[counterpunch]

CBS says docs first, then Barnes.

Well really, as I remember it, it was Barnes who said docs first them him, and cited the docs as the reason he decided to finally tell the world the "truth" after all these years.

This was a huge step for him, if you believe he is sincere. He was freed at last when he saw these memos. He no longer had to live the lie!

No memos, no Barnes coming forward. Therefore, he saw then before Mapes or Rather did, but only by a couple days.

That is one extraordinary coincidence if it wasn't coordinated, or as has been suggested, part of a package.

Perhaps Barnes called Dan Rather and said, "I've got documents, and I want to do an interview." Then Dan says: "Ok, fax me the documents so we can "authenticate".

Where is Barnes from..? does he live within a 125 mile radius of that Abilene Kinkos..?
Who says it had to be Burkett that faxed the memos..?
It sounds like he physically handed off the documents, and then was left in the dark, at least up until the time of that email he sent out.

His participation may have ended at the hand-off to the Kerry campaign, and Barnes ran with it from there.
Barnes would make a lot more sense as the "unimpeachable source."

I bet 'ol Dan never even knew it actually came from that Burkett nutjob!
Hahaha! He was duped by Kerry's campaign!
No wonder he was so adamant that it was real.
And no wonder he has so stubbornly protected his sources.

[okie01]

Where is Barnes from..? does he live within a 125 mile radius of that Abilene Kinkos..?
Who says it had to be Burkett that faxed the memos..?

Barnes is based in Austin, about 300 miles from Abilene. There's no reason to believe he is the faxer.

Previously, I suspected that Mapes was probably the one who faxed the documents from Kinko's back to CBS, having picked up the hard copies from Burkett at his home in Baird. But it now appears that Burkett was faxing them to her.

[bitt]

see here for video from ol' Ben Barnes:

http://media.greaterdemocracy.org/

[Cboldt]

Barnes would make a lot more sense as the "unimpeachable source."

Reading this thread and trying to put pieces together in my tired head, I came to the same conclusion an hour ago or so. Subject to change as the picture clarifies and/or other evidence comes in. =;-)