OK, it was an accident. But Dick Cheney isn't the first sitting vice president to get in trouble with a gun. New York politician Aaron Burr, who came within a hair of being president in the election of 1800 (the House of Representatives broke an electoral deadlock in 1801, making Thomas Jefferson president and Burr vice president), fought a celebrated duel with bitter political and personal rival Alexander Hamilton on July 11, 1804, and killed the man who would became the face on the 10-dollar bill.

Burr, who was one of the most fascinating political figures of the time, was dumped from the ticket by then-President Thomas Jefferson and went on to a long career of exile and disgrace.

And we think politics today is rough.

One thing we'd like to know, though: Why are we just seeing that file photo of Dick Cheney showing his trademark curled lip that looks so much like a sneer? Under the circumstances, it's probably more appropriate than a big grin. But isn't there anything in between?

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