Open Season On Dick Cheney

The president is "satisfied" with Dick Cheney's "strong and powerful" explanation of the Whittington shooting, and the Kenedy Country Sheriff's Department considers the case closed.

Here are just some of the loose ends still dangling:

The Distance and the Damage Done. Cheney is sticking to his claim that he blasted Whittington from roughly 30 yards away, but hunting experts and gun enthusiasts continue to be skeptical that Whittington would have sustained the injuries he did from that distance. Which is it?

DRINKING.
Cheney says he had a beer with lunch.
Whittington says no one was drinking during the hunt.
Katherine Armstrong said at first it was "None, zero, zippo... No one was drinking." Then later she said "there may be a beer or two in there..."

Was alcohol a factor in the accident?
Did Cheney refuse to the let the sheriff interview him for 14-1/2 hours to allow the alcohol to be gone from his blood?

The 'ranch hand' that the sheriff spoke to at the Armstrong Ranch was the FORMER SHERIFF, who spoke to his boss before advising his successor that it would be better to interview the parties the following day

Why didn't the sheriff insist on a more timely investigation?

Why won't the hospital say if Whittington's blood corroborates his no-drinking claim?


Why won't doctors even say whether Whittington was given a blood alcohol test?

Was Katharine Armstrong actually an eyewitness, or just the designated teller of the agreed-upon tale?

Cheney told Brit Hume Armstrong was "an excellent choice" to put the shooting story out, because: "First of all, she was an eyewitness. She'd seen the whole thing."

Why was there an 18-hour delay in notifying the press?

Why, by his own admission, was Cheney shooting downward when he blasted Whittington in the face? Seasoned hunters wait until the bird takes flight to shoot – they don’t shoot a bird cowering on the ground.

Cheney told Britt Hume that he had turned to his right before blasting Whittington but the sheriff's report says that Cheney turned counterclockwise.

Why did Whittington -- a lawyer -- refuse to let the deputies questioning him about the shooting tape-record the interview?

Why didn’t Cheney immediately go to the hospital with the friend he had just shot instead of staying at the ranch for dinner and drinks?