February 19, 2006
Another non-news item
I just don't get it. The Vice President goes hunting. There is an accident. A man is shot. These things happen. According to the most recent data from the International Hunter Education Association, there were almost 600 firearm injuries related to hunting in 2003. Those are just the ones that were reported.
Given the fact that there were an estimated 20 million active hunters in 2003, this is a very safe activity, but accidents do happen. Even to the Vice President of the United States. This isn't something that anyone else would get in serious trouble for.
But I'm forgetting myself: rational evaluation of real-life circumstances doesn't seem to be a factor when critiquing the Bush administration. Anything'll do, so long as it makes 'em look bad.
I think the problem is that a government official used taxpayer money to commit a crime, accepted responsibility for it, and now refuses to accept punishment.
Normal civilians are punished for accidental shootings all the time (http://www.all-creatures.org/cash/taah-v-20040116.html). This hunter in Oregon was found guilty of misdemanor assault for accidentally shooting another hunter.
Posted by: Ben at February 20, 2006 9:33 AMMethinks I smell the influence of FoxNews, which has been harping on the need to move away from this and "onto real news."
The VP shot a dude in the face.
That's of interest.
Posted by: Nat at March 1, 2006 3:50 PMIf you think I watch FN, you've got another thing coming. I think they're just as obnoxious as you do.
Of interest? Really? The VP is in a hunting accident where the injured party says "Hey, these things happen" and declines to press charges and this is somehow more important than a $1 million bounty called out on a cartoonist?
You're drooling like Pavlov's dogs.
Posted by: ryan at March 1, 2006 4:18 PM