Gravitymaster 0 #1 November 24, 2004 Dan's fall is Nixonian Rather's smearing of his critics was even worse than the bogus hit on W To the end, Gunga Dan liked to play the part of the crusading journalist, a regular reporter just digging up the facts. That was his TV persona. In real life, his hubris made him more like Richard Nixon than Walter Cronkite. And like Nixon, the coverup was his downfall. The CBS announcement that Dan Rather will give up his anchor chair in March made zero mention of Rathergate, the big-time blunder in which he used fake documents to charge that President Bush got favored treatment in the National Guard 30 years ago. I guess we're supposed to believe it was mere coincidence that Rather is packing even before the network's probe is released. Or we're supposed to believe that, as Rather claimed, he and his bosses had been discussing his retirement over the summer. Whatever. The fact-fudging was perfectly consistent with the dishonest way CBS handled the story from Day One. First it lied by saying the documents it used on the tainted Sept. 8 broadcast had been authenticated by experts. In fact, three of the four experts said they warned the network they could not be certain all the documents were real. Still, CBS dug in its heels, making the ridiculous claim that even if the documents were bogus, the gist of the story was true. It introduced a shocking new journalism standard - a "preponderance of the evidence" to justify going with the National Guard story. Bad as all that was, Rather managed to make it worse. He went on the offensive against bloggers and others raising questions, smearing them with sweeping charges of partisanship. "I don't cave when the pressure gets too great from these partisan political ideological forces," he told The Washington Post. He told The Wall Street Journal that doubters attacked the documents "because they can't deny the fundamental truths of the analysis." It was rancid hypocrisy, given that it was Rather who, in the eyes of many Americans, had turned CBS into a subsidiary of the Democratic Party. And for such a media bigwig to accuse anyone who doubted him of political bias only fed the eat-the-media frenzy, where every story was being viewed through blue state/red state divisions. It was all so, well, Nixonian: Accuse your critics of partisanship and wrap yourself in the flag. A younger Rather had a famous run-in with Nixon, but apparently he learned something from the disgraced President. Tricky Dick became Tricky Dan. Indeed, when the public outcry forced CBS to retract the Bush story nearly two weeks after it ran, the network said only that it could not authenticate the documents. It has never admitted they were fake. Ever since it gave the probe into what went wrong to two independent executives, the network has gone silent on the subject. Having outsourced its ethics and all responsibility for accountability, Rather & Co. pretended it was business as usual during the final six weeks of the campaign. In one sense, it was. Even as the network planned an election-eve hit on Bush's management of the war in Iraq, its ratings continued to fall. Mired in a distant third place in a three-network race, it was sometimes outdrawn by Fox cable. Maybe that embarrassment prompted the knock on Dan's door. After all, TV news is a big business, and Rather was proving no better at that than he was at gathering the facts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 15 #2 November 24, 2004 Got a link?Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gravitymaster 0 #3 November 24, 2004 http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/ent_radio/story/255889p-218967c.html Is kinda ironic isn't it? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 3 #4 November 24, 2004 I think the word you're looking for is "moronic." I can't for the life of me figure out why this is getting so much press and speculation that Rather was "ousted". Rather had made it fairly clear months ago, before the document incident, that he'd be leaving after the elections where over.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 15 #5 November 24, 2004 I think what everyone is talking about is that he's doing it before the investigation is done. Doing now instead of in March or April.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheAnvil 0 #6 November 24, 2004 I think it's a shame Rather turned into such a left wing nut, because it's hard to debate that throughout his career he DID produced some damned fine journalism - when it wasn't slanted to the left at a 85 degree angle. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #7 November 24, 2004 QuoteI think it's a shame Rather turned into such a left wing nut, because it's hard to debate that throughout his career he DID produced some damned fine journalism - when it wasn't slanted to the left at a 85 degree angle. Agreed - it is sad to see such a figure head in journalism leave on such a sour note. But this whole thing feels like a witch hunt. However, it makes you wonder just what he saw that made him change his approach._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 1,623 #8 November 24, 2004 A Greek tragedy, maybe, Nixonian, no. Not evil enough.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gravitymaster 0 #9 November 24, 2004 QuoteA Greek tragedy, maybe, Nixonian, no. Not evil enough. Too bad you fail to see the similarities. It is very ironic. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 3 #10 November 24, 2004 Quote Too bad you fail to see the similarities. It is very ironic. I see more relevant similarities between Vietnam and Iraq than Nixon and Rather, but to each his own I guess.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gravitymaster 0 #11 November 24, 2004 QuoteQuote Too bad you fail to see the similarities. It is very ironic. I see more relevant similarities between Vietnam and Iraq than Nixon and Rather, but to each his own I guess. Except Vietnam and Iraq aren't what this thread is about. It's about the similarities between Nixon and Rathers resignation. But thanks for your insight. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 3 #12 November 24, 2004 Quote Except Vietnam and Iraq aren't what this thread is about. Are you sure? 'Cause, like, I'm seeing where it's all related to the same thing.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gravitymaster 0 #13 November 24, 2004 QuoteQuote Except Vietnam and Iraq aren't what this thread is about. Are you sure? 'Cause, like, I'm seeing where it's all related to the same thing. Then put down the bottle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 1,623 #14 November 24, 2004 QuoteQuoteA Greek tragedy, maybe, Nixonian, no. Not evil enough. Too bad you fail to see the similarities. It is very ironic. You are right, I don't. Nixon presided over a corrupt White House. He sanctioned the illegal activities of the "plumbers", and abuse of power by the IRS and FBI against his enemies. The "Nixon tapes", in the National Archives, reveal a basically amoral and evil man. Rather showed poor judgment and inattention to detail in believing his sources. I don't believe anyone has accused Rather of lawbreaking.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gravitymaster 0 #15 November 24, 2004 QuoteQuoteQuoteA Greek tragedy, maybe, Nixonian, no. Not evil enough. Too bad you fail to see the similarities. It is very ironic. You are right, I don't. Nixon presided over a corrupt White House. He sanctioned the illegal activities of the "plumbers", and abuse of power by the IRS and FBI against his enemies. The "Nixon tapes", in the National Archives, reveal a basically amoral and evil man. Rather showed poor judgment and inattention to detail in believing his sources. I don't believe anyone has accused Rather of lawbreaking. As I said, you don't see the similarities, only the differences. Too bad. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 1,623 #16 November 24, 2004 QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteA Greek tragedy, maybe, Nixonian, no. Not evil enough. Too bad you fail to see the similarities. It is very ironic. You are right, I don't. Nixon presided over a corrupt White House. He sanctioned the illegal activities of the "plumbers", and abuse of power by the IRS and FBI against his enemies. The "Nixon tapes", in the National Archives, reveal a basically amoral and evil man. Rather showed poor judgment and inattention to detail in believing his sources. I don't believe anyone has accused Rather of lawbreaking. As I said, you don't see the similarities, only the differences. Too bad. If you want a metaphor, I'd say that Nixon's downfall was Macbethian and Rather's was Othello-ian. The similarity was the downfall, but the differences were much more important. After all, a man has many similarities to a woman, but the differences are what spark our interest.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimbo 0 #17 November 25, 2004 QuoteRather had made it fairly clear months ago, before the document incident, that he'd be leaving after the elections where over. Got a link? - Jim"Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tunaplanet 0 #18 November 25, 2004 Rather is a biased piece of shit who got caught airing documents he knew was forged in an attempt to make Bush lose the election. Everything he's ever reported should and is in question in regards to legitimacy. Forty-two Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gravitymaster 0 #19 November 25, 2004 QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteA Greek tragedy, maybe, Nixonian, no. Not evil enough. Too bad you fail to see the similarities. It is very ironic. You are right, I don't. Nixon presided over a corrupt White House. He sanctioned the illegal activities of the "plumbers", and abuse of power by the IRS and FBI against his enemies. The "Nixon tapes", in the National Archives, reveal a basically amoral and evil man. Rather showed poor judgment and inattention to detail in believing his sources. I don't believe anyone has accused Rather of lawbreaking. As I said, you don't see the similarities, only the differences. Too bad. If you want a metaphor, I'd say that Nixon's downfall was Macbethian and Rather's was Othello-ian. The similarity was the downfall, but the differences were much more important. After all, a man has many similarities to a woman, but the differences are what spark our interest. But the essence of a long term, exciting relationship is finding someone with whom we share many similarities such as values and morals. So are you saying you'd be happy in a long term relationship with a woman who didn't graduate high school or who would rather go to a wrestling match than a museum? Saya alot about your choice in women. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 1,623 #20 November 25, 2004 QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteA Greek tragedy, maybe, Nixonian, no. Not evil enough. Too bad you fail to see the similarities. It is very ironic. You are right, I don't. Nixon presided over a corrupt White House. He sanctioned the illegal activities of the "plumbers", and abuse of power by the IRS and FBI against his enemies. The "Nixon tapes", in the National Archives, reveal a basically amoral and evil man. Rather showed poor judgment and inattention to detail in believing his sources. I don't believe anyone has accused Rather of lawbreaking. As I said, you don't see the similarities, only the differences. Too bad. If you want a metaphor, I'd say that Nixon's downfall was Macbethian and Rather's was Othello-ian. The similarity was the downfall, but the differences were much more important. After all, a man has many similarities to a woman, but the differences are what spark our interest. But the essence of a long term, exciting relationship is finding someone with whom we share many similarities such as values and morals. So are you saying you'd be happy in a long term relationship with a woman who didn't graduate high school or who would rather go to a wrestling match than a museum? Saya alot about your choice in women. Good - so you don't disagree that Nixon's evil was like Macbeth's, whereas Rather's misplaced trust was like Othello's. And I like my women to be female rather than male; your mileage may vary... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gravitymaster 0 #21 November 25, 2004 QuoteGood - so you don't disagree that Nixon's evil was like Macbeth's, whereas Rather's misplaced trust was like Othello's. And I like my women to be female rather than male; your mileage may vary Nixon and Rather, similarly tried to change the outcome of an election, both tried to cover up what they did, and both were forced to resign. Hey, if you want to date low IQ women who enjoy wrestling, have at it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
174fps 1 #22 November 29, 2004 What Fall?, the guy is 72 yrs old. seven years after most people retire. The Bush story was on "60 minutes" he will continue to work for "60 minutes" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
