CBS Relied On Dems for Documents

RatherBiased.com ^

[Recon by Fire]

Nice fence poles, must have come from the tree branches he found in the neighbors farm.

[Styria]

Memogate? I swear that name was already taken by the Clinton administration.

[Semper Paratus]

This was the 'rats big suprise and they had to spring it a month early 'cause Kerry was drowning.

This backfired bigger than a "Wile E. Coyote" cannon shot.

[snooker]

My thoughts as well. When I saw the Burkett postings we dug up a few days back, it all came together.

First up it was Dan and the forged TANG story.
Then comes Kitty litter
Last but not least is the abu-grab book.

Had to rush it all out or Kerry would be sitting on the bottom in his sunk Swift boat.

Long live the Pajama People ... :-}

[Straight Vermonter]

Kudos to ABC they have been on this like an ornery Texas alligator on a ....oops slipped into Ratherspeak there for a second.

[Jim Noble]

Straight out of Rules for Radicals

The subject of the senior thesis of the soon-to-be Democratic candidate for President.

Twenty-two days and counting...

[SauronOfMordor]

Beckett is a cut-out. Depend on it

Beckett's role is to shield more important people, to be expendable if the need arises. He may have been involved, but would Dan Rather fall on his sword to protect just Beckett? I don't think so.

[SauronOfMordor]

Beckett = Burkett

[BillyCrockett]

""I love the guy," Staudt said of Bush. "I'm so tired of this negative crap about him that I'd like to volunteer to build a barn and take you press guys out behind it and kick your asses."

Very funny! Problem is, the libs wouldn't understand it at all. Would NOT have a single clue why that statement is funny. Not one.

[Jim Noble]

This story has legs of its own that no one can stop now. Even if the WaPo or NYT drops it, someone else will pick it up. It is a tremendously engaging narrative which desperately is in need of a dramatic conclusion.

But, I think, the further it goes (beyond Rather), the longer it will take.

It's really a huge story, much bigger than Watergate. It's more like the Dreyfus affair in terms of potential connections within and among the powerful.

Think of the level of confidence these people possess, to send Rather and Heyward out there to defend these documents!

The decision to bring down the President using forged "news", via CBS News, for heaven's sake-this isn't using left wing (black) pajama-wearers!

[537cant be wrong]

possibly festooned?

yeah and if he was male enough to father children they would be running barefoot through the B.S. spread around his plantation.

[CIB-173RDABN]

"...give up almost everything else to pursue charges against Bush (which seem rather [no pun intended] meaningless when examined).

---

This is the really amazing part of this whole story, the "crime" they are trying to expose (even if true, and I don't concede that it is) is so minor, as to be on the level of jay walking.

I have read that the true plan was to slowly build a case that President Bush was a druggie and come late October run a story connecting the dots.

But again, (and I don't concede any truth to those charges) President Bush has already admitted that he had a period in his life where he was wild and reckless, and then he repented and reformed his life.

President Bush is not running on who he was 35 years ago, but on his record of the past four years. You would think the Democrats would be able to find something more recent to disagree with this administration.

John Kerry made a big mistake using his time in Viet Nam as the reason to elect him President. If he was as smart as they keep telling us, and he had plans to run for President some day, he should have cleaned up his record years ago. He could have gone to one of the many Veternans conventions and apologized for his words and deeds. This simple act would have neutralized the Swifties, but it is obvious that he still thinks he is right, and that thinking is what will keep him from winning this election.

I have often wondered about how Bill Clinton was able to get away with all he did. The only conclussion I could come up with is that he sold his soul to the devil, but the price was more then his sould, but the entire Democrate Party. Think about it, Bill Clinton with all he said and did, comes out of eight years of scandals in the White House untouched, yet everything else is in shambles. If the Democrats are mad, they are focusing on the wrong man (President Bush), the real cause for their current pain is Bill Clinton.

Perhaps Bill Clinton was good for the country after all. If his eight years in the White House results in the death of the Democrat Party, then it may have been worth it, thanks Bill. (Maybe Bill Clinton was a Karl Roves invention as well.)

[VoteHarryBrowne2000]

There's also been a web site up and on the web pushing this story since October 5, 2000. Using The Wayback Machine you can see what's been on the site:
http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.awolbush.com

It appears that someone has been funding this story and pushing it for four years running. Who are the people behind the web site? What is their connection to this current memo controversy?

Some digging, while holding my nose it is hard to type that way by the way, turned up links to thomaspaine.com, mention of a "Martin Heldt", there is mention about a refusal to follow two direct orders for a physical (hmmm, wonder where that claim showed up lately?), etc. too much to stomach this early in the AM.

The site's registration information lists:
Registrant:
Tell the Truth, Inc. (AWOLBUSH-DOM)
3 Harbor, #315
Sausalito, CA 94965
US

An older registration had this info:
Administrative Contact:
Easton, Will (WEO45) weaston@IGC.ORG
Tell the Truth, Inc.
4130 Cesar Chavez #60
San Francisco, CA 94110
415-563-8277

Could it be the "Will Easton" who introducted Dr. Dean out in San Francisco earlier this year?
http://sf4dean.com/gallery/SFMar18/HowardDean_03_18_04_009

The same "Will Easton" who is organizing "supporters of Barbara Boxer, Democrat from California, to discuss organizing and mobilizing for her 2004 Senate run."
http://boxerforsenate.meetup.com/8/

The same "Will Easton" who is involved with the Institute for Global Communications (IGC)? http://www.igc.apc.org/


Not sure if this is the same "To Tell the Truth, Inc." that got a contract from the Allegheny County in Pennsylvania this month:
APPROVED EXECUTIVE ACTIONS - 9/7/04
EXEC. ACT. AUTH.
COST
CENTER/JOB OBJECT DEPARTMENT VENDOR DESCRIPTION AMOUNT
882-04 9/3/2004 203105 63010
Administrative
Services Tell The Truth, Inc.
To enter into an Agreement for consultation services for
M/W/DBE and the Department of Administrative Services.
Estimated Cost: $56,000 $56,000.00
www.county.allegheny.pa.us/exaction/sept2004/240907.pdf

[Malesherbes]

"Cleland doesn't know when to not pick something up." Terrific line from American Victory.

[Cboldt]

Let's say that Rather knowingly conspired to use the forged documents that came from the Democratic Party, using the power of CBS as a news organization to hurt the Republicans in a presidential election. There must be federal laws against corporations allowing this to happen, i.e., if rather than proactively doing something like firing Rather and issuing corrections, they simple "let it ride".

I've reviewed forgery and fraud laws, and think criminal charges there are dry holes.

I haven't reviewed or studied electioneering laws, but have an aversion to "going there" for the same reason I have an aversion to Congressional hearings. Both lead to regulation of political expression by the media, using the force of law.

To me, the best "correction" is for the public to view all media with deep skepticism, and for each individual to develop critical thinking and analytical skills. Reading comprehension, logical thinking, etc. are useful to society in proportion to the fraction of its people that posses those skills.

I have no issue with the cause of action that GWB has against CBS News for defamation, or a shareholder suit by Viacom shareholders, if their stock loses value on bad business judgement.

[AMDG&BVMH]

"Both sides will count on the electorate to sicken of this style and leave the real meat on the table untouched. "

Yes, they knew the Swift Boat Veterans had some real meat to serve up; and counted on these faked memos about Bush to innure the public to the TRUE charges.

Lots here on FR had thought so, but here he actually SAYS it!

[Malesherbes]

Dittos to jporcus. Rather is the asbestos in the Viacom system. The whole thing should be torn down in the interests of public safety.

[Cboldt]

Think of the level of confidence these people possess, to send Rather and Heyward out there to defend these documents!

Tough to figure out who the "strategically placed" people are; but the events and subsequent behavior point to high placement in the respective organizations.

Not even Les Moonves has come out, either way. I wonder how CBS News fits into Viacom's business. Is it a money maker? Break even? Loss? One thing that Viacom wants, is to be able to influence the political process via deception and propaganda. In principle, it is worth having that, even if the operation is a loser on the balance sheet.

I think the bigger motivating objective of CBS News (and NBC, ABC, CNN, PBS, NPR, AP, etc.) is the ability to manipulate public opinion and the political process - not necessarily to earn a profit. It's about power first, and money second.

[mtntop3]

" Isn't it sad that a man (either Burkett or Rather) can have his life so consumed with hatred for Bush that there seems to be little else in his life? He (they) give up almost everything else to pursue charges against Bush (which seem rather [no pun intended] meaningless when examined). "

We can never underestimate the capacity for jealously and vindictiveness in individuals, but this ultimately, and often rather quickly, destroys those so unfortunate to have this condition.

[p. henry]

Van Os is Burkett's lawyer. Because he may have to defend him in a criminal trial, he has not asked him if he is the forger. That is why Van Os says that Burkett is not the forger based only on knowledge of his character.

Even if Burkett is the forger, he may not have been the faxer. Remember, Rather said the memos came from "an unimpeachable source." Burkett is not "unimpeachable." Therefore, did someone else, someone who is unimpeachable, visit Burkett in Texas and use that Kinko's? If so, who? Who is the Deep Throat of this story?