Cheney's Shotgun

Like many people, I'm unimpressed by Cheney's Fox interview concerning the shooting accident last Saturday. More than likely, the shooting was a stupid accident but the spin since last Saturday does nothing more than confirm that Cheney and Bush are two guys who believe they live by different rules than the rest of us. The title of the biography of the very wealthy Henry Ford II, Never Complain, Never Explain, only partly describes our president and vice president; to suit their needs, they have altered the slogan to: never explain, never apologize. Because they are two of the most powerful people on the planet, we're forced to take them seriously—somewhat. But in the end both these men, and their arrogance and posturings, are a bit ridiculous. Isn't that the dirty little secret the Republican Party is unable to admit? That the bitter laughter is growing?

Reader B.T. sent me an e-mail pointing out that the shotgun Cheney used was a Perazzi Brescia (he generously included pictures and links). Their shotguns come at different prices that range from just under $10,000 to as much as a half a million. I have no idea which model Cheney has but given all the tax cuts Cheney has been fighting for so that he and his wealthy friends can buy their expensive toys, I somehow doubt Cheney owns one of the cheaper models.

Many of the Perazzi Brescia models include very fine engraved artwork such as this:



But a few of the more expensive models include more elaborate artwork such as this:


Dick Cheney certainly likes the best but the above engraving, for all I know, might not suit his taste. But if it did, it would beg the question of whether he and Ashcroft were able to play well together.

Look, we take too much for granted in this era. I have no illusions about a lot of nonsense that takes place, but some things have got to be said aloud. I respect our constitution. I respect our long history of fighting for democracy and fairness. I'm proud of a system that sometimes allows people of real ability to accomplish things that benefit the rest of us and I do not mind if they are paid for their competence. But I resent having to respect power when that power is abused and is not used for all Americans, but just for a privileged few. No two politicians in high office have ever deserved to be brought down a peg or two more than Bush and Cheney. I belong to the loyal opposition but I will not cut them slack. They have had five years to do something, anything, the way people in government are supposed to do it. And these two gentlemen have repeatedly failed.