CHOREOGRAPHY BY KARL ROVE

...At a news conference at the Christus Spohn Memorial Hospital in Corpus Christi where he was treated, [Harry] Whittington called the incident an accident. He looked wan and the right side of his face appeared bruised, but spoke graciously of Cheney, with an occasional touch of humor....

"My family and I are deeply sorry for all that Vice President Cheney and his family have had to go through this past week. We send our love and respect to them as they deal with situations that are much more serious than what we've had this week," he said....

Moments later in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Cheney entered the state legislature chamber and was greeted by applause from lawmakers. Cheney began his political career as intern in the Legislature in the mid-1960s.

Officials praised a sizable donation from the Cheney family trust to the University of Wyoming where Cheney went to school.

"Thank you for the kind words," Cheney said. "I want to thank you for that welcome home. It's a wonderful experience to be greeted by such warmth by the leaders of our great state. It's especially true when you've had a very long week. Thankfully, Harry Whittington is on the mend and doing very well." ...

--L.A. Times

Somewhere in hell, Goebbels is giving Rove the thumbs-up.

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By the way, a new Marist poll says 65% of Americans (including 46% of Democrats) don't think the shooting incident should be investigated further. On the other hand, in response to the question "Does each of the following bother you a great deal, a good amount, not very much, or not at all about the Bush administration," 66% are bothered (48% a great deal, 18% a good amount) by the administration's Katrina response, 50% (40%/10%) by warrantless wiretapping, and 50% (31%/19%) by the Libby indictment.

59% disapprove of Bush's handling of Iraq; 58% disapprove of Bush's handling of the economy; 61% say the country's headed in the wrong direction.

So let's drop the Cheney shooting. It's over. The Bushies won that one. They're screwing up everything else, and America knows it. Let's talk about that.

(Restored post)