Posted on 06/06/2004 12:25:13 AM PDT by My Dog Likes Me
Essay by Dan Rather, read at the very end of a CBS News special report, on the evening of June 5, 2004.
--- "President Reagan led the West in a decisive hour of a long battle for the survival of Western culture, Western ideas and ideals.
He was a son of the West. Born in the American Mid-West, he grew to full manhood and died in its far West. All of his life, he favored the West Wind.
He dressed the part, acted it, spoke it, and lived it. The Reagan presidency began on the front steps of the Capitol. His inaugural ceremony the first in history facing West, toward the Mall and its monuments.
His letter of November 5, 1994, announcing his Alzheimers, poignant, yet devoid of self-pity, tells us he was once again looking West. But, Ronald Wilson Reagan also could not resist one more look back over his shoulder.
He now makes his final ride, confident in the knowledge that, as he wrote, "For America, there will always be a bright dawn ahead."
May we share his optimism. And may his steed hold steady as he completes his journey. We will think of him always, when the West Wind blows." -----
Yes, I noticed Dan flick his tongue up inside of his cheek as he collected himself to sign off. I think that was the result of cotton-mouth. Looks like his throat just dried up.
What Rather said last night was very moving. I don't think his reaction was contrived at all. Maybe if all of my fellow Freepers had actually seen the piece, then they would agree that it wasn't faked or taped months ago.
Hee hee hee.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...
Blather's respect for Reagan is as genuine as a three dollar bill. You nailed it, Registered. Just another liberal dirtbag trying to hide his true colors.
It really sucks when the Mexican radio kicks in.....
While I have admiration for your sense of class or fair play, I don't see this as any great concession or sacrifice. They should be respectful, and they should mention the great things that occurred under Reagan's watch. They certainly didn't embellish anything.
So as far as I'm concerned, they did what they were supposed to do, and they're still WAY in the negative points, due to the fact that they spew their anti American crap every single day of the week.
What did Rather say about him in the 80's?
Yeah, but was it "credit" or blame?
I wonder if he ever picks up Rush or Savage? That would make him cry.
For professionals, I am underimpressed by Rather, Jennings and Brokaw. I don't think they see themselves as we do. I think they travel in rarified circules that leaves them with the impression that they reflect what America is. In reality, those folks have no connection to reality.
They trounce our values. They belittle our heros. They essentially aid and abet the enemies of our nation, or ideals and our citizens. Oblivious, they move ever forward toward a socialist ideal.
Well said, I agree.
No...the "alphabet agencies" just beam 60s "beat poetry" and mariachi music at him.
That's why he's always so wild-eyed.
Rather is a lefty, but what he is NOT is a 'hate-America' type.
Peggy Noonan explains him pretty well in her books.
Thanks for doing a good thing, Mr.Rather.
Nope, I disagree completely. When you produce a news broadcast night after night after night, never giving our troops, Commander in Chief, credit for what they have done for the Iraqi people, you are nothing but anti-American.
Rather and the two other triplets harange on the US constantly, regarding the failed effort in Iraq. They never tell what the US has done for the Iraqis.
These men are about the closest things you can get to traitors. They aid and abet the enemy daily. To hell with them.
You're right. All of the media outlets that I've watched have shown great respect so far. I was pretty astonished.
But my biggest surprise was Rather's emotional homage to the man. That's why I transcribed it and posted it here.
Gonna be a tough week for all of us, I think. My VCR will be recording everything.
It's funny you should mention that because I've always been under that impression too, until just a few days ago. I thought Rather was an obscure unknown in Dallas, completely unheard of by the brass in New York. He only caught their eye, so the story as I knew it went, when he handled the fast-breaking assassination news with skill and calm.
But the other day I watched a fantastic gem of a program called D-Day+Twenty Years in which Walter Cronkite interviewed Eisenhower as they toured the Normandy battlefield. Eisenhower shone. It was produced in August 1963, months before the Kennedy assassination. And the narrator was none other than "What's the frequency Kenneth?" himself, Dan Rather.
So I guess he wasn't as unknown to the New York brass prior to the assassination as he's lead people to believe. Maybe he just wanted to create a myth in which his name and success in journalism would always be more closely attached to Kennedy than they really deserved to be.
Your post had me so darn excited...for a moment....
...till I re-read the thread title...
...I could have sworn the first time I read it, that it said Chokes....instead of Chokes-Up....
LOL!
I can't help but wonder if this is b/c it is a Saturday and nobody is watching (well, it is now Sunday). They can point to these broadcasts and say "see, we were fair and decent." I fear the Reagan bashing, distortions and downright meaness will begin within a day or two.
I hope I am wrong.
Yeah, I've always been impressed with Rather's acting skills. He should be in movies.
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