A Reporter's Life


Cheney the hunter

So the world knows that Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot up a fellow hunter this weekend, somehow mistaking the elderly attorney for a quail. The Washington press corps went nuts, wanting to know why the White House didn't announce it immediately, and they're still going nuts.

Now, they have a very valid point. "VP shoots someone" is news that the White House shouldn't cover up or sit on. But here's the thing: The Washington reporters are milking this one for all it's worth instead of grilling the administration about slightly more important things. Hint: "VP shoots someone" is not something that will really affect millions of people.

It comes down to this: The entire Washington press corps got scooped by a Texas newspaper whose reporters actually work their beats. They feel stupid, they're out of touch with reality and they don't know which end is up. Everyone but the Texas paper is acting childish.

All is not lost, though. The TV show hosts have something new to joke about. (Letterman: "Good news, ladies and gentlemen, we have finally located weapons of mass destruction: it's Dick Cheney.")

Posted by Layla at 11:44 PM, February 14, 2006

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