NationStates Jolt Archive


Secret Service Agents claim Cheney was drunk during hunting accident

Minoriteeburg
22-02-2006, 20:47
Secret Service agents say Cheney was drunk when he shot lawyer
By DOUG THOMPSON
Feb 22, 2006, 07:35


A written report from Secret Service agents guarding Vice President Dick Cheney when he shot Texas lawyer Harry Whittington on a hunting outing two weeks ago says Cheney was "clearly inebriated" at the time of the shooting.
Agents observed several members of the hunting party, including the Vice President, consuming alcohol before and during the hunting expedition, the report notes, and Cheney exhibited "visible signs" of impairment, including slurred speech and erratic actions, the report said.

According to those who have read the report and talked with others present at the outing, Cheney was drunk when he gunned down his friend and the day-and-a-half delay in allowing Texas law enforcement officials on the ranch where the shooting occurred gave all members of the hunting party time to sober up.

We talked with a number of administration officials who are privy to inside information on the Vice President's shooting "accident" and all admit Secret Service agents and others saw Cheney consume far more than the "one beer' he claimed he drank at lunch earlier that day.

"This was a South Texas hunt," says one White House aide. "Of course there was drinking. There's always drinking. Lots of it."

Cheney has a long history of alcohol abuse, including two convictions of driving under the influence when he was younger. Doctors tell me that someone like Cheney, who is taking blood thinners because of his history of heart attacks, could get legally drunk now after consuming just one drink.

If Cheney was legally drunk at the time of the shooting, he could be guilty of a felony under Texas law and the shooting, ruled an accident by a compliant Kenedy County Sheriff, would be a prosecutable offense.

But we will never know for sure because the owners of the Armstrong Ranch, where the shooting occurred, barred the sheriff's department from the property on the day of the shooting and Kenedy County Sheriff Ramon Salinas III agreed to wait until the next day to send deputies in to talk to those involved.

Sheriff's Captain Charles Kirk says he went to the Armstrong Ranch immediately after the shooting was reported on Saturday, February 11 but both he and a game warden were not allowed on the 50,000-acre property. He called Salinas who told him to forget about it and return to the station.

"I told him don't worry about it. I'll make a call," Salinas said. The sheriff claims he called another deputy who moonlights at the Armstrong ranch, said he was told it was "just an accident" and made the decision to wait until Sunday to investigate.

"We've known these people for years. They are honest and wouldn't call us, telling us a lie," Salinas said.

Like all elected officials in Kenedy County, Salinas owes his job to the backing and financial support of Katherine Armstrong, owner of the ranch and the county's largest employer.

"The Armstrongs rule Kenedy County like a fiefdom," says a former employee.

Secret Service officials also took possession of all tests on Whittington's blood at the hospitals where he was treated for his wounds. When asked if a blood alcohol test had been performed on Whittington, the doctors who treated him at Christus Spohn Hospital Memorial in Corpus Christi or the hospital in Kingsville refused to answer. One admits privately he was ordered by the Secret Service to "never discuss the case with the press."

It's a sure bet that is a private doctor who treated the victim of Cheney's reckless and drunken actions can't talk to the public then the memo that shows the Vice President was drunk as a skunk will never see the light of day.

Well that would explain how you accidentally shoot someone in the face.
Minoriteeburg
22-02-2006, 20:50
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_8184.shtml

heres the link
The Nazz
22-02-2006, 20:54
Whoa--Capitol Hill Blue isn't exactly what I call a reputable source. It's the left's version of Newsmax, quite often--it gets one story right out of fifty on an average day, in my experience. Cheney might have been drunk, and CHB might have a scoop here, but I'll wait for verification from other, more reputable sources.
Sdaeriji
22-02-2006, 20:56
Whoa--Capitol Hill Blue isn't exactly what I call a reputable source. It's the left's version of Newsmax, quite often--it gets one story right out of fifty on an average day, in my experience. Cheney might have been drunk, and CHB might have a scoop here, but I'll wait for verification from other, more reputable sources.

I concur. I'm liable to believe it, since getting drunk on a hunting trip is far from unheard of, but I'll wait until a less slanted news agency puts out the story.
Kecibukia
22-02-2006, 20:57
Whoa--Capitol Hill Blue isn't exactly what I call a reputable source. It's the left's version of Newsmax, quite often--it gets one story right out of fifty on an average day, in my experience. Cheney might have been drunk, and CHB might have a scoop here, but I'll wait for verification from other, more reputable sources.

Coming from Nazz, I think that says it all.
Kevcompman
22-02-2006, 21:00
Unless I see it on Headline News or in TIME magazine, Im not going to believe that.
The Nazz
22-02-2006, 21:01
Coming from Nazz, I think that says it all.
I've always figured that if I'm going to call bullshit on Newsmax, I ought to do it to the groups who come up with sources that favor my side too, if they have a reputation.

The really sad thing, however, is that I don't find the story itself unbelievable. it would explain an awful lot about what happened if Cheney really was drunk. Of course, if it were proven that he was, Cheney might be pressured to resign, but there's a hell of a gulf between believable and proven.
Sdaeriji
22-02-2006, 21:03
I've always figured that if I'm going to call bullshit on Newsmax, I ought to do it to the groups who come up with sources that favor my side too, if they have a reputation.

The really sad thing, however, is that I don't find the story itself unbelievable. it would explain an awful lot about what happened if Cheney really was drunk. Of course, if it were proven that he was, Cheney might be pressured to resign, but there's a hell of a gulf between believable and proven.

Well, yeah. Getting drunk and shooting shit is as American as apple pie.
Dempublicents1
22-02-2006, 21:07
http://www.toonedin.com/cheney.html
Kecibukia
22-02-2006, 21:07
I've always figured that if I'm going to call bullshit on Newsmax, I ought to do it to the groups who come up with sources that favor my side too, if they have a reputation.

The really sad thing, however, is that I don't find the story itself unbelievable. it would explain an awful lot about what happened if Cheney really was drunk. Of course, if it were proven that he was, Cheney might be pressured to resign, but there's a hell of a gulf between believable and proven.

Oh, sure. I don't deny he may have been. Coming from that site though would almost make be believe he was stone cold sober. :)
Cahnt
22-02-2006, 21:08
I concur. I'm liable to believe it, since getting drunk on a hunting trip is far from unheard of, but I'll wait until a less slanted news agency puts out the story.
From some of what I've read, I get the impression that it's obligatory to be pissed if you're hunting in Texas.
The notion that he spent the fourteen hours delay before notifying the media being forcefed black coffee and slapped in the face is an amusing one, though.
Peechland
22-02-2006, 21:09
Wait...somethings wrong. Bug- you made a "normal" thread. :eek: Are you ok love?
Man in Black
22-02-2006, 21:11
Well, yeah. Getting drunk and shooting shit is as American as apple pie.
Pretty much. USA! USA! USA! *hiccup* *BOOM! *
Pantygraigwen
22-02-2006, 21:14
He can't have done it on purpose, the guy didn't have any oil-wells.
Kecibukia
22-02-2006, 21:15
I remember the last thing my dad said to me before he died:

"Son, make sure that thing ain't loaded."
Kecibukia
22-02-2006, 21:17
He can't have done it on purpose, the guy didn't have any oil-wells.

But he was a lawyer. There's reason enough.
Pantygraigwen
22-02-2006, 21:18
But he was a lawyer. There's reason enough.

Yes, but politicians like lawyers, they both share a dubious relationship with verité.
Sumamba Buwhan
22-02-2006, 21:20
so thats why he waited so long to talk about it... he was getting over a killer hangover. :p
Sdaeriji
22-02-2006, 21:22
From some of what I've read, I get the impression that it's obligatory to be pissed if you're hunting in Texas.
The notion that he spent the fourteen hours delay before notifying the media being forcefed black coffee and slapped in the face is an amusing one, though.

I do believe there's a law about it on the books somewhere in Texas. Although it does explain why there was that delay.
Cahnt
22-02-2006, 21:24
I do believe there's a law about it on the books somewhere in Texas. Although it does explain why there was that delay.
Get tyhe breathalyser! No! he's still pissed! More coffee! Start giving him it intravenously if necessary! This fat **** has to be sober by the time the press appear!
PsychoticDan
22-02-2006, 21:24
I've beer bonged many a six pack with the Chen-dog. :)
Minoriteeburg
22-02-2006, 21:34
Wait...somethings wrong. Bug- you made a "normal" thread. :eek: Are you ok love?


yes dear im quite alright, just a slow news day thats all.

teehee you called me bug:D
Muravyets
23-02-2006, 02:04
This is the news part of the story? Of course he was plastered! He's a rich white man, isn't he? He was hunting, wasn't he? He's so politico-socio-economico-connected he farts pac money, right? Look who he was out with. Don't you know who these people are? They're the Ale 'n Quail Club. Haven't you ever heard of them?

This is a real thing, I swear. It's not a formal club, though there are actual chapters in New York and other cities with very toney neighborhoods. It's kind of like the Illuminati or the Freemasons -- but with quail -- and ale. The ale is absolutely required. It's in the name. You simply cannot put rich white men and quail together without liquor for glue.

Everybody, do yourselves a favor right now. If you really want to know what happened on that Texas ranch, get over to Netflix and order yourselves a copy of The Palm Beach Story, directed by Preston Sturges, starring Joel McCrae, Claudette Colbert, Rudy Vallee and Mary Astor. Trust Auntie Muravyets. It will all make sense.
Gymoor II The Return
23-02-2006, 02:21
Everybody, do yourselves a favor right now. If you really want to know what happened on that Texas ranch, get over to Netflix and order yourselves a copy of The Palm Beach Story, directed by Preston Sturges, starring Joel McCrae, Claudette Colbert, Rudy Vallee and Mary Astor. Trust Auntie Muravyets. It will all make sense.

Also starring Troy McClure.

"Hi, you might remember me from shooting you in the face."

Oh crap...I just realized how inappropriate that was.

Oh well, my ticket to hell has already been reserved.
Markreich
23-02-2006, 03:33
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/45572
Muravyets
23-02-2006, 07:37
Also starring Troy McClure.

"Hi, you might remember me from shooting you in the face."

Oh crap...I just realized how inappropriate that was.

Oh well, my ticket to hell has already been reserved.
Maybe they'll bump you up to first class. :D
Minoriteeburg
23-02-2006, 07:53
Also starring Troy McClure.

"Hi, you might remember me from shooting you in the face."

Oh crap...I just realized how inappropriate that was.

Oh well, my ticket to hell has already been reserved.


you'll be sittin next to me