Today on Rush .. he was discussing the name of Michael Smith and Rush was questioning whether or not there was a Michael Smith who worked with Mary Mapes in Texas. I think Rush established that there is such a person who had some connection to Burkett .. but Rush is investigating whether or not it's the same Michael Smith involved with this story.
And .. it is really the DOWNING STREET MINUTES - it's not a memo. It's the minutes from a meeting.
On July 23, Michael Smith, a freelance journalist in Texas who was working on the story along with Mapes, sent her an email that began: "I am close to something that the Bushies are worried about..." Mapes responded: "I desperately want to talk to you....Do NOT underestimate how much I want this story."
Mapes and freelance journalist Michael Smith (who worked on the piece with Mapes) had different recollections of how Burkett came into custody of the documents. Smith told the panel that Burkett “received them anonymously in the mail”, while Mapes said Burkett identified a warrant officer named George Conn (which Burkett would later admit was a lie).
Before you dive too deep into that, make sure it's the same Michael Smith. It's a rather common name, after all.
DOWNING STREET MINUTES
10:30.... Al Gore dropped by for tea
10:35.... Al Gore leaves for little boy's room
11:00..... President Bush asks VP Dick Cheney to destroy civilization as we know it.
11:15..... VP responds there is no legal justification to annihilate world.
11:30...... President Bush says "Cook Something up"
12:00..... Lunch is served