DAN GETS A PASS

New York Post ^ | 1/11/05

[kattracks]

Heads rolled at CBS News yesterday following release of a 224-page report on last fall's "60 Minutes" hit on President Bush's military record — but anchor Dan Rather and news division boss Andrew Heyward survived.

Rather, the network suggested, has been punished enough — though both he and CBS proclaim that his announced retirement as Evening News anchor is in no way connected to the Memogate fiasco.

As for Heyward, he's not about to be the captain who goes down with the ship. "[He] is the right man to be leading CBS News during this challenging time," the network concluded.

[snip]

As for any political agenda, the report — by former U.S. Attorney General Dick Thornburgh and retired Associated Press CEO Louis Boccardi — concludes: "[We do] not find a basis to accuse those who investigated, produced, vetted or aired the segment of having a political bias."

In other words, all they had here was a bunch of dedicated guys and gals who simply got carried away.

[snip]

Indeed, Rather has always complained the rest of the media were ignoring "the larger story" by focusing on the memos.

In fact, Rather told the investigators he "still believes the content of the documents is true because 'the facts are right on the money' and that no one ha[s] provided persuasive evidence that the documents were not authentic" — a conclusion the report finds "troubling."

So, in Rather's mind, the documents remain fake, but true. No political agenda?

Short of a confession from Rather and Mapes, how much more proof is needed?

[snip]

In that respect, the report will fool no one who doesn't want to be fooled.

That's a pity, because the truth would have helped restore CBS' credibility, and that of the mainstream media as a whole.

[MEG33]

It walks like a duck...It quacks like a duck.
Even Chris Matthews says it was political bias.
The CNN quick vote says 50% believe Rather should be fired..really big news in a CNN poll(always seem to lean way left)

[carumba]

"That's a pity, because the truth would have helped restore CBS' credibility."

Yes but you have to look at the nuanced gray shading in order to have the suave and sophisticated understanding required of all bohemian intellectuals.

[1FASTGLOCK45]

Dan gets to pass "GO and Collect 2,000,000 dollars"

[Route101]

Danny goes on collecting his millions...what a piece of crap!....

[RightOnline]

By not firing Rather, CBS just did themselves and the MSM in general a huge disservice.

The clear message that sent is this: Their "icons" are untouchable; beyond reproach. They can get away with journalistic murder and there isn't anything that will be done to them and they know it, truth or integrity be damned.

This is what chaps the hide of so many people today who get their info from other sources.

[orangelobster]

CBS successfully found some scapegoats to fire. As long as Heyward can continue, the problem is not fixed.

[Hatteras]

"Even Chris Matthews says it was political bias."

And believe me, Chris Matthews knows political bias when he sees it...

[1Old Pro]

EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE, knew that Mapes was a Left Wing activist and allowed this to influence her "productions".

Are we supposed to believe that EVERYONE knew this EXCEPT Dan and the CBS executives??

I don't think so, they embraced her, she got caught, they had to fire her, she'll be back at PBS or CNN.

[TheForceOfOne]

We pick up our story with CPO Danny Rather carelessly arranging the deck chairs on the SS CBS Titanic while whistling "Jimmy Crack Corn". In his quarters, Captain Andrew Hayward reflects back on the pre-election day logs and tries to calm the crew outside his door that seem to think the ship is sinking by declaring we didn't hit an iceberg and everything is fine, go back to your post. Captain Hayward informs the crew Lieutenant Mary Mapes somehow got washed overboard along with three other crewmen last night when the ship shook for unknown reasons. Finally, after being pressured to investigate this matter the Captain realizes the ship has been taking on water and sends up a distress signal which is picked up by the SS Fox News which rebroadcasts the distress signal and the pending demise of the SS CBS Titanic. Meanwhile for unknown reasons other ships close by such as the SS NBC, SS CNN, and the SS NY Times pick up the distress signal and fail to report it.

[IamConservative]

"and that of the mainstream media as a whole."

I know I always think of Dan as a whole - an arsewhole that is.