Has The GOP Inadvertantly Built Up The Significance Of The Memo?

[DrFunkenstein]

Instead of this being just another dribble of information, has the GOP screwed up by fighting so hard against its authenticity?

Even if it is inauthentic, it keeps Bush's AWOL on the public's mind without much chance of a backlash against Kerry (who is miles away from the story).

On the other hand, if it DOES get taken for authentic, it looks really, really bad for Bush - not only is he a fortunate son, he got caught trying to cover it up IN THIS ELECTION.

And, if this contradicts what Bush is saying about what he did, this will certainly be considered an attempted cover-up.

And you know the 24-hour folk love exposing a good cover up - if they don't have to pay for any investigative journalism, that is.

[Guaranteed]

1. Inadvertantly or not, it's turned into a major fight.

And that means we have to win it.

We need to fight this one to the death.

[Mr_Spock]

2. Yes, at first I thought all this was stupid, then I realized one of the

unintended laws of politics was a work here. Sometimes I forget that politics has nothing to do with issues (or war crimes in Bushes case).

[yardwork]

4. That's what I always thought about Watergate

What a stupid issue, I remember thinking. We're waging illegal wars all over Indonesia and the war criminal president and his henchmen get taken down because of a bungled burglary into someone's psychiatrist's office?

Who wouldda thunk it.

[the Kelly Gang]

3. yes yes and yes..we can talk endlessly about his AWOL status

[DrFunkenstein]

5. I Say Bring On The Dukakis Moment!

[librechik]

6. yes--by choosing the loaded word " forgery"

they inadvertently imply that these are fakes of actual documents that may exist somewhere. So even though one is interested in the source of the "forgeries," one is even more interested in the questions the documents raise.

Was Bush ordered to take a physical?

Why did he not take the physical?

Why did he quit flying?

Why did he not show attendance at drills in Alabama?

How did he receive his honorable discharge?

Reporters need to start asking theses questions, and follow CBS' lead by developing their own sources instead of just parroting the WH spiel like CNN and MSNBC.

[Jade Fox]

7. These guys overplayed their hand....

They had to come up with something quick, so some genius thought up this
forgery crap. Unfortunately, they chose something provable, and are trying
to discredit a major news organization. Might be some serious blowback!

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Yep, this is one of those that they chose to make big

they should have NEVER touched Kerry's service record... now they have the spot light on Bush's less than stellar service record

[Lex]

9. Yes, once again, the repukes formed a giant circle & started firing

.
never thinking of the consequences of pulling the trigger

They are just *so sure* that Smirk isn't a piece of crap.

They're wrong.

The blowback on this will be impressive.

[usregimechange]

10. I was saying that here last night, it has created a buzz nt

[necso]

11. Perhaps the target

of opportunity here is the right wing echo chamber and its attack on responsible "the people need to know" journalism.

I mean the attack is obvious enough and it is ugly.

And for this purpose, who cares whether the memos are real or not, the point is the vicious onslaught on CBS. (Who had done their homework and were speaking what they had reason to believe was true.)

Now the rats are out of their holes, exposed for all to see.

And now is the time to attack them.

[unfrigginreal]

12. Not unless they're challenged

So far every news organization except CBS is running with the GOP view. Unless the Dems push for investigation of the charges raised in the documents and turn the question around on the media to "why are you reporting unsubstantiated claims of fake documents" then why would there be any blowback? The public is only hearing the forgery charge.

[gardenista]

13. Including NPR News. nt

[OneBlueSky]

14. not inadvertently . . . intentionally . . .

to keep far more important issues (i.e. their record over the past four years) off the front pages and the tv screens . . .

[NewYorkerfromMass]

15. There will be time for all the issues to be sorted out

I tend to agree this will work out in our favor in the end.