Posted on 09/18/2004 12:46:08 AM PDT by AmericanMade1776
"I gave them a sword, and they ran it right through me," said Richard Nixon. Thirty years later, Nixon nemesis Dan Rather might say the same of the blunders that are about to bring an inglorious end to his long career. What -- other than blind bias against George Bush rooted in animus or ideology, or an obduracy bred of arrogance and hubris -- can explain Rather's near-suicidal behavior since his "60 Minutes II" segment aired Sept. 8?
In that piece, Rather revealed four newly discovered memos from the "personal file" of Lt. Col. Jerry B. Killian, Bush's squadron commander in the National Guard. The memos seemed proof that Killian thought Bush a shirker whose defiance of orders was being protected by higher-ups such as Col. "Buck" Stoudt.
Rather thought he had a story that could bring down a president. Instead, he has ravaged the reputation of CBS News and made of himself a cartoon caricature of liberal bias. How could Rather have been so stubborn and blind?
(Excerpt) Read more at pittsburghlive.com ...
Definitely worth clicking through to read the rest. Pat pulled no punches.
I have to say, I hardly ever agree with Buchanan, but he states the cause for dismissal of Dan Rather from the news, "rather" well here.
I would like to wish dan rather (his name is not worthy of capitalization) a happy and glorious hiri-kiri. Hopefully it will be on his last 60 minutes broadcast. Maybe he can get walter com-crite to be his second.
I would like to wish dan rather (his name is not worthy of capitalization) a happy and glorious hiri-kiri. Hopefully it will be on his last 60 minutes broadcast. Maybe he can get walter com-crite to be his second.
Folks, this is where Pat Buchanan is his best... attacking the enemy, i.e. the left and liberals, not the GOP or fellow Republicans.
It's truly alarming to see an (albeit liberal) icon like Dan Rather exhibit such incredible arrogance and such total detachment from fair-minded journalistic reality.
One can only hope that he will awaken to his folly and issue an abject and humble retraction and apology on behalf of himself and CBS.
Right now, it seems like Rather and CBS want to ait until after the election to categorically admit the documents are forgeries.
These opinions on Rather's demise are not just coming from "bloggers", but from numerous respected voices in the mainstream media.
Rather couldn't get a journalism job anywhere in the country at this point.
He'll retire in disgrace from CBS.
Pat is a stooge for the left.
I thought Pat was more of an Operative for CNN
bttt
Pat has clearly stated that, despite their differences in opinion, he will still be voting for Bush...
Group petitions FCC against CBS
Files for sanctions for network's 'supremely arrogant conduct'
A New York-based group petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to sanction CBS News and its parent organization, Viacom, Inc., for its recent broadcast of news reports based on forged documents.
The Media Ethics Project, a newly formed group, cites two recent "60 Minutes II" broadcasts and several editions of "CBS Evening News" in its petition.
"The actions of CBS News over the last week have been truly outrageous," said MEP Chairman William L. Whitely. "Most people familiar with [anchor] Dan Rather's reports have seen solid evidence from various credible sources showing the documents to be forged. Yet, day in and day out, CBS has stubbornly continued to maintain that the memos are authentic."
MEP says it contacted Viacom counsel Monday and Tuesday to propose the entire controversy be referred to an independent reviewer.
But CBS News President Andrew Heyward said on Wednesday's "Evening News" broadcast he remained satisfied the "memos were accurate" and vowed that CBS would "redouble" its efforts to answer questions raised by critics.
Whitely said the nework's "supremely arrogant conduct" violates the public trust and the rules and policies of the FCC.
Viacom, as the holder of 39 television station licenses and 185 radio stations, cannot be allowed to flout FCC rules, he asserted.
MEP seeks a finding from the FCC that the actions of CBS and Viacom constitute fraud and, therefore, are deserving of sanction, including fines and forfeiture of one or more broadcast licenses.
Using documents regarded by document experts as forgeries, the CBS reports contend President Bush was given preferential treatment, allowing him to enter the Texas Air National Guard in order to avoid service in Vietnam.
After broadcast of the first "60 Minutes II" report Sept. 8, Internet weblogs began raising questions about the authenticity of the documents by analyzing them online.
MEP contends the network's continued defense of the documents in the face of mounting contrary evidence violates FCC policies. The Commission, the group notes, prohibits the broadcasting of falsified, faked, distorted or staged news reports as contrary to the public interest.
Whitely said the whole episode "must be regarded as a remarkable failure of management."
"It is truly sad that the proud traditions of professionalism of CBS News, the division built by the likes of Morrow, Severeid, Reasoner, Mudd and Cronkite, have been allowed to slowly fade away," he said. "In their place is an organization where unprincipled ego, bias, negligence, partisanship and vindictiveness apparently determine the setting of management policy."
Because of the CBS reports' potential impact on the election, MEP is asking the FCC to expedite its request.
It's amazing to me that he chose to go out like this. I mean, we know there is no evidence that Bush did get favorable treatment, but let's say for a second that he did. Would anybody, other than the hate Bush crowd, really be that bothered about it? I don't think it would have cost him the election, or even many votes for that matter. Rather destroyed whatever credibility he and his network had over something that were it true, would hardly be considered scandalous.
lets see if a year from now if this statement is wishful thinking
Dan Rather has shown greater loyalty to the fraud who put this document together than he's ever shown to his country. He's always been a chum of dictators - Castro and Saddam come to mind - and he's only failing with pro-Kerry propaganda campaign because we live in a free country. I could see him quite comfortable - since he's abiding by this lie - working for men like Castro and Saddam. He's got the right stuff to be their news reader. Truth is relative or situational in his worldview.
Depends on the audiance I guess. When he was on Bill Maher's show him and Bill were both trashing the President...kind of looked like the moment between Britney Spears and Madonna.
The damage is done, Rather is finished.
In many places it sounds like buchanan speaking about himself. They should both just go quietly...perhaps open a Deli somewhere together.
This is the ONE time I'd like to see Pat be right.
I seriously doubt CBS will send him packing
or that he will seek an early retirement.
Arrogance and a distain for the common folks,
will keep Rather and CBS glued together... UNLESS
it's proved that Rather had a direct hand in this fraud.
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