Posted on 09/14/2004 4:49:36 PM PDT by Pikamax
THE LATEST FROM CBS AND ABC [09/14 07:41 PM]
My source familiar with the internal discussions at CBS describes the atmosphere at the network offices tonight as "madness" and "toxic". Apparently a real bunker mentality is setting in; there is reportedly a great deal of anger at ABC for running a scathing report about the memos.
I didn't see the ABC report (the CBS report was so shockingly false I needed smelling salts) , but apparently it was a humdinger. Here's a summary of each network from ABC:
ABC's Brian Ross interviewed the two experts who CBS hired to validate the National Guard documents and reports they ignored concerns they raised prior to the CBS News broadcast. "I did not feel that they wanted to investigate it very deeply," Emily Will told Ross. "I did not authenticate anything and I don't want it to be misunderstood that I did," Linda James told Ross. Ross reports 2 experts told ABC News today that even the most advanced typewriter available in 1972 could not have produced the documents. Ross also reported that Lt. Col. Jerry Killian's secretary says she believes the documents are fake but that they express thoughts Killian believed. In the "Inside Story" on the CBS "Evening News," John Roberts said that CBS "continues to stand by its reporting" on Bush's National Guard records. Roberts derisively said Bush "barely mentioned his service" today while appearing before the Guard association. Roberts closed by saying that Bush's goal is to turn the focus of the debate away from the questions to "those asking them."
The next big question: How do the major papers treat CBS' report tonight? And when do we start to see the first non-conservative editorials and columns ripping the network?
Real men don't boast about their service to other real men.
On another topic some have raised on this thread, so far I don't see any signs of Viacom stock taking a hit. The three-month chart shows that it still seems to be in an intermediate up-channel.
That's understandable. If Dan Rather gets fired and 60 Minutes tanks, that doesn't necessarily harm CBS all that much. And CBS is only a part of Viacom.
I really think if CBS is forced to admit guilt prior to the election, there is a good chance they will flip their competitors by delving into reporting by other news organizations. Civil war amongst the mainstream media anyone?
CBS has become everything they used to hate.
LOL!!!
yep...I truly believe she is involved....I dont think he'd sweat this so much, if she wasnt involved in the "source".. Why havent they brought out the originals?? that would easily make the case "either" way....but he wont....
You're absolutely right.
HA!HA!...LOL! That didn't help Saddam for long, either. :))
Right now they aren't countering it. From the RNC's standpoint, the defense has already been made. GWB served honorably, see honorable discharge. To "take the bait" and defend the allegations in the forgeries lets the DEM party set the agenda. It's just politics, and certainly the DNC has no claim against the Swiftees (who are telling the truth).
I don't know if there is a clear "forgery" case here. The forgeries are being used for political propaganda puposes, agitprop, not to accomplish what they say on their face. Forging documents is usually a problem becuase the forgery gets access you wouldn't otherwise have. Forge a driver's license, bond, passport, etc. --- sure. But forge a piece of history (not a painting, to sell as real), and show it on television. Illegal? How?
Anyway. I'm just tossing about with "extreme" outcomes, and even there am not finding clear illegality. The closest is viollation of FCC "serve the publi interest." So, when the FCC comes in, CBS squawks "politically motivated shut-down of 1st amendment right!! Powell has no Constitutional authority!!" And the battle is joined.
bump
LOL - I thought "Food fight"!
Hugh Hewitt writes on his blog that he wants congressional hearings into the forged documents. Chris Cox said that they would likely have hearings but maybe not before the election.
I think this is a TERRIBLE idea. When the enemy is in the midst of destroying himself, do not intervene! The story will become the media as victim and government as censor (even though we know it is not true). The story as reported by the media will be mean GOP Congress seeks to censor critics not memos were forged and Rather has to step down. We should let the media go after CBS and the forgers and then the story will be much more satisfying to us.
I just think this will change the focus of the story and we won't get what we want.
In this case, I believe that what goes up must and will come down. Way down. The key is the sponsors. If they are attacked, it's as good as an attack on CBS viewership and all the rest.
Yes, even public figures can sue (and recover) if the slander is sufficiently egregious. Here the bar is lower because the Killians haven't sought the public limelight - it has been thrust upon them; however, in this case it is not they but Bush who has been slandered.
By "CBS viewership" I mean, of course, "CBS viewership numbers."
Absolutely! Let the feeding frenzy continue!
I hope Congress doesn't get invovled with this. They will screw it up.
too funny hahahahhahahahah
You're right. The other night I was amazed when he said that if the documents were false Dan and the top management of CBS must resign.
Concur : Burglary => Forgery => Dishonor, Defeat, and Prison for Democrats
I want felonies for forgery and conspiracy to obstruct justice.
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