Walter Cronkite is smiling now

[DancingBear]

I felt the pulse of our nation today. It was there – not as strong as I’d like, but it was there. It took a man with ties to the last great era of American journalism to get it started, but start it he did.

For those of us old enough to remember, this is how it used to be. The questions were asked, the truths reported, the lies scoffed at. The news was not “brought to you by” anyone, it didn’t work off the bottom line, and it had balls.

It used to be like this – it really did.

Thank you, Dan, for bringing it back. I hold little faith that the children who practice the craft now will understand what you did, but I do.

Damn right I do.

[Parche]

1. dan rather

I have never really liked him, but what I have heard today,
he gets my vote

[annabanana]

7. Dan Rather is a Patriot

This is what patriotism looks like. Thank him and CBS News.

CBS Evening News with Dan Rather:

[e-mail]

[calimary]

24. Yes, ABSOLUTELY! Email him with a big THANK YOU!!!

Positive reinforcement will be MOST appreciated, especially with all the hate mail he's undoubtedly getting now.

[Booster]

27. Done. Sent an email to Dan and CBS telling them how

much I appreciate them at least trying to tell the truth. I also told Dan to watch his back a little more than usual. You know how Jr. feels about people that did his daddy wrong.

[Spinzonner]

2. Don't sugarcoat and idealize the past

Lots of things were covered up and not reported.

[DancingBear]

9. I was THERE

OK?

Don't tell me what I saw and didn't see.

The PRESS helped turn Nixon out. The PRESS helped end the massacre in southeast Asia.

Did they miss stuff - you bet. It was the beginning of Goldwater, and the asault on taking over the press by the right was just beginning.

But for the most part they reported news. Real news.

Let us not forget that.

[maine_raptor]

15. Dan Rather did OK during Watergate, but

I'll still NEVER forgive Rather for describing the Zapruder Film to the American people that weekend in Nov of 63 and when the head shots occur, he said "Of the fatal shot, there can be no doubt, the President's head is driven violently FORWARD."

Never, Dan, NEVER

[Upfront]

16. You Speak The truth Bear

I was there also, and agree 100% with you.

[Spinzonner]

28. And what makes you think I wasn't ??

Vietnam ERA Veteran (safe in the USA)

Lot's of political stuff didnt get reported. There was a big old-boys network that predates the Vietnam and Watergate eras.

[Nite Owl]

3. Yes it was.

We need good solid reporting if we are to continue as a democracy. Thank you Dan.

Don't forget to write to him!

[MuseRider]

4. It was a moment

when we could all feel like we were out of the bizarro land we have been living in since the selection. Felt great. Felt real. Felt right. Felt like old times oh yes indeedy. You bet Walter is smiling, so am I.

[ewagner]

6. It DID feel good!

As a matter of fact, it flet DAMNED GOOD!

[jpgray]

19. I felt the same way (nt)

[RevCheesehead]

5. Did you see the full interview OF Dan on Wolfie?

Very revealing. One reporter asked him "what about those who are saying," and Dan asked "what's your evidence backing that up? I want facts, not allegations. that is an allegation." (or something like that.


Personally, I miss Sam Donaldson. "Hold on, Mr. President"
He took on (gasp!) RONALD REAGAN!

[Jade Fox]

23. Donaldson used to be the best....

I loved the way he would interupt whenever his bullshit detector went off
or when his interviewee started speechifying.

[gulliver]

8. Well said. I felt the same thing. It was like real news again...

... like the truth mattered. You put it into words.

[Guaranteed]

10. Beautiful post.

Thank you.

[Kat45]

11. I loved Dan during the Nixon administration.

My mother, who thinks Nixon "got hounded out of office," will not watch "60 minutes" to this day because she can't stand Dan Rather for 'what he did to Nixon.' :-)

[blondeatlast]

12. I sometimes try to explain what the NEWS was to younger

colleagues--Vietnam, Watergate, even the landing on the moon.

Why we all watched Uncle Walter, but the others shone as brightly.

The objectivity of the reporting made the moment matter that much more.

My younger friends just can't get it. Will they ever be able to?

[DancingBear]

17. I don't think so

but I am always hopeful.

News is no longer important now, sad to say, and objectivity has gone the way of the mastodon, replaced by the all important "flash" component. 15 seconds and we're off again...

I wish I knew why objectivity and the search for truth no longer matters these days, but at least you and I can fondly remember when it did.

[annabanana]

21. Once kids "see" the real power of Truth..

They will want more. They just haven't been exposed to it much.

[left is right]

13. I didn't get to see it.

But it makes me want to run out and buy a Spenser's product. Quick someone post a list of sponsors. Of course, as much as I would like to, I won't be buying a car. But I am going to have to buy a new computer in the very near future.

[rndmprsn]

14. Ed Murrow too

[hlthe2b]

18. I'm glad Cronkite did get to see this. He's proud of his boy, Dan

I'm sure.

Poor Dan, though. I have never seen him so obviously exhausted. Like me when I'm really6 sleep-deprived and stressed, Rather was quite hoarse, but he was nonetheless quite effective. Kudos, Dan. CBS may not always be what we want it to be, in terms of news balance, but tonight they shone.

[dennis4868]

20. GOOD POST!

But where was Dan Rather before the illegal war asking the questions to the Bush WH about their statements regarding WMDs and connections to 911 and al qaeda....i respect Rather for ehat he did with this TANG issue...he has to have balls to do what he did in this anti 1st amendment environment.....but there were more serious issues where he could have stood up and lead the way.....

[annabanana]

22. better late than never............................n/t

[DancingBear]

26. He had a vehicle to express himself in this instance

The vehicle being 60 Minutes.

As I stated in earlier posts, the "defamation" of 60 Minutes is almost akin to someone insulting your sister with respect to the rest of CBS. It has an integrity that it has built up over many years, and I think the smearing of that is what allowed Rather to reply as he did.

[eleny]

25. Me too!

Being older has some benefits after all, doesn't it. It's the memory of serious news reports given in a sober manner. No flash, glitter or cutesy "news". It's the standard to which we hold them all. The standards of the likes of the Cronk.