response 70 of 218:

Feb 15 20:40 UTC 2006

Don't say "supposedly"--jep won't like that any better than
"apparently".  MSNBC did in fact post said report.  Here's the lowdown:  
http://blogs.philly.com/blinq/2006/02/was_there_beer_.html

Also, interestingly enough, despite their willingness to divulge many
details regarding the condition and treatment of Cheney's latest victim,
there are two things that the hospital officials have (repeatedly)
refused to comment on (note:  not, "we don't know", but rather "we can't
comment on that"):  the number and composition of the pellets in
Whittington's body, and whether or not he had alchohol in his system
when he was brought in.

And, jep, the shooting itself isn't necessarily a big deal (accidents
happen), but the VP's continuing efforts to withold information make it
look like there's more to the story, and that's making it all a bigger
story.  Further, in the absence of real information, rumor and innuendo
will fill the gap (PR101).  If Cheney had talked to the police
immediately, followed that up with a news release to the media, and
followed that with a short/informal press conference ("this is what
happened, it was a stupid accident, my apologies and prayers to my
friend", etc), this whole story would already be fading away.