Prognosticator, Soothsayer, Crystal Ball Gazer, and Oracle

Former VP Richard Bruce Cheney

Some people can have the facts correct yet reach a totally wrong conclusion. Witness this Abe Lincoln anecdote. It fits right in with what many fact checkers have found after their close examination of Dark Dick Cheney’s views and statements on torture.

In this example, Mr. Lincoln was a young lawyer in Illinois. After pleading a case before a jury, he became convinced he was losing, even though the facts were clearly on his side.  While having lunch with the jury at the local saloon, which in those days was not uncommon, he told them this story:

A farmer back home was sitting on his front porch when suddenly his 6-year-old son came running from the barn yelling:  “Pa, pa, the hired hand is in the hayloft with Sis and he is pulling down his pants and she is is lifting up her dress. Pa, they are going to pee all over the hay.”

Son, the father said: “You have the facts right but you have reached the wrong conclusion.”

The jury roared with laughter and later back in the court room, they ruled for Lincoln and he won his case.

To bad Mr. Cheney heard that one. Then again with his media blitz and all, it probably would be too late since his mind is already made up about most important things - damn the facts, full speed ahead with opinion and fallacy.