A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....01-13-05....Rather Saves Job; fall gals take rap

JohnHuang2, dansangel | JohnHuang2

[dansangel]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

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Rather Saves Job; fall gals take rap
by JohnHuang2

So, after killing half the trees in the Pacific Northwest forest to produce their report, probers into Ra^therGate report that the closer they looked at the documents, the harder it became to dismiss the possibility they were bogus. On a roll, they were also shocked to discover there's bad journalism at CBS (also known as the Dinosaur Channel). After three months hot on the trail of a story that took a few guys in pajamas 3 whole minutes to crack, the sleuthhounds probing Memogate noted that they "were not prepared to brand the Killian documents as an outright forgery," so staffers who aired the Killian documents should be fired. Especially if the staffers are chicks. Capping CBS's finest hour, fired were producer Mary Mapes, who tied Dan Rather to a chair and forced him to air the "60 Minutes" segment at gun-point; senior vice president Betsy West; top deputy Mary Murphy and her boss, Josh Howard. To avoid capture, Rather fled the country, hid somewhere in Sri Lanka for weeks, bravely emerging after learning his underlings took the fall. (According to the report, Rather had no knowledge of wrongdoing -- he was only running the place. The report was titled, CYA.)

Mapes stunned Washington by issuing a statement that she was "terribly disappointed." You get the feeling she wasn't thrilled. Bush knew she'd be fired and did nothing to stop it.

The controversy was sparked after CBS, on the heels of the Republican convention, aired a Fake-But-Accurate piece based on an Unimpeachable Source who lied to CBS which says it was duped by a screwball who claimed to know the answer to the eminently relevant question that ordinary people in Kansas had been losing sleep over: Did Bush skip a flight physical 35 years ago? The Unimpeachable Source is Bill Burkett, who says Bush, when governor, had shipped him to Panama where Bush had secretly produced a wicked virus which wickedly found him and infected him, so obviously this nut had no ax to grind. After a media interview last summer, Burkett "suffered a violent seizure and collapsed in his chair" -- like John Kerry did on election night. Richard Thornburgh, one of the probers, told ABC News that Rather "mischaracterized the source, referred to him as 'unimpeachable,' when it's well-known in the background of this particular source was a lot of bias and a lot of reason to pause." This would qualify Burkett as anchor for CBS News.

Approximately sixty seconds after the "60 Minutes" story aired, questions were raised about the memos, with bloggers patiently explaining to Dan Rather that Killian's Microsoft Word Documents were inconsistent with typewriters built during the Ottoman empire. According to the report, Rather says he still believes the story is true and that he would not go ahead with the story knowing what he knows today. "If those memos are fake, I'd like to break that story," says Rather. (Despite tips from 4 million document experts that the memos are fake, Rather is holding the story till it's ready.)

The report also notes that, except for CBS airing stories all year about Bush the Liar, the Fratboy, the Stupid, Lazy, Election-Stealing Mastermind Moron, there's no evidence of anti-Bush bias at CBS. (Bush -- felon, traitor, warmonger . . . but, hey, nothing Personal!) The election-year timing and content of the Bush Guard story was just a coincidence. Mapes put Burkett in contact with Kerry campaign spokes- hack Joe Lockhart -- another coincidence. For weeks, CBS didn't tell viewers -- all 20 of them -- that the documents were faxed by some freakshow in Abilene, and that was a coincidence too. CBS uses a sleazebag with a background of hating Bush as its main source, so probers conclude from this that there was no political bias. (CBS motto: We're not biased -- just incompetent.)

In e-mails to Josh Howard, Mapes writes that "there is some interesting Bush stuff shaking out there right now . . . lots of goodies . . . there is a strong feeling that this time, there is blood in the water" -- more evidence of how wonderfully impartial CBS reporters can be.

The "60 Minutes" segment marked the third time Rather and Mapes had tried to nail Bush on whether he skipped that flight physical. The second time was in '99 when he ran for president as Texas governor. I think the first time was when he ran for student president in High School.

Rather said mistakes were made because he was too pooped after covering the GOP convention and coming up with the scoop of the Century -- hurricanes in Florida. He was too tired to check. (Even covering the GOP convention was exhausting for Rather. He just didn't know who the nominee would be.) Twelve days into Memogate and under fire, Rather insisted the documents were authentic -- still too tired to check. Anyway, the incident was just a third-rate forgery. The L.A. Times quotes one CBS veteran as saying that "Rather's hectic schedule meant that 'he was not as involved as he should have been.'" The workaholic was too busy not doing his job. The CBS veteran, Linda Mason, was appointed Monday to the new position of vice president for "Standards and Practices." If you're a reporter, one standard might be that if someone's story smells like Michael Moore's knickers and that someone foams at the mouth when you whisper 'George Bush' -- those could be two early clues the witness isn't completely reliable. (Now, how did I know that?) But I guess airing a bogus story wasn't Rather's real mistake. He could've labeled it a Documentary and won the People's Choice Award.

The report said that CBS, in airing the segment, relied on shady sources, did sloppy work, rushed to air without vetting, failed to get their facts straight, failed to check sources, failed to follow basic journalistic principles. In other words, just another day at CBS News. The report blames competitive pressures for the rush to air and "myopic zeal". (They feared being scooped by "Weekly World News"!)

To show they take these charges seriously and to repair the damage caused by Dan Rather's work at "60 Minutes", network honchos are punishing him with retirement from the 'Evening News', where he played an Idiot Newsreader, and hiring him full-time for "60 Minutes", where he'll play an Idiot Newsreader. (Al-Jazeera turned him down.)

So, after three months of investigating RatherGate, the panel still can't tell if there's bias at CBS and still can't tell if the documents are fakes and still can't say who fabricated the documents but tells the big bosses to fire the secretaries but keep the guy who's the poster boy for Memogate because he didn't know what was going on all around him because he was too tired to do his job.

In other words, like my headine says: Rather Saves Job; fall gals take the rap

Anyway, that's...

My two cents

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 01-10-05 Military Monday 01-11-05 Military Monday (Cont'd) 01-12-05 Do You Remember These?

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

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[dansangel]

[dansangel]

Welcome to the Finest and another heart-stopping satirical look at Ra^therGate by our own scribe, JH2!

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Angel.

[dansangel]

((((((Aeronaut)))))))

I's hard to believe that it's another Thursday already.

[dansangel]

~ God Bless Our Military ~

We ask Lord, that you guide the leaders of our great country in all of their decisions. The burden that has been placed on their shoulders is overwhelming. We ask that with Your infinite wisdom You guide them gently to the right decision.

Protect and guide our military Oh Lord; strengthen them in their trials; give them courage to fact the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Mama_Bear; Dutchess; Aquamarine; dansangel, and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, all military personnel and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Diver Dave.......niece, nephew ConspiracyGuy........2 nephews Pippin..........niece, loved one Pippin...nephew & his fiancee weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw jamaly.................brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon.............grandson WaterDragon...........son-in-law BeforeISleep...................son kimmie7......................brother Armymarinemom............3 sons american_ranger.............son LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.......................nephew Dubya............................nephew StarCMC......................brother ValerieUSA..................2 sons Lakeside......................2 sons Spruce.....................daughter Philman_36..............2 nephews Rose inRoseBear...cousin's hubby Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................active duty LongCut..................active duty cjk............................active duty Trish.......................active duty ODC-GIRL.................active duty AF_Blue..................active duty Notwithstanding.....active duty thumperusn.............active duty Q6-God.....................active duty Q6-God...................twin brother Veloxherc.................active duty Don Simmons............active duty wingnutx..................active duty bjcintennessee............son, niece LakeLady...............nephew Proud AF Dad..............son Ladysmith...nephew, friend's son Katydidnt..............son mhking...............cousin OldSarge............active duty

Maigrey................cousin Its_me_K.E.T.........son ladtx....................2 sons Mama_Bear.........2 nephews gator girl............husband severa.......husband, brother Hostel..................cousin MozartLover......son, nephew LBGA........................son katykelly.................son cookcounty..............son SpookBrat...nephew, cousin Doug from Upland...son-in-law Himyar.....................son boxerblues............2 sons the piper...................son sheeza...............husband kemathen7...........husband Tiffee4Bob.......boyfriend deadhead................cousin JimRobinson.....2 nephews TexKat..............son, step-son Consort..2 daughters,son-in-law Darheel.....................niece Donaeus...................nephew dixie sass...............nephew BeAllYouCanBe............son Repubmommy...............brother AgThorn...................2 sons homeschoolmama.......nephew kneezles......................son Redhead....step-granddaughter Redhead..step-grdaughter fiance Atomic Conspiracy..half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...nephew Atomic Conspiracy...niece Sunflowergal.........grandson visualops.................cousin Alouette.......................son mrstank.......................husband MrsMike31..................husband eaglesiniowa.................son auboy.........................cousin spotbust1....................husband Leofl................................son chena................................son campfollower..................fiance LuvW.......................son painter....................nephew tina07......son-in-law and friend The Mayor...friend's son Lt.TonyG MontanaCowgirlCop.........brother misty4jc...............husband

[.45MAN]

Good morning all!

John is at his best again commenting on the worst...

[dansangel]

Good morning all!

I'll say "Good Morning" to you later....I'm going back to bed.

:-)

[GailA]

Good morning...rain, rain..here in Memphis. John another excellent thoughtful piece.

Coffee's on

[dansangel]

((((((Gail))))))

I think we're setting the stage for some rain here, too. It has been *windy* all night.

[GailA]

We've been unseasonably warm..the weather alert machine went off some time around 11pm. There will be tons of wrecks in Memphis this morning. One little drop of rain on the oil slick streets and the comakazi drivers will be skidding all over the place and into other people.

[dansangel]

One little drop of rain on the oil slick streets and the comakazi drivers will be skidding all over the place and into other people.

I used to think that Atlanta was the only place that happened. It seems that's not as prevalent here in FL because it rains so much.

[The Mayor]

January 13, 2005

Raku

Read: James 1:2-4

Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation. —Romans 12:12

Bible In One Year: Genesis 40-42

---

Some friends gave us a piece of Raku pottery. "Each pot is hand-formed," the tag explained, "a process that allows the spirit of the artist to speak through the finished work with particular directness and intimacy."

Once the clay has been shaped by the potter it is fired in a kiln. Then, glowing red hot, it is thrust into a smoldering sawdust pile where it remains until finished. The result is a unique product—"one of a kind," the tag on our piece insists.

So it is with us. We bear the imprint of the Potter's hand. He too has spoken through His work "with particular directness and intimacy." Each of us is formed in a unique way for a unique work: "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).

But though we are created for good works, we're not yet finished. We must experience the kiln of affliction. Aching hearts, weary spirits, aging bodies are the processes God uses to finish the work He has begun.

Don't fear the furnace that surrounds you. Be "patient in tribulation" and await the finished product. "Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing" (James 1:4). —David Roper

We are here to be perfected,
Only God our needs can see;
Rarest gems bear hardest grinding,
God's own workmanship are we. —Anon.

He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. —Philippians 1:6

[dansangel]

Good Morning (((((((Rus)))))))

And, thank you for our daily dose of Scripture.

We are here to be perfected,
Only God our needs can see;
Rarest gems bear hardest grinding,
God's own workmanship are we. —Anon.

Amen

[The Mayor]

Your welcome and Good Morning to you....

Thursday already, wow!
Excellent job and Thank you both!

[Temple Owl]

Good morning FReepers everywhere. Thanks for another great job by JH2 and dansangel.

[dansangel]

((((((Temple Owl)))))))

Always great to see your smiling face! :-)

[Aquamarine]

Excellent work you two!

[Diver Dave]

Wow!!! Another GREAT My Two Cents presentation here at FR's Finest...

Methinks the entire essay should be inserted onto the C^bs teleprompter for Newsreader Ra^ther to read tonight on the C^{bs Evening News Broadcast.}

Me also thinks that all 20 of those C^bs viewers has become an inflated number since the fall gals are now walkin' down the street, kicking a can and talking to themselves as they try to find the local Unemployment Office. Ra^ther couldn't be located to receive his Pink Slip figuring that if they can't find me they can't fire me.

Reports of a national movement afoot to instill parental controls on millions of televisions sets to block out C^bs Ev^ening Ne^ws is gaining ground. C^bs Ev^ening Ne^ws sponsors are now receiving major price reductions and more air time due to the fact that the C^bs Ev^ening Ne^ws has provided information that it is unable to present fact-based news. If they keep this up, the C^bs Ev^ening Ne^wstimeslot will be soon be listed in TV Guide as various paid infomercials

I think I'd ra^ther watch a slug crawl across the flower beds and witness the slime forming - kinda like the experience of watching Dan Ra^ther.

[Aquamarine]

Have to admit that I've been watching the CBS evening news this week for the first time in 10 years. It's like watching the movie Titantic.

[dansangel]

think I'd rather watch a slug crawl across the flower beds and witness the slime forming - kinda like the experience of watching Dan Rather.

Ewwwwww.....nasty, but I *have* to agree! :-)

((((((Diver Dave)))))))) - thank you for that great comment with all of the su^perscripts!