As you know, yesterday Dick Cheney subjected himself to the comfy chair and other unspeakable act of torture at the hand of noted foot massager and GOP lickspittle, Brit Hume.
Highlights:
Q: Would you describe him [Harry Whittington] as a close friend, friendly acquaintance, what --
THE VICE PRESIDENT: No, an acquaintance.
But, a little later, Dick says:
"I'm the guy who pulled the trigger and shot my friend. And I say that is something I'll never forget."
So which is it? Friend or aquaintance? Perhaps it just doesn't sound as good to say, "Yup, I'm the guy who pulled the trigger and shot an acquaintance."
Also of note was this rather specious claim, made by the Vice President:
THE VICE PRESIDENT: I thought that [it] made good sense [to let Katherine Armstrong break the story 20 hours after the shooting] because you can get as accurate a story as possible from somebody who knew and understood hunting...
Oh, accuracy was your concern was it? Accuracy? I see. So why, in her original account, did Armstrong say "
"This is something that happens from time to time," Armstrong said. "You know, I've been peppered pretty well myself."
Oh, I see. So getting your heart shot full of bullets is no big deal, an experience Katherine herself has enjoyed. Is that "accurate?"
The "accuracy" continues:
"It broke the skin," she said of the pellets. "It knocked him silly. But he was fine. He was talking. His eyes were open."
The way Katherine tells it, this heart-attack causing episode was little more than a bruise, a skinned-keen. "He was fine. He was talking." Now contrast her "accurate" portrayal of the events with the Dick's own words:
THE VICE PRESIDENT: He didn't respond. He was -- he was breathing, conscious at that point, but he didn't -- he was, I'm sure, stunned, obviously, still trying to figure out what had happened to him.
[...]
Q His eyes were open when you found him, then, right?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yes. One eye was open.
Yes, indeed. What a good thing the VP waited 20 hours to ensure accuracy. Lord only knows how those unscrupulous Washington spin machines would have framed the story if they had gotten to it first.
