CBS NEWS: Bush Docs Are Real. Here's what Rather said.

[Dickie Flatt]

*Rather: Typewriters did have superscript in 70s
*Rather: Bush NG records, provided by WH, have superscript
*Rather: Times New Roman available since 1931
*Expert says docs real, questions what is being examined by document critics
*Expert Marcel Matley says signatures on documents are authentic
*Robert Strong: docs are authentic. guard was corrupt.
*Jim Moore: docs accurately reflect events, based on known authentic documents
*Jim Moore: White House has not discredited the documents, is relying on blogosphere to create doubt. WH probably knows documents are real.
*Rather: Story not solely based on documents -- interviews, etc.
*Rather: No evidence to show that docs are forgeries.

Story's over.

[Lefta Dissenter]

1. kicking ass (eom)

[Union Thug]

2. a big, Nelson "HA HA!" to freepers!

[Media_Lies_Daily]

3. Not only to the Freepers, but to the DUers who fell for the "forgery" bit.

[Career Prole]

36. Not to mention the freeper uniform delivery guy who bet me $5

just this morning that they had been proven to be forgeries.
:toast:
Now I must find that other freeper from the mailroom who bet on the Colts?
He should never bet against Patriots...

[Momgonepostal]

31. Freepers et al will claim liberal media bias

That's what they always says when they hear something they don't like. It doesn't matter how damning the evidence or how many venues are reporting it, if it doesn't fit in with their agenda, it couldn't possibly be true.

[Nightjock]

4. This is powerful stuff

There should be no doubt now.

[gratuitous]

5. So, can we talk about George disobeying a direct order now?

Odd, isn't it, that we have to spend three days authenticating documents that show Chimpy in a bad light, yet the Swifties, who were patent liars, got three weeks of uninterrupted coverage and credence.

Damn you, liberal media!

[napi21]

6. I told ya to trust Dan Rather!!!

He & CBS have too much to loose to spread stories that weren't vetted!

[shoopnyc123]

7. DAN HAD A GOOD TIME WITH THAT!

[crickets]

8. They're firing all guns

CBS and Rather are doing an excellent job of backing up the story, calmly ticking through each contested point.

[berner59]

17. Was that a new claim about the corruption??

That officer who backed up the docs, then said how favors were done routinely and he felt it was disgraceful...

Dan also said said he knew the attacks would come...smart move to film that hadnwriting before the program was aired...HA!!!

[crickets]

35. That WAS smart!

I cheered when Dan said that the handwriting segment was filmed before 60MII was aired. They knew they were going to get Roved, and they were ready. Great job!

I'm also wondering if there are more filmed parts of the segment which might be aired in an expanded version the story on Sunday's 60 Minutes. I don't think there's anything like that scheduled, but depending on the status of the story, there's always a possibility.

ETA:
That officer who backed up the docs, then said how favors were done routinely and he felt it was disgraceful

I'm going to have to rewind and listen to that part again.

[crickets]

59. "It verged on outright corruption"

- Robert Strong, admin officer

I went back and watched both programs again.

Barnes did call it "preferential treatment," on Wednesday night, but went no further than that.

All of Strong's interview segments were obviously taped at the same time, so this wasn't something new that he was asked about today. Strong's beginning comments are the same as they were on Wednesday, up to "...and what were the people that were involved." At that point on Wed, there was a cut to a question from Dan, "Was he (Killian), in your judgement, a straight shooter?" to which Strong replied, "He was a straight arrow guy," etc. Later in the program, Strong makes telling "power begets power" comments about preferential treatment.

Tonight included a different portion of the interview instead.

Strong: "They are compatible with the way business was done at that time, they are compatible with the man I remember Jerry Killian being, I don't see anything in the documents that are discordant with what were the times, what were the situation, and what were the people that were involved."

Rather (VO): "Strong says the highly charged political atmosphere of the Guard at the time was perfectly represented in the newly revealed documents." (This reflects two portions of the Strong interview shown Wednesday which were not shown tonight.)

Strong: "It verged on outright corruption in terms of the favors that were done, the power that was traded, and it was unconscionable. From a moral and ethical standpoint, it was unconscionable."

I don't think it was a new claim about corruption. It looks as though Strong's more emphatic comments just were not used until tonight. I'm still hoping for an expanded version of the whole thing this Sunday. *evilgrin*

[Trajan]

9. HE was STRONG ! ....

"If any evidence that these documents are forgeries arrive, we will report it ... up til now: there is none" ...

HOT damn Danny Boy ! ...

Ya did GOOD ! ...

Ya did good ...

[acmavm]

10. Dan Rather: "If any definitive evidence to the contrary is found, we will

report it. So far none has come forward."


OOPS, you beat me to it.

[ScreamingMeemie]

14. That was the best part.

:hi:

[Jokinomx]

27. I agree... you beat me to the post and did a much better job than I did...

Thanks...:toast:



:kick:

[Eloriel]

11. He was FABULOUS - That's the best I've seen in ages,

absolutely AGES. At last, someone stood up to the spin shit. At last, someone took on the TRUTH. I love it. Too bad it's not repeated later. I wouldn't mind seeing it again. And again. And again. Just for the joy of seeing someone on teevee stick up for the TRUTH.

[ElectroPrincess]

50. Yes, Dan's one of the Genuine Articles ... Here here ole' boy!

I'm not as old as Dan, but I can attest to using an IBM typewriter in my freshman "typing class" during 1973. Now if I, a lowly high school student could be so blessed in Omaha, Nebraska, it's not a stretch to fathom that an Air National Guard field grade officer would also have such access. ..... Doh! <snicker>

[AnnInLa]

57. and don't forget that Rather is the one who insists on

showing the "face" of the war by putting up pictures of soldiers killed in Iraq, and then giving a short bio of the fallen soldier. IF the public was allowed to see the coffins being brought back to this country, and IF the dismembered and maimed soldiers were interviewed on prime time, THEN people would get the point...war kills.

[Unperson 309]

71. IBM Introduced the Selectric on 1961!

I remember this because my mother was a secretary then. She allowed me to use her typewriter when I went to her office. I used it as early as 1964 and the Selectric II as well. That whirling ball fascinated me.

I couldn't afford a selectric when I was out on my own (they were around $500.00 and up for a used one) so I bought a Juki Sierra which was a selectric innards with an off-brand housing, back in the Seventies. It took IBM balls and I had four or five of them. I had: Pica, Courier, Italic, Roman and Script. Oh, how I loved those things! And yes, I did superscript on them.

309

[chookie]

73. Did you notice how hoarse he was?

He had a great deal of trouble with his throat tonight.

He either talked a hell of a lot longer than he usually does -- kinda unlikely as he is a top anchor -- OR he was in a loud shouting match with someone.

I back him 100%. They are trying to intimidate him, but it just MAY turn out that Dan fights back and exposes these shits on a broadcast network.

:loveya: Dan :loveya: You were magnificent!

Hey Dan: you've had a magnificent career. You have a choice now: to bow down to these facist brownshirt creeps and their attempts to silence the truth, or take a stand for your profession and integrity -- AND your country. You have a LOT of people standing beside you on this.

[Dem Agog]

12. Great Summation - also noticed...

Fantastic summation Dickie. I also noticed that they seem to include some slightly more damning comments from R. Strong in this segment... I think that they left this statement out of the original interview:

"It verged on Iraq eruption in terms of the favors that were done, the power that was traded, and it was unconscionable. From a moral and ethical standpoint it was unconscionable."

Was this in the original segment on 60 Minutes 2?

[acmavm]

19. No, it wasn't. At least I didn't hear it and I listened very carefully

because I knew that this was THE STORY of the election.

[BrewerJohn]

32. I heard it as "It verged on corruption"

which makes more sense

Great segment...a blow for truth!

[Dem Agog]

39. Yes it does...

I couldn't figure out "Iraq Eruption" but I swear that's what I heard. Either my ears need cleaning or my speakers need fixing.

[TacticalPeek]

54. "It verged on outright corruption in terms of the favors that were done"

By the lights of my vcr.

:)

[robbedvoter]

13. Rather: "We will keep porsuing the story" Maybe he'll tell us how they

got Killian's widow to say: "he didn't use to write CYA memos"

[antigone382]

15. CBS: the new NPR

Every day, I love Dan Rather more and more :)

[AmerDem]

16. Great Job by Rather!

:toast:

[geek tragedy]

18. If I was attracted to old Texas men, I'd ask Dan Rather to marry me.

That folks, is a journalist.

[Kahuna]

25. If he was twenty years younger, I'd take him...

:D

[cal04]

20. Very well done by Dan Rather

twice!

[kayell]

21. That was beautiful

Rather is MAD, and he his going to fight for this story. It doesn't look like he's going to be scared off by any necklacing threats this time.

[crickets]

41. He did look angry

He had a "don't mess with me" look on his face through the whole thing. He sounds a bit hoarse as well. Have a throat lozenge, Dan. You earned it. :)

[Jokinomx]

22. Just watched the CBS evening news... and they stood by their

story. The final words... by Dan Rather...paraphrased...

If there is any evidense that shows that we were wrong, we will report it... so far.. there hasn't been.

:toast: to CBS and Dan Rather!!

:kick:

[Media_Lies_Daily]

23. Now, THAT was a counter-punch! Rove's dead grandmother....

...probably felt that one!

[luaneryder]

24. He might be long in the tooth but

he can still kick some butt! I had to call my daughter and have her hold the phone to the TV so I could hear. GO DAN!!

[KayLaw]

26. Thank you

Good job, Dickie Flatt. I saw it, too, and thoroughly enjoyed it!

[trof]

28. Do NOT f*ck with Dan.

This ol'boy has been around the block enough time to get to Mars and back.
And DAMNED nice job of synopsis Dickie!

[enough]

29. Thank you Dickie

Great summation.

[Lefta Dissenter]

30. I just wrote a thank you

to Dan Rather. We have so few real journalists left.

[Disturbed]

43. Sand.

The Neo Fascist are like the kids that throw sand in others faces when they can't get their way.

[ronnykmarshall]

44. I wrote them too!

God bless CBS!

[VOX]

65. Did the same. Felt I ***had*** to!!!

How much genuine, old-school journalism has there been in all this media food-fight that's trying to pass for campaign coverage?

Rather is one of the last human beings standing in his profession.

:thumbsup:

[kayell]

33. The story on CBS website for anyone who missed it

Too bad you couldn't have heard and seen Rather. An impressive performance!

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/09/06/politics/main641481.shtml

[onecent]

34. I'm going to write CBS and Rather again tonite

n/t

[Eloriel]

37. Another great part

was pointing out that these were just new docs on a story that is demonstrated by other means.

We ought to write him. Anybody got an address or link?

[Dem Agog]

42. http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/feedback/fb_news_form.shtml

http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/feedback/fb_news_form.shtml

I filled out this form to send Mr. Rather a glowing email.

[robbedvoter]

52. Thanks. My letter:

Dear Mr Rather

The story on the TANG documents - as well as the response to the "forgery" screams were a thing of beauty.
You had lost me as a viewer when you editorialized Wesley Clark's interview ("but where is his compassion for the poor Iraqis?"), but I am back now - this was total redemption.. Thank you.

[Eric J in MN]

38. Good. Standing up to the corruption (nt)

nt

[DrWeird]

40. Question.

What do the documents actually say that is so damning?

[geek tragedy]

51. Besides the facts that

Bush didn't complete his duty and by implication got an illegitimate honorable discharge

Bush used his political connections to get preferential treatment once admitted to the TANG

Bush disobeyed a direct order

Bush was found generally unfit

Bush has lied about virtually everything regarding his record in the TANG.

Not much besides those.

[napi21]

45. Send a thank you to Dan for keeping some of the news honest!

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/09/06/politics/main641481.shtml

Got to the botton of the page and click on "Contact Us"

I did, and I hope all of you do as well!!!!

[antigone382]

63. Just sent my e-mail

I made sure to let them know that if they kept up the good work I woul be sure to tune in to CBS to get my information...

Of course I won't get *all* of my information from CBS; that's what DU's for!

[Individualist]

46. Tonight Rather reminded me of Murrow

when he spoke out against McCarthy. Bravo Dan!

[progressivebydesign]

47. He forgot that the "expert" Bush is using to debunk,

is a MAJOR republican activist. She is deeply involved in repub women's issues.

[Halliburton]

48. I loved the part with the superscript...

They showed that superscript was already in Bush's own authenticated records. That was great! How the media can be so dumb is beyond me.

[catbert836]

49. That was the best since '88

When he had that 20 minute screaming fight with Bush Sr. anout Iran-Contra. Classic, Dan. Keep on keepin' on.

[wuushew]

53. I have the video already ripped in case anybody missed it

320x240 DivX 50+ megs

Can someone please host, I am having trouble logging into my router so I can't host it myself immediately.

[Kimber Scott]

55. Now he should go after Novak for demanding he reveal his sources.

Let the games begin! Thank God, there are still a few real journalists left out there.

[TacticalPeek]

56. Attaboy, Dan!

And, correspondingly, how filthily have the other news organizations soiled themselves!

[K. F. Gibbons]

58. Does not matter.

The excuse to discredit the documents is already set.
All the republicans needed was their to be an air of impropriety for the Bush campaign to have an excuse not to answer any question raised by the new documents. If we had an objective media, this would blow the Bush campaign out of the water.

Just another example that our nations media is entirely corrupt..

Sorry to be so negative.
I see the writting on the wall.

[htuttle]

60. Oh no you don't. The story's NOT over!

I want to hear the answers to the question CBS's report raised:
1) Did Mr. Bush disobey a direct order to take a physical, and if so, why?
2) Was he suspended from flight status, and if so, why?
3) Why did he apparently not show up for duty (in Boston and Alabama)?

When we get the answers to all these questions, THEN it will be over.

[Gin]

64. email CBS and thank them for doing the story...they are getting hit with

negative emails.

they responded to my email thanking them and said it was refreshing to get a positive one.

email, and take the some of the negative pressure off.

Rather showed what real journalism looks like!

[htuttle]

68. I did earlier shortly after the broadcast

I hope he keeps it up.

[Cleita]

66. I commend CBS and Dan Rather for bringing this into

the mainstream. My only question is, what took them so long? Why didn't they do this before Mr. Bush bullied his way into a preemptive war with Iraq? I'm not complaining though. I'm happy that they found the courage to do this.

[Clinton Crusader]

61. Dan's THE MAN!

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[peacetalksforall]

62. OK so what happens now politically....Kerry should definitely not

accuse, but somehow the blind followers have to know that * should not have been given an honorable discharge. Am I correct about the discharge - he would not have qualified? Or do they have something like a military pardon?

The special thing here is that someone should demand the story from Allbaugh and Bartlett - supposedly they were the people in charge of cleansing the records when the right wing was considering running *.

Looking back, it was all such an illusion - imagine all the money Republicans and taxpayers spent to pretend that we were having a good old-fashioned election. If only they had stolen early on, the money could have been used to feed the poor.

Pathetic. Sick. Most of all, hypocritical.

[dave502d]

67. AWOL

Can someone show Bush wasn't AWOL,and if he was, than he is sending kids to die for him, but he wasn't willing to die for their parents.

[VOX]

69. I would not want Dan Rather down on my a**. For anything.

He is the last of a dying breed -- old-school journalists who really know their stuff.

In the end, we may owe a major debt of gratitude to Rather. Hell, I do already! :thumbsup:

[AnnInLa]

70. Hopefully, the example of Rather and CBS will show

some enterprising young journalists that rove can be fought, and they will dig, dig, dig until we find out the true reason for that "volunteer" community service that chimpy did. Would love to see "certain" records that were thought expunged are out there somewhere! Surely, if Rather and CBS can do it, others can extend it!

[Generic Other]

72. I almost expected him to challenge someone to a duel

I think his tone of voice said it all: BRING IT ON.