Somehow, I just knew he was going to sign off with his old one-word catch phrase:
Transcript of Dan Rather's comments from his last CBS Evening News broadcastWe have shared a lot in the 24 years we've been meeting here each evening. And before I say good night this night, I need to say thank you. Thank you to the thousands of wonderful professionals at CBS News, past and present, with whom it has been my honor to work over these years. And a deeply felt thanks to all of you, who have let us into your homes night after night. It has been a privilege and one never taken lightly.
Not long after I first came to the anchor chair I briefly signed off using the word "courage." I want to return to it now, in a different way, to a nation still nursing a broken heart for what happened here in 2001, and especially to those who found themselves closest to the events of September 11.
To our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines in dangerous places. To those who have endured the tsunami, and to all who have suffered natural disasters and who must find the will to rebuild. To the oppressed and to those whose lot it is to struggle in financial hardship or in failing health. To my fellow journalists in places where reporting the truth means risking all.
And to each of you, courage.
For the CBS Evening News, Dan Rather reporting. Good night.
I was at a bar with a good friend of mine enjoying some potent potables as I watched Dan Rather's final broadcast as anchor of the CBS Evening News. As I watched the broadcast drinking my beer, it seemed to me that the only thing missing from each story on Wednesday's newscast was the following phrase:
"...which is the fault of the Bush Administration."
Every story on the CBS Evening News broadcast seemed to have some bad news or malady that had an overwhelming negative tone: gas prices, bankruptcy filing reform, a woman being reunited with the NY firefighters who saved her life. The only thing missing from each story in the last sentence of the closing "stand up," was some line condemning President Bush.
It was more of the same and everything we've come to expect from CBS News. CBS is trying to pass itself off as an organization that is rebuilding, but that's nothing more than elaborate scam designed to make people think they're changing.
All week, I'd heard this billed as the "retirement" of Dan Rather, but that's simply not true. Rather is only leaving the anchor chair. He's still employed by CBS. In fact, he'll be full-time on 60 Minutes---the very news magazine franchise he practically destroyed with his Texas Air National Guard Memo story.
That's not all. Remember the three CBS News employees who were let go as part of the fallout from the aforementioned 60 Minutes story? Well, one would figure that those individuals have already left the gainful employment of CBS, right? Wrong. The three employees are still at their posts at CBS because they are refusing to leave! In their estimation, they didn't do anything wrong--and they're probably right. They are, in all likelihood, nothing more than scapegoats and CBS isn't about to send them packing, because they'll probably open themselves up to a wrongful dismissal suit.
The more things change at CBS, the more they stay the same---and the only spike in the ratings that network has seen for their newscast came with the farewell of their anchor. It's back to third place for them in the ratings, and that could have happened tonight.
However, there is still reason to celebrate. Rather---someone who has long been considered a mouthpiece for the DNC---is gone thanks to his transparent defamation of President Bush's character. There is reason to celebrate because yet another head of the media hydra has been cut off.
We aren't done yet, but man...does this feel good.
CBS can still right the course of its broadcast ship. I've suggested this before, but perhaps renaming their flagship news show would be in order. It could only help, and if the current trend is any indicator, it'll be huge in the ratings:
"CSI: CBS Evening News"
CBS News has been dead for a while. Maybe Gil Grissom can find the cause.
William Smith
ConservativeBlogger.com
