Letters to the Editor
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There is a much bigger story
This isn't about Rather, or about Bush. It's about the media manipulating facts to favor a political party that they feel will benefit them financially. This is the story of how a completely incompetent man got into the white house, because people believed he was competent, because the media attacked his opponent openly while covering up their favored candidate's many flaws. If America is to function again as a Democracy, the media have to start reporting the facts, not distorting them for financial gain.
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Kenneth knows the frequency now
Dan is a quirky bird, but I love that he is taking all of them on. I believe this is his well deserved coup-de-grace, and it's gonna be a doosey. I only wish Michael Moore were filming it all.
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Typewriter Argument a Red Herring
The whole typewriter argument is silly. I agree with the commentor who questioned how all of a sudden, almost immediately after Rather's story aired, there were all these right-wing defenders of bush who were experts about 1970s typewriters. How many people really know or even thought about these things before the Rather story? It's just completely improbable.
It can be compelling to read their analyses of the documents. That doesn't make them right. There are a lot of logically coherent completely kooky conspiracy theories that make sense if you don't rely on any outside sources or independent thinking. That's the elegance of conspiracy theories, that they do add up logically. And they usually present their arguments in a powerful and persuasive manner.
But let's assume for the sake of argument that the documents are forgeries. The problem is, no one discounts the actual information in the documents. Not only that, the information has been extensively corroborated. So the whole debate about the documents is just a big distraction from the fact that the story itself is almost certainly true. Yet Rather's career was destroyed over it, the news media and a presidential election was manipulated, and we have a man who shirked his already cushy military duty as commander in chief leading us in a futile war.
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Far, Fucking Out! As in OUT! Can a pun scream any louder?
What's happening right now is the best oxygen we've inhaled in a long, long time. Meanwhile, the carbon dioxide is killing us. This is brilliant. Glenn Greenwald's column today, and everyday, is just nailing the truth of what's happening with the Media and with America.
America's true friends around the world support the people of America. In every country of the world people have been watching and shuddering at the insanity that has taken root in the public discourse and the discrepancy between how the people voted in the 2006 elections and what their democratic representatives do presumedly in our name. And the best of it is? This is what America really is, at it's very, very best as opposed to what Greenwald wrote today as the most succinct description of what disasterous policies for decades, headed by old and stupid men who would be warriors have dragged this country through.
There is sanity here for a desperate people. Bless you.
E. Mervyn
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Well...
Regardless of any debate over typewriters, the ink is already dry on history's judgment of the Bush years.
What remains is the autopsy of that rotting cadaver curled up in the corner--what we used to call "the press".
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Let's put things in perspective--This is a HUGE story
HUGE!
I don't know how to respond this. It's so moving to see that one journalist--graying anchorman--is stepping up to bat with this Administration.
True or false about the US President doesn't matter now. What matters is the single act of courage of one man--a man alone, never thought I'd say it: Dan Rather.
This is the first time than any influential American elder on the national scene is coming out to file a formal protest to this Administration. This is squarely in the tradition of Walter Cronkite, who left us all too soon. The media has been so scared, the congress has been so scared, and so the people have been so scared.
(I notice a disturbing trend in American youth to blame their elders for the present course of events--much of the youth in this country remain caught in blame and mindless sheep--it's as if they don't know they CAN question their government for they have no examples of it in our politicians or journalists...)
I think Rather is acting as a true American, as once Americans felt they could, and as a journalist more than anchor. This is not something he has to do. This is a man on a real purpose.
(Charlie Rose can take an example here)
Alas, if the court doesn't reject Rather's case (which it very likely will--out of their own fear) it will be the first great trial of the century. Can't wait to see it unfold, whatever the outcome.
(Glad Dan can afford it :)
It could contribute life and hope and restore integrity to this nation and gradually encourage and embolden journalists to get back on their job, to investigate and to write with courage in a timely fashion. And again, whether it's true or false about our slowly maturing President, is not the point--it's the act of one citizen standing up...for America.
Could a younger journalist do this? Even a Draper? Could those yearning for so called "access" do it? (as if there was ever a real story in any Administrative access)
Alas! That the breaking news of the Abu-Garib events were purportedly suppressed by CBS is utterly tragic, tragic, for the timely release of that story could have saved innocent lives and prevented horrific and continuing damage to the image of this Administration abroad. It could have made this country safer now.
(We all know this)
Feel too emotional about this--I'm astonished Blumenthal could write these facts down with such a steady hand.
And a steady hand is now required and a good investigative eye.
Thank you.
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Richard (Dick) Thornburgh future resume?
Resume
Yale '54
Pittsburgh Law '57
Partner Kilpatrick & Lockhart
US Attorney, WDPa '69
Dep. Atty Gen. '75
Governor PA '78-'87
Atty General '88-'91
UN Undersecretary General '92-'93
Partner Kirkpatrick & Lockhart '93-
Examiner WorldCom bankruptcy '02
Appointed investigator in CBS review of reporting on Bush Military Service -- renders hatchet-job for Republicans, subject to subsequent lawsuit by Dan Rather, numerous ex-parte communications disclosed, reputation built up over 50 years dragged through mud. Joins list of those induced to do Bush family laundry who end up . . .