CBS Holds Top Execs Responsible
On Tuesday, CBS News fired four employees, including three executives, for erroneously pushing a story about George W. Bush's National Guard service, which as it turned out later, relied on faulty evidence that was poorly vetted and, perhaps, politically motivated. A further consequence of the network's blunder was that reporter Dan Rather, whose credibility was damaged by the story, decided to take an early retirement in March.
Reaction to the firings were mixed: White House spokesman Scott McClellan voiced the administration's appreciation for CBS's dismissals: "We felt all along that it was important for CBS to get to the bottom of this. CBS has taken steps to hold people accountable, and we appreciate those steps. We also hope that CBS will take steps to prevent something like this from happening again," McClellan said. Conservative pundit Rush Limbaugh echoed the conservative sentiment nationally that the network "had an axe to grind" with President Bush.
In other news: George W. Bush has retained virtually all his foreign affairs Cabinet members, despite erroneously pushing a war in Iraq, which as it turned out later, relied on faulty evidence that was poorly vetted and, perhaps, politically motivated. Further consequences of the administration's blunders in Iraq (e.g., human rights violations, flawed WMD assessments, and horrendous post-war planning) were that Bush will be inaugerated to his second term in office next Thursday, Condeelaza Rice stands for promotion, and George Tenet was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Reactions to the commendations are mixed.
posted by Rudy Law at 1/13/2005 05:51:00 PM
8 Comments:
It all stems from the election of Bush for his first term a couple of months back. The American people are not too bright if they elected this guy after all the lies he has told, Rocky included. But when your administration's foundation is a lie(i.e. Al Gore won the election in 2000) what can you expect. The good thing is fool them once don't fool me twice again fool uuuhhhh. What scares me is I bet Balboa is a gung ho Iraq war guy. Its a just war, they have WMDs, or an evil dictator or they were involved in 9-11 or we need to free the people of Whatever the reasons is for being there. Just let W. fool twice again uh shame on me. You seriously have to be blind and stupid to vote for this guy, he is clearly against the ideals of America.
Yea- they screwed up on the WMD thing. No doubt.
#They never should have taken out the beloved leader of the Iraqi people. And just look at all the terrible treatment of these fine people by our troops. They treated prisoners just like they might be terrorists or something. The beloved Saddam would never have treated Iraqis like that. Why, I bet those mass graves were filled by some CIA operation. Saddam should be allowed to participate in the elections. Maybe he can get his job back. You libs would like that.#- (sarcasm)
You forgot to bitch about all the money being spent on the inauguration guys. When can I see that piece?
Again I say that Gore lost in 2000. He got less electoral votes. It happens. Get over it!
I also will re-state that I'm not Bush's biggest fan. I don't agree with everything he has done, nor do I think he has been a great President. I just happen to think both Gore and Kerry would have been disastrous alternatives. More taxes, more government spending and programs (Bush isn't too good on this one either), more activist liberal judges, more French ass kissing.
In closing- I fear for the '08 election. Once again there will be no Republican that I feel really good about and a bunch of Democrats that I will actively dislike. Maybe you guys feel similarly in that you won't be thrilled by your party's candidates and will hate the Republican candidates? In that, we are in a similar situation. Or are you guys Hillary fans?
I must compliment Balboa on his ability to take cheap shots thrown by me. Its in good fun my friend, many times, I like to get people fired up and the folks at 2GL appreciate your insight, although many times misguided. As for Saddam, sure he sucks, his eternity in hell will be justice to all his victims. That has never been an issue, the issue is what consequences will the USA suffer due to the Bush Administration's debacle in foreign policy. That is what concerns me. Maybe we will not see the total consequences for a year or a decade, but I believe the Bush doctrine of unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation erroneously will make the fight against Muslim fundamentalists more difficult. We will end up losing more troops than necessary. Whatever you believe about the true nature of the United State's reason for invading Iraq, the Muslim world believes it was done out of greed for oil and possibly world domination. I know, as well as you Rock, that the USA has no interest in world domination, we are not a country of that sort. This does not mean that the Muslim world understands this. They are ignorant of our culture, as we are of theirs. They are fearful, to a certain extent, that their way of life will be changed. I fear that the credibility of the USA is so badly tarnished in the world that anything we do in the near future will be that much more difficult. I think you would agree with me, Rock, that Bush very much has a eff em attitude. I think you would also agree that Clinton's strongest quality was his understanding that credibility in foreign policy is the single most important thing. Without credibility, without other countries being able to trust our government, we make things very difficult for us. That is why Iraq is such an enormous mistake. It has nothing to do with Saddam, its all about the additional cost of life and resources that we are now forced to endure. This is not me politicizing Iraq for my party either, its the truth of the matter and we can argue all day, but in the end, I am certain that I am right. We made huge mistakes and we will certainly pay for them with the blood of our young men and women.
Muslim fundamentalists do hate us. Only a fool would argue that. I would posit that they hated us before Bush was even nominated. I don't think you can argue that. Has this war made them hate us even more? No doubt. But how do the rank and file Iraqi citizens feel? My nephew is stationed in Fallujah. He has befriended many people and most are genuinely excited at the prospect of electing their own democratic government. Will it be dangerous to go vote on that day? Very likely. The average citizen is not cowed by the threat of violence though. Of the millions registered to vote, over 2/3 intend to be at the polls on election day. We never have a turnout anywhere near that here in the US. A free Iraq will be disastrous for the fundamentalists and a good thing for the rest of the area and world. We'll have to wait and see, but I believe the long term results will be VERY POSITIVE. With Arafat the terrorist dead, we might even see real peace on the horizon. Let us hope so!
Wait and see, I believe, we might see, these are all terms used in your last comment that attempts to argue that Bush's Middle East policy is prudent. I HOPE you are right, I just choose to leave things to great chance when I am in Vegas or betting on the NFC Championship game next week. Your President, and I guess you as well, like gambling with American and Iraqi lives. But don't worry, even if Bush is wrong, you will support him and he will hide the real truth to the people. Even if he is wrong, and every fact thus far points that he will be(i.e. No WMDs, the Iraqis will greet us as liberators, we only need small numbers of troops, because the Iraqis will start their own govt)the people will vote on emotion and not fact. And that my friend is too bad......
I truly do believe it is best for the world to drag that area into the 21st century. They need to stop treating their women worse than they do their livestock. They need to be SHOWN that we are not there to conquer them or take their oil. Most of the men and women in our armed forces are good people who will work hard to improve the lives of those who live there. They are good will ambassadors for the US. They won't turn the hearts of whacky terrorists, but will do well with the average Iraqi citizen. I know my nephew has made a few friends there. He'll keep me up on the truth of what is going on over there. I don't need to take Bush's word for it. I know many other guys in the service who know the real skinny on things. You'll be sad to know that they back our President. They don't see their mission over there as futile or a lost cause. They have rebuilt schools, power plants, hospitals, roads, bridges and much more. The average citizen loves what we have done for them. Much goodwill has been created. CBS news won't show you that picture, will they? Car bombs make for a much more exciting story. Why can't they show some of the good we have done?
No WMD's huh. Well, that might be a bad thing, but they might have been moved to Syria or Iran. I'm not saying that's the case, but it is a possibility. We know he had some at one time. That is an undisputed fact. Iraqis thinking we are there as conquerors or to steal the oil? None of the troops I have talked to hear that in Iraq. They hear it from liberals like you guys when they come home. I guess it's just fundamentalist terrorists and US liberals who believe that! Now you know why many military people don't like you liberals. When does Haliburton get to start shipping their stolen oil anyway?
I feel bad about EVERY lost life, both Iraqi and American (or whatever nationality). I'm not so dumb that I think everything is hunky-dorey over there. We must win this though. We can't let fanatics win the day. If they do, none of us will live in peace ever again. Not even with a Democrat as President.
I find it funny that Republicans, who are typically self interested when voting on domestic policy, argue that we, America, should be spreading democracy to the middle east. Wow, how Republicans are looking to have big government solve the ills of the world when it works better for their argument.
Spreading democracy in the world is ALWAYS something I'll support. Equal rights for women isn't something you democrats should support ONLY in the west either.
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