Posted by Dinah on February 18, 2006, at 22:32:14
In reply to Re: The fuss is about ... » zeugma, posted by annierose on February 18, 2006, at 20:25:50
I thought he had a hunting license, just not the specific stamp he needed for the specific type of hunting he was doing?
And that the owner of the ranch volunteered the information to the press because she thought it would be public knowledge anyway, and she preferred telling the story to her local newspaper, not because she was asked to? And that when she told the vice president what she planned to do, he merely told her to do what she felt she needed to do? Which is more or less what I'd tell a friend who was about to tell a story about me to the press. Especially if I were of a particularly private nature. Which isn't really a bad thing. It used to be considered a virtue, although I suppose it isn't anymore these days. Am I old fashioned to regret that?
I can't seem to find any confirmation that an investigating sheriff was turned away? I'm not saying it didn't happen. I just don't see any mention of it in the news reports by major agencies.
I must confess that I would be inclined to stress that I hadn't seen the person I'd shot, or hadn't known he was out there collecting a bird when I told the story, but again wasn't it the ranch owner and a friend who made the comments about the man not having announced himself per proper hunting protocol? As far as I can see, Cheney himself took full responsibility.
I'll grant that the vice president doesn't make a great politician, and that he doesn't handle media relations well. But that's not particularly a negative for me personally. I think it's almost refreshing. Of course, I backed Tsongas for admitting up front that he was going to raise taxes.
I'm not an apologist, or giving the party line. I just don't understand this as the issue it's become, which come to think of it is true for me of most news stories that garner public attention.
I'd rather see the attention given to the extensive invoking of executive privilege or the domestic surveillance issue. Perhaps especially the domestic surveillance issue, which bothers me no end on the same basis - the right to privacy. Or to question whether the staffing decisions for key government agencies have been based on qualifications and extensive experience for the specific jobs involved. Because as we have discovered to our detriment, it really does make a difference. And the readiness of the Department of Homeland Security to respond to potential crises. I'm not overly confident. And while my main focus has been on local news lately, isn't there some issue about inconsistencies in the official policies on leaks to the press that involves the same principal party? Could be wrong on that one.
I'd rather see investigative zeal poured into the boring but necessary task of seeing whether the tax cuts did indeed pay for themselves, as advertised, or if they were fiscally disastrous and should be repealed, or at least not extended. Especially given the cost of the war in Iraq and the cost of disaster recovery.
To me, what *appears* to me to be a tipping of the balance of power towards the executive branch of government deserves more attention than it's getting. Which is not an anti-executive branch statement. I am similarly concerned about a long term tipping towards the judicial branch that seems to be correcting itself somewhat, against all odds. And I would be equally concerned, and have been from time to time, with a tipping towards the legislative branch. Although my gut feeling is that such a large body isn't in too much danger of keeping enough unity to amass more power than it has been intended to have on a long term basis.
I hate to see the public's attention to political matters directed towards Cheney's hunting accident and away from the very important issues that appear to be at least temporarily eclipsed by it.
poster:Dinah
thread:610592
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20060204/msgs/611019.html