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September 21, 2004

Rathergate Developments: Day 14

AllahPundit brings me up to speed with all the good stuff-- including yet another pajama-patrol scoop, this time Wizbang figuring out that Burkett was claiming that George O. Conn passed him the documents.

That is, before he made up the name Lucy in Disguise with Times New Roman.

Meanwhile, Jonah Goldberg addresses a point I had wanted to address myself.

Think about it: Dan Rather ran this story on Bill Burkett's claim that George O. Conn provided him with the documents, but without actually ever confirming that with George O. Conn himself-- who is quite alive, even if he doesn't seem to want to come to the phone.

So-- a man with a history of nervous breakdowns and depression and who has a longstanding political and personal grudge against George W. Bush claims that another man passed him the docs, and CBS takes the word of the first man, ignoring the fact that the second man will not confirm Burkett's claims.

These are Dan Rather's self-styled "unimpeachable sources" -- a man of shaky credibility and mental health and another man who will not even talk to CBS? Unimpeachable sources?

As Inigo Montonya said: "You should stop using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

posted by Ace at 01:27 PM

Comments

Eff'n TNT. He got the docs from an anonymous guy at a livestock show in Houston. And then he burned the originals in the Kinkos parking lot. Never hooked up with Lucy. Sez he. Bring on the calliope! Lucy in the sky with documents . . .

Posted by: dano on September 21, 2004 01:40 PM

Is that from the Princess Bride?

Posted by: Scout on September 21, 2004 02:51 PM

An Inigo Montoya quote! So true as applied to Rathergate. It is "Inconceivable!" that Rather ran this story based on these "unimpeachable sources", but when your blinders are aimed directly at the DNC and Kerry's campaign, it is quite easy to see how Rather could give the green light. Old Dan just didn't (and obviously still doesn't) get the fact that the days of throwing out this garbage and passing it as news are done and done.

Westley, in the same movie, said, "We are men of action, lies do not become us". Too bad Rather is not taking the Dread Pirate Roberts' advice to heart, even at DAY 14 of Rathergate.

Posted by: 27unsuited on September 21, 2004 02:57 PM

Actually, Inigo Montoya said, "You keep using that word," not "You should stop using that word."

Posted by: Brian B on September 21, 2004 03:01 PM

Inconceivable!

Posted by: JohnL on September 21, 2004 03:02 PM

Burkett is obviously not all there so he might have missed the one of the bigger rodeos in the US, what with it being held on the same grounds as the 'Livestock Show'. And may I just say as a former Houstonian: "Mardi Gras my ass!" Sorry, I'm a little sensitive about this. F'n yankee NYT! Always trying to make the hicks look bad.

/rant

Posted by: Brett on September 21, 2004 03:08 PM

EARLY NO-BRAINER PREDICTION:

In order to ensure fairness and accuracy, the "independent commission" on the CBS affair will consist of:

1. Ben Bradlee
2. Walter Cronkite
3. former President Clinton
4. Paul Begala
5. Barbara Walters
6. David Broder
7. Dan Rather

Posted by: rdbrewer on September 21, 2004 03:10 PM

rdbrewer:

I think Mr. Burkett may insist that Agent Mulder be on the panel as well.

Posted by: Brett on September 21, 2004 04:36 PM

As I understand it, the originals weren't folded (the creases would have shown up in the examination); there were at least six of them as well as an envelope; since they weren't folded, the envelope most likely would have been a manila envelope big enough to enclose six 8 by 11 inch pieces of paper. According to Burkett, he burned these in the parking lot at Kinko's to destroy any possible forensic evidence. Quite a little fire, I'd think. In Burkett's case, I'd have been tempted to take them back to my ranch (20 miles away) and burn them there. (Is there any reader of this site who'd care to take a similar amount of paper with him to a store's parking lot in the early evening and burn them? I'd be interested to see how much attention he receives from employees, customers, and the occasional policeman.)

Posted by: Kenneth Burke on September 22, 2004 05:33 AM

Does anyone know where the Texas AIR & ARMY posts are? If they aren't anywhere near each other, how would Burkett (ARMY) have any knowledge of what Bush (AIR) was doing while in the Guard?

Inquiring minds would like to know.
LL

Posted by: LouisianaLighntning on September 22, 2004 02:25 PM

Does anyone know where the Texas AIR & ARMY posts are? If they aren't anywhere near each other, how would Burkett (ARMY) have any knowledge of what Bush (AIR) was doing while in the Guard?

Inquiring minds would like to know.
LL

Posted by: LouisianaLightning on September 22, 2004 02:25 PM