Dan kinda got caught in his ad-libbing. He was saying something about how in the past W. had a reputation for getting his words wrong, but that he didn't tonight. But Rather in trying to say that messed up what he was saying twice, and then got it wrong the third time. That's ok because I think he was genuinley moved. Also, he signed off, and WASN'T out of time, so he had to fill a little, and he was sooooo serious about the gavity of the situation. It was really eerie.
Rather is still a very biased liberal but his words and actions in the past week indicate to me that he was cathartically moved by the devastation in New York. It is, after all, where he's worked the past 20 years and I would not be surprised at all if he lost a good friend or two in the WTC collapse.
I don't believe his tears on Letterman were faked (he was quoting a verse from "America The Beautiful" when he choked up - how many fo us can recite past the first verse?)
He's also been to Afghanistan personally to cover the war against the Soviets and may understand better than most what awaits if we are foolish enough to start a ground war there.
I think Rather's praise tonight speaks volumes either that he supports America's war on terrorism or that he hasn't been taking his meds lately.