I’m generous, so I’m betting that CBS retracts the memos but stands behind the story itself. Their position ever since the scandal first broke has been that the jabber about the memos has detracted from discussion of the rest of the story. So my bet is that the pull the memos but try to make the rest of the story stand without documentary support.

Odds? Three-to-two and pick ‘em.

Posted by: Jeff Harrell at September 15, 2004 10:15 AM

I vote for “modified, limited hang-out route.” Blast from the past link found here.

PRESIDENT: You think, you think we want to, want to go this route now? And the—let it hang out, so to speak?
DEAN: Well, it’s, it isn’t really that—
HALDEMAN: It’s a limited hang out.
DEAN: It’s a limited hang out.
EHRLICHMAN: It’s a modified limited hang out.
PRESIDENT: Well, it’s only the questions of the thing hanging out publicly or privately.
DEAN: What it’s doing, Mr. President, is getting you up above and away from it. And that’s the most important thing.
PRESIDENT: Oh, I know. But I suggested that the other day and we all came down on, uh, remember we came down on, uh, on the negative on it. Now what’s changed our mind?
DEAN: The lack of alternatives, or a body. (Laughter)

Posted by: ter0 at September 15, 2004 10:21 AM

Uhhhh. SO WHAT? This crap has been lobbed onto CenterCourt how many times now?

So… now all these vivid memories are seared, seared I tell you, into someone like Barne’s memory? And therefore we should believe his tripe?

The CBS Biggies better realize how many LittlePeople have already toppled the ‘Sauronic Big Eye’. If the rest of MSM (and I consider Fox in there as well, although I don’t have cable so I wouldn’t know what kind of a play they are making on this one) wants to back their competitions’ FRAUD, that’s fine by me.

Seems to me, Senator Kerry got that kind of a pass thirty-four years ago. I ain’t given passes to any of these bastards any more.

Posted by: Cap'n DOC at September 15, 2004 10:26 AM

LOL ter0.

Change those names to Rather, Mapes and Barnes and you would have a more believable forged document than those memos!

Posted by: TexasGal at September 15, 2004 11:14 AM

I vote for “independent investigation” as to voracity of documents. CBS will stand by story that President Bush received preferential treatment in the TANG because of secretary’s comment that thought in memo is correct.

I would counter with the recent Front Page story and Rush Limbaugh (OK grain of salt) show re President Bush fulfilled his commitment. Need to consider the times by 1972/1973 the Vietnam War was winding down and the Aif Force was actively assisting pilots to leave the military. Pilots were a “dime a dozen” and were being re-assigned to desk jobs:

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=15039

Posted by: Ron Wrght at September 15, 2004 11:17 AM

Unfortunately, I only see more stonewalling and denial. Since there appears to be no “compelling legal authority” that would ever require presentation of the material in court, the only negative effect this will ever have is on their credibility and cache. I think we have reached the nadir of that and the only way to further damage them is a self-admission of guilt, since there will never be a legal finding. In today’s over-riding sentiment of “no absolutes” and everything, including truth, being relative, unless everyone, including CBS, admits to the falsification noone (at least in MSM) will definitively declare it as such. Like other great deniers before, CBS and Rather will batton down the hatches, weather the storm as best they can and clean up after the storm.

Posted by: submandave at September 15, 2004 11:37 AM

Submandave,

I think you are correct. We will never get to the bottom of this, and Rather will weather the storm. CBS will go on with declining viewership and credibility, just like the NYT after Jayson Blair. They are now simply another voice we have to take less seriously.

I do not what powers Rather’s survival — CBS has tried on a number of occasions to push him out, but he has as firm a grip on the network as Saddam did over the Ba’ath party. Much like Saddam after Gulf War I or Clinton after Monica, he’ll just refuse to leave, and no one will make him.

Posted by: DWC at September 15, 2004 11:48 AM

WELL??? Tick,tick,tick… These guys must still be in the TimeMachine.

Posted by: Cap'n DOC at September 15, 2004 02:23 PM

he he he….love it Cap’nDOC !!

I’m going out to get something to eat and listen to Rush and see if he gets the scoop!

Maybe they will CAN DAN I’d love to see Moonves in front of Congress again after his penitance concerning Janets boob. I bet he’ll sacrifice Dan to save his own skin.

laters……..

Posted by: dickmr at September 15, 2004 02:46 PM

After seeing that CBS is going to stand with Dan and support him(via LGF), should we all go out and buy a copy of the children’s book The Emporer’s New Clothes and forward them to the Crackpot Broadcasting System?

Posted by: cooper at September 15, 2004 03:12 PM

I’m back and nothing’s happened? I think they waited until the talk radio guys were thru for the day! ha ha They are on the defensive….bring on the Congressional investigation!

Posted by: dickmr at September 15, 2004 04:19 PM

Does anybody know of any effort to identify and petition/boycott sponsors of Rather’s show? Seems like the most obvious way to get real attention by CBS decisionmakers.

Posted by: TL at September 15, 2004 06:10 PM

TL I think I saw something on CaptainsQuarters, but I’ve found so many sites in the past week that I can’t remember where I saw. It could have been LGF as well…

Posted by: Cap'n DOC at September 15, 2004 06:12 PM

Try here.

Posted by: Michele at September 15, 2004 06:16 PM