[bootyist-monk]

CBS admits that they went to Burkett. How did they know to seek him out? Who tipped them that Burkett had the forged documents? Why didn't they question the documents once they had them? All of this is pointing back to the Kerry campaign and the DNC.

Burkett admits to contacting Cleland. Max passed his information to the Kerry camp. Kerry nudges everyone about a blockbuster story about Bush's TANG service that CBS is going to run. The DNC prepares the "Fortunate Son" attack ads to coordinate with the CBS report.

So the timeline goes: Burkett gives the docs to Kerry. Kerry tells them to run the hit on Bush. Gives CBS the information to contact Burkett. Everything circles back to Burkett, with Robin Rather probably facilitating the contacts.

This isn't going away. It's only gonna get bigger.

[thoughtomator]

Who tipped them to talk to Burkett? We did. We were onto Burkett within 3 days of the original story... a full week ahead of CBS.

[xlib]

This isn't going away. It's only gonna get bigger.

Which brings up a worry: What if this topples Kerry? I read on NRO that all the DNC has to do to replace their nominee is have a majority of the 400 some-odd members of the national exec committee vote in a newbie. So we could have a repeat of NJ '02, when a well managed republican campaign is rendered moot by a last minute switcheroo.

[spectre]

"Burkett gives the docs to Kerry. Kerry tells them to run the hit on Bush. Gives CBS the information to contact Burkett. Everything circles back to Burkett, with Robin Rather probably facilitating the contacts.
This isn't going away. It's only gonna get bigger."

And what if it IS traced back to Kerry himself? Then what?

sw

[Pres Raygun]

CBS have been working on this story for five years. During that time they probably came in contact with Burkett, who has been essentially saying (for the last five years) that Bush was AWOL and he, Burkett saw Bush's aides destroy TANG documents. Burkett was probably badgering CBS to run with the story and their response was, find us some hard evidence such as memos and we'll run with the story. Hence both Rather and Burkett can claim CBS pressured him for the docs. Both CBS and Burkett admit some culpability, but get to play the victim. The problem is they can't identify the victimizer or their flimsy story will be further discredited. My guess is that they will try to pin the blame on a fictitious Republican source. Watch your back Buckhead.