Antonin Scalia Is Lucky to Be Alive

The whole Dick Cheney hunting "accident" story is truly one of those things you can't make up. Is there anything that this guy doesn't screw up? A few thoughts.

First, combined with the story coming out that Cheney authorized Libby to leak classified portions of the NIE to defend the pre-war intelligence, this hunting story now links Cheney with Aaron Burr in two ways: both are the only sitting Vice-Presidents to have committed treason and shot a man during their time in office.

Again, running this story through the "How Would the Right React if Clinton Had Done It" machine, consider the fact that Cheney waited 24 hours before notifying anyone in the media that this happened (and by "this" I'm referring to the serious fact that the VP shot someone, not a minor story). And we now are learning that Cheney NEVER informed the media about what had happened -- the person whose ranch it was ultimately did it. I'm thinking back to delays in the Vince Foster investigation that spurned right-wing conspiracy theories. Cover up anyone?

But I'm struck with how this incident is similar to how the Administration, and Cheney in particular, handles everything: never admit you did anything wrong, no matter how culpable you are. Although it seems clear that Cheney is at fault here (it's hard to come to any other rational conclusion, as other hunters have said), he's showing all the class of the gentleman that we (and Senator Leahy in particular) know him to be, by blaming the ELDERLY MAN THAT HE SHOT. Very nice.

So, I've now changed my view on the duck hunting trip that Cheney took with Scalia. I want to know when they are going again, and if they can take Justice Thomas with them next time.

UPDATE: This is rich:

Presidential spokesman Scott McClellan said Monday that Bush and senior
aides were told Saturday night by the staff of the White House Situation Room
that somebody in the Cheney's hunting party was shot, but he said he was not
told until Sunday morning that Cheney was the shooter. He said he contacted the
vice president's office about making the information public.

- posted by Joshua @ 10:35 AM