Well readers, I don’t know what I can add to the ongoing story about the possibly fake documents. Let’s see what Big Media has to say. From the Washington Post (registration req.):
Documents unearthed by CBS News that raise doubts about whether President Bush fulfilled his obligations to the Texas Air National Guard include several features suggesting that they were generated by a computer or word processor rather than a Vietnam War-era typewriter, experts said yesterday.Experts consulted by a range of news organizations pointed out typographical and formatting questions about four documents as they considered the possibility that they were forged. The widow of the National Guard officer whose signature is on the bottom of the documents also disputed their authenticity.
OK. Standard stuff, but the Post can’t resist getting this in:
If demonstrated to be authentic, the documents would contradict several long-standing claims by the White House about an episode in Bush’s National Guard service in 1972, when he abruptly gave up flying and moved from Texas to Alabama to take part in a political campaign. The CBS documents purport to show that Killian, who was Bush’s squadron commander, was unhappy with Bush for his performance toward meeting his National Guard commitments and resisted pressure from his superiors to “sugarcoat” the record. (Emphasis added)
Can’t you just feel them hoping the story is true? Now let’s watch while they do some serious buck-passing and back-pedaling:
After their initial airing on the “CBS Evening News” and “60 Minutes II” programs Wednesday night, the documents were picked up by other news organizations, including The Post. A front-page story in The Post yesterday noted that CBS declined to provide details about the source of the documents, the authenticity of which could not be independently confirmed. (Emphasis added)
You see? They think their collective rear end is covered because they “noted” that CBS wouldn’t tell them anything. This is but one example of the left-leaning media being in cahoots. As long as CBS says something is so, the Post irresponsibly splashes unconfirmed junk on its pages.
I have a suggestion for environmentalist tree-huggers, who must be bored out of their minds with the Kerry campaign. If you’re into saving trees, how about protesting leftist rags like the Post and demand they stop wasting precious trees churning out pernicious pulp that’s not even fit to wrap a smelly pike?
That was fun.
Update: Dan Rather is sticking to his story: the documents are authentic. Does this mean no investigation?
Check out Allahpundit’s keyboard graphic.
Update: Speaking of leftist media, Discriminations notes how the Post does a little spinning. With its own poll!
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I see that Dan Rather was just on CNN saying he stands by his story and though he somewhat hedges by saying that he KNOWS the story is the truth.
“I know this story is the truth.”
“There will be no retraction.”
“When people talk about where we got the story they’re only doing it because they don’t like the story.”
Sorry, I should have been clearer. He hedges on the documents saying he knows the STORY is true.
The Pentagon is also questioning the P.O. Box use… 34567? Majority of military units use actual street addresses and even if a PO Box was used, the likelihood of 34567 is doubted.
Also,
If these documents were not being questioned, the Post would have this story plastered all over the website (as would a lot of other news sources… listed as the main story). A look at the Post site now doesn’t list this topic so prominantly as it was yesterday.
The pentagon should also be questioning the format of the memos. Many things are not acc. to SOP including the date format, the letterhead, and punctuation used in the names of units and ranks.
I just noticed this, having a military doc on the table in front of is that what is missing in all of these docs is the format/file codes at the bottom….
hmm. If these are real, IF, mind you, then someone must have recopied them PROPERLY before filing them elsewhere and submitted these drafts for Killian’s personal file, but then why would they be signed?
Arrgh. I’ll leave it to the experts.
PO Box 34567? Anybody else find this a bit odd?
I’m with you catgirl. I was noticing the jargon, writing style and other anomolies (having been in the military myself). The rank is WRONG for both the President and the LT COL. Good catch on the date:-) also.
Oh yeah since Haloscan and La Shawn’s new site don’t get along as far as track backs are concerned, here’s the link to my own two cents on this mess.
It’s not just the superscripts and proportional space fonts. It’s the kerning. They way letters are “tucked” into each other, that typewriters never did.
A visual example is here.
It astounds me that CBS insists on sticking by its story, as do man left wing blogs.
I’ve got an addition to this on my blog, La Shawn.
Cheers,
Neil
From Rather’s point of view, he’s in a no-win situation. If he accepts that it’s false, as it so obviously is, it makes him look like a fool for not investigating closer. Or worse, like he is somehow responsible. If he continues to insist it’s true, which it so obviously isn’t, he will eventually be made to look like a fool when it’s shown to be bogus. Once again, a liberal is stuck between telling the truth or defending a lie. Is it any wonder they think everyone else is always lying?
The “Y” is wrong. This is a forgery done on a computer.
Idiots cant even get this right. Kerry fall on your sword, this is going to fire a lot of people up and make em mad.
Rather… just go quietly into the retirement sunset…you really messed up good this time.
FYI – The military date in the memo is also suspect. “Back then” they used only 2 digits for the year. It was not until 2000 that it became prevalent to use 4 digits.
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