STATEMENT FROM DAN RATHER:

Last week, amid increasing questions about the authenticity of documents used in support of a 60 MINUTES WEDNESDAY story about President Bush's time in the Texas Air National Guard, CBS News vowed to re-examine the documents in question—and their source—vigorously. And we promised that we would let the American public know what this examination turned up, whatever the outcome.

Now, after extensive additional interviews, I no longer have the confidence in these documents that would allow us to continue vouching for them journalistically. I find we have been misled on the key question of how our source for the documents came into possession of these papers. That, combined with some of the questions that have been raised in public and in the press, leads me to a point where—if I knew then what I know now—I would not have gone ahead with the story as it was aired, and I certainly would not have used the documents in question.

But we did use the documents. We made a mistake in judgment, and for that I am sorry. It was an error that was made, however, in good faith and in the spirit of trying to carry on a CBS News tradition of investigative reporting without fear or favoritism.

Please know that nothing is more important to us than people's trust in our ability and our commitment to report fairly and truthfully.

I expect to see Dan Rather moving on to retirement in the next 12 months... perhaps to an Andy Rooney type role, commentary and occassionally something else.

He has lost the battle of the network anchors. CBS news lags badly behind the other networks for the evening news slot, and things like this make people trust them less.

Look for John (JD) Roberts (who is an ex Much Music VJ in Canada, which always makes me take him less seriously) to take over the evening news. I have tried to find a picture of him from that time frame, can't find it. He was a long haired metal man, hosting the heavy shows. Now he is the "news guy".

Dan Rather blew it... his career will end on these many sour notes.

Alex

Yep!

Network news is falling off fast - Cable is destroying them.

I always liked Dan Rather, but he should have retired 2-3 years ago
when he started whistling his "S"s... didn't anyone play tape for him,
to show him how bad he started sounding ?

JD Roberts and Jeannie Baker circa 1978.

http://www.evil-chris.com/temp/jdroberts01.jpg

Referring document

I have always liked Rather. But his ratings have certainly declined in recent years and I imagine this will push him over the edge. I wouldn't be surprised to see him go even sooner than the next 12 months.

Mike, I saw something the other day that showed in many major cities, CBS news was about HALF of what ABC was... when not that long ago, they all competed pretty much evenly.

cable is certainly taking away from the network national news casts. The smart ones (like NBC and FOX) have spawned their own news channels to support their new gathering activities, and it has paid off handsomely. NBC in particular seems to be really getting a good benefit, with better on air talent, more reporters in the field, and generally a good program.

Too bad in Canada we cannot get foxnews.

Oh well!

Chris, I was trying to find one with him in full leather and studs... that shit is funny!

Alex

Dear Dan Rather,

Who forged the documents and why?

Cordially,

Buff

Buff, I suspect you will never get to that point in the discussion. The dirty trail will almost certainly lead back to the same type of people who front the money for the "swift boat" veterans. I think this was a sad attempt by someone working for Bush (but without anyone else's input) re-creating a document that might actually have existed.

I suspect it was done with good intention, never realizing what would happen when iCBS jumped all over it.

I don't think there is enough time between now and November 2nd to really get to the bottom of this.

Alex

Dear Dan Rather,

Who forged the documents and why?

Cordially,

Buff [/b][/quote]
seems like an apology would be in order. thats kinda shitty not to apologize to the injured party... while acknowledging that what they did was wrong.

Alex did you misstype this? You think a Bush supporter created and dispursed this document???

:zoinks:

I agree, this sucks......

but Bush is still a worst choice than kerry.... :salute:

Alex did you misstype this? You think a Bush supporter created and dispursed this document???

:zoinks: [/b][/quote]
its called deductive reasoning.

if you know "democrats can do no wrong" is true
and you know "republicans are always wrong" is true

then...

its called deductive reasoning.

if you know "democrats can do no wrong" is true
and you know "republicans are always wrong" is true

then... [/b][/quote]


When all of this first hit, I was watching NightLine, and there was a democrate operative who basicly said that " he would not be surprised if the Republicans create the document and fed it to the media to try and humiliate Kerry."

If the Bush team is this sneaky, he will win re-election in a landslide!

I wish we could just go back to incumbant trying to overstate about how much was accomplished during his term and the new guy trying to make everything look like more could have been achieved under him as president while selling his vision for the future.

This election has taken so many wrong turns and once again everyone is forced not to vote for who they want... but to vote against the other guy.

Mike, that is exactly what I am saying. I don't think Bush or his team DIRECTED anyone, anymore than they directed the swift boat people. But the Republican side has done a much better job of creating distrust of Kerry, and clouding the issues that would create distrust in Bush.

This memo is perfect. The world is all so worried now about Dan Rather... everyone seems to have forgotten that if this document is a forgery (looks like it) then there are still huge questions about Bush's guard duty. But because of the way this has been run out, everyone stopped looking at the issue and starting looking at Rather.

I would suspect it was shopped around to everyone, and CBS / Rather were the first takers. They bit, ran with it, and now they have had it blow up on them. Either way, the makers of the document win:

1 - If accepted 100%, it clears Bush of any issues regarding his duty, and
2 - if proven fake, the explosion takes out SOMEONE ELSE (in this case Rather), and that corpse becomes the story, not the military record.

The issue is defused to about 99%.

Amazing move.

Alex

Well Alex if are right, I am happy to be voting for Bush!

Rove leaked those documents. We'll all learn about it on page 242 of some book published in 2015.

Cheney had some secretary for halliburton create the document, and Ashcroft went to the UPS store to mail it to Dan Rather.



:lol: :lol:

Cheney had some secretary for halliburton create the document, and Ashcroft went to the UPS store to mail it to Dan Rather.



:lol: :lol: [/b][/quote]
Err ... :pearl:

Even after all this time, I'm not sure WHAT the issues with Bush's Guard duty are supposed to be..

He was AWOL? - is it even possible to be AWOL from the guard?
His daddy helped him get in? - Good... i'd have done the same.

The whole issue is a gigantic waste of time..
Same with Kerry's of service.
I don't care.


Both of them need to get with it and answer this...

What have you done for me lately?

The story sort of reads, "daddy got him into a comfy position that would keep him from getting sent to 'nam. He trained to be a pilot, even though everything reported said he was no more than average at it. He took time off and got transfered to alabama to run a political campaign. He failed to show back up and failed to take a required medical examine, and lost his pilot's rating as a result and was grounded. This may have something to do with the fact that his unit was going to get rotated into asia sometimes around then. He was "missing" for a while, and then was discharged sometime later.. he never saw active combat action, was never in the field, even though he was as able bodied as the next american boy. "

His records are very sketchy, and this fake was a good attempt to fill in the holes.

Mike, I think you can take pleasure in voting for Bush if I am correct, as they have taken asshole to a whole new level. :-)

Alex

I saw Rather's apology and explanation live on the CBS evening news tonight.
I didn't think it really hurt his credibility as a news reporter, though.

He basically said that he/we screwed up, jumped the gun so to speak, and we're sorry.

From cnn:

So there ya go. Did he shirk his duty?

Alex

i don't need Rather to tell me Bush got special treatment to avoid 'nam
that doesn't change a thing
he and cheney avoided the war
Kerry did not

ask Bush to send his daughters to Iraq
they are about that age
they have no plans after college
send to iraq
why not?
simple fact
the rich guys want bush so they can keep their wealth
"aren't you afraid Kerry will raise taxes?"
I don't give a shit, no
taxes is the only fuckin reason to keep bush around?
oh yeah, mike thinks we are safer
hahhahahahahhahahah
real safe huh


when the fuck are the debates, and how many is pussy bush agreeing to?
1? 2?

Mike, you don't think the republicans set this up?

Why would they worry about CBS being out for revenge unless they know they played them?

They tipped their hand again.

Alex

And Kerry tried to, but failed.

I believe the first is next Thursday.
They're having 3. (1 town hall style)

and please, lay of the crack.

:lol:

Alex - I think you may need to take the tin foil off your head. You are a conspiracy nut... Amazing how the Bush team can be the most incompetent ever, yet continue to pull off so many major dasterdly deeds!!

They are going after CBS as catch back. You fuck with the President of the US with fake papers, drag it out for 2 weeks, you deserve to get black balled some. It is what happens when you gamble. CBS and Rather gambled so now they have to pay the price. Part of the game.

Isn't Rather the "what's the frequency kenneth ?" guy ?

I'll keep this paragraph for after bush loses the election, to help you understand & accept why he lost :okthumb:

Yo, Hurts .... upon what do you base your assumption that Kerry tried to avoid the war? He volunteered - even the Truth-Impared Swift Boat Vets didn't question that, to my knowledge.

So, we are choosing presidents on what started 32 years ago? Damn - Bush is good - keeping all of the anti-bushies busy with looking for missing words in old records :)

I still belive the anti-bushies should have gotten all of that frustration out of their system, before the election... I was looking forward to see Bush go, not because of what he had done, but because of the FUTURE issues. However after seeing the Democrates team up with the anti-bushies, then I have lost faith that Democrates are a better choice than the Republicans. And I really think that some high placed Democrates want to keep Bush in power the next 4 years, where so many important events are taking place. If you do not have the leadership to run the country, then you should not try to win the election, even Democrates know this.

I do not know why the anti-bushies keep looking at the past, when all the major problems are in the horizon... if politicians would focus on these issues, then it would show that Bush´s plan for the FUTURE could be improved in many places.

Good news for anti-bushies - if Bush wins, then it will only be 4 more years... ofcourse it will be 4 years, where you be constantly reminded that you were outsmarted by Bush - again :awinky:

Yep. I brought that up the other day but either no one else remembers it or no one else cares :awinky:

Yo, Hurts .... upon what do you base your assumption that Kerry tried to avoid the war? He volunteered - even the Truth-Impared Swift Boat Vets didn't question that, to my knowledge. [/b][/quote]
After he was denied for deferments.

I'll keep this paragraph for after bush loses the election, to help you understand & accept why he lost :okthumb: [/b][/quote]


CJ why don't you explain to me now. I know your knowledge of American politics is deep and thoughtful. Fill me in.

:zoinks:

Some people have been hinting that now that Clinton people have posistion of power, they will slyly scuttle his chances - so in 2008 Hillary can run.

I do not beleive in theories like this, but people are talking about it.


Funny how everyone forgets that Kerry tried for a defferment, but did not have the juice/luck to get one, so he went the opposite direction.

Yep. I brought that up the other day but either no one else remembers it or no one else cares :awinky: [/b][/quote]
haha... Peaches, I remember!
And that damn song has been going through my head since this story broke!