Rather bows out tonight, a vet of TV's ups, downs [Free Republic credited]

Seattle Times ^ | March 9, 2005 | by Kay McFadden

[Jim Robinson]

In January, the conservative and widely respected Heritage Foundation held a panel discussion called "Rather is Retiring: Is the Blogosphere the New Media Establishment?"

It was a moment to take stock. Significant trends have swept America in a few short years: the rise of the political right, the proliferation of Internet use and a growing grass-roots challenge to information supplied by the mainstream media.

~snip~

Rather's career embodies the rise and fall of TV news and the culture it has represented for the past four decades — a culture now besieged on every front by political, technological and economic forces unimagined in 1963.

~snip~

The ensuing decade would be a great one for television journalism. News-division heads and young Turks like Rather were unafraid to confront and show to viewers the ugly side of authority. TV was every bit as bold as print — and its impact greater. Yet later, many people came to see this period of media triumph as its undoing. While the news rose in prestige and influence, its popularity among average citizens began to decline in polls. Along the way were sown the seeds of a perceived bias and arrogance.

During this period, Rather thrived. He also became identified with liberal values that some thought affected his judgment and that over the years made him a target for media critics — none more zealous than the new, politically motivated generation of bloggers.

In part thanks to them, Rather will exit his evening newscast under mixed skies. His role in the story known as "Memogate" on the Wednesday edition of "60 Minutes" puts an asterisk next to more than 40 years of often stellar coverage, from John F. Kennedy's assassination to Abu Ghraib.

~snip~

[Jim Robinson]

"The story claimed President Bush got favorable treatment while in the Texas Air National Guard and rested its case on documents ultimately deemed unverifiable. Bloggers such as freerepublic.com and powerline.com were first to expose the shoddy journalism."

[Stultis]

Attaboy, JR! And minions, of course. Lo those (not so) many years ago on Prodigy. Failed to take down The Rapist then, but the clean kills are mounting now! Wack 'em and stack 'em.

[SeaBiscuit]

Kudos Jim, thanks so much for this site. Kudos to Buckhead et al. for breaking Bla^ther's Big Lie and his back. Freepers are the best.

[kb2614]

To be nit picky, Free Republic isn't a blog. No biggie.

:-)

[leadhead]

My Super Bowl party in January pales in comparison to tonight's party. Besides the usual beer, chips and runny dips will be Dan Kabobs (skewered, of course),Faux-ny Pate (made from minced bologna) and a few Bitter Truths (Lemon vodka shots)

[Imaverygooddriver]

Bloggers such as freerepublic.com and powerline.com were first to expose the shoddy journalism.

Shoddy journalism? Is outright fraud to influence a federal election now called shoddy journalism?

[Stultis]

Another, even whinier and more lie-laced, recent mention of FR:

Blogged Down [Whine Alert] ^

Posted by Coastal On News/Activism ^ 03/07/2005 6:14:21 PM CST · 14 replies · 283+ views The American Prospect ^ | March 4. 2005 | Garance Franke-Ruta During one especially hectic week in mid-February, the Internet took three scalps in what appeared to be unrelated events. Liberal bloggers forced Talon News White House correspondent James D. Guckert, a k a “Jeff Gannon,” to resign after it was revealed that he was writing under a false name for a Republican activist group (GOPUSA), that he was not really a journalist at all, and that he had posed nude on the Internet in an effort to solicit sex for money. Conservative bloggers, meanwhile, created a firestorm after Eason Jordan, the chief news executive for CNN, made controversial remarks during...

[Stultis]

And another FR shoutout (with link) this time from a class act:

It's finally time to quit ^

Posted by Ellesu On News/Activism ^ 03/07/2005 8:16:00 AM CST · 3 replies · 519+ views timesheraldonline.com ^ | 03/07/05 | Joseph Perkins "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." - Henry David Thoreau Some of my friends wonder aloud if I am suffering some sort of "midlife crisis." They cannot fathom, for the life of them, why I would retire, in my mid-40s, from my writing job at The San Diego Union-Tribune; why I would forfeit my nationally syndicated column. Well, after nearly 15 years of daily deadlines, writing three to four editorials a week in addition to a column, this seems as good a time as any to walk away from the grind. As the latter-day philosopher Clint Eastwood...

[advance_copy]

That's your FRequency. Did Dan Ra^ther ever drink TANG? Courage.

[Larry Lucido]

Guess we'll just have to get used to the fact that we're "bloggers." The label has stuck.

[connectthedots]

Anything new on the MD4BUSH case?

[Caipirabob]

"Dan Rather, signing off..."

*Mumble*..*Mumble*..FREEPERS!..*Mumble*...

[LilAngel]

This is a prime example of the good work being done here. It's just this sort of thing that drew me here. I was merely lurking when y'all shattered dan ra^ther. I hope to be a part of the next great accomplishment.

[MadIvan]

'Tis a pity that the traditional practice of tarring, feathering and riding out of town on a rail is out of style. It's what Rather deserves.

Regards, Ivan

[Actually_in_Tokyo]

No! Absolutely not! Don't let them try to downgrade it to something subjective and individual like a blog. FR is a forum where news, ideas, and opinions are exchanged. The interaction between posters serves to develop and refine the positions to a much more sophisticated level than available in other media.

[muir_redwoods]

It's funny to consider that Rather made his bones by hounding Nixon out of office. Now, as Rather leaves under a cloud, somewhere, in Nixon's tone of voice, I can hear it being said,

"Just think, you won't have Rather to kick around anymore"

[onyx]

[marty60]

I still think you should be given some special award by Congress for your singlehanded restructuring of the News and Political landscape. giving the american people the voice and power to make changes that were long overdue. Thank You Jim.

[marty60]

I HATE that term.

[smith288]

To be nit picky, Free Republic isn't a blog. No biggie.

I think it is a biggie... We arent a blog. This is your average blog:

posted by: anonyblogger (3-9-2005 3:01 pm)

I think pretzels are too high in sodium. I am for making them illegal. Anyone agree?

comments

posted by: someguy (3-9-2005 4:45 pm)

Totally agree dude!

[JennysCool]

No, we're FReepers, not bloggers. Just because the dinosaur MSM makes a mistake doesn't make it so.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Sincere thanks for the personal commitment, focus and sacrifices you have made to create and moderate this important watchdog and FORUM, Jim!

[IPWGOP]

[Liz]

Buckhead and FR didn't got enough credit for the explosive TANG expose, IMHO.

And speaking of credit, GWB also owes JimRob for the outcome of election 2000..........bigtime.

FR conservative loyalists plugged away at their keyboards during the recount, organizing protests outside the Naval Observatory, protests in Florida.

AlGore admitted the protests got to him and was a factor in his eventual concession.

GWB better be reminded that he owes conservatives a lot.

We should not let him forget it.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.


Relunctant RATHER is Set to Sign Off, despite L.A. Times' DAVID SHAW

http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1357838/posts




DAVID SHAW: RATHER's work 'Shoddy, Sliphod' not LIBERAL..?

http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1227809/posts

.

[Mudboy Slim]

"The story claimed President Bush got favorable treatment while in the Texas Air National Guard and rested its case on documents ultimately deemed unverifiable. Bloggers such as freerepublic.com and powerline.com were first to expose the shoddy journalism."

WAAHHH-HOOOOOO!!

FReepers ROCK...MUD

[PGalt]

"We the people..." bump! Thanks Jim.

[Mudboy Slim]

"FR didn't git enough credit"

Ronald Reagan once said something like, "There's no limit to what we can accomplish if folks don't worry about who's gittin' the credit"...MUD

[skinkinthegrass]

...pales in comparison to tonight's party. Besides the usual beer, chips and runny dips will be Dan Kabobs (skewered, of course),Faux-ny Pate (made from minced bologna) and a few Bitter Truths (Lemon vodka shots)

LOL! Thanks, for the Menu...thats' really rich. :^)

[Arrowhead1952]

I read in today's Austin Pravda that dan bla^THer is retiring here. His daughter Robin, is and evironmental activist here as well. What are we supposed to do???? Here is part of the Austin Pravda's story today.

******************

Rather will work on the Wednesday edition of "60 Minutes," although the future of that low-rated program is in doubt. He recently traveled to Houston, his old hometown, for a story on Eileen Collins, who will be the pilot for NASA's next shuttle mission.

Without nightly anchor duties, Rather will be able to spend more time in Austin than his usual two-week August fishing trip. And he plans to devote more time to his family.

Rather and his wife, Jean, have a house on Lake Travis and a condo downtown at the Nokonah. Their daughter Robin, who is active in environmental and political affairs, and her son Andy live in Austin. Son Danjack, an assistant district attorney, and his son Martin live in Manhattan.........

Asked if he would be willing to serve as Robin's campaign manager if she ever decides to run for Austin mayor, Rather laughed and replied: "I wouldn't do that because I'd be terrible at it. She'd have to drop out. But I don't know anything about that."

************************

Being a campaign manager isn't the only thing he is terrible at doing - Fake But Accurate News Reports for the past 25 years were terrible as well.

[Liz]

Yeah, well.....true, if Ronnie said it.

But FR in general, and buckhead specifically, should be recognized for events that are so culturally significant.

[basil]

A tiny point maybe, but:

Born Oct. 31, 1931, to an oil-pipeline worker and a waitress in the West Texas town of Wharton,

I'm not too impressed with the woman who wrote this article, speaking of shoddy journalism. She managed somehow to move Wharton to West Texas, when actually it is near Houston, in SE Texas. That's a very long way from West Texas!

[martin_fierro]

While the news rose in prestige and influence, its popularity among average citizens began to decline in polls. Along the way were sown the seeds of a perceived bias and arrogance.

Bernie Goldberg was right on.

[Mudboy Slim]

I was at the FReeper Ball when Buckhead won his FReeper of the Year award...we recognize his contribution...that's a start.

Source: National Review Online
Published: 10 March 2000 Author: Michael Ledeen
Posted on 03/11/2000 22:42:20 PST by Mudboy Slim

"I spent more than twenty years studying fascism, and all that time I kept asking myself how the democratic countries of the West could have been so blind, and how they could have been so totally unprepared for Hitler's war. After all, he had written Mein Kampf, which pretty much laid it all out. Once in power, he set about arming the country, making menacing sounds to his neighbors, crushing the Jews and separating them out of the population, and preparing to march. It was all so clear. He made no effort to trick us. We simply refused to believe what was right in front of our noses. In the fullness of time, the other Europeans were cannon fodder for Hitler's armies, and the United States did virtually nothing until we were bombed into war by the Japanese.

Then I look at China today, and I ask myself the same questions. China's leaders have made no bones about their hatred for us. They have loudly and publicly announced their intention to develop armies capable of destroying us. They have threatened to bomb Los Angeles if we do anything to annoy them, especially in the defense of democratic Taiwan. They have been busily crushing religious groups in China who dare recognize any authority other than the regime itself, and are separating them out of the population. There is no effort to trick us, none of the legendary inscrutability of the East. It is all so clear.

In the past few days, both the CIA and the FBI have warned about the increasing Chinese espionage in the United States, aimed primarily at obtaining our advanced military technology. One wonders why they bother, since we've been quite willing to sell them most anything they need. Clinton and Gore have deliberately and systematically armed China, and when a tiny handful of congressmen tried to get the details, Clinton and Gore quashed investigations and withheld evidence from investigators.

Meanwhile, the Chinese prepare for war, and warn us of its consequences. The headlines for the past several weeks have reported an endless barrage of threats from Beijing: There will be war with Taiwan if it dares to act as an independent country, and war with us if we dare to defend them, as we have sometimes promised to do. It may be all bluff and bluster, but, I keep thinking, that's what lots of people said about Hitler.

The Taiwanese elections are now ten days away, and the Chinese show all the signs of preparing to attack. They have moved an enormous quantity of military materiel down south, just across the straits from Taiwan. They have hordes and swarms of soldiers, bundles of missiles, plenty of aircraft. The intelligence community reports these facts to our leaders, but our leaders are silent. Great journalists like Bill Gertz report these facts to the public, but there is no outcry. We are strong enough to deter China, but we show no sign of wanting to warn them off. On the contrary: we welcome their military leaders, escort them around our bases, sell them our best weapons, and even train their soldiers. Not even the most feckless French leaders would have dreamed of training the Wehrmacht, or of selling advanced technology for the Panzer corps.

Whether now or a few years from now, it is increasingly likely that we will have to fight China, and we have done everything possible to ensure that they will win. In the 1930s, Western businessmen did deals with the Nazis, but there was no leading Western government that armed the Third Reich as a matter of official policy. But we are arming China. Clinton and Gore are Lenin's dream come true: capitalists selling communists the rope with which to hang us.

Some legacy."

MUD: Bill Clinton has sold out this Country's security in a devil's pact to remain in power. At this point, he couldn't stand up to the Chi-Coms even if he were so inclined, because they would leak such compellingly concrete evidence of his treasonous, anti-American activities that even the Clinton Sycophants in the Vast, Left-Wing Media Whore'd would have to sit up and take notice!! Algore is similarly compromised and cannot be trusted to act in the best interests of the United States in matters relating to China. For all you folks who think there is no difference between the DemonRATS and Republicans, please watch this issue carefully over the next eight months...we cannot afford another four-to-eight years of Clinton/Gore policies as they relate to China. And for you BushBackers out there, please make every effort to impress upon Dubyuh the absolute necessity of making ChinaGate an integral issue in the upcoming presidential campaign.

FReegards...MUD

1 Posted on 03/11/2000 22:42:20 PST by Mudboy Slim (Treason.is@Capital.Crime)

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

And never forget KNBC-TV's very effective TV Coverage of our 2000 'SORE-LOSERMAN-Count the Military Votes' Los Angeles Freep outside the Federal Building in Westwood CA.

Which was duly noted on the Freerepublic.com-supporting HUGH HEWITT National Talk Radio Show, which was being heard in Miami/Dade, Florida during it's Vote-Recount/Stealing Process.


"We must always affirm and support our Military Members' Right to Vote. For after all, they are the ones out there putting their lives on the line ...for that Right" =


...Freeper/Vietnam Veteran "ALOHA RONNIE" Guyer being interviewd by KNBC-TV's Reporter TED CHEN, a TV Interview that play all weekend long on Channel 4 News throughout Southern California.

Earlier that same week NBC had refused to cover our Freep outside its own Burbank TV Studio's Front Door, as we Freepers personally told their watchful Security Chief to be sure and catch our Freep Thread on Freerepublic.com that night. Looks like he did, for KNBC-TV's TED CHEN, from that same NBC Burbank TV Studio, was there early with bells on to cover our next Freep the following Saturday in Westwood CA.

The New Media Rules.
NEVER FORGET that if we had had it for us Vietnam Veterans to fight the RATHER-CRONKITE TV Lies with upon our return from the Vietnam War...

...a once Free South Vietnam would still be Free today.

[Arrowhead1952]

Where did you read that???? Here is the quote from the Austin paper today.

---

Born in Wharton, Rather graduated from Sam Houston State Teachers College. As a teenager, he toiled for pennies in the oil fields of East Texas. Today he earns a reported $7 million a year.

[NaughtiusMaximus]

MUCHO SCHADENFREUDE

[R. Scott]

Finally!

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

RATHER-Down
CRONKITE-Down
HILLARY-Next..?
BETTER-Be..!!!


See:


'HILLARY's Secret War: The CLINTONS' Conspiracy to Muzzle Internet Journalists'

...by Freeper RICHARD POE

http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1314562/post

[Mudboy Slim]

Dan Rather...FReeped Outta Existence...MUD

[Liz]

Heheh......that he was.

[Mudboy Slim]

"What Good Am I?!!"
(To be sung to Bob Dylan's "What Good Am I")

What good am I...if I'm like all the rest?
If I just turn away...when Slick's slaughterin' kids...
If I shut myself off...sit 'n' bitch, moan, and whine...
What...good...am...I?!

Why, tell me why...won't the Press tell the Truth?
'Bout Slick's deal with Beijing...'bout the Dead Slick's thugs shoot?
Should I just drink my beer...forget Slick's TREASON and his LIES?!
Whose...FOOL...am...I?!

What good am I...if I fail to FReep?!
Should I lay down in bed...try to restlessly sleep?
When I've seen Waco pictures...children carelessly FRIED...
What...good...am...I?!

Do I tell my kids...that Dad failed the FRee?!
FOLKS, WE MUST MAKE OUR STAND...LET'S DETHRONE WILLIE!!!
Prosecute all his crimes...let's send Slick to Prison!!
Soon, Slick'll wear chains...then, we'll RE-IMPEACH!!!

What good am I...if I bless foolish things?
If I cower in the face of...Vile Tyranny?!
Shall I just turn my back...while our Liberties die?!
I...would...rather...die!!

Patriotic FReegards...MUD (08/03/2000)

[BJClinton]

*applause*

The Washington comPost had a funny take on it here.

[doug from upland]

MIDI - IT'S BEEN SO NICE TO BE WITH YOU

It's been so nice to read the news
Each night I could spew my liberal views
But then I really messed up bad
I made conservatives really mad
I put in motion a lot of commotion...now I'm through

Mary Mapes had said...she would get the big story
And the Bush campaign would be dead
She had promised it's in the bag

So I believed in her...we would get him good
But then, that bad detour
That stupid woman is a worthless hag

It's been so nice to read the news
Each night I could spew my liberal views
But then I really messed up bad
I made conservatives really mad
I put in motion a lot of commotion...now I'm through

(musical break)

Man, I hate FR...they knew those docs were phony
Buckhead had become their new star
In my head, what's that frequency

I saw my life flash by...I was saying "courage"
But I had to cry
It felt like Tager had re-pummeled me

It's been so nice to read the news
Each night I could spew my liberal views
But then I really messed up bad
I made conservatives really mad
I put in motion a lot of commotion...now I'm through

It's been so nice to read the news
Each night I could spew my liberal views
But then I really messed up bad
I made conservatives really mad
I put in motion a lot of commotion...now I'm through

[woofie]

Yea Buckhead !

[doug from upland]

MIDI - IT'S BEEN SO NICE TO BE WITH YOU

It's been so nice to read the news
Each night I could spew my liberal views
But then I really messed up bad
I made conservatives really mad
I put in motion a lot of commotion...now I'm through

Mary Mapes had said...she would get the big story
And the Bush campaign would be dead
She had promised it's in the bag

So I believed in her...we would get him good
But then, that bad detour
That stupid woman is a worthless hag

It's been so nice to read the news
Each night I could spew my liberal views
But then I really messed up bad
I made conservatives really mad
I put in motion a lot of commotion...now I'm through

(musical break)

Man, I hate FR...they knew those docs were phony
Buckhead had become their new star
In my head, what's that frequency

I saw my life flash by...I was saying "courage"
But I had to cry
It felt like Tager had re-pummeled me

It's been so nice to read the news
Each night I could spew my liberal views
But then I really messed up bad
I made conservatives really mad
I put in motion a lot of commotion...now I'm through

It's been so nice to read the news
Each night I could spew my liberal views
But then I really messed up bad
I made conservatives really mad
I put in motion a lot of commotion...now I'm through

[Liz]

Freeper/Vietnam Veteran "ALOHA RONNIE" Guyer being interviewd by KNBC-TV's Reporter TED CHEN, a TV Interview that play all weekend long on Channel 4 News throughout Southern California. "We must always affirm and support our Military Members' Right to Vote. For after all, they are the ones out there putting their lives on the line ...for that Right"

A belated award for Aloha Ronnie's yeoman duty on behalf of freedom, justice, and upholding the Constitutional rights of the US military.

[visitor]

we began our MARCH FOR JUSTICE in '98 and we stayed true to your vision, thanks...rto

[basil]

I read the entire article that JimRob posted parts of--that's where I found it.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.


Bless your Heart, Liz. MAHALO

ALOHA RONNIE

.