A Few of FR's Finest...Every Day...09-23-04....Rathergate -- the gift that just keeps on giving

JohnHuang2, Aquamarine, Billie | JohnHuang2

[Aquamarine]

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Rathergate -- the gift that just keeps on giving

by JohnHuang2

Surfing the Internet in my pajamas recently, I noticed a new rumor making the rounds. Something about this biggie anchor getting duped by fake documents. Now, if the documents are not what we were led to believe, I'd like to break that story. I'd like to break the story that an iceberg sank the Titanic, but, like the sinking Dantanic, some pajama guy scooped me on that one too.

Taking water in deep water out of sight of land, the crew of the CBS Dantanic, unable to plug a massive hole in their story, sent a massive distress signal Monday, claiming they were victims of accurate documents which were fake but still stood by the thrust of the story revealed in the fake documents as very solid. (New CBS motto: 'Trust us, we get it half right'. Or, 'Sixty half-truths in 60 Minutes'. 'We won't totally mislead you'. 'If we get tripped up, we let you know in 12 or 13 days, or when Bloggers smoke us out'. 'Even our questionable documents are accurate'.) CBS says an Unimpeachable Source misled them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The admission comes exactly 10 Ice Ages after the initial "60 Minutes" airing of documents purportedly generated on a Vietnam-era typewriter with awesome computing power by Bush's computer geek squadron commander who didn't type or keep personal files and was a big Bill Gates fan. The Unimpeachable Source, grassy-knoller Bill Burkett, says he once happened to see Bush's service record files in a trash can with 'FORTUNE SON BUSH HAS BEEN A-WALL!' scrawled on top and says he once happened to be passing by the office of a general yelling, 'COVER UP BUSH'S TERRIBLE SERVICE RECORD OR I'LL SHIP YOU TO PANAMA TO CONTRACT A DISABLING DISEASE!' and says he once happened to overhear a Bush aide order the Texas National Guard to shred all files stamped with 'BUSH IS A DESSERTER!!'.

Then, in '97, came the clincher, a terrible moment seared in his memory, says Burkett. An aide to then governor Bush walked up to him and told him: 'You must improperly alter Bush's service record and delete any embarrassing info -- THAT'S AN ORDER!' Burkett refused, so, as punishment, he was shipped to Panama to contract a disabling disease, says Burkett. Dan Rather says this proves Burkett had no ax to grind, although, in February, Burkett retracted his story, telling the Houston Chronicle that his allegation of Bush shipping him to Panama "was not accurate." This made Burkett an Unimpeachable Source. Rather now admits he and Burkett, who has a history of being an unimpeachable nut, have known each other for 30 years but Rather says he had no idea Burkett was a nut. In an August commentary for Online Journal, Burkett crowed that he had "reassembled" Bush's service record. To do this, Burkett used a special technique called Reconstructing Repressed Document Memory for documents plagued with Repressed Memory Syndrome.

Burkett now denies having forgery relations with those accurate documents and claimed the source was fellow ex-Guardsman George Conn. Then Burkett admitted that was a lie and that the source of the accurate documents or forgeries was Lucy Ramirez whom no one has been able to locate. Burkett insists the documents are real but has no way of proving it. Then he admitted that was a lie and that he burned the originals. So when Unimpeachable Burkett says, 'I didn't forge anything', Dan says you can take it to the bank.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The CBS network, retracting the fake memos but not the story strongly backed up by the fake memos, insists questions raised in the fake documents have not been answered. CBS says that, though the documents can not be authenticated, the story has been authenticated because of the documents. The Docu-
ments Malfunctioned but not the story. Interviewed on a local CBS Affiliate in New York on Monday, Rather said the core of the story is genuine and that the only thing which remains questionable is the evidence. The memos, the heart of CBS's case that Bush is unfit for command, explosively reveal that Bush is a son of wealth (Bush could've picked less wealthy parents to be born to) and so he got special treatment by a colonel who wasn't even at the Guard at the time who pressured Bush's commander to 'sugar-coat' Bush skipping a flight physical he didn't need to take because he'd already been transferred to Alabama to work on a political campaign. (The question, 'Did Bush or didn't Bush attend that unnecessary flight physical 32 years ago?' is one that has the nation deeply shaken, I'm sure.)

Rather said mistakes were made. "It was an error that was made, however, in good faith and in the spirit of trying to carry on a CBS News tradition without fear or favoritism." It was in good faith that Rather forgot to nail down the source of the memos, forgot to nail down the chain of custody, forgot to check for forgeries, forgot to check for antique Microsoft typewriters, forgot to listen to document experts, and forgot that Bill Burkett is a rabid Democrat with a long history of attacking Bush, which means Burkett must be working for . . . Karl Rove! (See Tom Shales @ Washington Post and Maureen Dowd.) In fairness, Dowdy says she gives little credence to 'Rove did it!' conspiracy theories so she devotes 90% of column space to 'Rove did it!' conspiracy theories.

Network president Andrew Heyward ordered an "independent review of the process by which the report was prepared and broadcast to determine what actions need to be taken." (The report should be ready the day after the elections.)

Rather says if anybody lied to the public, it was Burkett, not he, and if anybody screwed up royally it was producer Mary Mapes, not Rather, who only runs the place. Now, in the spirit of trying to carry on the CBS tradition of not playing favorites, we learn that Mapes contacted Kerry's chief campaign spokesman Joe Lockhart to get him to call Burkett who wouldn't give Mapes the accurate documents unless Lockhart gave Burkett a call so Burkett could give him the heads-up on what's going down with the documents. Lockhart admits he called because he couldn't wait to get campaign advice from some nobody from Texas, so the whole thing was all so very innocent. Burkett was so enthralled telling Lockhart how to run the Kerry campaign that he forgot to mention the memos, so the subject never came up. So here we have Cleland, Burkett, Lockhart, Cahill, Mapes -- nope, no collaboration here at all.

My gut says this is only the beginning. Each day hereon will bring a new revelation, more damaging than the one before. One thing's for sure: With the Clinton A-Team of Carville, Begala, Lockhart, McCurry aboard, the Kerrytanic is taking water and sinking fast. By Election Day, the ship will have sunk. Hillary! will then say, Mission Accomplished. Get set -- the manure is about to hit the fan.

Anyway, that's...

My two cents

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 09-20-04 Military Monday 09-21-04...Voices of Our Presidents (rerun) 09-22-04...Canine Helpers (re-run)

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[lonestar]

Prayers of thanksgiving for my son's successful quadruple by pass surgery ...

I TOLD YOU SO!!!

Weinie

[dutchess]

Coming in late. Sounds like some prayers are answered...more prayers being offered up for a continued recovery!

[dutchess]

Prayers for your daughter too Texas friend....

[dutchess]

love those pj's colleen! Way too cute!

[TexasCowboy]

Thank you, dutchess.

It's been way too long since I've seen you.

[TexasCowboy]

Thank you, Aqua.

May you rest with dreamless sleep.

[dutchess]

It's been way too long since I've seen you.

I agree....

((((((mega prayers being sent your way))))))))

[Darksheare]

Excellent news!

[MEG33]

Prayers continue for your daughter.

[LadyX]

What you posted earlier was so on target, TC - we understand all too well what is at stake here.

Today my monthly Baxter supplies were delivered by the regular driver, Willie. He's a veteran, too - black man about 50, from North Carolina.

He is a great person, and we have good conversations. When he came, I of course had Fox News channel on with political things.
He actually then volunteered that while his father and grandmother had actually been Republicans, when he was young, he had been a Democrat.
He announced, however, he is going to vote for President Bush, and his brothers are, too!!

Good News from The South!!

Ongoing prayers for Faith, TC, of course, and {{{hugs }}} for you.
Will you be through there soon and able to head west?

[MEG33]

Indeed good news...How is your eye?

[LadyX]

Sorry to take so long in returning, MEG, getting connected for the nught.
The surgery was painless - over quickly - and has helped a lot, thank you.

It is wonderful that your son has responded so well to his operation!
When my husband had his heart attack in 1992, we both worked at the major hospital in Greensboro, NC, and he had excellent cardiologists.
Unfortunately, the damage was extensive, and there was no way to do any kind of bypass, fearing he couldn't survive it anyway if some were feasible.

With a "less than one year" prognosis, we continued in faith that God was in charge, and here we are 12 years later, muddling through still...

I am at the 19-years out point in my "Last Year."
His Timetable rules - -

Finest Prayers are so appreciated and effective!

[TexasCowboy]

Thank you, MEG.

Faith truly believes in the power of prayer. She just doesn't know about the prayer power of all of you wonderful people.
But she will!

[TexasCowboy]

Hi, Maggie!
I hope you're doing well.

I've been on this well for sixty five days, and I should have it finished in six more days.
I'll rest one day, then go out to see Faith.
I'll probably drive it. I just can't hardly make myself get on an airplane anymore.

Thank you for the prayers and the hugs!
Take care of yourself.

[MEG33]

I am so glad your sight is improved!..Yes, the power of prayer is wonderful...and am grateful that you and your husband are still around to muddle through with us.

[LadyX]

Meant my last reply to include you, Colleen.
Thank you for your faithful prayers and notes.
They mean so much, as do you, so bright and shining a person here at the Finest!

{{{{{ Good night hugs for you and Lucy }}}}}

[MEG33]

Weinie....;)

[LadyX]

"I'll rest one day, then go out to see Faith."

Hmmm...by my calculation, it is likely you will be out there for Someone's Birthday, and a milestone one at that..:))

Not that I am one to blab, mind you, but the date October 7th will be that keynote day for someone..:))

I therefore say to you now, happy birthday, dear friend and fellow Marine - - keep on looking up to from where all blessings flow, and thanking Him for His love and grace.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Stay safe Brother

Please give Faith my best wishes.

[MEG33]

Thank you, (((dutchess)))...