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September 15, 2004

CBS's "Principal Source": TANG Pay Records Conclusively Prove Service

Yeahp. I don't put a lot of stock in Mr. Bill Burkett, but I do think he's on to something here:

Alluding to the questions raised by Senators Bob Kerrey and Daniel Inouye at a press conference last Thursday, Burkett said, “In answer to Senator Kerrey's comments, finding the answer to this issue is very simple. The Bush campaign staff can simply provide the pay records and detailed retirement points records for Lieutenant Bush. Until that is done, everything else is purely speculation as to when and where George W. Bush was during his obligation period. A unit technician’s personal notes about duty performance is not official. Handwritten and scribbled notations are also not official. The pay records, however, simply specify without a doubt and officially, when Lt. Bush performed ordered duty and that the US Air Force paid him for it.”

Dan Rather has to address this point, I think.

His principal source for this whole story declared that pay records established service -- "without a doubt," he said in 2000.

And now his story has once again shifted.

Let me repeat that:

Dan Rather's principal source for his AWOL story has previously declared that pay records establish, "without a doubt," whether a man served or not.

Bush has provided his pay records.

Funny, isn't it, that what once established service "without a doubt" is now considered rather flimsy evidence, easily rebutted by the "recollections" of committed partisans as well as "the higher truth" contained in forged documents?

posted by Ace at 04:32 PM

Comments

OT -

Completely off topic. But, just saw this link at another site...and, Ace your traffic levels are soaring. I want to make sure the peeps get news of this: http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=5093

Posted by: Johnny Q on September 15, 2004 04:40 PM

Hoping you get an Insta-lanche, followed quickly by an Instalink. If Soros-bitch Willis gets one, why not?

Cordially...

Posted by: Rick on September 15, 2004 04:42 PM

If they're available, could a link to Bush's pay records be posted? I went through the trouble to pick through Kerry's blatantly inflated service evals and awards and I feel obligated to read the pay records for myself.

Posted by: Ryan on September 15, 2004 04:55 PM

From: Patrick Kelly
Sent: Friday, September 10, 2004 4:16 PM
To: 'nmsadvertising@cbs.com'
Cc: 'desk@wtkr.com'; 'GeneralComments@feedback.msnbc.com'; 'frank.chebalo@wtkr.com'
Subject: Advertising and Dan Rather

CBS Advertising,

Please pass on to the CEO and the CBS News Team. I sent the e-mail to you because the CBS website disabled all e-mail functions since this CBS Dan Rather Integrity issue story broke.

I am going to start writing and e-mailing CBS advertisers (including their affiliate advertisers) telling them that I will boycott their products until CBS fires Dan Rather. You would be surprised how easy it is to do with a wireless notebook on you lap during a program.

His integrity has been in question for years because of his left wing bias. Additionally, now he has tarnished the 60 minutes newsmagazine that I have watched since I was a child. I always liked and trusted Mike Wallace and Ed Bradley. Now I will stop watching 60 minutes. CBS should have replaced him with Paula Zahn years ago but lost her to CNN.

The local CBS Affiliate WTKR also loses local viewers who watch WAVY10 because they then just stay tuned to NBC which his more fair minded than Dan Rather. Dan Rather loses a lot of viewers for you.

Blair of the Times came clean, Jack Kelly of USA Today came clean, and now it is time for Dan Rather to come clean and retire.

Partick Kelly

Posted by: Patrick Kelly on September 15, 2004 04:58 PM

isn't the problem that the pay records they can find indicated Bush either didn't pick up his cheques or he wasn't paid?

Posted by: Wannabe on September 15, 2004 05:06 PM

A quibble: At this point, it's just speculation that Burkett is the Rather's "principal source."

It would be much more fair to call Barnes the principal source, and Burkett a suspected source.

Posted by: J Mann on September 15, 2004 05:12 PM

Do the pay stubs qualify someone to get the $10,000 prize from G. Trudeau?

Posted by: on September 15, 2004 05:23 PM

FWIW

The CBS news online comment section was working just a little bit ago. I put in my 2 cents. I borrowed one of your memes, Ace.

"With respect to the forged documents in the Bush/TANG report on 60 Minutes II, I hope CBS will reconsider its strategy. I don't know how you can honestly believe that you will retain credibility after shifting from:

Plan A: "we stand behind the documents and our source"

Plan B: "the documents were phony, but the underlying story is true."

Please step up, issue an apology that is not filled with caveats, and work to rebuild your shattered image. If you refuse, how will a potential CBS viewer ever know if a future story is true, "true" or "based on a true story"

Posted by: David on September 15, 2004 05:24 PM

Having just argued this with a co-worker I was confronted with several articles to the contrary.

http://www.boredguru.com/modules/news/article.php?item_id=575

http://liege.indymedia.org/news/2004/02/1108.php

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4288-2004Sep8.html

I have been able to find no detailed rebuttals to these.

Posted by: Jim Carroll on September 15, 2004 06:20 PM

I was a shop chief in the Guard for some time. Not only is there nothing questionable about Bush' records, but people miss drills all the TIME (excused). One year, I did 9 drill weekends and no annual training. My commander signed off. 9 drills X 4 pay periods (drill days count double) = 36 points, + 15 points for membership = 51 points. 50 points equates to a "valid" year of service. you get less points for retirement, but I had several years of active duty and wasn't worried about it. If you don't plan a career, you wouldn't worry about the points then, either.

I approved a troop to go to inactive status, due to family issues. That allows 15 points acrual as a member of the Guard only, and no promotions or drill pay.

(I guess neither of us better run for office)

Gee, didn't Bush get out as a 1LT and not a Captain?

Maybe because he was inactive for a year?

Nah, he must have pulled favors and lied;-)

Folks, COWARDS and DODGERS got deferments or stayed in school. They didn't volunteer to fly a recon F-102, whose job was to fly over Soviet airspace in event of war, gathering intel on targets in a nuclear environment. Remember the Cold War? That was the BIG one in the 60s, that tied up TEN TIMES as many troops as Vietnam? That we fought from 1948 until the 90s?

Most 60s vets never went to Vietnam. Fact.

And I'd love to see Rather's service record.

Posted by: Mike Williamson on September 15, 2004 08:06 PM

Jim, that first article neglect the fact that many TANG pilots were displaced from getting flight time by the return of more senior pilots from overseas as the Vietnam war was winding down. If you can't get enough flight time to stay certified you have no reason to take a very unpleasant physical for a job you no longer have opportunity to perform.

I'm not even going to look at the Indymedia link. I always feel the need to take an hourlong scald shower after looking at that demented site.

Posted by: Eric Pobirs on September 15, 2004 08:52 PM

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I don't know, I always thought there was a distinction between mere magic rings and the Rings of Power created by Sauron. But this suggests that Bilbo knew this was a ring of power created by Sauron.
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