Posted on 09/16/2004 11:09:36 AM PDT by Cableguy
Eager to stop an affiliate rebellion over Memogate, CBS News last night released a number of documents to affiliate stations following Wednesday's 60 Minutes episode. These documents are essentially the best defense that the Eyemark network has to offer on the week-old controversy. And a poor defense it is.
RatherBiased.com obtained copies of all of these documents which include signed letters from two "experts" supposedly attesting to the CBS documents' authenticity. In truth, however, both letters (which are dated Sept. 14, almost a week after CBS's original report ran) could hardly be characterized as ringing endorsements.
One of them comes from the non-laboratory-trained Marcel Matley, an apparent specialist in "spirituality and handwriting," who does not even pretend to be a typeface expert and thus makes no attempt to even comment on the matter. Needless to say, his letter does not make reference to remarks he made to The Washington Post, presumably on the day before.
The second letter, from a previously undisclosed CBS "expert," James J. Pierce of Newport Beach, California does little better. Besides authenticating signatures on a copy of a document (an absurdity in itself), Pierce then makes this endorsement of the typography:
"In regard to the balance of the typed-written photocopied questioned documents, the same typed-face [sic] designs are strongly similar to corresponding samples that indicate the same typed-face existed prior to the date in question on the photocopied documents."
Besides qualifying for most mangled syntax of the year, Pierce's letter appears to say the following: The CBS documents are legitimate because they use a face that existed prior to the 1970s. That is complete nonsense.
He actually is maintaining that observing an older typeface in a putatively old document is proof positive that it is authentic. Pierce's statement is so absurd it is laughable, leaving out the fact that no known typewriter has yet to be found which could print in the manner found in the CBS documents.
There is also some doubt that Pierce is even qualified to discuss typographical authentication as this summary of a court case he was involved in (which he lost) identifies him as a "handwriting analyst."
Having observed his poor knowledge of typography and printing equipment, it does not seem premature to doubt Pierce's credentials in these areas.
Accompanying the Matley and Pierce letters are two transcripts of remarks shown on the CBS Evening News. One, featuring Bill Glennon, a former typewriter repairman (last seen in that job in the 1970s) with no typographical background and no document authentication training who first jumped into the debate as a commenter on a liberal blog.
CBS's other "expert," a "software designer" named Richard Katz is so ill-informed about the nature of type systems, he's not even worth discussing.
I don't understand why there isn't a criminal investigation underway. I'm guessing that forging military documents is illegal.
The poor schmuck thought he could back up CBS and just would up causing them even more heartburn! He should spend his days reading DU, not posting and trying to be "helpful"!
well, SeaBS has three, count 'em, one, two, three, CSI programs in their fall line up.
Wonder if they'll use these docs into a storyline. :)
Paging Grissom
It seems Rather & Co are stuck in place still trying to dispute Buckhead's original post here that started it all. They don't seem capable of moving past that point in time.
"I don't understand why there isn't a criminal investigation underway."
For similar reasons that Sandy Berger was let off the hook I suppose.
The well-known court of public opinion is trying the case pretty well, though, doncha think?
Agreed. I just don't understand why authorities are not looking into who forged these documents, whether it was Rather, Burkett, or me. It's criminal. I honestly don't understand.
I know Rather is still delivering the news tonight. We're talking forged military documents against the President to influence the outcome of a Presidential election. Surely you understand the frustration.
Great research by the Ratherbiased people. CBS would do well to clean house and bring these people on staff. LOL.
Congressman Billybob
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CBS is now promoting the lie that nobody has diputed the DNC version of Bush's guard service.
CBS is no longer a viable news organizaion. They just ingore what they do not like.
Now, this next question is even more important....Can you verify the information in these fake documents is correct? 
Well, I couldn't last week but I sure can now. I remember like it was yesterday. Actually, I'm not quite sure what yesterday was. What day is today? Where am I? Aren't you that so-and-so who stole my loaf of rye? Of course I remember, all that there fake information is true, and I should know, 'cause I'm wearing 'em and I just did. 
OOPS! I CRAPPED MY PANTS!
Now the CBS/DNC talking point is that since nobody has disproved a LIE the LIE must be true.
Whoever gave dan rather a college degree cheated him.
I do understand, but I'm saying, don't be frustrated. We're winning.
is CBS using the same 'expert' to authenticate these documents that was used to 'authenticate' Vince Foster's suicide not??
I know. Thanks. I just want someone's head on a platter. A terrible crime has been committed against our President.
I hope ratherbiased.com has found a way to get this information to all the affiliates who received the package of "proof" from CBS.
My reply to any and all "experts": NAME THE MACHINE. At a minimum it must:
1) Use Times New Roman, AND
2) Use true proportional fonts, AND
3) Use "kerning", AND
4) Have true superscripts (Memo to Dan - not just a "TH" key), AND
5) Control striking force, so that periods are no darker than, say, capital "M"s.
The technical issues go beyond these five, but if you can't find ALL OF THESE in ONE typewriter, the documents are frauds, period.
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