Here's another factor to illustrate collusion between CBS and the Dims...even in an election cycle, when production houses, producers and voice-over talent are on-call 24 hours a day, it takes a little time to research, produce and test prospective spots. The "Fortunate Son" ads were, in my estimation, produced at least two weeks in advance, possibly longer. Note how well those commercials "mesh" with the 60 Minutes piece, which no one outside CBS presumably viewed before it aired. There are reports--not fully confirmed--that these documents made their way to the Kerry campaign and DNC before being passed to Mary Mapes at CBS. A minor Kerry functionary in TN predicted "new revelations" on President Bush's guard record back in mid-August, as previously reported on FR.
Your assumptions are quite valid. But the record will ultimately show collusion between the Dims and CBS well before the Burkett--Mapes--Lockhart conversations...