A CBS spokesman said, "We don't understand why Rather's attorneys couldn't have met with us in person. Instead, they just faxed it in."

This should be interesting. Wonder how much muck CBS are going to throw Danny boy's way in defending this? He might regret ever filing it.

Rather's story about Bush's National Guard AWOL was true. The document those facts were written on was not the original document but it doesn't change the veracity of the words. That fact got lost in all the spin.

CHRIS

Forget facts. Bush lovers will let him get away with anything just because it's him.

do you mean, Dan Rather, biggest contributor to the 2004 Bush re-election? THAT Dan Rather?

CC...

I know that, but too many others have ignored the truth. The facts about the documents are this: They cannot be authenticated nor proven fakes without access to the originals, which have never re-surfaced.

The general's secretary vouched for the vercity of the information contained in the documents but stated that the copies were not identical to what she remembered as the originals. Even Bush himself when asked privately about the information said it was likely true based upon his own memory.

According to the article, Rather was little more than a newsreader in this entire episode. While I'll shed no tears for Rather, I did consider it eggregious the way CBS treated him largely at the behest of inflamed right wingers who chose to make a federal case of it with full knowledge that Bush himself could not provide evidence of his own presence on the Alabama military base where he was assigned, nor provide records detailing how he spent his time there.

Forget facts. Bush lovers will let him get away with anything just because it's him.

Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2007-09-19 04:38 PM |

I don't think it was ever so much, "Bush Lovers" as it was, "Kerry Loathers".

If ya'll run Hillary don't be surprised at more of the same.

Most people pretty much start growing up by age 30, though liberals would love it if they didn't and seemingly are doing everything they can to make sure they don't.

I know it's hard for you to grasp but most people would rather earn their keep and spend it according to their liking of lifestyle than there are of those that would prefer to be kept and bowing to govt. to do so.

Look out Republicans, you threw Rather under the bus and now the suit comes to a full head right at election time.

How many repubs will get thrown under when Rather takes the stand?

Oops, you mean CBS will just pay the money and be done with it.

Forget facts. Bush lovers will let him ....... blah, blah, blah.

Posted by AMERICANUNITY

Speaking of facts ........

Those who latched onto this story are either blindly partisan or completely stupid about how the National Guard works.

Guard service is not based on a calendar commitment. Guardsmen accumulate points -- the more time they drill, the more points they get toward fulfilling their obligation.

Bush was on active duty almost full time for several years, so he could easily accumulate the same number of points as would take six years for a weekend warrior.

Also, near the end of his term, his aircraft was being phased out. Since he was terminal (not re-enlisting to train for a new aircraft) his commander has the discretion of letting him go early.

I was active duty Air Force and had a calendar commitment: if I did not show up for the very last day, I would have been AWOL. My overseas assignment ended six week shy of my contract: I was discharged early "for the convenience of the Air Force."

Dan Rather the very same Dan Rather that Co Owns a ranch in New Mexico with a one Donald Rumsfeld Yes THAT Donald Rumsfeld.

Larry

I haven't seen the complaint, but I think that, unlike in Imus' case, CBS has the upper hand here: Based on the NYT article that Tony linked, it appears that CBS fulfilled Rather's contract to the letter, and unless I am missing something, he can't prove fraud or any other intentional tort without implicating himself as well. "Unclean Hands" is a defense that CBS can and will use in this action, and the only thing that is ultimately going to be thrown under the bus here is what is left of Dan's reputation.

It's really too bad, he deserves (and deserved) better.

"I know it's hard for you to grasp but most people would rather earn their keep and spend it according to their liking of lifestyle than there are of those that would prefer to be kept and bowing to govt. to do so.

Posted by Incubus_Con at 2007-09-19 04:48 PM"

You mean like hundreds of billions for unnecessary wars? Paying for gasoline made from $80/barrel oil? Don't be such a predictable parroting tool, Incu. The myth that Republicans are somehow more fiscally conservative has been blown out of the water for some time.

"Rather's story about Bush's National Guard AWOL was true." - Cal

How do we know that? It MAY have been true... it PROBABLY is true given Bush's history? But what specific "proof" is there? Without actual records it becomes a he-said, she-said... not unlike the debates we have on the DR about religion.

In the old days the media would have gotten away with Rather's stunt. I wonder how many other former "truths" we accept were actually fabricated by a press with an agenda?

As a major news network and news anchor if you're going to go after a presidential candidate just prior to the election, you darn sure better have it right.

They didn't. The result? A possible backlash of support for Dubya and a major, major blot on what little credibility the MSM had in the public's eyes.

This is one of those rare events, where you don't really care who wins. Dan Rather, the blowhard, bloviating senior editor, correspondent, and anchor, who knowingly used false documents in a news broadcast? Or the network that allowed him to do so?

Hopefully it goes on, and on, and on, and on. Of course, I can already predict the level of skepticism the jury might have, when presented with "original documents".

Too funny.

""I don't think it was ever so much, "Bush Lovers" as it was, "Kerry Loathers".

Most of the "Kerry Loathers" hardly even knew who he was or much about him until the right wing pundits tore into him and directed their sheep to hate him. Their sheep are so obedient, they's hate Jesus if they were told to.

You mean like hundreds of billions for unnecessary wars? Paying for gasoline made from $80/barrel oil? Don't be such a predictable parroting tool, Incu. The myth that Republicans are somehow more fiscally conservative has been blown out of the water for some time.

Posted by mOntecOre at 2007-09-19 05:10 PM

I believe the Dems lied their way to power promising to lower gas prices. If I remeber right oil was around $50 when they took over in Jan. BTW as for being fiscal... Did they not just pass a huge spending bill???? Not to mention their lie about earmarks.

Most of the "Kerry Loathers" hardly even knew who he was or much about him until the right wing pundits tore into him and directed their sheep to hate him.

Posted by danni at 2007-09-19 06:06 PM

All anyone needed to hear was Kerry's own words and actions. It didn't need any rightwing pundits to point out his character. Or the fact he is another Liberal from Mass. BTW maybe if he had simply signed the medical records release (Form 180?)his image wouldn't have been so tarnished.

"BTW maybe if he had simply signed the medical records release (Form 180?)his image wouldn't have been so tarnished."

Oops:

Live in the now.

Hans

Posted by Hans at 2007-09-19 06:26 PM

I could have sworn danni was referring to the 2004 election. Thanks for pointing out he finally agreed to release his records. Not sure it has anything to do with what I responded to. But thanks anyway.

I suspect this is as much a way to bring the service issue back up as anything else. For CBS to defend, they could be forced to defend the documents themselves, or at least their process.

I suspect they were fed to CBS by the Bush campaign. The forgery rebuttals appeared within minutes of the docs public appearance. It would be a nice way to defuse an issue that's not breaking your way - discredit a news source and deflect with obvious forgeries that would be easy to debunk. Any other evidence that might appear would be automatically discredited, regardless of authenticity. Very Nixonian, stupid of CBS to fall for it.

Maybe Imus and Rather can start a class action suit. CBS is a popular defendant these days.

"Most of the "Kerry Loathers" hardly even knew who he was or much about him until the right wing pundits tore into him and directed their sheep to hate him. Their sheep are so obedient, they's hate Jesus if they were told to."

Danni do you just grab your talking points from the DNC playbook or do you actually have an independent thought on occasion?

Personally I knew absolutely nothing about John Kerry until I did some independent research about his background, (round about the time he professed to be "reporting for duty") at which point I decided, in my own little sheeple mind that I would rather he be placed up against a wall and shot for treason than be elected as President of the United States, but you know that is just me, little old former military sheeple me. Baaaaaa!

It might be nice if once in a while you, oh I don't know, dragged yourself away from the playbook and thought like the majority of people do, not right nor left, but somewhere in the middle, that is where most of us are.

Litlebrit-
You think that the" majority of people do, not right nor left, but somewhere in the middle" think that John Kerry "be placed up against a wall and shot for treason"?

Nope that is just my personal opinion, however I think that the majority of people are in the "middle" on issues (Kerry is not an issue), they are not on the right and they are not on the left, if only the politicians would realize that things would go alot smoother. Kerry is such a non issue at this point it is really wasting our collective typing skills talking about him. I really don't know why Danni brought him up other than the fact that the DNC playbook at page 321 says "if anyone mentions Dan Rather immediately mention right wing conspiracy and swiftboatgate"

Litlebrit-
Whew! I'm just relieved to find that the "middle" is not all keyed up on executing veterans.

Rather's story about Bush's National Guard AWOL was true. The document those facts were written on was not the original document but it doesn't change the veracity of the words. That fact got lost in all the spin.


Posted by CalifChris at 2007-09-19 04:32 PM


Cal,

I am not saying that the accusations are true or not true but you claim they are. Do you have any evidence to support you claim? By evidence I mean real proof, not just more people saying it.

CC...

I know that, but too many others have ignored the truth. The facts about the documents are this: They cannot be authenticated nor proven fakes without access to the originals, which have never re-surfaced.

If there are origionals I can only assume that you have them or have seen them. You are going to say the facts are that they are fakes, you must have the origionals. How else can you make that accusation. Oh wait I forgot you dont need proof.

Cooper - no not real veterans only John Kerry, there is a huge difference.

Argh,

Tin foil hat preference, shiny side in or out?

"Any other evidence that might appear would be automatically discredited, regardless of authenticity. Very Nixonian, stupid of CBS to fall for it."

Well, Rovian anyway.

Rather faked many stories over the years he got caught on this one because the net now allows people to come together and prove the fake before the public. I stopped watching this liar in October 1971 when he did a hit piece on the city of Pittsburgh. The story was a completely fabricated.

This story falls into the same category as the allegations that George Bush called the Constitution a "piece of paper" and the allegations that Bush was in on the planning of 9-11. The libs can't stand that Bush beat them at the polls TWICE. They accuse him of stealing the elections and this crap. They have to believe it. They don't want to admit that he is the better man.

There is at least as much evidence that the Hildebeast is a lesbian or that the Clitons had Vince Foster killed. I guess you hold on to the reality that you need.

Argh,

Tin foil hat preference, shiny side in or out?

Posted by visitor_ at 2007-09-19 10:42 PM

I think that he prefers the more modern Aluminum Foil Deflection Beanie.

Dan Rather--Loser extrodinaire.

This might well turn into an exercise of how pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered.

He is extorting money so he can turn to people and say--"See CBS gave me money--I was right--I was right and they were wrong!"

Once a rat always a rat.

Murphy

Bush was on active duty almost full time for several years, so he could easily accumulate the same number of points as would take six years for a weekend warrior.

Posted by vernon at 2007-09-19 05:01 PM | Reply | Flag


I'm not going to speak for the 1970's National Guard but that's not how it works today (or at least as of 2004). Retirement points are accrued per year based upon your enlistment date. Although extra points ultimately help out in retirement, they do not roll over year-to-year. You still have to get X number of points per year regardless of how many you had the previous year.

This is actually something many units deal with when they demob. A soldier may have served 15+ mos active duty but still be required to report to AT/Summer Camp soon after deployment (if the AT falls in his/her next contract year); otherwise it may not be considered a "good" year.

Though, if I recall correctly most unit commanders give their troops 90 days off after a deployment (no drills or AT) but even this can cause issues, as even though a soldier may have permission to miss AT, missing it can still cause a "bad" year in terms of retirement (this is a non-issue if s/he doesn't plan on serving 20 years).

Hope I explained this well enough :-)

Rather himself, on audio, and video, has taken responsibility for the flap....now wants to sue CBS?

Can't wait till those tapes come up at the trial, Dan will embarrass himself even more. I think the guy is senile....