Posted on 09/13/2004 3:24:34 PM PDT by KeyLargo
Editorials Dan Rather’s Blunder:
The Day Old Media Died? Editorial by CK Rairden September 13, 2004
The coverage of the presidential campaign saw an interesting turn during the month of August. The most damaging aspect to either candidate came from a group of veterans called the “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.” But the old media tried to ignore them and shut them out of the campaign. Enter the new media, a combination of the Internet blogosphere, Matt Drudge, talk radio and Fox News.
They crammed the “SwiftVets” down the collective throats of the old media, and as they never attempted to do their jobs, they lost the battle. The old media candidate, John F. Kerry, was so rattled that he hid from all media after August 9th. Kerry apparently was paralyzed with fear, afraid to answer the very pointed questions that emerged from the book, “Unfit for Command,” the number one best-seller written by the SwiftVet leader John O’Neill.
So the old media picked last week to strike back. You could just feel the protest, ‘how dare these bloggers and Matt Drudge join talk radio and Fox News and take over the coverage of this campaign.’ So they trotted out old media dinosaur Dan Rather to put these upstarts in their place.
Rather and CBS fired up 60 Minutes II with claims of “incredible documents” ready to show that President George W. Bush got special treatment in 1972 and 1973 in the Texas National Guard. Armed with these memos and a partisan Kerry hack named Ben Barnes, Rather carefully laid out his case....
Excerpted.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtondispatch.com ...
Anyone try to contact CBS lately. I tried to click on their "contact us" link, and it didn't work...
Old Dan lost me back in 92 election the way he badgered 41 during an interview. It was embarassing to watch.
What's great is the TANG stuff could never have damaged W even a little. It wasn't worth a tenth of a % in the polls.
There was no win side to it at all. At best it was a win/noting proposition and it should have been obvious to the Frenchlies before they they threw it out there. When you initiate a maneuver that has a best outcome of not losing you any ground and a worst outcome of losing a LOT of ground, why do it?????? Are they so utterly devoid of material to use? issues to raise? He had done better to stand with his fist in the air shouting,"Workers of Amerika, Unite!"
There's SOME truth to that. However, I put together a summary which hits most of the high points on this story. After reading it, I can't imagine anyone would believe the CBS memos to be anything but the cheapest, sloppiest sort of forgery.
However, besides all the blogs quoted, there, even Always Partisan AP is quoted, and not always by way of debunk (although it is a couple of times). USA Today is quoted, and so on. I don't know that old media is monolithically fading. I think the more openly partisan, such as the alphab nets, the wire services, and a couple of the leading papers like NY Times, Wash Post, LA Times, and now maybe Boston Globe, are going to be hurt, in coming years. But others could fill in.
Things change. And I think the form and shape of media is going to remain fairly constant. But a new role will develop, even a reliance by 'old' media upon them, for bloggers and web posters to act as fact checkers. It could even save something like AP, which seems to almost get stories wrong more often than not, these days. If pressed by essentially freelance investigative reporters, and those with personal knowledge not otherwise available, it could even become something of a partnership. The more influential 'bloggers' could start charging service fees to newspapers and networks, and especially AP. And it'll be interesting to see how such transpires.
"Has it been determined for certain that Bush signed the 180?...Im not clear on this one..."
I am not either. Heard that he did, but really would like to make sure. Also heard that some of his records were in various places, which took longer for them to be released. Want to have proof to show the liberals I am dealing with! Does anyone know for sure? Thanks!
Yeah! We used to go up to the old Fillmore in the late sixties, early seventies from San Jose. It's a miracle we survived that time. By '78 I was in Korea in the Army, much safer.
"Anyone up changing the words to "The Day the Music Died"?"Dan Blather should be singing: "This is the end, my only friend, the end."I prefer 'When the Music's Over' by the DOORS. It fits the early '70s.
That's for Kerry after the election. I was saving it for Nov. 3rd. The Music must end first, you see:) Morrisson knew what he was doing with those songs. He referenced 'The End' in 'When the Music's Over', in the DOORS LIVE version.
Save it for the day after, when liberal zombies are wondering what happened. That's what JM would like:):):):-P
Is this a request?
Sorry, I do all my home computing in my boxers, or shorts worn "commando" style. (I'm not big on A/C)
Unless of course if it's winter in the Northeast, in which case it's longjohns (gotta get me one of those L.L.Bean "union suit" full length longjohns).
Anyone up changing the words to "The Day the Music Died"?
Actually, I have another song idea. And it deals with Kerry's obsession with his (remarkable) service in "Vetnohm". Perhaps use the song with the lyrics, "...I'm still in Saigon, I'm still in Saigon..." I can't remember all the other words, and I think the song was recorded in the early 80's. If appropriate it could make a funny music video, perhaps insert JFK's voice saying "vetnohm" over the word "...Saigon...". Maybe fashion it like the "This is my Land" comedy production?
I think it would be more likely that Bush signed a 180 while Kerry did a 180. Snort! Twinkie is laughing though her nose!
---Are they so utterly devoid of material to use? issues to raise? He had done better to stand with his fist in the air shouting,"Workers of Amerika, Unite!"---
Terry McAwful is not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he is the dirtiest. He's done more to ruin the Democratic Party than any Republican could have done.
The Day Old Media Died
Murder or suicide?
End of old media Ping
Excellent post. Well done.
Oh yeh.
Good analysis. You're a true rock'n'roll scholar.
As for the DOORS, I too am a fan. Despite JM's obvious drug-whacked creepitude, the guy could do music.
Still in Siagon....That song was done by Charlie Danials (sp?) I believe
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