Posted on 09/09/2004 1:22:10 PM PDT by TastyManatees
Dr. Bouffard ran this number and could not find a match in his entire database of over 4,000 typewriter fonts that have been maintained and collected into his computer database since 1988. Otherwise, the font is very indicative of Times New Roman, the font that is only available on computer word processing programs.And what of CBS' claim to have verified the documents before publication?
* He said that he didn't know who CBS contacted to verify the document's authenticity, but that there is really only one other man that may be more qualified to determine authentic typefaces than himself. I think that the burden of proof may be on CBS to reveal this information.
I asked him to put a percentage on the chances that this was a fake, and he said that was "hard to put a number on it." I then suggested "90%?" Again he said it's "hard to put an exact number, but I'd say it's at least that high, sure. I pretty much agree that that font is Times New Roman."
Fox needs to jump all over this!!
Soooo does this mean we will be hearing this in the mainstream media tonight? I doubt it.
Nice work. Sorry I jumped all over you earlier.
If these were forgeries, wouldn't President Bush know that and have the White House all over the issue?
What if it is fake on purpose? Sort of...
If I was a PA on 60 Minutes charged with creating the digital graphics for this story the following might happen:
After scanning the original documents I find they are illegible digitally. So I retype verbatim screen shot, bring it into PhotoShop, paste, apply a dimestore old XEROX filter, then photoshop out the signature and place it. Deadline met, the stylized graphic for production has been created. In general the networks do not require the actual document be shown, they have often in the past insisted it is ok to display the actual text in whatever format meets their production needs. So long as the content is not changed.
It needs to be confirmed that those images on the web, and in the show are images of the actual documents before this story goes on.
I am just saying we should start with the question are these the real documents? Cause these images are not consistent with the period.
-- l8s
-- jrawk
Below is what I typed on my computer using word 2000, Times New Roman. This sure looks like the same as the memo being passed around to me.
19 May 1972
Memo to File
SUBJECT: Discussion with Bush, 1 st Lt Bush
1. Phone call from Bush. Discussed options of how Bush can get out of coming to drill from now through November. I told him he could do ET for three months or transfer. Says he wants to transfer to Alabama to any unit he can get in to. Says that he is working on another campaign for his dad.
2. Physical. We talked about him getting his flight physical situation fixed before his date. Says he will do that in Alabama if he stays in a flight status. He has this campaign to do and other things that will follow and may not have the time. I advise him of our investment in him and his commitment. Hes been working with staff to come with options and identified a unit that may accept him. I told him I had to have written acceptance before he would be transferred, but think hes also talking to someone upstairs.
You just watch.
WOW! The blogosphere is all over this and it's running like wildfire. There's ahardly a blog out there not discussing this now.
It's difficult to keep up with it all but it seems that the biggest giveaway is not just the proportional spacing which (although rare) was available on some typewriters at the time, but the font, the line breaks which corresponds 100% to MS Word, the typeface (Times New Roman - rare or unavailable on typewriters at the time). Also, some of the language used, the abbreviations, etc. are very uncharacteristic of the military at that time.
Now we're getting somewhere. This has enough specifics to demand access to the original document. At the very least, the most nearly original copy, one that hasn't been scanned electronically.
Now we can get past the irrelevant issues of the superscript and proportional font.
It would be really cool to demand a fistful of documents from the same time and same office to see if the font matches exactly.
What is so stunning is that Rather and friends believe that people in this country are so stupid that no one would know it was a fraud.
I think some of the earlier arguments deserved jumping on. This is an expert's opinion, based on actual font samples and not someone's half-baked assertion that typewriters couldn't do that.
Geez, even the most incompetent forger would try to match actual documents from the period.
No problem. Sorry if I was a little sarcastic. That IBM Composer sure looked like a witch to work with.
Why doesn't someone contact IBM (since they made the only proportional font equipment in the early 70's). Surely they have an archive of their texts-- and if its not theirs, its fake.
Awesome work...
Just goes to show what the lib dems will stoop to.....
I wonder what harkin will say on this now, that pathetic piece of crap excuse of a senator....
Send this to Jim.Angle@foxnews.com (he actually replies)
Also try brit.hume@foxnews.com.
Also CALL FNC and ask to be connected to a reporter with these findings.
Nothing reported on CBS can ever be believed again without conclusive evidence if this turns out to be a hoax.
By the way, IBM's proportional-font typewriters were very rare and VERY expensive back in the 1972-1973 time period. I highly doubt the Texas Air National Guard would have access to such expensive machines back then.
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