QUICKIES

First on the hit list today is Dan Rather's lawsuit against CBS getting thrown out. It's nice to see that our court system still works. For those not familiar with the case, Rather reported in 2004 on a bogus story that slammed President Bush, via a series of fraudulent memos, as a slacker who avoided serving in Vietnam by joining the Texas Air National Guard. CBS fired four people - three executives and a producer, and Rather apologized on-air and left 60 Minutes in disgrace. He remained at CBS for a while, but was basically retained for appearance sake until his contract ran out. In 2007 he filed suit against CBS for $70 million, claiming he was a scapegoat for CBS, unaware the reports were false and the memos were fraudulent and that he didn't have the time to research them himself.

It later turns out that not only were the memos fake, but, in their attempt to paint Bush as a slacker trying to dodge military service, they neglected to mention that he actually volunteered to go to Vietnam, but was turned down for more experienced pilots.

Rather, a respected newsman, saw a story that would be damaging to Bush's re-election and ran with it. It has been shown that his producer knew the memos were fakes, but their desire to get Bush out of office was apparently stronger than their ethics. The courts got it right.

In other news, terror suspect Najibullah Zazi plead not guilty to conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction. Two things disturb me about this case. First, Zazi was a shuttle driver for Denver airport, and second, that he has three possible accomplices that are not yet in custody. At least the authorities have identified them, so hopefully it's just a matter of time before they are picked up. Hopefully they aren't working on a plan B in the meantime.

And, finally, it seems that the loonies have really come out of the woodwork since Obama was elected. It's a little creepy, really. There's the chanting children (one of many, really), as well as NEA's attempt at a nationwide propaganda campaign and countless other creepy things. I'm torn between calling it socialist propaganda and cult worship. Of course, it's not like they are mutually exclusive, so maybe it's a little bit of both.

But this is just a little too far into the cult range. It's a little hard to tell, but it sounds like the first few responses are 'Obama' and the last few are 'Oh God' or a mix of the two. Weird. I also have an issue with Martin Luther King Jr. being called a 'prophet'. Now, he was a truly great man who was horribly taken from us far too soon, but he was no prophet. He was a hero, he was a kind, peaceful leader of men, and he was an invaluable asset to our country, but prophet? I think even he, man of God that he was, would protest that.

Well, if we are going to be immersed in a cult of personality, lets at least have a groovy soundtrack!