WORRIED THE CBS MEMO STORY WILL FADE OUT? NOT YET
KERRYSPOT
Some readers have e-mailed in, expressing fears that the memo story will die out in a little while in the face of CBS' stonewall. So far, that isn't happening, and other mainstream media sources continue to press the network on what the deal is with these documents.
William Safire brings up the topic on the New York Times' op-ed page. He doesn't mince words:
To shut up sources and impugn the motives of serious critics - from opinionated bloggers to straight journalists - demeans the Murrow tradition. Nor is any angry demand that others prove them wrong acceptable, especially when no original documents are available to prove anything.
Years ago, Kurdish friends slipped me amateur film taken of Saddam's poison-gas attack that killed thousands in Halabja. I gave it to Dan Rather, who trusted my word on sources. Despite objections from queasy colleagues, he put it on the air.
Hey, Dan: On this, recognize the preponderance of doubt. Call for a panel of old CBS hands and independent editors to re-examine sources and papers. Courage.
USA Today reports, "Two retired FBI forensic document examiners who studied the memos at USA TODAY's request said Sunday that they probably are forgeries. Four other authorities interviewed by USA TODAY, including typewriter and type font experts, said the technology existed at the time to create the documents. None of the experts consulted offered an unequivocal opinion."
John Fund writes on OpinionJournal.com, "A defensive Dan Rather went on the air Friday to complain of what he called a "counterattack" from "partisan political operatives." In reality, traditional journalism now has a new set of watchdogs in the "blogosphere." In the words of blogger Mickey Kaus, they can trade information and publicize it "fast enough to have real-world consequences." Sure, blogs can be transmission belts for errors, vicious gossip and last-minute disinformation efforts. But they can also correct themselves almost instantaneously — in sharp contrast with CBS's stonewalling."
HOW IS KERRY GOING TO PAY FOR THIS AGAIN?
Today the AP reports, "Kerry also outlined a $5 billion, 10-year anti-crime agenda, paid for by a routine extension of customs fees already included in numerous pending bills."
Bush campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt is pointing out, "Kerry already spent the extension of customs user fees in his August 3, 2004 budget document. That budget document did not contain any itemization for a $5 billion anti-crime initiative. In addition, there are currently 16 bills in the 108th Congress that have already spent the money available from customs user fees – including two that have already passed both the House and the Senate. Kerry’s proposal today adds to his list of 133 campaign promises that he has yet to pay for."
I'm sure there's some good idea that Kerry will announce after his inauguration. Like, you know, having the United States marry Luxembourg for their money. |
