posted June 22, 2006 12:20 AM              

The Power and the Pay off

By Greg Palast
6-21-6

They finally put Dan Rather out of his misery.

Today, CBS finally terminated him and sent him to the electronic glue factory -- all for reporting the truth. But not all of it.

Rather's "unsubstantiated story of Bush's military service" (says USA Today) got him canned.

Yet, all the poor man did was repeat a story we put on BBC Television a year earlier --

-- that Poppy Bush put in the fix to get his son out of 'Nam and into the Texas Air Guard, spending his war years guarding Houston from Viet Cong attack.

But Dan never reported this: the documentation from inside the US Department of Justice detailing the fix.

Why not?

Because it opened up a far more serious charge: that those who kept Little George out of war's way ended up very well rewarded.

We ran that full story from the evidence of the fix to the evidence of the lucrative pay-backs -- on the world's biggest network, BBC, and we've never retracted a comma of it.

Nor, by the way, has the White House denied our accusations despite our repeated offers to respond.

George's slithering out of combat turned into big pay-days for those in on the fix and its cover-up?

Harriett Miers (remember her?),
Karen Hughes
and Texas lobbyists.

For the complete story, read, "The Necklace-ing of Dan Rather" in Armed Madhouse. See below for a piece of the puzzle.

The Necklace-ing of Dan Rather

[Excerpted from Armed Madhouse, the new book by Greg Palast]

You aren't stupid, they just talk to you that way.

It's 2004.

Falluja's on fire, your pension's burning away, the last General Motors worker is turning out the lights in Detroit-and the biggest issue of the election, aside from Christians who don't want homosexuals to have families, was whether some elderly news celebrity, Dan Rather, had besmirched the reputation of our President, a former Naval Aviator.

They can't get you to ignore that man behind the curtain, Dorothy, unless there's a fascinating show on stage to distract you.

And, for the final days of the presidential campaign, they gave us the lynching of Dan Rather.

We know George Bush was a Naval Aviator because it says so right on his toy box.

Actually, he never was a Naval Aviator and never once landed a plane on the deck of an aircraft carrier.

During the Vietnam War, our future President flew in the Texas Air National Guard protecting Houston from Viet Cong attack. Our President obtained that job the same way he got the current one: The fix was in.

Congressman Poppy Bush, said Rather, put in the fix for his son, despite Junior's too-dumb-to-fly test scores, by putting in a call to the head of the Texas Air Guard via Texas Lt. Governor Ben Barnes.

That's what Dan Rather reported on 60 Minutes, that Bush Jr. got the Texas top gun post, and thereby dodged the draft and the bullets of Vietnam.

It was a hell of a scoop...

....and his network rewarded him and his producer, Mary Mapes, by firing their sorry a$$ES.

That wasn't enough.

The president of CBS, Leslie Moonves, bullwhipped his network's stars and, with his own spit, polished the soiled war record of our President, declaring that Rather's producer: ...ignored information that cast doubt on the story she had set out to report-that President Bush had received special treatment thirty years ago, getting to the Guard ahead of many other applicants.

Really?

Well, Mr. Moonves, look at this evidence:

"His [George W. Bush's] dad called then Lt. Gov. Barnes to ask for his help to get his son not just in the Guard, but to get one of the coveted pilot slots which were extremely hard to get.

[Barnes, through a "cut-out," a third party,] contacted General Rose at the Guard and took care of it.

George Bush was placed ahead of thousands of young men, some of whom died in Vietnam."

This is from a letter which had remained locked for years in the file cabinets of the U.S. Justice Department prosecutor in Austin, Texas.

How I got it does not matter. Our War President has not challenged authenticity.

And its contents, Mr. Moonves, were confirmed by the "cut-out" himself, the man who made the call to the Texas Air Guard for young George.

(Would the cut-out, a major figure in the Lone Star State, allow BBC to film his statement? He said, "Do I look like the dumbest Texan on the prairie?")

But you knew that, if you're not American.

At the Guardian and on BBC we also reported, before the presidential election, that Lt. Governor Barnes had put in the fix for George Jr. at the Air Guard. We reported that in 1999, before Bush's first run for office.

Justice for Miers

But there's much, much more to the story than Rather had cojones to report.

Barnes had two tasks - one, to get little George into the Air Guard and the other was to shut up about it. Keep it quiet.

Barnes's good deeds and long silence were, indeed, well rewarded.

Barnes, who left office under a cloud of impropriety, stayed on in Austin as a big-fee lobbyist.

And the biggest fee he received, maybe the biggest ever in the history of the lobbying art.....was at least $23 million for representing a company called GTech when it got the contract to operate the Texas lottery.

GTech's creepy ways of doing business caught up with it in 1997, when, after questionable payments to the Texas lottery director's boyfriend were exposed, GTech lost its contract by order of the new, uncorrupted, lottery director. The lottery work was put up for bid and GTech's replacement chosen.

But then something quite extraordinary happened: The new state lottery director was fired, the bids tossed out and GTech given back the lottery work-no bidding required.

The governor at the time: George W. Bush.

Now, let's go back to the letter buried at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Austin:

Governor Bush through [another cut-out] made a deal with Ben Barnes NOT to re-bid because Barnes could confirm that Bush had lied during the '94 campaign.

During that campaign [for Governor of Texas], Bush was asked if his father...had helped him get in the National Guard. Bush said no he had not, but the fact is his dad called then­Lt. Gov. Barnes....

Silence has a price and Barnes, the letter says, got his: safety for his client GTech, with whom he maintained hidden ties. I can't imagine that Barnes would make such a raw demand on Bush.

But the war hero Governor's team made damn sure that no harm came to Barnes and his business associates.

The Governor talked to the chair of the lottery two days later and she then agreed to support letting GTech keep the contract without a bid. Did Governor Bush put in the fix for GTech as alleged?

I wasn't on the phone when he spoke to the lottery board Chairwoman.

Maybe they talked about their newfound faith in the Lord, which they both discovered together at the same time.

The Chairwoman?

Harriet Miers.

We don't know if Miers gave the overpriced GTech its contract back to help the governor keep his Air Guard secret a secret or simply because she liked GTech's record of high costs and corruption.

In 2005, George W. Bush's attempted appointment of Miers to the United States Supreme Court surprised the U.S. media and even the President's own supporters.

But I wasn't surprised at all.

Silence of the Media Lambs

In 2004, he knew exactly what would happen when he finally asked those questions. He had already delivered his own eulogy.

On June 6, 2002 on the program I report for, BBC Newsnight, Rather said:
"It's an obscene comparison but there was a time in South Africa when people would put flaming tyres around people's necks if they dissented.

In some ways, the fear is that you will be neck-laced here, you will have a flaming tyre of lack of patriotism put around your neck.

It's that fear that keeps journalists from asking the toughest of the tough questions and to continue to bore-in on the tough questions so often. Again, I'm humbled to say I do not except myself from this criticism."

The lynching of Dan Rather is a cautionary tale of how news is made in the USA - and unmade - and topics permissible during an election.

The story that cannot be reported is not about George Bush's special treatment but about the special treatment of the specially privileged.

The real story, for me, is that Little George was just one of a dozen privileged princelings saved from the dangers of their powerful daddies' wars.

Barnes did not give help to Bushes only.

The man who actually made the call to the Air Guard for Little George at Barnes's request also confirmed that at Barnes' request, he also put in the fix for sons of Democratic big-wigs, Governor John Connally and Congressman, later Senator, Lloyd Bentsen.

Vietnam was one front in a class war, and only
one class was sent to fight it.

I don't blame Congressmen Bush Sr. or Bentsen for keeping their sons out of Vietnam.

I do blame them for sending other men's sons in their place.

Read the entire story, "The Necklace-ing of Dan Rather," in Armed Madhouse.

Greg Palast is the author of the new book, Armed Madhouse: Who's Afraid of Osama Wolf?, China Floats Bush Sinks, The Scheme to Steal '08, No Child's Behind Left, and Other Dispatches from the Front Lines of the Class War.

posted June 22, 2006 08:52 AM            

When you don't know anything, when you have no real talent, when you're trying hard to be noticed and relevant, it's OK to just make it up.

That's the Palast way because Palast has no talent. Palast has no sources. Palast wants so badly to be noticed. And Palast can't be found on any map of relevancy.

To these two, the truth is whatever you can make someone believe.

And you Rainbow, will seemingly believe anything. Especially if there's a black lie about Bush in it.

I would love to have both you and Greg Palast on polygraphs Rainbow. It would be interesting indeed to find out if Greg Palast actually believes any of the bullsh*t he writes. In your case Rainbow, I find it hard to believe you actually believe even 10% of what you've said about Bush here. I know Palast would drive those polygraph needles wild and I think you would too.

posted June 22, 2006 05:41 PM            

But we will miss some of those Ratherisms in between the "Rather be telling lies-isms"

"This race is hotter than a Times Square Rolex."

"His lead is as thin as turnip soup."

"This race is humming along like Ray Charles."

"The presidential race is swinging like Count Basie."

"This race is hotter than the Devil's anvil."

"Ohio becomes like a sauna for the two candidates. All they can do is wait and sweat."

posted June 22, 2006 09:16 PM              

http://uggabugga.blogspot.com/2003_01_12_uggabugga_archive.html

ps...I'll bet the democrats will be happy to have him....

even tho there's n such thing as dems and repbs...left, right....liberal, conservtive...

posted June 22, 2006 11:45 PM              

That's why the bickering never stops. Both sides are virtuous, both sides are devious.

I don't know how anyone can pick a side and be so sure they made the right choice.

I think you can only take a stand issue by issue. Anything else is dogmatism.

Opposing dogmatisms divide a nation, like an enemy attacking from within.

Dogmatism is blind faith, and that's easily exploited.

Having blind faith in anyone or anything makes it your religion. I.E. no room for questions, no doubts allowed.

Dangerous, kids. Dangerous.

posted June 23, 2006 01:24 AM              

quote:

---

Opposing dogmatisms divide a nation, like an enemy attacking from within.

---

Divide and conquer....

The NWO knows this...*sigh*

posted June 23, 2006 10:15 AM            

Let's see:

The hardcore left..that's the Marxists, Socialists, Stalinists and other brain dead morons on the left have been attacking George W Bush since the day he announced his candidacy for President...no that's not right, they've been attacking Bush since he announced his candidacy for Governor of Texas. Seems Bush was going to oppose their favorite little leftist moron there..Ann Richards, the incumbent Governor.

These leftists haven't let up a single day...and yet, it's these same brain dead morons who accuse Bush of dividing the country.

Let's face it, the left has been and is dividing the country by telling lie after lie after lie about Bush and it's to the lefts benefit to do so since they're out of power in the United States...and likely to stay out of power as more and more reasonable people take note of what they say, come to the conclusion they can't trust a word the left has to say and reject them as the cranks, liars, maladjusted, psychotic juveniles they really are.

Now, these psychotic juveniles all march to the same drummers beat, they lie and a million other liars pick up the lie and repeat it endlessly....the cast of millions.

Yet when reasonable people...those with some common sense vote against the leftists candidate...in the last election...against the traitor John Kerry, then they're called sheep.

No, they're not sheep, they're just a hell of a lot smarter than leftists who believe, or claim to believe every word that comes out of the mouth of a fellow leftist.

A sheep is anyone who doesn't toe the leftist line, won't believe leftist lies and who won't vote for traitors, misfits, the psychotic or those who make a career out of lying to the American public.

If leftists want to ever put together a majority in the electorate, then I would think the Little Bo Peeps need to thin those leftist flocks and kick out the liars, traitors, the psychotics...like Howard Dean, like Al Gore, like Edward Kennedy, like Dick Durbin, like John Conyers, like Maxine Waters, like Barbara Boxer, like Harry Reid, like John Kerry, like John Murtha, like Michael Moore, etc., etc., etc., and get rid of the hardcore Marxists...like the "Progressives" in the "Progressive Caucus", the defrocked leftist liars in the press...like Dan Blather and start representing the interests of America and Americans.

Until then, it's going to be amusing to watch democrats stumble around in the dark, moaning and whining about their message not getting out.

Far from it, we get it loud and clear. democrats are insane, their policies are insane, don't work, haven't worked and can't work and are directed against the interests of the United States and the American people.

We get it and reject it.

posted June 23, 2006 11:11 AM              

I would like to address your above post, but don't have time right now...probably later...

In the meantime, did you check out this link as I asked?
http://uggabugga.blogspot.com/2003_01_12_uggabugga_archive.html

I noticed that you didn't have anything to say about it.

********************

posted June 23, 2006 11:50 AM            

Dan Blather's on the air lies were the cause for his demise at CBS. The final straw which broke the camel's back so to speak when it was found Blather used forged documents in an attempt to throw the election of 2004 to the traitor John Kerry.

You on the left are full of such lies and can't seem to get enough.

You deserve exactly what you've earned and that's a reputation for lying, for gossiping, for behavior more suited to 10 year olds but most certainly not a reputation for trustworthiness...and that's the reason leftists are on the sidelines looking in at the political process in America and far from the levers of government power.

posted June 23, 2006 12:07 PM              

I love how you say "the shrub" such a cool name....l bet he would be delighted with that!!!!

posted June 23, 2006 12:25 PM            

It's supposed to be belittling to the president but really, it only shows the braindead quality of the minds who hatched the term and repeat it at every opportunity.

When I intend to insult someone, I go about it directly...and truthfully. I call them what they are...brain dead morons, twits, "accidental Americans" etc., etc., etc.

Even in their insults, leftists lie. Not that it does them any good. Bush is still President, still telling terrorists the US military is going to hunt them down and kill them, still telling Iraqi's the US in going to be there, with them as long as needed and just about everything else which sets leftist teeth on edge.

posted June 23, 2006 12:59 PM              

And what about irony or humour or sheer devilment....

Surely even the shrub would appreciate a good laugh.....

I bet he would you know.....

And I bet he wouldnt get so offended about that name as one might suspect.....

posted June 23, 2006 01:16 PM              

Cos I love it when people smile......

posted June 23, 2006 02:47 PM            

Yes... I always thought the name shrub was equal to the mentality of a 3yr old.

I am sure Bush does laugh at most of the jokes and juvenile names.

posted June 23, 2006 03:08 PM              

What are we without humour.......?

posted June 23, 2006 08:01 PM              

quote:

---

What are we without humour.......?

---

I couldn't have said it better....

posted June 24, 2006 08:15 AM              

Sadly lacking in the word at times hey

Old Irish saying

"A man that can't laugh at
himself should be given
a mirror"

Very true isnt it?

OMG Rainbow, if you heard how LOUD i laugh in my life here....there are two people who can do that to me,,,my hubbie and my best friend. Both of them have a very subtle quiet and dry humour....

I get some funny looks when walking down the street at times....I really have a "belly" laugh...just like my Dad.

Oh Joy oh joy,,,,you cant beat it girl, I tell you!!!!

posted June 24, 2006 01:12 PM              

I love those little dancing smilies.......

So uplifting to see those cute little fellows.....

Thanks for joining in with the FUN....