If the rule of law in America applies to everyone, then how come when the vice president, Dick Cheney, shot hg
150730
I shot the sherrif\nBut not the deputy...
110490
As far as I know, it was Dick Cheney who shot his hunting partner (it WAS an accident) and they were in Texas. He has since had a heart attack because one of the pellets moved into his heart, but the doctors have said he will be ok and they are not going to operate.
105470
i want to clarify something about somethingsharper's response.  \n\nthere is nothing in the law that stipulates that a victim of a crime gets to decide whether to press charges.  criminal law exists in order to protect the entire society against acts that are deemed detrimental to the entire society.  as such, the only person who decides whether or not to press charges is the people's representative, the district attorney under whose jurisidiction the crime took place.\n\nhowever, quite often the district attorney will ask the victim of a crime if they wish to press charges, as a matter of expediency and to make the system a little more human.  for civil cases, on the other hand, these can be initiated by anyone at all, and they have total freedom in deciding whether to drop the case or not.\n\nHOWEVER there is no requirement that a district attorney not send a case to criminal court.  since district attorneys often move on to politics, and because an involuntary manslaughter charge against a standing vice president has enormous political ramifications, such a thing is not outside the realm of possibility.\n\nthat said, i think it's very VERY unlikely that any DA is going to press charges without the victim's consent here.  if that happens i think it's clearly an open-and-shut case in terms of the criminal court, but with such a powerful defendant i would be surprised if anything went by the book.  \n\naltogether i think the chances of cheney ending up in prison are extraordinarily low.
125915
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- "Dick Cheney was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Wyoming. In 1989, he left to become President Bush's Secretary of Defense. During his time in the House, his record was not only pro-gun, it was extremely pro-gun. He was one of only four members to vote against the ban on plastic guns, and one of only 21 members to vote against the ban on cop-killer bullets. Here is a quick look at his record: \n\n"On December 17, 1985, the House voted to ban cop killer bullets, HR 3132, 'The Law Officers Protection Act.' It passed 400-21. Cheney was one of the 21 to oppose the legislation. \n\n"In 1986, Cheney cast a series of votes on the McClure/Volkmer Firearms Owners Protection Act and its amendments. McClure/Volkmer was an effort to gut the Gun Control Act of 1968, and to prevent the ATF from effectively investigating rogue gun dealers and traffickers. Cheney voted against all HCI positions on McClure/Volkmer and its amendments, and voted for final passage of McClure/Volkmer on April 10, 1986. The measure passed by a margin of 292-130. He voted against an amendment (Transportation amendment, 4/9/86) that would have allowed localities to regulate the transportation of handguns within their jurisdiction; and he voted against an amendment (Sales, 4/9/86) that would maintain current law prohibiting the interstate sale of handguns. \n\n"On May 10, 1988, the House voted on HR 4445, 'The Terrorist Firearms Detection Act.' It passed 413-4. This legislation banned the production, importation, sale or delivery of non-detectable firearms made mostly of plastic. Cheney was one of the four votes against this measure. President Reagan signed this bill into law on November 10, 1988. \n\n"On September 15, 1988, the House voted on an amendment by Rep. McCollum to strip the national seven-day waiting period for handgun purchases from the Omnibus Drug Initiative Act of 1988 (HR 5210). Cheney voted for the amendment, which was essentially a vote against an early version of the Brady Bill. It would take five more years, and hundreds of lives lost needlessly, for Congress and a new president to pass the Brady Bill. \n\n"Clearly, the NRA had signoff on Governor Bush's choice of a running mate; there is no other way to account for the choice of one of the most extreme pro-gun legislators of the last twenty years. The NRA has already promised its members that, if Governor Bush is elected, they will be able to 'work right out of [his] office.' Certainly, if they get there, they'll find Vice-President Cheney welcoming them with open arms."
799785
Why are you surprised? Cheney shot a lawyer. Edwards is a lawyer. They take care of their own.
238271
Heck yes!\nIt's not funny that someone got shot, but OMG is it funny that our Vice President was shooting quails in a freakin' enclosed pen and was still so inept that he actually shot a person. Maybe the inside story was that the friend was actually trying to hold a quail still for Cheney to shoot at - and he still missed.\n\nIt's just such a perfect symbol of the arrogant, careless and dangerous way that this presidential office conducts itself.
1186500
On all issues of law the final arbiter in the United States is the Supreme Court.  That body in the USA's tricameral system of government has frequently overruled the executive and/or legislative branches of government as to interpretations of existing law.  This in no way should lead one to make such statements as "the President is ignoring the constitution."  It merely demonstrates that a reading  of existing law has been more narrowly defined by the court as interpreted vis-a-vis the constitution and that the system of checks and balances work.
72109
It is important to remember that laws are created and enacted by Congress, but the President does have certain powers that are above the law.  He or she is allowed to circumvent laws to protect the nation.  This is the President's ultimate task - to protect the citizens from destruction or harm.  This is also why so many people and news media have many things to gripe and report on.  It is often a matter of opinion as to when laws must be circumvented and what classifies as a true threat to the citizens.  This issue will only grow more argumentative as time goes on, but in the end, I believe the President will win.  Right or wrong, people are willing to sacrifice laws and freedom for security.
547098
I think only the President of the Senate is mentioned (the Vice President of the United States) along with the President pro tem.  The rest of the officers are left up to the Senate as it is given power to make its own rules.
973889
What people don't understand, is during the trial for impeachment, if Bush were found guilty, Cheney would be found guilty of C.A.H. also, and would Not become the next President. \n\nIs this why people are afraid to attempt to impeach Bush?  If an investigation began for impeachment process, we could all see Cheney is the puppet master. \n\nUnfortunately, the Dem's are having to battle a deeply embedded evil power that goes beyond Bush.  Things will only get worse. \n\n.
741480
This must be new, haven't heard of this yet.  1st amendment is the reason why.  Shoot, Mr Cheney told a senator to go f*&^ himself in the senate house, balls being met with balls is OK in my book.  I admit it, I like Cheney, alot more politicians should be told to go f#%$# themselves.
94286
He broke the thou shalt not shoot thy friend in the face law.  What an idiot.\n\nUsually we are worried about who might shoot our president not who out pres and vice will shoot.  Scary world we live in.
206857
Well, our vice president shot someone a few weeks ago.  There was no investigation.
19283
The U.S. Consitution, as adopted in the 18th century, did provide for succession to the office of the President, but did not provide a way to fill a vacancy in the office of Vice President.\n\nThis was covered by the 25th Amendment, which was adopted in 1967.  The 25th Amendment includes the following text, in section 2: "Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress."\n\nAnd quoting from the relevant article in Wikipedia (linked below): "Gerald Ford was the first Vice President selected by this method, after the resignation of Vice President Spiro Agnew in 1974; after succeeding to the Presidency, Ford nominated Nelson Rockefeller as Vice President."\n\nSo the answer is not that the Speaker of the House would become the Vice President, but rather that the President selects someone to fill the vacancy, and Congress confirms the appointment.
865084
Section 1)  If the President leaves office through either his death or his resignation, then the Vice President becomes president (notice the first section doesn't require him to be sworn in, even though it's customary).  \n\nSection 2)  If there is no Vice President (for whatever reason), then the President nominates someone for Vice President; that person must be confimed by a majority (51%) of the House of Representatives.\n\nSection 3)  If the President signs a letter saying that he is not able to do his job for a time, the duties of the President are performed by the Vice President; he takes his office back by signing a letter declaring that he is able to resume his job.  This section is all about VOLUNTARILY giving up power for a time; it has been invoked on a number of occasions when a president has had to have surgery, for instance.\n\nSection 4)  is about INVOLUNTARILY surrendering power; If the Vice President AND a majority of the cabinet (or another body that Congress selects) determine that the president is incapable of fulfilling his duties, they deliver a letter to the President Pro Tem of the Senate and the Speaker of the House declaring this fact, at which time the Vice President assumes the duties of the President as *acting* president.  If the President later sends a letter to these same parties stating that he is fit to carry out his duties, he will re-assume his duties unless the VP and the majority of the cabinet (or the other selected body) sends another letter to the President Pro Tem of the Senate and the Speaker, saying that the President is not capable of performing his duties (this would be the second letter stating this); if that happens, the Congress assembles, and if a two-thirds vote of BOTH houses agrees with the VP and the Cabinet/ other body, then the VP takes over the duties of the President.\n\nAll this came about after the shooting of John F. Kennedy; had he lived, but been incapacitated, there would have been no constitutional basis for then Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson to have assumed the powers of the president; this amendment clarified the succession of the presidency in the event that the president was incapacitated but not dead.  It also provided for the appointment of a new vice president (Johnson served as President at least three years without a Vice President after becoming President when Kennedy was killed, thus putting the Speaker of the House 2nd in line for quite some time).
98784
It probably was an accident. I mean, why would Cheney shoot his fellow Republican on purpose?
98070
Since you used the word "accidentally", then it IS an accident. I noticed you keep asking about various people being shot by the Vice President. It doesn't matter who they are...get over it!!!! It was an accident. I would rather go hunting with Chaney then riding with Kennedy...you may be too young to remember that a woman drowned to death while T. Kennedy was driving under the influence of alochol and HE didn't report it til days later.....look it up....Chappaquidick, Mass...