Reply #62: Whatever the truth may be, he's called "a good shot" because he's

[Nothing Without Hope]

being propagandized as an archetypal, symbolic figure, The Hunter, a stern, intimidating, figure who protects and provides for the weak. The strong, silent, get-it-done, don't-mess-with-me Marborough Man. It's deliberate. No kidding! This is propaganda and PR framing. Who knows or cares whether he is actually "a good shot."

Here are two threads that touch on the "archetype" issue, which also explains why Cheney was weakened more than one might think by the episode. He's so obviously NOT what he is portrayed to be:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x464667
thread title (2-19-06 GD): Jane Hamsher Explains the WIDER IMPORTANCE of the Cheney Shooting Story
Comment/excerpt: Very insightful analysis by Jane Hamsher of firedoglake. As Jane sees it, Fuddgate has weakened Cheney, and this has in turn lessened his clout in strong-arming Congressional members into toeing his line., at least for now. One major issue impacted by this, Jane believes, is the status of NSA investigation.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x467252
thread title (2-19-06 GD): Why Cheney's hunting accident matters - By Stan Goff
Comment/excerpt: He perceives the way ARCHETYPES deliberately concocted by propaganda have been damaged by Fuddgate. Excerpt: “…This is the age of postmodern politics – the age of impression management. This is the time when the narrative is used to trump reality. No doubt perfidy has always characterized politics, but the good old days of no-bullshit thuggery and patrician patronage has given way to the construction of puerile caricatures. And many thought that Bush was the mediocre narcissist who liked to dress up in flight suits and caper across the decks of aircraft carriers. This incident exposes Cheney himself as just another costumed buffoon, and not the Darth Vader figure he and his desperately insecure admirers seemed to relish. … Dick Cheney has constructed himself as a hunter…consistent with his supposedly intimidating predator image. These are hegemonic masculinities, but only in the most theatrical sense. The cowboy and the hunter are idealized archetypes from a mythical past.

And here's a link to COMPILATION THREADS on the Cheney shooting/Fuddgate, one in the GD forum for discussion and one in the Research Forum for easy long-term updating. The video threads are organized at the end of the list:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=358x3133
thread title (2-14-06 RESEARCH FORUM): Compilation of threads on 2/06 Cheney shooting incident, including videos

thread title (2-17-06 GD): COMPILATION OF CHENEY SHOOTING THREADS - with comments/excerpts:
Comment/excerpt: Repost of updated thread started in this forum Feb 14. At time of posting, it is identical to the version in the Research Forum.