[Sabertooth]

"Rather is simply searching for his "Cronkite" moment. You know, something that the future news anchors can play over and over again when Rather is being remembered, like Cronkite announcing JFK's death."

IIRC, Rather was the anchor at a CBS affiliate in Dallas when Kennedy was assassinated. He broke the news, it was his big break.

If we're going to criticize media folks who take cheap shots at President Reagan, especially now, let's at least give the benefit of the doubt to those who are trying to be respectful. I didn't see this spot by Dan Rather, but I think President Reagan would have taken it at face value. To do less diminishes us, not Rather.

I was waiting for the Belmont to come on NBC this afternoon when Brian Williams broke into regular programming to announce President Reagan's passing. He was very respectful, and gave the President credit for playing a major role in defeating the Soviet Union, winning the Cold War, and bringing down the Berlin Wall.

There's been light in surprising places. Enjoy it.

[Lijahsbubbe]

He was very respectful, and gave the President credit for playing a major role in defeating the Soviet Union, winning the Cold War, and bringing down the Berlin Wall.

While I have admiration for your sense of class or fair play, I don't see this as any great concession or sacrifice. They should be respectful, and they should mention the great things that occurred under Reagan's watch. They certainly didn't embellish anything.

So as far as I'm concerned, they did what they were supposed to do, and they're still WAY in the negative points, due to the fact that they spew their anti American crap every single day of the week.

[nightdriver]

"He was very respectful, and gave the President credit for playing a major role in defeating the Soviet Union, winning the Cold War, and bringing down the Berlin Wall."

Yeah, but was it "credit" or blame?

[My Dog Likes Me]

You're right. All of the media outlets that I've watched have shown great respect so far. I was pretty astonished.

But my biggest surprise was Rather's emotional homage to the man. That's why I transcribed it and posted it here.

Gonna be a tough week for all of us, I think. My VCR will be recording everything.

[beckett]

IIRC, Rather was the anchor at a CBS affiliate in Dallas when Kennedy was assassinated. He broke the news, it was his big break.

It's funny you should mention that because I've always been under that impression too, until just a few days ago. I thought Rather was an obscure unknown in Dallas, completely unheard of by the brass in New York. He only caught their eye, so the story as I knew it went, when he handled the fast-breaking assassination news with skill and calm.

But the other day I watched a fantastic gem of a program called D-Day+Twenty Years in which Walter Cronkite interviewed Eisenhower as they toured the Normandy battlefield. Eisenhower shone. It was produced in August 1963, months before the Kennedy assassination. And the narrator was none other than "What's the frequency Kenneth?" himself, Dan Rather.

So I guess he wasn't as unknown to the New York brass prior to the assassination as he's lead people to believe. Maybe he just wanted to create a myth in which his name and success in journalism would always be more closely attached to Kennedy than they really deserved to be.

[alnick]

There's been light in surprising places. Enjoy it.

Andrea Mitchell was asked last night if President Reagan deserves credit for ending the cold war. She stated that yes, President Reagan did win the cold war. There was no hesitation in her answer nor any attempt to downplay it.

[maryz]

I didn't see this spot by Dan Rather, but I think President Reagan would have taken it at face value. To do less diminishes us, not Rather.

I absolutely agree -- to do less, as you put it, is more like the Dem attitude that booed Trent Lott and other Republicans at the Wellstone funerally.

Decent people grasp the solemnity of death; there is probably always a bit of "Ask not for whome the bell tolls" in it, but just because it may be passing doesn't mean it's not sincere while it lasts.

[over3Owithabrain]

Crocodile tears by the media. They did the same for a while after 9/11, then forgot all the lessons and went back into hate mode. They'll do the same w/ Reagan when they feel the coast is clear. You don't crap on someone their entire life, then act like they were your best friend. That is not class, it's treachery. F them, F them all. Reagan wouldn't say that, but I will.

[TOUGH STOUGH]

"There's been light in surprising places. Enjoy it."

I fullheartedly agree.

[rwfromkansas]

Agreed.