The Vice President swallowed hard and accepted responsibility today for shooting his hunting companion in Texas on Saturday.  This, and his victim’s uncertain recovery, has caused a quick falling off of joking at Cheney’s expense–joking that even the White House was joining in.  A number of needful things were expressed, though, over those several days.  Could the President’s press secretary’s wisecrack (about needing to wear orange when Cheney’s around) have been meant to signal the Vice President to, maybe, not be so scary all the time?  "Many a true word is said in jest," as the old adage has it.  Speaking of which, here’s a video clip of the President’s response, shortly after the 2000 election, to the suggestion that his legislative agenda was likely to get a cool reception in Congress.  Heh-heh.