When asked why there was a delay in reporting this story, Dick said this:
It was important that it be accurate. I do think what I’ve experienced over the years here in Washington is as the media outlets have proliferated, speed has become sort of a driving force, lots of time at the expense of accuracy. And I wanted to make sure we got it as accurate as possible, and I think Katherine was an excellent choice. I don’t know who you could get better as the basic source for the story than the witness who saw the whole thing.
Really, Dick? Katherine was accurate? Hmmmmm, let’s see:
"It broke the skin … It knocked him silly. But he was fine."
"He was struck in the right side of his face, his neck and his upper torso on the right side of his body. …He was laying there on his back, obviously bleeding…"
What Katherine said:
"But he was fine. He was talking…"
What Dick said:
HUME: What did he say?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: He didn’t respond. He was — he was breathing, conscious at that point, but he didn’t — he was, I’m sure, stunned…
and let’s not forget the part where Katherine said there were no beers, but then Cheney said he had one at lunch, and so then Katherine said yes, there were beers available, and, oh yeah, now she remembers that Cheney had a cocktail afterward as well.
It doesn’t sound like Katherine was an eyewitness to the event. Or she’s a liar. Or Dick is. Or they all were drunk, running around the Texas ranch like some Benny Hill skit.