Anchor of CBS Evening News for a record 24 years until being forced out in March '05 by the Memogate scandal, Rather was fighting to stay at the network in some "meaningful" capacity. It was clear that the network wanted him gone.
Like virtually all CBS executives, network czar Les Moonves, once a Rather supporter, had distanced himself from the newsman. They had not had a real conversation for more than eight months, newsroom sources say.
Many inside CBS feel that Rather triggered his own demise by vigorously defending his flawed 60 Minutes II report in September '04 that questioned President Bush's service in the Texas Air National Guard, even after the authenticity of the documents used in the piece could not be proved.
Rather later apologized to viewers, but his fate within CBS had been sealed. The only difference: It would take longer for him to leave. Unlike several of his coworkers in the scandal, Rather escaped the noose.
This had to be the most redicules screw up of modern times. Dan Rather takes what any moron could see was obviously a fake document, and tried to pass it off as genuine. I'll bet for the rest of his days every time someone says "SUPERSCRIPT" he dives under a table. Danny figures he can single handed swing the election to Kerry. In the second year of Bush's term Danny's Arse is out the door. Good riddance!
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