This is a story waiting to explode.
If a reporter can tie the DNC and Kerry to the forgeries this could be BIGGER THAN THE WATERGATE BREAK INS!
Think about it. It has all of the elements, dirt tricks, illegal activity, a desperate political campaign, and CONSPIRACIES CONSPIRACIES CONSPIRACIES!
When they hear in the future that tv news shows are one-sided, partisan, and prejudiced, a lot more of the public will be willing to do some of their own thinking.
It used to be that the news media presented facts, both sides of the issues. With the advent of news magazine type shows, and which 60 Minutes used to be the most credible, the neworks have become advocates of positions rather than reporters of facts.
I so love it that the public are now being exposed to the same crap that the intelligent freepers have been telling them is crap. It's been a great 6 days!
There are some serious legal issues here. CBS failed to locate the typist, failed to present evidence by those who knew Killian best, and now it is revealed that all three of its document experts disavow the documents.
What we have here is malice plus reckless disregard for the truth.
Just sitting here with my popcorn watching the sparks between NBC, ABC & CBS.
Chris Core on WMAL in D.C. now discussing whether the SeeB.S. fraud is "Watergate in reverse." Saying for the same reasons we had to learn about Watergate, Rather has to tell his sources.
For reference.
Did Dan Rather introduce the piece?
Or just sit quiet?
you know what I think is going on?? I think Dan Rathers daughter is probably the go between of the "source" and her Dad...I truly believe thats why he is not giving an ounce...it will RUIN her.....its already ruined him.....AND I dont belive he is INNOCENT as everyone is trying to say....that he was "taken"....I think he was having orgasms when he got this stuff and almost fainted from JOY getting it ready for broadcasting....
I actually swallowed hard and then wrote an email to ABC thanking them for their piece on CBS today. Yes, I do think there are a few motivations driving their actions: market share, twist the knife after being patted on the head as the upstart network for so long by CBS, and I do hold out hope that there are a few in the business that genuinely decry the lack of journalistic integrity at CBS.
That said, as a parent of 3 young children I am well aware that even in the midst of dozens of negative moments being acted out - you still need to point out and praise those moments where things are being done right.
I'd urge everyone to drop a line to ABC and thank them for standing for the truth rather than political bias.
This may already been posted somewhere... but just as a reminder of rather's dislike of the Bushes:
In the 1980s, Rather became a hero to many American liberals for his tough, skeptical reporting on the Iran-Contra Affair which led to a famous on-air confrontation he had with then-vice-president George H. W. Bush. The incident is widely believed to have been pivotal in Bush's campaign to win the presidency in the 1988 election. It also marked the beginning of Rather's ratings decline, a slump from which he has never recovered. Bush never forgave him and refused to grant Rather an interview after their initial tangle. His son, George W. Bush has apparently followed suit, and has thus far declined to grant Rather an interview during his presidency.
I saw the Brian Ross piece on ABC News tonight. It was devastating. They said all 3 of the 60 Minutes document experts warned CBS about the validity of the memo before the program aired, yet Ross said they aired it anyway.
The only selling point in CBS' favor came at the end of the story when Ross mentioned that Killian's secretary thought that the memos were the way she thought Killian felt about George Bush. Total hearsay!
The best part was the look on Jennings' face as he introduced the story. You could tell it was killing him!
CBS could be just a bigger version of Air America. Flip a switch one day, voila. No need to account for what is reported, just "do it." Stay clear of actionable defamation, ala National Enquirer, and we're off!!
The DNC already gets 30-60% of the commentary time on all media outlets, so what if it gets 100% on the smallest of the three braodcast networks?
ABC is on a lifeline for ratings right now. Their regular network lineup is abysmal and Eisner has had as much success with ABC as he has had in restoring Disney's family values.
If ABC can claw it's way past CBS by sinking it's teeth into their throat while they're down, count on it. We're watching the high and mighty who have fallen, and now we get to watch them fight over table scraps.
And bring some popcorn, it will be a lovely show.
Real men don't boast about their service to other real men.
On another topic some have raised on this thread, so far I don't see any signs of Viacom stock taking a hit. The three-month chart shows that it still seems to be in an intermediate up-channel.
That's understandable. If Dan Rather gets fired and 60 Minutes tanks, that doesn't necessarily harm CBS all that much. And CBS is only a part of Viacom.
bump
Has Dan popped the question to Eva Braun yet?
It sounded pretty bad for CBS on the one we watched. They torpedoed the memo (what else could they do or look foolish?) but, true to form, at the very end said that Killian's secretary said memo was probably fake, BUT that if it hadn't been fake it would have expressed how SHE thought Killian felt about Pres. Bush. HOWEVER, on radio the other day, Killian's son said that his father had admired Pres. Bush when he was his commander. He also had met Dubya and said he was exemplary in appearance and demeanor. So, they're probably trying to wound Rather and not be fatal to CBS. Just not look stupid themselves.
May I suggest a steel-cage death match with Bowie knives between rather and jennings?? Please? Please?
I am shamelessly posting this everywhere.
Sung to the tune of "Video Killed the Radio Star." What do you think? Perhaps Rush could work it up?
I saw you on the airwaves back in Sixty-Three.
Lying in wait intent on making history.
I was so young I couldn't stop you coming through.
Oh-a oh
You couldn't wait to replace that old phony.
Abusing airwaves was a lib monopoly.
And now I understand the problems you can't see.
Oh-a oh
Come meet your children.
Oh-a oh
They're here to tell you.
Internet killed the CBS star . . .
Internet killed the CBS star . . .
The bloggers came and broke your heart.
Oh-a-a-a oh
And now you race to an abandoned studio.
To face the payback that we wanted long ago.
And you remember how you liberals used to crow.
Oh-a oh
You are the first one.
Oh-a oh
But not the last one.
Internet killed the CBS star . . .
Internet killed the CBS star . . .
In my mind and on my Mac, we can't delete we won't go back.
Oh-a-aho oh,
Oh-a-aho oh
Internet killed the CBS star . . .
Internet killed the CBS star . . .
In my mind and on my Mac, we can't delete we won't go back.
The truth has come through cyberspace. Google monkeys took your place.
You are a CBS star.
You are a CBS star.
Internet killed the CBS star.
Internet killed the CBS star.
Internet killed the CBS star.
Internet killed the CBS star.
repeat