]

96. Seriously! Why do these people hate America?

:spank:

Also, them birds? Al Quaila. No doubt about it.

[dave29]

5. Cheney's activity was

"stalking"


LOL

The beautiful Texas Lawyer, so elderly, so rare, makes his way across the sunny hillside, unaware he is being stalked by Carnivorous Dick. Without warning, shots ring out, and the Texas Lawyer falls, like so many others, on the Texas Prairie.

[Cocoa]

58. Cheney the stalker

http://tinyurl.com/akecv

[Thor_MN]

77. Sadly, there can be but one outcome

Isn't that the standard line?

[janx]

100. "Carnivorous Dick"

!!

:rofl:

[TomInTib]

7. At least he can know he got shot by an idiot with a $6000 gun.

Perrazi 28.

[indie_voter]

8. This is interesting

"Whittington downed a bird and went to retrieve it." Isn't that different from what has been reported?

Can any hunters explain what this would mean in terms of what possibly happened? Thanks!!

[Igel]

12. I can't make out exactly where the guy was hit, it's

given on the form, the view from the front is clear, but not the back. Does it show that he was hit sort of from the side? I wonder if he was getting up--bend down, Cheney swings, and you stand up just in time to take some shot.

[Stephanie]

19. one press report said he was hit in the cheek, neck and chest.

Sounds bad. Seems to me if he was hit in that big an area he had to be pretty close to Dick.

[PegDAC]

84. 30 yards

Almost 100 feet.

[varkam]

18. Are you saying that...

the official version of events isn't what *really* happened? Surely you jest!

I also liked the date on the report...2/13/06...which is...hmmm...oh yeah it's today.

[indie_voter]

20. LOL!! I know, I was SHOCKED by the discrepancy. n/t

[RamboLiberal]

25. Yeah - amazing how they could tell neither

Cheney or Whittington was under the influence.

I bet they were drinking at lunch.

[Canuckistanian]

27. This was not reported right away

Just enough time for Crashcart to sober up.

[varkam]

28. I think you have a typo in your post Rambo...

you spelled breakfast "l-u-n-c-h".

[tridim]

40. Report made today, yet the box dealing with intoxication

is marked "NO". Is it common practice to make judgments about intoxication 48 hours after the incident?

[madrchsod]

22. Cheney screwed up

you are responsible for everything ahead of you--bright orange vest and less than 30 yds...it`s his fault for not making sure he had a clear field of vision

[indie_voter]

30. Absolutely

It just seems even worse than the 'he snuck up behind me' excuse. (disclaimer, I know nothing about hunting) The way it reads in the report, this guy goes to get his kill and Cheney accidentally shoots him. Shouldn't the party, including Cheney, be aware this guy was going to get his kill and make sure he was not in the line of fire?

If this is their new excuse, it just seems a lot worse than the ones which have come before.

[Tin Man]

74. No doubt about it - when you pull the trigger, YOU are responsible...

...for everything that happens afterwards.

The prerequisite for any shot is the knowledge that you're taking a SAFE shot. The SHOOTER is responsible for knowing the location of his partners - if there's any doubt about anyone's location (and the trajectory of the shot is such that it could potentially strike someone on the ground) - the shooter simply doesn't have a safe shot. Without a safe shot, you DON'T TAKE THE SHOT, PERIOD!!! It's a simple policy and the "golden rule" of hunting - no bird or animal is worth the risk of accidentally killing someone.

I discussed the Cheney Accident with my hard-core republican hunting buddy (this guy had a trophy room added to his house for the dozens of animal mounts he's collected in hunts around the world) and he too, didn't mince words - Cheney fucked-up, big time.

And it really pisses me off that our "crack" corporate media appear to be buying-into the WH spin that the accident was somehow Wittington's fault. I said it earlier, but it bears repeating - when YOU pull the trigger, YOU are the ONLY person responsible for what ensues. And FWIW, Cheney's fortunate he didn't kill the guy - had the distance been 15yds instead of 30, Wittington would be a goner.

[JohnnyCougar]

11. What's that "Game Law Violated - Yes" check box???

Do you see that?

P & W Code 43,652.

Does this mean that they broke the law??

[RamboLiberal]

14. They didn't have proper stamp for hunting these birds

Just noted, apparently no fine or charges.

[rzemanfl]

16. No upland game stamp, got a warning. n/t

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

23. P&W Section 43.652

SUBCHAPTER S. MIGRATORY AND UPLAND GAME BIRD STAMPS

Sec. 43.651. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Migratory game bird" means any bird listed in
Section 64.021 and includes any other species of migratory bird
that the commission by rule designates as a migratory game bird.
(2) "Upland game bird" means any bird listed in
Section 64.001, other than a bird that is also listed in Section
64.021, and includes any other species of upland game bird that the
commission by rule designates as an upland game bird.

Sec. 43.652. MIGRATORY OR UPLAND GAME BIRD STAMP REQUIRED.
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a person may not hunt a
migratory or upland game bird in this state unless the person
possesses the appropriate migratory or upland game bird stamp, as
applicable, issued to the person by the department. The commission
by rule may adopt requirements relating to possessing a stamp
required by this subchapter.
(b) The commission by rule may exempt a person or class of
persons from the stamp requirement of this section.

[lonestarnot]

42. So he didn't have a stamp? That's it? Shit......

[rzemanfl]

13. Perazzi shotgun showroom. Dickie's gun is no Mossberg.

[goclark]

21. Is that a little B B gun?

I thought they said it was a little tiny gun that couldn't really hurt anyone?

[PegDAC]

85. 28 gauge

fairly powerful, from what hunter friends of mine say.

[goclark]

103. And it is OK for a man with no heart and an ambulance

following him at all times to be shooting?!

[megatherium]

33. Very fancy shooting irons. I went to their web site too, and these

guns sell for something like $5000 USD.

[TahitiNut]

70. I think it's more like $10,000 from what I've looked at.

The lowest prices I saw were around $5K... going up to $15 and above.

[WePurrsevere]

97. That much for a gun & he still can't shoot worth crap. Only WUSSY hunters

shoot "fish in a barrel" which is what those farm raised quail basically were. Oh yeah... big mighty hunter :puke:

Cheney's type of BS hunter is what give REAL sportman hunters a bad rep. He's the type of hunter that causes farmers to go out and write COW or put orange on their animals.

[tridim]

41. That's sick, and not in the slang way

Talk about elite. Do the filthy rich customers sit on those posh couches and stroke their guns before purchase?

[crankybubba]

78. the showroom is in italy n/t

[soup]

17. Parks & Wildlife Code Violation

YES

P&W Code 43.652 state upland game bird stamp violation
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/warden/court_information/violation_codes/wildlife.phtml

Lock him up and throw away the key!

[Betsy Ross]

24. Brings to mind Tom Leher's song

...I went and shot the maximum the game laws would allow,
Two game wardens, seven hunters, and a cow.

[rateyes]

26. Happened Saturday...

Report given today!.....Hmmmmmmmmmmm. Why wait so long? Hmmmmmmmm. Interesting. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Is Whittington out of ICU?

[PegDAC]

86. Delay

gives time for coverup.

[Botany]

29. The report had a space about alcohol & drugs

How would the officer know? Cheney did not speak with law enforcement
until the next day.

[Junkdrawer]

66. The SS turned local law enforcement away the night of the accident...

I wonder how many SS agents know what about how many incidents? Are they sworn to secrecy?

[Jamastiene]

31. Haha, lol.

Wouldn't ya just know it? Not long after the smoke cleared from his gun, the Smoking Gun told on him. :rofl: This should provide some great fodder for laughs at that Dick's expense.

[NightOwwl]

32. Alan Simpson on Hardball is blaming Whittington.

Not a joke - he is going on and on about what a great shot Cheney is. Stating AS FACT that Whittington must have wandered into the path of the shooting. How the hell does he know what went on.

And so begins the RW Talking Points. Always blame the other guy. Ah well, that's par for the course for this administration.

[YDogg]

34. Alan Simpson is a douchbag. As is Matthews for having him on ...

... as he knows nothing about this specific incident.

[FatDave]

36. Yes, I've heard some news reports saying that...

...Whittington "stepped into Cheney's line of fire". This report says "victim covered by shooter who was swinging on game" right there on page 2, which incidentally is what some other news reports said. So much for the "stepped into the line of fire" spin.

[Mr_Spock]

39. Cheney SHOT a 78 YEAR OLD MAN!! What a fucking ass hole

Unbelievable.

Republicans could not possibly have lower integrity.

[Catchawave]

35. Don't hunters usually shoot birds in the air?

Based on the wound sketch (upper right page one), and if the victim was 30 yards away.....damn, wish I paid attention in Algebra now :(

[lonestarnot]

43. He was in a stalking stance.

[Rainscents]

37. Shooting their own? LOL

Nothing like, shooting your own kind! Cheney must thought Whittington was Hiliary.

[OzarkDem]

38. Police were turned away at the gate by ranch personnel

when they responded to the call to the Sheriffs office, per the press release.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0213061cheney3.html

[lonestarnot]

45. Guess those Armstrongs have some compound egh. ranch personnel?

[goodboy]

44. I called it! #7 1/2 Shot.. Harry's face is FUCKED! check it:>>>>

http://www.polywad-shotgun-shells.com/sr287/

These shells revolutionize shotgun pattern effectiveness by producing a quick, uniform opening of the pattern without adversely affecting pellet energy or downrange pellet count. These dispersion control loads can be used with any choke from full to skeet, and depending on the choke used, provide the shooter from 80% to 150% more pattern area at 15 yards than conventional shotshells fired through the same choke.
These larger patterns solve the problem of close range shooting and increase hits. Spred-R loads deliver hard hits throughout the pattern by dispersing the surplus center pellets into a wider pattern with a strong fringe! This results in less wounding of birds and cleaner, quicker kills. Spred-R shells are fantastic for the smaller upland birds such as Grouse, Quail, Woodcock and Lawyers. Spred-R shells come in 12, 16, 20 and 28 face blast gauges.



When the pellets of a conventional shell leave the muzzle, an elongated shotstring is created. The leading pellets are the center of the pattern and the trailing pellets are the outer circle. Since most of the pellets are in the center, the outer 1/3rd of the pattern is composed of sporadic and erratic pellets that are losing energy. This results in weak hitting pellets with huge holes in the outer 1/3rd of the pattern! Wounded birds are the result of these weak fringes.
When SPRED-R pellets leave the muzzle they are temporarily held to the post-disk wad. The shot does not string out as it does in a regular shell. Polywad's Dispersion Control Technology guides the leading pellets to the outer edge of the pattern, while trailing pellets stay in the center of the pattern. Hard hits are delivered throughout the pattern!
Features and Benefits of the High Performance SPRED-R Shotshell:
· Larger patterns develop quickly from any bore, solving the problem of close range shooting
· Downrange pattern density and pellet energy is maintained to insure effectiveness for longer range shooting
· 2-3 times increased square inches of coverage to increase your hits
· Pellets are distributed evenly in the inner and outer circle of the pattern for cleaner, quicker kills
· Hard hitting throughout the entire pattern for less wounding of game and more busted targets
· A shorter shotstring for more effective results on a moving target
What do leading Shotgun Experts say about the SPRED-R?

"Do they work? Absolutely."
Ross Seyfried, Guns and Ammo



"Of all the loads tested (250 tests), only one put the same percentage of pellets in both the center circle and the outer ring. The load was the SPRED-R."
Marshall Williams, Shotgun Sports


"If you turn quickly and shoot from the hip into a guys face, this is the shell for you"
Dick CHeney

[lonestarnot]

46. He'll be wearing spots for some time to come I'd say.

[stevedeshazer]

72. "Polywad" shells? Dick shot his "Polywad"?

The load was "SPREAD-R"?

You just can't make this stuff up. :)

[Tesha]

95. Guns are intimately associated with sex in the minds of certain men. (NT)

[HeeBGBz]

47. I have a problem with this

"the Kenedy County Sheriff's Office this afternoon issued a press release noting that an "investigation reveals that there was no alcohol, or misconduct involved in the incident." In an interview with deputies, Whittington "collaborated Vice President Cheney's statement," according to the release, which concluded, "This was no more than a hunting accident."

That's a mighty quick investigation. Think they'll dig any deeper?

[lancdem]

50. Do they mean corroborated?

Or did they collaborate on a way to cover up what Cheney did?

[soup]

94. Ha! Good catch.

corroborate - collaborate

To strengthen or support with other evidence; make more certain.

1. To work together, especially in a joint intellectual effort.
2. To cooperate treasonably, as with an enemy occupation force in one's country.

"gorilla - guerrilla HUGE difference, Captain Ron."

[WinkyDink]

52. WHAT "statement"? When did Cheney's office release a statement?

Hmmmmm??

[HeeBGBz]

65. So it should be on record somewhere?

In some law enforcement report?

[PegDAC]

87. The Sheriff's report

is on the Smoking Gun.

[progressivebydesign]

48. They're leaving the pellets or whatever they are in the guy's body..

Is that normal??? Why in the world would they leave these foreign bodies inside the guy??? Can't risk surgery? Are they near his heart???? I frankly think that they're sugar coating his injuries.. the guy is a freakin' multi millionaire.. they can move him into a "step down" unit as they said, but it could still be intensive care. I smell a rat in all this. You cannot be hit in such a centralized fashion and have it from far enough range not to do more than "pepper" the guy. Dick was drunk.. again.. and that is why they didn't let them visit Cheny until the next day. If one of us had shot a millionaire you KNOW we'd be hauled down for questioning and a breathelyzer instantly... or do hunting accidents get handled like jaywalking now?

I do have to ponder hunting accidents. You are out there to KILL things, and suddenly it's a tragedy if you get hurt or killed while KILLING something else? We're a bunch of speciesists.

[sybylla]

99. Normal?

I suspect it is when retrieving the small pellets would cause more damage than the pellets themselves did. Bird shot is now required to be lead-free so it won't likely be in place long enough to do harm to a 78-year-old man. If it were steel shot, you'd think they could use magnets to retrieve the pellets, but perhaps they went too deep.

As for the tragedy aspect, hundreds of millions of hunters spend time outdoors with a gun every year and a huge majority pride themselves on safety. As a percentage of hunters, very few hunting accidents happen each year. As for tragedy, it is a favorite word of the media and they use it for a wide range of generally non-tragic situations to inspire an emotional reaction. The only tragedy here is that an investigation into what happened was squashed and political fuckwads in DC are trying to blame the victim.

[Gregorian]

51. Two drunk driving tickets?

And didn't get the proper hunting tag? This guy just doesn't believe in following the rules.

He should not be in the White House. Period.

[gordianot]

56. One very expensive shotgun he was carrying.

Talk about expensive, I own guns but these people good grief. They have money to burn. Guess the doves got even this time.

see link
http://www.bullseyesportingarms.com/shotguns_m-z.htm

Perazzi MX-28 SC-3 Grade. Baby frame. 28 gauge with 29 1/2" vent rib barrels, fixed game chokes. Stocked with beautiful upgraded turkish walnut with lots of dark streaks and swirls. 15" lop small pistol grip. Beautiful full coverage scroll engraving. Pattern #101. This is the only MX-28 I have seen done like this. Weighs 6 lbs.2 oz. Gun is brand new and unfired in original hard case with all paperwork and accessories. Perazzi makes very few of these guns. The ultimate Argentina dove machine. New
$17,995.00

[Botany]

69. $18 K for a shotgun?

God is dick a sick bastard.

[gordianot]

71. It was the other guy but I'm sure Dick had an equally expensive gun.

We wouldn't want to start gun envy would we?

[go west young man]

90. Hey when Halliburtons raking in 300% profits Tricky Dick

can afford it! $18,000 could support a low income family but Cheney buys a shotgun with it that he doesn't understand how to properly use.

[truth2power]

57. I don't know much about guns, but...

is it possible to kill someone with that type of gun/ammo? Just wondering how potentially serious this is.

Also, didn't that Baxter guy "suicide" himself with birdshot? Or is that a different type of ammo altogether? Just curious.

[gordianot]

62. Bird shot you bet. Any shot gun at close range is like a cannon.

To have shot rain down on your head is not that uncommon. I was told one time that is how the old Elmer Fudd hat came about. To shoot anyone in the field or rain down shot is not good hunting discipline and can be avoided.

Modern shot guns are not as dangerous as the old shot guns with lead shot. The biggest danger of getting shot by bird shot outside of the trauma is lead poisoning. Any one who carries the guns (the man who was shot) are not using lead shot.

In a word yes all guns are dangerous. It is possible to be killed by a BB-gun.

[Tin Man]

76. Had the distance been 15yds, instead of 30, Whittington would be dead.

Like most dangerous idiots, Cheney was lucky it wasn't much worse.

It's like they say... "God protects children and drunks"
...and evidently, sociopaths too.

[TomClash]

59. You can kill animals and injure people

but fellatio is an impeachable crime.

What a country.

[upi402]

60. SAFETY POSITION: unknown

my ass! what am I missing here?

[TahitiNut]

73. It's a single shot ... break open (hinged) for safety.

:shrug: The sideways lever above the hand-grip unlatches it to break open for manual extraction and loading. That's the "safety" - a responsible shooter flushing birds will carry it open (over his off forearm) and flip it closed as he's raising it to shoot.

The scenario described was that Cheney had raised to shot, was tacking/leading the bird and as he was so swinging on lead he fired, hitting Whittington. As the protocols were told to me, however, when your target flushes across toward other hunters in your line, it becomes THEIR target for the very reason of this 'accident'. In other words, if the quail took off and flew low and to the left, and there were other hunters in the line to Cheney's left, he should've aborted his shot and let them have it -- because their shots would've been at a safer trajectory (i.e. in FRONT of them).

[gordianot]

75. I heard a claim he was shooting them on the ground.

Now I know this is not very important in the scheme of things, but know enough about the culture you never shoot grounded birds. Only pure shithead ignorant trash would shoot at a grounded covey.


It could be he was shooting on the ground. see link

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060213/ap_on_go_pr_wh/cheney_hunting_accident_33

Armstrong said the accident occurred as Whittington was retrieving a bird he had shot in the tall grasses on her property. Cheney and another hunter who she declined to identify moved on to another covey of quail — Armstrong estimated it was roughly 100-150 yards away — and Cheney fired on a bird just as Whittington was rejoining them. She said Whittington was in tall grass and thick brush about 30 yards away, which made it difficult for Cheney to see him, although both of them were wearing bright orange safety vests.

"Typically when you are coming back to a line, you would say `I'm coming up,' or whatever," she told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "It was completely unbeknownst to the vice president or the other shooter that Mr. Whittington was coming back up."

[upi402]

79. Thanks TahitiNut and gordianot

When I went shooting as a you, we all paid attention to all surroundings and NEVER shot unless a minimum of 100% certain of a path to target. Also, there was a 'no mans zone' that you made 110% certain all shooters knew you intended to enter, they confirmed you can go, then you go as you watch.

We were young and not yet complacent.

I always saw photos of birders with their shotguns cracked over their forearm. Cheney and the other hunter would likely know if they were doing that. Did Cheney not tell the investigator if he had it cracked, and had left the scene already?

[TahitiNut]

80. That sounds like Keystone Kops. No way do you go our front ...

... of the group, either by splitting apart and then playing Cemetary Ridge at Gettysberg or any other way. It's a fundamental violation of gun safety to form a hunting ("skirmish") line proceeding towards any people whatsoever - unless it's squad maneuvers in combat.

These dullards ought to all be dead if they're that arrogant and stupid.

[gordianot]

83. Wonder if this is how Scalia hunts?

I hope the secret service wears bullet proof on these excursions, would hate to see the innocent injured.

[Dunvegan]

91. TahitiNut: "No way do you go out front & play Cemetary Ridge @ Gettysburg"

Great Quote, TahitiNut~ :rofl:

You're right...we're talking basic bird hunting safety...betting dimes to dinner-rolls that Cheney was under-the-influence.

I have to bet that they held off the local cops until he sobered up.

Wonder how long they can keep the lid on this.

[Trevelyan]

93. here's the pheasant-slaughter story http://kdka.com/

This is just sick. They had 500 tame pheasants released, and they slaughtered 417 of them,

Cheney killing 70 himself.

This guy's just a sicko.

[Canuckistanian]

61. The FIRST one?

You mean there are more?

[savemefromdumbya]

63. Lots of other juicy stuff on that Smoking gun

like Cheney and Bush's drunken driving records

[gordianot]

64. I never heard the Cheney angle. Wait there is more

I found one article on 6 arrests and convictions for Dick. on edit It did not pan out.

[Bozita]

67. Why is the Swiss Miss not listed as a witness?

Maybe because she had her eyes closed?

[booksenkatz]

68. And in "Kenedy" County, too, eh?

:think:

[Patrick J Fitzgerald]

81. In Theaters This Summer...

"Dick Cheney's Naked Prey" - an Oliver Stone film based on true events.

Stripped, weaponless, alone and only ten desperate seconds ahead of Dick Cheney!

Plot Summary: A group of men are on a bird hunting trip in Texas. One of the party Harry Whittington, a millionaire attorney from Austin refuses to give a gift to the most powerful man in the world - the Vice President of the United States. Dick is offended...

This film is not yet rated.

I have an advance copy of the movie poster ---> http://patrickjfitzgerald.blogspot.com

[Ammonium]

82. Sounds like a rethug version of Chappaquiddick

If the repub croud gets to yammer about Chappaquiddick, this certainly looks like a Cheney version if I've ever seen one. He shoots someone, seriously injurs them, and waits until the following day to file a report? hmmm...

Maybe we should start calling it Armstrong ranch!

[Stephanie]

88. So Cheney didn't report it himself. What a wuss.

What a lameass little creep. What a dishonorable, disgusting little man. From stalling the story to blaming the victim to not being man enough to report it himself. What an embarrassment he is.

[go west young man]

89. Check out this 1999 article on Whittington....

http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/1999-09-03/pols_feature3.html

[txindy]

102. Oh, yeah, he's a peach.

Still not a bird, though, no matter what Darth believes! ;)

[Trevelyan]

92. "Uhmm, would it be considered rude to ask what happened to Scalia's 'daugh

"Uhmm, would it be considered rude to ask what happened to Scalia's 'daughter'? Why is there no mention of how she returned to Washington? And would Scalia really have brought his daughter along on such an outing? Since it wasn't a big secret that Scalia and Cheney were there, doesn't it seem reasonable to conclude that the ban on photographs was intended to protect the young woman's identity? And did Scalia really hang around to hunt for a few more days, despite the fact that, according to Sheriff Naquin, the hunting "was terrible. There were very few ducks killed."?

Is it possible that Scalia and Cheney opted to leave separately so as not to highlight the fact that someone in their party had gone missing? Since no one saw Scalia leave, then it follows that no one can confirm whether his 'daughter' left with him. And even if she did, doesn't this story, at the very least, have the makings of a good sex scandal? I mean, when two older guys and a young woman go duck hunting for a couple of days and no one brings back any ducks, people are going to talk. And if the two guys come back without ducks or the girl, then I think we could have a serious problem."

http://www.davesweb.cnchost.com/nwsltr50.html

RawStory is reporting that the third person on this latest "hunt" was a young woman (relative to Cheney and the other guy).

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

98. "collaborated" instead of "corroborated."

:think:

[wordpix]

101. "no misconduct:" but a report stated he had not updated his license