Silence of the Quails

Hello, Clarice... Various Republicans are peeling from Cheney like translucent skins from fava beans. According to this Washington Post article, several are openly and unapologetically criticizing the poor judgment Cheney's exercising in the shooting incident of attorney Harry Whittington. It seems increasingly clear that ties to Cheney may cost many GOP re-elections across the country.

With so many finally jumping out of the line of Cheney's fire, I'm starting to feel a bit sorry for the president, who must be tossing and turning at night due to this Silence of the Quails thriller going on around him. Perhaps it's time to clean house. No one likes to admit a mistake or show disloyalty, but the POTUS might consider these perspectives:

• Women in disappointing relationships often come to this conclusion: "I can do bad by myself." Men frequently express the sentiment of being dragged down this way: "With friends like this, who needs enemies?"
• Drug counselors might admonish Bush for being an enabler, something of an equally culpable party in keeping an addict free to drug.
• Even foreign policy guru Brent Scowcroft, who served with Cheney under George Bush, Sr., has said that he doesn't recognize the man who now occupies the vice presidency.

I don't know. But if I were Mr. Bush, I'd consider it time to quit playing "the great big fat person" in this movie. It's getting late and it's just not wise to keep helping those with a habit of lurking on dark and secretive roads.