In an effort to be fair, I am providing a link to Mr. Cheney's response to this weekend's accidental shooting incident:
http://articles.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20060212154709990003&ncid=NWS00010000000001
He has taken full acountability for the accident.
That is good.
That's what Americans need want to see from a leader.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
#34 - White House Finds Humor in Cheney Gun Incident
This Forbes news article reports the White House staff's attempts at using humor to minimize the seriousness of Vice President Mr. Dick Cheney's shooting mishap this past Saturday:
http://www.forbes.com/work/feeds/ap/2006/02/14/ap2525155.html
I admit that I am anti-gun.
Very much.
So I am definitely lacking in humor in regards to gun related accidents.
But, the above Forbes article goes deeper than my distaste for guns...
Is it me or does anyone else just find the fact that White House staff are cracking jokes about this shooting as arrogant to the nth degree?
This situation is not funny.
At all.
The second in command to the greatest power in the world has shot someone, and his staff think it is funny?
He has shot an elderly man, whom will not be able to have the buckshot removed from his skin. And now one of those buckshot pieces has managed to work itself to the man's heart?!
Even more disturbing is the White House stance that the victim is "responsible" for this accident because he did not let Cheney and his group know that he was returning with his quarry?!
Hello!
I thought the person holding the gun is the one responsible for firing it?
The attitude taken by the powers that be is exactly what has gone wrong with political leadership in the United States.
Arrogant.
Defensive.
Lacking accountability.
Completely out of touch with how others perceive their unethical behaviors.
And they get away with it.
According to the National Rifle Association (NRA):
"... the organization's cardinal rules of hunting, including the need to make certain the target is actually what it appears to be."
(http://www.courttv.com/trials/berseth/backgrounder_ctv.html )
That sounds like the guy holding the gun is responsible for shooting... doesn't it?
Shooting someone in a hunting accident is a misdemeanor, or worse, a felony.
http://www.forbes.com/work/feeds/ap/2006/02/14/ap2525155.html
I admit that I am anti-gun.
Very much.
So I am definitely lacking in humor in regards to gun related accidents.
But, the above Forbes article goes deeper than my distaste for guns...
Is it me or does anyone else just find the fact that White House staff are cracking jokes about this shooting as arrogant to the nth degree?
This situation is not funny.
At all.
The second in command to the greatest power in the world has shot someone, and his staff think it is funny?
He has shot an elderly man, whom will not be able to have the buckshot removed from his skin. And now one of those buckshot pieces has managed to work itself to the man's heart?!
Even more disturbing is the White House stance that the victim is "responsible" for this accident because he did not let Cheney and his group know that he was returning with his quarry?!
Hello!
I thought the person holding the gun is the one responsible for firing it?
The attitude taken by the powers that be is exactly what has gone wrong with political leadership in the United States.
Arrogant.
Defensive.
Lacking accountability.
Completely out of touch with how others perceive their unethical behaviors.
And they get away with it.
According to the National Rifle Association (NRA):
"... the organization's cardinal rules of hunting, including the need to make certain the target is actually what it appears to be."
(http://www.courttv.com/trials/berseth/backgrounder_ctv.html )
That sounds like the guy holding the gun is responsible for shooting... doesn't it?
Shooting someone in a hunting accident is a misdemeanor, or worse, a felony.
I believe that when one of our leaders has committed a mistake that involves the well being of another person... well, I believe that should be up for public scrutiny.
These guys walk around with the power to annihiliate portions of the world.
They are given public consent to kill numerous people everyday.
Should Mr. Cheney be held up for public scrutiny over this shooting accident?
You betcha.
Should he have his hunting license suspended?
Yep.
Should he pay fines?
Yes.
Should he be more forthcoming about this accident?
Yes.
If Mr. Cheney had been Bill Clinton, Ken Starr already would have been snapping at his heels.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
#33 - War Makes People Sick
A team of reaseachers from the University of California have completed reviewing the medical records of 15,000 Civil War soldiers.
The news?
Fighting in the war made them sick.
Well, that is rather simplistic, but the study shows that there was a higher incidence of health problems (both physical and mental) for those who fought in the Civil War.
The BBC extends this information into the effects of war on today's soldiers.
Read more about this here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4686656.stm
The news?
Fighting in the war made them sick.
Well, that is rather simplistic, but the study shows that there was a higher incidence of health problems (both physical and mental) for those who fought in the Civil War.
The BBC extends this information into the effects of war on today's soldiers.
Read more about this here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4686656.stm
Friday, February 03, 2006
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