Dan Rathergate

While I was gone, Dan Rather announced his retirement from the Evening News. However, we're still waiting for the report on his use of forged documents. Just before I left, I filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Texas Air National Guard seeking to verify General Hodges' statement that in 1967 the TANG was advertising for pilots. I should know in a few weeks if they can document the claim. If so, the whole house of cards collapses. Like Holmes' dog that did not bark, there is no witness who claimed he lost his spot in the TANG to George W. Bush due to the use of political influence. It seems any use of influence was unnecessary as no one else wanted the job! What will Dan and Mary Mapes say then?

On a somewhat related matter, I will admit I was a bit surprised to hear Lowell Bergmann (a former 60 Minutes producer) state that his most important influence was Herbert Marcuse during his The Insider lecture tour. If my memory serves, Mr. Marcuse was a noted Communist philosopher! Maybe 60 Minutes really is a hotbed of very leftist sympathizers.