Doubts raised on Bush accuser (Burkett)

Boston Globe ^ | 2/14/04

[tiki]

OOps, SeeBS has opened Pandora's box.

[NavySEAL F-16]

We do have a 7.5 trillion debt that is in danger of destroying the dollar without any additional spending.

I am afraid that I don't worry about the deficit in time of war. Especially, when you look at the percentage of the GDP. I don't know too many baby boomers who have ever counted on the "nannygate" social security to take care of us in our old age.

Just not worth worrying about something I have no control over.

You might want to ask Congress if they are so worried about the debt, why did they just grant themselves another raise for the sixth year in a row by slipping it into the Transportation Bill?

My advice to anyone is the same advice I gave to my son -- don't expect the government to take care of you -- you are responsible for yourself.

[Freemyland]

I agree. Plus, this is an easy issue to follow. It can be summed up in a sentence - "Someone forged documents in an attempt to make a political hit on the President, and CBS went along with it." This is a bit of fundamental unfairness that is easily grasped and understood by the public.

[NavySEAL F-16]

Mickey Kaus has the same hope that this will hurt Bush.

I suggest you take a look at the new polling data. Bush is ahead in New Jersey and within single digits in New York!

Now, tell me who this has hurt?

[Hank All-American]

I think it's too early to tell, because I don't think those polls had time to absorb the impact of the constant coverage this is getting. Look, maybe I'm just a nervous nellie, but I don't have a good vibe about the effect of this. Obviously, the documents are fake, the allegations are bogus, but the Democrats aren't keeping score the same way you and I are. They are chipping away at Bush's credibility among people who don't pay close attention to the facts and keeping the faith among their base. I'm not saying it's a disaster, I'm saying I think Bush would be doing better without it.

[Mount Athos]

Killian’s secretary pointed out the terminology in the forged document was not consistent with Bush’s Air National Guard unit at all, but was consistent with Army National Guard terminology. Bill Burkett was in the … Army National Guard.
Here’s a lengthy interview with Burkette by extreme rabid partisan Kevin Drum. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1214406/posts
More fun from 2000: http://www.onlinejournal.com/bush/110400Starr-Conover/110400starr-conover.html
Newsweek explicitly states Burkette is the source, a person with a grudge against the National Guard and Bush: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5974040/site/newsweek/
Burkette’s February accusation in CNN: “"I glanced down at the top of those documents. In ink was the word ‘Bush, George W., 1 Lt.’ This was a performance report. I was right at the trash can. I filtered through the top five or six pages in that, and they were all copies and originals of old performance documents and pay records for ‘Bush, George W., 1 Lt.". http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/02/12/elec04.prez.bush.texas.records/
The Boston Globe raises questions about the above CNN Burkette February anti-Bush accusation: http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/articles/2004/02/13/doubts_raised_on_bush_accuser?mode=PF
Bill Burkette's lawyer David Van Os was the Travis County Democratic Party Chairman, 1996-98. He travelled to Palm Beach, Florida, Nov/Dec 2000, to assist Democratic Party in vote recount efforts.
Click on the several Bill Burkett links here and learn just how unusually motivated a partisan democrat he is, in his own words: http://www.geocities.com/stoutdem/chair.html
Burkette attempted (and failed) to sue his commanding officers for conspiring to deny him medical treatment: http://www.3rdcoa.courts.state.tx.us/opinions/htmlopinion.asp?OpinionId=10979
Article points out forgeries were faxed from Abeline Texas Kinko's, the closest one to Bill Burkett's home. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24635-2004Sep15.html

[Howlin]

Wouldn't Ann Richards have used the files to beat Bush if they had been there?

You answered your own question.

[NavySEAL F-16]

You're right -- should have prefaced it as rhetorical.

[Howlin]

anything in those files

So what does that tell you?

[Southack]

"Wouldn't Ann Richards have used the files to beat Bush if they had been there? It's not like she isn't part of the rough and tumble Texas politics. She certainly isn't above dirty tricks herself, drunk or sober."

Old Ma Richards is far too savvy to have used forged docs. If real papers documenting a scandal had been available, yeah, but she'd never get caught using forged ones.

The AWB Has Expired - Gun Owners Have Won Again For All Americans!

[Southack]

You are one strange-thinking newbie...

The AWB Has Expired - Gun Owners Have Won Again For All Americans!

[NavySEAL F-16]

I can just visualize all the CBS suits working through the night trying to figure out a way to have RATher walk away clean from this.

Old Dan's going to have to call in a lot of favors, but it looks as though old Howie Kurtz and Dana Milbank are already starting to carry the water.

Will they get away with using the "poor Dan" excuse -- he just got flumoxxed by those crazy forgers and bloggers on the Internet?

What do you think?

[Hank All-American]

I don't get your point. I know the documents are fake. Burkett looks like the natural suspect. What does that have to do with me thinking this isn't helping Bush in his bid for reelection? If you're saying he has ties to Democrats, I'm sure he does. But liberals are slippery. Remember, you need ten times the proof against a liberal that you do against a conservative to prove a negative point. Witness how CBS dismissed any witnesses who were Bush supporters, but couldn't care less that Knox is a Bush-hater.

[Exigence]

I think this is hurting Bush.

The polls say otherwise.

[Howlin]

Ann Richards
Paul Begala
Dan Rather
Robin Rather
Ben Barnes
Bill Burkett
James Moore
Bill Moyers
Walter Cronkite
Molly Ivins
David Dubose


And let's not forget H. Ross Perot


More?

[NavySEAL F-16]

I don't think you are following the polls. When you have 73% of the people polled that think the documents are false, it's not a leap for people to start putting two and two together.

Dan Rather with the help of his "forgers" wanted to take down a sitting President.

Most Americans aren't going to like that one bit.

[Exigence]

I think it hurts Kerry, because his minions have been working the TV and Radio circuit demanding that Bush answer the allegations, even as the hosts and other guests continue to point out that the memos are false.

Not to mention that the DNC put the CBS "60 Minutes" footage in their new ads. Oops...

[Southack]

You've just listed the top members of the Confederate Democrats of Texas!

The AWB Has Expired - Gun Owners Have Won Again For All Americans!

[Hank All-American]

What poll says 73% think they are false? There is a poll that said 27% think they are real, but that same poll only showed 38% thought they were false. The rest were unsure. To the Democrats, that means opportunity.

[Howlin]

There are more though......I just can't remember them all!