i guess on some level the administration's efforts to downplay the extent of harry whittington's injuries worked on me. even after hearing about how cheney shot him in the face and neck over the weekend, i guess it didn't occur to me that whittington might actually die.
which is why i was surprised by the news of his heart attack. "holy shit, this is serious," i thought. as if getting hit in the face by a shotgun isn't a big deal without a heart complication.
i don't mean to minimize the seriousness of this further. i really do hope that mr. whittington pulls through. but what would happen if he did die? i don't know much about texas law, but in most states if the victim dies, that would mean cheney could be prosecuted for negligent homicide, otherwise known as involuntary manslaughter.
the thought of a sitting vice president charged with such a crime is hard to imagine. i doubt if any prosecutor would actually pursue it.
