CBS 60 Minutes Documents Forgery Facts Project [web site live: analysis and Project report online]

CBS 60 Minutes Documents Forgery Facts Project ^ | Jan 10, 2005 [release date] | freepers

[Mike Fieschko]

DO NOT SPAM MAIL THIS REPORT

The "CBS 60 Minutes Document Forgery Project Working Group" has worked long and hard on what we believe is a valuable and constructive Report. If you feel some agency, media, or CBS affiliate, etc. should have a copy, please download it and print it out. Then simply mail or hand deliver it. That way, your delivery will be far more appreciated than filling the recipient's computer with 600K of "spam", which we all know and love. Any kind of unsolicited "spamming" degrades the value of our effort and we ask that you respect our wishes in this regard.

Besides, sending a printed copy to the recipient will have a greater impact: It shows you cared more than simply hitting the SEND button. Additionally, a printed document is far more useful as the recipient can: think about it more carefully, mark it up with underlines or make notes, carry it to a meeting, read it on a commute or trip, or simply pass it around the office.

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This report is the property of the Working Group which prepared it. Links to this site are encouraged, but the hosting or full reproduction of this Report on another site is not permitted. However, you may quote portions of this Report provided that proper citation of the Report is included with the quotation.

Thanks from all of us who worked on the document.

The CBS 60 Minutes Document Forgery Project Working Group.

This Report is based on information compiled and available as of September 29, 2004 and was developed by a Working Group of concerned citizens who used FreeRepublic.com as a clearing house for the exchange of ideas and information. The use of FreeRepublic.com enabled the Working Group to have timely access to, and draw upon, the knowledge of hundreds of professionals and experts across the Country. Examples include typography and word processing, military protocol, document validation, and many other related areas. In addition, the Working Group used that site, as well as many other internet sites, to monitor other efforts that were also addressing questions relating to the Documents used on the September 8, 2004 60 Minutes program. Other than these activities, the Working Group has no formal relationship with the FreeRepublic.com site, or with its founder or management. Access to the Working Group which is informally associated together on the internet is at http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/cbsdfp/ by subscription only.

[Mike Fieschko]

Site navigation bar at top of each page.

The Project's report is available as a Microsoft Word Document including detailed Project Report with Conclusions and Recommendations, Executive Summary, and Technical Illustration.

Also available as an Adobe Acrobat pdf file including detailed Project Report with Conclusions and Recommendations, Executive Summary, and Technical Illustration.

[Mike Fieschko]

ping

[MeekOneGOP]

bump!

[dandelion]

A "bump" BUMP! Great resource!!

[Windcatcher]

Bump-ity-bump!

This is just excellent! It's doing Congress' work for them, and here's hoping there's a full investigation. Someone needs to wear prison orange over this.

[dickmc]

To Working Group:

Thanks for all your effort and input.

It was, and is, much appreciated.

Regards,
dickmc

[ForGod'sSake]

Continually amazed at the talent on this forum bump.

FGS

[anniegetyourgun]

THX!

[metacognative]

Isn't forgery a crime? Attempted fraud to sway a Federal election! And Mapes will be a lib. dahling.
This is more consequences than I thought, but not NEARLY finished.

[Mike Fieschko]

Isn't forgery a crime? Attempted fraud to sway a Federal election!

IANAL, but Scylla & Charybdis blog has been commenting for weeks about the legal (specifically criminal) possibilities, mostly under Texas law.

One recent post is from Dec 29: CBS Report Legal Checklist for Scylla&Charybdis readers:, but there are others.

[Prost1]

Chris Cox, Chairman of House Government Reform Committee was on earlier today and said a criminal investigation needs to be conducted because of "forging and misuse of government documents" is a crime. Also, said that it is criminal to attempt to use knowingly use false documents to influence a federal election.

Ask if there is a separation between News and Government, he failed to clearly answer. The appropriate answer is that since a crime has been committed, then sources are not protected and anyone protecting sources is complicit in the crime.

Let's hope they proceed with the investigation. Enough MSM/democRAT pollution.

But remember, Sandy Berger has not been indicted.
see tagline!

[Ellesu]

My God, the people here are amazing. Just awesome! As a conservative Louisiana stay at home mom, who just happened upon this site when I was searching the web for information on Scott Peterson(lol)let me say thank you. I am so proud to be a member of this forum and I have the utmost respect for each and everyone of you.

Regarding the CBS/Rather saga, do you realize what you have done? How without you, this would have never been brought to light? I do and I am so grateful. To all here who contributed to this I salute you, and again congratulations!

[Mike Fieschko]

My God, the people here are amazing. Just awesome!

I say (or think) the very same thing several times a week, about the knowledge, experience, intelligence, analytical skill, of other freepers.

At 9:09 am on Sep 11, freepers were discussing whether bin Laden was behind the terrorism.

[Ellesu]

I got chills reading that. Thanks.

[kimosabe31]

Great report.

[Major_Risktaker]

Kind of makes you wonder about Rather's past!

__________________________

Rather lied to all of America in claiming that the head shot pushed John F. Kennedy's head forward. Rather's meteoric rise to network status and stardom soon followed.

Dan Rather's "fib"

[Ellesu]

Oh My! Yes indeed and what he will do in the future. Thanks, I've been given so many good links today and have so much reading to do. Question: Is their an archived section from when FR started to present day?

[weegee]

Media Schadenfreude and Media Shenanigans PING

[martin_fierro]

[ForGod'sSake]

Is their an archived section from when FR started to present day?

Since you're a neighbor(sortof) I'll give you something to start with. If you'll follow this LINK, you'll find threads going back several years relating to FR's fund raisers. There is usually a post fairly early in some of the threads that give a pretty good history of FR. I know there are some around here that could probably pull one off their hard drive. Good luck.

FGS

[CaliGirlGodHelpMe]

"My God, the people here are amazing. Just awesome!"

I'll second that.

[Ellesu]

Thank You.

[cpdiii]

The secret of Free Republic is many keen minds working on a problem at the same time. Ideas and concepts are thrown out and quickly validated or savaged. What emerges at the end may have very little resemblance to what the original idea or concept was. However, what is left after the Freepers vet it is generally accurate and backed up with cold logic.

Please remember that we have Jim Rob to thank for this forum which in all probability in conjunction with the Swift Boat Vets, and Vietnam Vets for Truth decided the election.

[FreedomPoster]

I amazed there's not a Texas D.A. moving on this, just for the future political name recognition angle. Not to mention the fact that it's the right thing to so.

Someone with subpeona power looking at phone call data records among CBS and some of the Kerry Campaign players, might find some interesting material.

[ForGod'sSake]

I amazed there's not a Texas D.A. moving on this...

I'm with you on this one, but I'm not sure there's nothing being done. Early on there were some rumblings about Texas LE becoming involved, but haven't heard anything since then. Time to wind up the telephone to do some snooping around. Entirely possible the docs prepared here at FR could be useful to 'em. I gotta believe the Texas Rangers would be interested, and if they become interested, something will happen.

Maybe some of our Austin area Freepers could shed some light?

FGS

[DrewsDad]

Our Travis County D.A.(appropriate initials) Ronnie Earle is too busy chasing Republicans such as Tom Delay to investigate fraudulent documents.

I'll see if I can bring it up at a CTRA meeting tonight.

[windchime]

Fantastic! Thanks!

[js1138]

Pretty good. It consolodates all the stuff I am aware of and addresses the Utah professor's claims.

[ForGod'sSake]

I'll see if I can bring it up at a CTRA meeting tonight.

Cool.

I've heard of some of the shenanigans of youse guy's D.A. Wasting the good taxpayers' of Texas and Travis county's money he is. Just a thought, but it seems to me cbs's farkle would easily rise to the level of federal charges, so a state charge is almost a given. What about the Texas A.G.'s office becoming involved? I seem to recall shortly after this fiasco was exposed there was some noise from that office. Momory's not what it used to be.

FGS

[leprechaun9]

Does anyone have any answers to the following:

1. Where is the list of names of the"Concerned Citizens" who wrote the report?

2. The transmittal cover letter to Boccardi/Thornburgh is dated October 4, 2004. Why did it take 3 months to release it (well after the election!)

3. Why are there no signatures on any part of the report?

4. Where is the acknowledgment that Boccardi was a keynote speaker at a dinner tribute to Dan Blather?

[mowkeka]

A conservative friend of mine asked an interesting question. He asked why the FBI has not started to investigate this document forgery scandal. At first I thought he was taking it a bit far, but you know what? He's right.
Someone tried to throw a Presidential election. Someone tried to throw a Presidential election using forged documents. How is this any different than Watergate?

[Mike Fieschko]

1. Where is the list of names of the"Concerned Citizens" who wrote the report?

They are freepers and many of them are concerned of consequences if their identities are disclosed: either FR screen names or legal names.

2. The transmittal cover letter to Boccardi/Thornburgh is dated October 4, 2004. Why did it take 3 months to release it (well after the election!)

I'm not sure if you mean why did it take three months for Thornburgh and Boccardi to release their report, or why did it take three months for this report to be released.

As to the first, you're asking the wrong person.

As to the second, this report was worked on extensively, here on FR, back in September, and since the last editing job online here at FR, I think only minor, editorial, changes were made.

3. Why are there no signatures on any part of the report?

See answer to #1.

4. Where is the acknowledgment that Boccardi was a keynote speaker at a dinner tribute to Dan Blather?

This is a report limited to examining whether the memos 60 Minutes used were forgeries. When and where Boccardi spoke is irrelevant to whether the memos are forgeries.

[Mike Fieschko]

How is this any different than Watergate?

Watergate was an attempt by a presidential re-election campaign to interfere by criminal means (burglary), with another political campaign / party.

This was a private organization's attempt to interfere by criminal means (forgery) with a political campaign.

To me, that's a distinction without making an important difference, but there is a difference.

[dnomyar]

OK. Who forged the documents? With the release of the CBS Report, are there any additional clues that could identify a suspect? I don't think Burkett is smart enough. He seems to have been an unwitting patsy.

[fight_truth_decay]

CBS Stresses Panel Saw No Political Bias, But Admits Others Do

[Mike Fieschko]

OK. Who forged the documents? With the release of the CBS Report, are there any additional clues that could identify a suspect?

I haven't read the report, and neither have I read all the comments here and other sites, so if there are new clues, I don't know about them.

I don't think Burkett is smart enough. He seems to have been an unwitting patsy.

Agreed. He seems more like a sucker.

[xJones]

Who forged the documents?

Remember that the memos were faxed from the only Kinko's in Abilene, about 15-20 minutes away from Burkett's home in Baird, Texas. Did he compose them? I dunno, but they were sent from a location fairly close to his home in west Texas, which is not exactly an overpopulated area.

[clyde asbury]

bttt

[Howlin]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1220090/posts

[Mike Fieschko]

Thanks for the link.

[DrewsDad]

I asked if anyone knew of any investigation into the CBS fraudulent documents to a group of about 30 folks and know one spoke up. Kinda sad.

I think we need to start calling Greg Abbott, our A.G. and demand an investigation.

[ForGod'sSake]

I think we need to start calling Greg Abbott, our A.G. and demand an investigation.

I'd be on board for that, but I wonder if there's a way to determine if there may be an action already filed somewhere. New York is out for obvious reasons and it appears there's nothing going in Texas we're aware of.

Likely being a federal case due to the nature of the purported documents, shouldn't this be something the DOJ could and should look into? This ain't nickel and dime stuff Mapes and company got involved in; this is a BIG deal that cbs is trying to whitewash with a few token firings!

Another thought is what are the chances of a class-action law suit against cbs? I'm not a lawyer(and never played one), but doesn't there need to be actual quantifiable damages to even attempt a class-action? If so, what damages could we as citizens claim.

I don't suppose there's a snowball's chance of making sedition charges stick in the current PC world we live in. It's a matter of fact cbs's attempt to skew a federal election comes very close to seditious behavior, but I don't have a clue what sort of "test" would have to be met. Just some random thoughts.

Anyway, pinging a couple legel eagles for some pro bono opinions ;^) Guys?

Bottom line; I'm ready, willing and nearly able to pursue cbs with a vengeance for their attempted scam.

FGS

[MEG33]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1323014/posts?page=1
Exposing CBS
Wash Times ^ | 18 jan 05 | William Campenni


Posted on 01/18/2005 6:18:51 AM CST by white trash redneck


It's time to drive a stake into this continuing saga less it become the new grassy knoll for the left-wing pundits and blogosphere. I accept the challenge.


[snip]

[Wristpin]

"This was a private organization's attempt to interfere by criminal means (forgery) with a political campaign"

Yes, but isn't this "Private Organization" using "Public Airwaves" as a conduit for it's criminal activity?

[Mike Fieschko]

"This was a private organization's attempt to interfere by criminal means (forgery) with a political campaign"

Yes, but isn't this "Private Organization" using "Public Airwaves" as a conduit for it's criminal activity?

I'm inclined to say 'talk to the prosecutor', because it always gets down to that.

If someone points to a particular statute, then maybe it'll be fruitful to bat this back and forth.

But, since IANAL, and I'm not interested in courts getting involved with this issue, it doesn't really matter to me.

You did cut the part of my reply which said

'To me, [a presidential re-election campaign ... interfer[ing] by criminal means (burglary), with another political campaign / party vs. a private organization's attempt to interfere by criminal means (forgery) with a political campaign is] a distinction without making an important difference, but there is a difference.'

[Wristpin]

I was merely pointing that an additional laws MAY have been broken IRT using the public airwaves to perpetrate this fraud. Someone may know.