Political Shenanigans Have a Precedent (Forgery and the 1880 Election)

Washington Post ^ | 9/11/04 | John M. Taylor (letter)

[tellw]

If the documents impugning President Bush's service in the Air National Guard turn out to be a forgery [front page, Sept. 10], it won't be the first time such mischief has figured in a presidential election. In fact, the current episode is eerily reminiscent of one that probably determined the outcome of the election of 1880.

[hispanarepublicana]

Is this THE Washington Post? Should I invest in thermal underwear since it appears hell is freezing over?

[Prime Choice]

Political Shenanigens Have a Precent

Okay, I give up. What the hell is a "Precent"?

[Mr. K]

I wonder if they meen PRECIDENT

(geez, where are editors these days...)

[Brandon]

Or maybe "precedent". Ahem.

[vox humana]

"The survival of democracy depends on the ability of large numbers of people to make realistic choices in the light of adequate information.

A dictatorship, on the other hand, maintains itself by censoring or distorting the facts, and by appealing, not to reason, not to enlightened self-interest, but to passion and prejudice."

-- Aldous Huxley: Brave New World Revisited

[Slump Tester]

"... At Democratic headquarters, members of the National Committee examined the letter and pronounced it genuine. Garfield just as quickly denounced it as a forgery."

The good guys had to contend with lying rat bastards in 1880, too!

[speedy]

This appears to be a letter to the editor, not a Post editorial. Perhaps a Freeper snuck one in there.

[blue-duncan]

This is incredible. "Shenanigans", "mischief" that is what we are calling forgeries, lies and the besmirching of a dead soldiers reputation all to cover the partisan old media. Freedom of the press is not worth this.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

So, is WAPO saying the two (Forgery and the 1880 Election) are the same as today's scenario, CBS , Rather and the dems are lying and it is a forgery????