I didn't think its possible, but Rather may lower the public's opinion of journalists evern further than its current historic lows.

Is anyone else having flashbacks to the movie "A Beautiful Mind"?

“Peter Arnett is a great reporter. He was then and he is now.” -- Dan Rather

Well, I guess they subscribe to the same brand of journalism...I guess he would hold him in high esteem. Someone should ask Dan how he feels about Jayson Blair.

If conservatives are RIGHT, then liberals must be WRONG.
Thompson/Rice

But I saw someone portray one on TV one time so I would like to observe that the ominous purple tinge to Mr. Rather's upper lip seen in this picture of the gentleman could well indicate oxygen defciency - which goes a long way toward explaining just where his synaptic-dysfunction stems from. 

"Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war"  - Shakespeare

I think he is full of himself if he thinks helping himself is 'saving our democracy'.  Rather, your alone in this, what has happened to you is not a threat to democracy, It's a lesson to other journalists to not do any "fake but true" journalism. Evidence that was spread widely on the Net shows conclusively that the documents where fake. 

As for your “investigative journalism”, it’s a spin. In reality it’s advocacy journalism, most often a way to boost ratings, make money and/or push a political agenda. It is not really public service, a public has the right to know thing, it’s all about money. Nobody ever asked you to investigate anything, you and the MSM are doing it on your own.

Mr. Rather - there were 2 candidates for president. Had you investigated, with interest comparable to your personal vendetta into Bush's life, the other candidate -- would the people believe you on that story? 

On the other side of his issue - John Kerry. Leaving the Swift Boat folks aside, there were serious questions (certainly as serious as the one's Rather had of Bush) out there concerning a number of issues around Kerry; his enlistment (how many times did the draft board turn him down - RE: deferment), his medals, his departure from Vietnam, and his lie about his trip to Cambodia (and blaming it on Nixon, instead of LBJ), etc. 

There was retired Navy Rear Admiral William Schachte. He was not one of the Swift Boaters. His story appeared in a column. NBC's Lisa Myers conducted one interview with him: 

Adm. William Schachte: 'No enemy fire' -- One of John Kerry's superior officers disputes the circumstances Kerry claims led to the awarding of his first Purple Heart.

Did you hear the pitter pat of little producer's feet rushing to get the Admiral on their set? 

Is there any summary out there (or your view) that the CBS Evening News, with Dan Rather, really ever seriously investigated any of this, and actually grill, on TV, Kerry or his staff on these issues? Or, is the simple truth, that Rather, the CBS News and most of the rest of the MSM, as expected, had no stomach for being news reporters when it came to their side of the isle.

Always seemed to me, that if Rather and Mapes disagreed with the Admiral, here, that Rather would have smeared him, like they did the Swift Boaters. But there is an easier way to protect your candidate, safer to not bring it up - that way, folks don't wonder.

Great analysis, Rich. (;~> gary 

Danny, what color is the sky in your little universe?  Or, do you actually believe what you are saying?  I haven't seen this much natural organic fertilizer since some of our calves got the scours.

You think "most people" know your lies and forgeries were correct?  Danny boy, not even "most people" in your newsrooms thought you were correct, and you know how credulous you journalists are.  You are doing this to preserve democracy?  The money is not important?  Move on over to the next field, Danny, this one is well fertilized.  You are suing for for ego and for money.  With all your excuses, you remind me of nearly every convict behind bars: the cops are out to get me, I had a bad lawyer, the judge is a crook, yada, yada, yada.  Face it Danny boy, you ****** up.  You lied.  If you yourself didn't commit the forgeries of the documents, you certainly did not dig very deep to authenticate them.  You were arrogant, you were sloppy and you got caught.

With your credibility and ability to ignore truth and facts right before your eyes, you and Bagdad Bob need to open your own news agency.  You two would make a great team.

"A communist is someone who reads Marx.  An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx."  Ronald Reagan

"RATHER: That's what the record shows. That's what we allege."

Uh, Dan you have no credibility. It left a long time ago.  You can "allege" things all you want (you're good at that). But as far as any rational individual goes, your opinion is worthless.  

The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.  ~ Unknown

 Rather says that most people believe his story. My grandmaw would always say "Are you telling a story?" when she thought we were lying. Maybe he is using the word "story" the way grandmaw did.

 Aren't we, the ones that comment and blog here, most people? Let's see a show of hands as to whether or not Rather is lying.

A bona fide and certified member of the beer guzzling, NASCAR watching middle class.

Perhaps few read it and even fewer noticed the burying of Walter Cronkite's autobiography published the year he turned 80 (the magical year everyone is entitled to "fess up" and not give a damn about what they say, do or write). WHY did the "turn left only" media either ignore or pan his autobiography? It was barely mentioned in the NY Times except for being on their Best Seller list (but didn't stay there long). You'd think the media would have hailed his tome as next to the Bible (you can draw your own conclusions on whether some of the left would change the ranking).

Well, not too far into chapter two (two or three - my copy is holding up a lop-sided desk in the basement so it would be hard to reach right now), Walter flat out (no way to spin it any other way other than plead Alzheimer's - which a few did) admitted he lied, lied, lied for years, years, years. About the Vietnam War and mosteverything else not to his liking all the years he was anchor of CBS Evening News.

He droned on about how he felt it was his duty to "make a difference" in the world and not just report the news. He specifically wrote about the considerable time he spent every day rewriting the stories he was going to be reading in a few hours something even "making things up to make an important point" (I remember that comment specifically). Writing as if he deserved a medal for all the extra time he had spent working that few supposedly knew of. "The End Justifies the Means" - the mantra of the Left.

The few far-left Web sites (MoveOn.Org was around back then but "blogging" was still a fringe activity) went absolutely bonkers!! The big question was: "who the Hell let this old man spill the beans!" (Witless) "Old man" since Walter had committed the cardinal sin of the left (pulled back the cloth exposing the "man behind the curtain" (I'm from Kansas - Oz Land). No remarks were made about the First Amendment and the 40 years of loyal service he had given to build/destroy (take your pick based on your perspective) our country.

There must have been a flurry of phone calls among the thousands of media gate keepers of "what the Hell do we do now!" "Kill it, bury it, burn it!" was the cry (my guess as the effect was just that). He did a book tour that started in Montana and ended in Wyoming.

Now we have the same (possible) moment on the horizon but this time for spite. Dan just turned that magical age of 80! Coincidence? I think not. Will he pull a "Walter" on the stand? We can all only hope so! Eyes closed, heels clicking together, wishing hard (remember, I'm from Kansas) "make it so, make it so, make it so! please, please, please!"

But, alas, even a failed Las Vegas bookie would take the bet, if it does occur, all will be gagged beforehand and trial scheduled to begin the day AFTER Election Day, 2008.

Below is a tag line many of my posts end with but this is Dan to a "t". Agree?

*************************** View http://www.youtube.c... to FINALLY understand why liberals think the way they do. This was the most informative 47 minutes I've ever spent. Please -- take the time to view it.

wrong spot