Posted on 09/11/2004 11:36:18 PM PDT by JohnHuang2
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There's no way the "originals" will ever show up short of a criminal trial. And that would be to prosecute the creator.
Without the "originals" no expert, so far anyway, is willing to say outright they are fakes. The originals would prove they are fakes to the point of criminal liability. That doesn't serve their purpose. Therefore no "originals" will ever be found.
If CBS's documents prove to be fakes, what will Dan Rather do?
He'll continue to insist the 'preponderance of evidence' proves the story is true even if the documents are false 50.33% (385)
He'll blame the Republicans for planting false information 15.29% (117)
He'll ignore it 9.67% (74)
He'll do another hard-hitting expose on Bush, but he'll wait until just before Election Day 7.45% (57)
He'll announce 'changes' at CBS News 'to keep this from ever happening again' 6.67% (51)
He'll bemoan the lack of objectivity, civility and professionalism in the New Media 3.79% (29)
He'll take credit for exposing the fraud 2.75% (21)
He'll blame CBS News researchers for incompetence 1.96% (15)
He'll apologize and resign 1.83% (14)
Other 0.26% (2)
Dan already said that it didn't matter if they're fake or not. It's the questions that the memos raise and the answers to those questions, that is the most important issue.
Of course, Dan forgets that he lives in Bizzarro World, where Presidents have to answer questions raised by memos that were never written.
The rest of us thankfully live in the real world, where demanding the resignation of and obviously incompetent journalist from the Clinton Broadcast Station is what happens. CBS may stand by Dan, but for how long? Let’s keep their phones ringing, and their e-mail clogged until this idiot reporter is retired for good.
Dan Rather is a cog in a media machine. The tendency to blame him exclusively for the story is a stretch. The top echelon at CBS is backing his story. Wise up. CBS is the culprit, firing Dan Rather is ineffective, the whole leadership at CBS needs to present the evidence that the documents are genuine or need to spend the rest of the campaign in jail. We jail Martha Stewart for lying for a lot less danger to the public. Exposing the public to intentional lies is destroying our nation. The FCC has the commitment to see that fraud, obscenity, and libel stay off our airwaves. Freedom of press does not mean freedom to lie and falsify. Our political campaigns are beginning to resemble two snake-oil salesmen competing for the public's stupidity.
Google Bud Dwyer Pennsylvania
I still remember seeing that on local TV. Brain tissue flying everywhere.
Add to this the old show-biz maxim "Say anything you want about me, just spell my name right," and you get a fiasco like BlatherGate.
It has certainly gotten attention, and probably more viewers -- i.e., faced with extinction (trounced by the competition), a blow to credibility doesn't look so bad. As long as they stay alive in the shortterm, there is the possibility they can recover.
Just one more reason to boycott 'em.
Drive to the nearest park and commit suicide?
We already have the answer to that question: deny, deny, deny.
Me too, I think a lot of Pennsylvanians remember where they were when they heard about this. And I still think he was framed!
They will never be "proven" to be fakes. It will be obvious to every non-partial person who studies the issue that they are indeed forgeries, but CBS will steadfastly hold to its claim that they are not. Lacking some sort of obvious smoking gun, we will then be at an impasse and coverage of the story will gradually fade.
I also believe there was a rush to judgement. After Bud's on-air suicide everything got hushed up and swept under the rug real fast.
Response: Why does he have to do anything?
Comment: In reality, he will go on reporting until he retires. Then after retiring honors will be heaped upon him. He will make millions writing books and lecturing. Then dying, at least in the eyes of Americans in 2004 A.D., he will ascend to heaven and sit on the right hand of God. Later he will come and judge the quick and the dead.
Dan and Walter Cronkite will disclose their long standing relationship, move to a south sea island where they'll wear wraparound skirts and roll in the sand pretending they're grunion.
What will he do? Treat it as if it's true. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. Dan Rather said: I want to make clear to you, I want to make clear to you if I have not made clear to you, that this story is true, and that more important questions than how we got the story, which is where those who don't like the story like to put the emphasis, the more important question is what are the answers to the questions raised in the story..." Basically, never mind that, just answer the charges. This is like "Never mind where we got the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, rabbi, just answer the charges!" And where is Emile Zola when we need him? Anchoring the news at CBS.
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