An Ex-Officer Now Believes Guard Memo Isn't Genuine (NYT - Hodges)

[VolcanoJen]

The New York Times now has a story about Hodges "change of heart" which is similar to the earlier LBN Thread re: the ABC News version here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=819122

New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/12/politics/campaign/12guard.html

Excerpt:

Mr. Hodges, 74, who was group commander of Mr. Bush's squadron in the 147th Fighter Group at Ellington Field in Houston in the early 1970's, said that when someone from CBS called him on Monday night and read him documents, "I thought they were handwritten notes."

He said he had not authenticated the documents for CBS News but had confirmed that they reflected issues he and Colonel Killian had discussed - namely Mr. Bush's failure to appear for a physical, which military records released previously by the White House show, led to a suspension from flying.

A CBS News spokeswoman, Sandy Genelius, indicated that Mr. Hodges had changed his account.

"We believed General Hodges the first time we spoke to him," Ms. Genelius said. Acknowledging that document authentification is often not an iron-clad process, she said, "We believe the documents to be genuine, we stand by our story and we will continue to report."

A spokeswoman for the CBS anchor Dan Rather, Kim Akhtar, said that Mr. Hodges had declined to appear on camera. As a result, Ms. Akhtar said, he was read the memos and responded that "he was familiar with the contents of the documents and that it sounded just like Killian." He made it clear, she added, that he was a supporter of Mr. Bush.

[nosmokes]

1. makes sense to me - if it's a hand written note it's true,

when it's a type written memo it's total bullshit.

alrighty.

[Pirate Smile]

2. So will this be the friggin story they cite on all the news shows

tomorrow morning instead of the US News story? God, I hope not.

[Bolo Boffin]

3. Hodges is probably POd at being outed as a source. n/t

[VolcanoJen]

4. Or, he received onehelluva unsettling phone call from Bush & Co.

That's what I'm thinking.

[krkaufman]

5. Agreed.

We all remember the Esquire article by Suskind, right, where he reports Rove on the phone saying that he would "f__k" someone? Carl* is not a pleasant boy.

I see Hodges as staking out a middle-ground for himself. He can say the content sounds like what he and Killian had discussed (authenticating the content, which is most important), but then he can opine that the docs may not be authentic, protecting his balls from the biting teeth of Rover.

[grytpype]

6. They got to him.

Like they got to Neil's wife about Duhbya's coke abuse at Camp David... she now says she never said it, but there were witnesses.

[demgrrrll]

7. I agree. Can you imagine getting a phone call from someone

connected to the BFEE? I hate to admit this but if one of the minions from the BFEE called me and said Hey, saw that post at DU and we are going to destroy you and here's how we will do it, it would give me pause. People have to think about their families too and I am sure they wouldn't stop with the identified transgressor.

[pacalo]

8. My thoughts, too.

[Jax]

9. That is the b*sh/cheney MO

Unsettle...'we will fuck you, we will fucking fucking fuck you'

...followed up with a mailing of weapons grade anthrax.

murdering lying appointed b*sh scum.


Jax

[lapfog_1]

10. That's exactly my guess

It makes sense... and then it doesn't make sense.

I mean if the BFEE called me up and started threatening me or my
family, I'd get real mad, record it and then expose THAT to CBS.
Shrubya would be toast. So I don't think it happens that way
exactly. I sure would like to know who called and what they said.
But it is clear that someone called and they said something.

Oh, never mind. BFEE would never use a phone or other electronic
device to deliver an intimidation message... must have been in
person.

[librechik]

15. Dan Rather got one of those anthrax letters--remember? n/t

[tmooses]

12. Isn't it great

to be free to express your opinions-except when Bush's buds give you a late night call.

[LauraK]

19. Why, oh why can't we get somebody to expose the threats?

The bushistas put Hitler to shame.

[xchrom]

11. bush-whacked

what more can anyone say?

[henslee]

13. New Hodges memo being discussed right now in DU GD2004, link...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=796593#796795

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

14. All you need to know (snip)

...but had confirmed that they reflected issues he and Colonel Killian had discussed - namely Mr. Bush's failure to appear for a physical, which military records released previously by the White House show, led to a suspension from flying.

[Paradise]

16. * can settle this matter, easily, by replying to these charges

UNDER OATH, and without his chaperone.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

17. He'll probably be buying a yacht or new home in the near future

with the money he just earned for "changing his story."

[Dr Fate]

18. We need to hear Bush say whether these charges are true or not...

A press conference like the media demanded of Clinton seems to be the proper forum.