The downside of the Burkett memos - for Bush

[JPJones]

The heart of journalism is that only 'news' is reported. It goes back to the old 'Dog bites man isn't news' idea. The Republicans are really pretty skilled at coming up with 'Man bites dog' stories (i.e. Swiftboat Vets, total lies, but they still got the story on the news).

Now, there is a feeding frenzy, with all the outrage, the 'I'm shocked, shocked' responses. Yet, all the while, the story is still TANG, TANG, TANG ringing out over the airwaves.

So, any other documents or analysis of B*'s TANG service that come to light before November will automatically be legitimate news. The problem for Rove is that the material in the documents was a pretty good reflection of reality. No one has denied that yet.

Although Rove thinks this is victory, in a week or two, I predict that the stories are going to be about 'gaps in service' and 'did not fulfill obligations'.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. The Media will not let that out of the bag.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. in another era maybe

gthe press is dead, the press is dead, the press is dead

Got it

[molly]

3. Why are they focusing on the documents and not the issue?

that's always bothered me.

[Blue_Roses]

5. because the documents create doubt

and with doubt there is no story. Period.

[molly]

9. Swiftboat liars?

[Blue_Roses]

10. exactly and who do we know that was behind that

:freak: hmmm...Rove comes to mind.

[Blue_Roses]

4. Yeah, I'm thinking Rove said:

"we need a way to put this AWOL story to bed once and for all. Don't need any doubters this close to Nov 2."

[Texas_Dem]

6. There are a FEW reporters

out there who are doubling their efforts digging into shrubs TANG service (or lack thereof) where they probably would not done so if the memo issue had not gotten the attention lately.

I don't not exactly what they have found but they are working hard for sure.

[MISSDem]

7. I read somewhere over the weekend that there is a theory

that Karl Rove, et al, were responsible for "planting" the intentionally fake documents with CBS. This makes sense, get it out there but start out with folks thinking its a lie. Its the truth even if the docs are fake; even the secretary says that the data in the documents reflects the officer's feelings.

[Chef]

8. Media

What will keep this alive is the media's introspective masturbation. When the NY Time scandal broke, the airways were filled with panels of learned journalists wringing their hands about the current state of their craft. Way beyond the issue's importance. They love nothing better than a story about themselves.