News: September 2004 Archives
I didn't hear anything about it in the news, but I'm pretty sure I just saw the Presidential convoy go past me on the southbound 405, heading towards LAX. My brother told me he read that President Bush is in Texas preparing for the debates, but I can't seem to find a website that keeps track of the President's location. I also can't think of anyone else who could get the 405 shut down and travels with a half-dozen SUVs, a dozen motorcycles, an ambulance, and a helicopter. However, I didn't notice the Presidential flag on any of the vehicles. So maybe it was someone else? But who?
Apparently Google has refused to run ads on PrestoPundit, a fellow Bear-Flagger, due to "sensitive content". Fortunately, Greg Ransom says he makes plenty of money from his "readers and they continue to generously donate enough to pay for most of my bandwidth. And book sales cover the rest." He thinks it's related to his coverage of Rathergate, but who knows?
If a blog actually turns a profit then there doesn't seem to be much to complain about. I'd be frustrated too if I was blackballed by anyone, but I'd rather get contributions from readers than sell ads. Still, Blogads is a nifty service and well worth it, for me and for my advertisers.
Update:
After the story appeared here on Master of None Google quickly reversed their position and unblackballed PrestoPundit.
I'm sure many other blogs are all over the forged memo story, from every angle, but let me just briefly point out Dan Rather's delusional meglomania and blatant partisanship.
"I know that I didn't type them," Knox said of the Killian memos. "However, the information in there is correct," she said, adding that Killian and the other officers would "snicker about what [Bush] was getting away with."So... he's relieved that the memos line up with the recollections of an 86-year-old former secretary, but why would this be relevant at all if the memos are forgeries? Anyone can write up anything that agrees with any position, but so what? But Mr. Rather is trying to imply that it matters, regardless of the documents' authenticity. Further, in case Mr. Rather hadn't noticed, the public has already learned of the forgery, in spite of him.Rather said he was "relieved and pleased" by Knox's comments that the disputed memos reflected Killian's view of the favorable treatment that Bush received in the military unit. But he said, "I take very seriously her belief that the documents are not authentic." If Knox is right, Rather said, the public "won't hear about it from a spokesman. They'll learn it from me."
"If the documents are not what we were led to believe, I'd like to break that story," Rather said in an interview last night. "Any time I'm wrong, I want to be right out front and say, 'Folks, this is what went wrong and how it went wrong.' "Yeah uh, you're about a week late on this scoop I'm afraid. You should check out this new-fangled internet thingy, it's pretty neat.
CBS Hires New Anchorman
I don't really have a lot to add to the forged memo controversy, but it looks like CBS and Dan Rather are determined to go down in flames.
A half hour ago, Dan Rather went on CNN and said that he knows the Jerry Killian documents to be authentic, and knows that they are not forgeries. Therefore, he said, there will be no retraction, no correction, and -- apparently -- no investigation. The text of the interview is not yet available on CNN's site, but we'll link to it when it becomes available. ...The mainstream media thinks it's an invulnerable Death Star, but how many more proton torpedos can they take up the exhaust port?This would appear to signal the end of Rather's career. If the documents are ultimately accepted as forgeries, which seems inevitable to us, he can't survive. My guess: Rather knows that he will be retiring soon in any event, so as his last public contribution, he is doing whatever he can to elect John Kerry.
Some related quotes (just replace "battle station" and "Death Star" with "news report" and cast Dan Rather as Tarkin, the media as the Empire, and so forth):
General Tagge : What of the Rebellion? If the Rebels have obtained a complete technical reading of this station, it is possible, however unlikely, they might find a weakness and exploit it.
Darth Vader : The plans you refer to will soon be back in our hands.
Admiral Motti : Any attack made by the Rebels against this station would be a useless gesture, no matter what technical data they have obtained. This station is now the ultimate power in the universe. I suggest we use it.
Governor Tarkin : The Imperial Senate will no longer be of any concern to us. I have just received word that the Emperor has dissolved the council permanently. The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away.
General Tagge : But that's impossible. How will the Emperor maintain control without the bureaucracy?
Governor Tarkin : The regional governors now have direct control over their territories. Fear will keep the local systems in line. Fear of this battle station.
Commander #1 : We've analyzed their attack, sir, and there is a danger. Should I have your ship standing by?
Governor Tarkin : Evacuate? In our moment of triumph? I think you overestimate their chances.
