Dan Rather Sues CBS - Dan Rather Details - Broadcasting & Cabl

Dan Rather Suing CBS News for Violation of Contract

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$70M Suit Names Moonves, Redstone, Heyward

By Marisa Guthrie -- Broadcasting & Cable, 9/19/2007 6:14:00 PM

More than one year after Dan Rather left CBS News under a cloud for a flawed report on President Bush’s National Guard service, the former face of CBS News is suing CBS, its corporate parent and his former superiors at the news division.

In a $70 million suit filed in State Supreme Court in Manhattan Wednesday, Rather, 75, alleged that CBS violated his contract by giving him precious little airtime on 60 Minutes, where he remained as a contributor after being forced to step down as anchor of the CBS Evening News in March 2005.

The suit alleged that CBS made him a “patsy” and that the network caved to “right-wing” pressure to get rid of him, and it also contended that CBS damaged Rather’s reputation by commissioning a “biased” investigation into the 60 Minutes II report.

Richard Thornburgh, who was an attorney general in the first Bush White House, was one of the panelists tasked with examining the National Guard segment.

The suit -- which seeks $20 million in compensatory damages and $50 million in punitive damages -- named CBS CEO Leslie Moonves, Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone and former CBS News head Andrew Heyward.

“These complaints are old news and this lawsuit is without merit,” CBS said in a statement.

CBS -- which recently settled a lawsuit with deposed shock jock Don Imus (to the tune of $20 million, according to published reports) -- will likely fight the Rather suit, according to sources.

Rather's attorney, Martin Gold, said in a statement that CBS "intentionally damaged" Rather's reputation by sacrificing "independent journalism for corporate financial interests."

He added that the goal of the suit was to "further" the principle of an "independent press."

If Rather is "successful," added Martin, "he intends to donate substantial sums to furthering these ideals."

But industry veterans are skeptical about Rather's chances of prevailing in his suit.

CBS' "only obligation is to pay him," says an industry insider well versed in contractual law. "They are not obligated to keep him on the air. If he thought they were wrong, he should not have taken their money; he should have walked out the door and immediately sued them."

The 60 Minutes II report-- which aired in September 2004, mere months before the presidential election -- posited that President Bush received preferential treatment that kept him out of combat in Vietnam while in the Texas Air National Guard. But the report relied on what turned out to be forged documents.

Three producers -- Mary Mapes, Betsy West and Josh Howard -- were forced out at CBS for their part in the disputed segment.

According to a report by The New York Times, Rather’s 32-page suit lawsuit paints him as little more than a narrator of the National Guard broadcast -- a perception at odds with his reputation and the recollection of others involved.

Rather, said Howard, now vice president of long-form programming at CNBC, “worked the phones. He talked to sources. He was in the room with the so-called document experts. He argued with us over every line of the script. I can’t imagine how he at this point can say he was just the narrator.”

After he left the CBS Evening News in March 2005, Rather’s contract called for him to become a “full-time correspondent” on 60 Minutes II and, after that broadcast was canceled in May 2005, on the original edition of 60 Minutes. But Rather’s suit contended that the eight pieces he did for 60 Minutes paled in comparison to what regular 60 Minutes correspondents did.

Rather officially left CBS News in 2006. He is now anchoring a series of news specials for Mark Cuban’s HDNet.

Rather did not return a detailed message for comment Wednesday.

AlterNet.org's Don Hazen Thinks The Porn Industry Has Run Amok

I agree with Don Hazen in AlterNet.org to a certain extent that porn's rampant, but he leaves out the way the Internet's used to fuel our desire to see porn. Also, this is painted as a male-only issue, where women too search for porn.

I think the idea's he expresses are outdated and not without a certain "male guilt" complex. What people forget is part of the way we're wired -- lust -- is the backbone of the reproductive process.

Now to be sure, he's writing about extreme porn -- whatever that is -- and that's not something I'm personally familar with. Perhaps he is.

Personally, this photo of Michelle Lin's enough for me.

Delaware State Lockdown After Campus Shootings

CBS) DOVER, DELAWARE

The campus of Delaware State University is under tight lockdown Friday after gunshots fired through the air Thursday night. A manhunt is currently underway. Two students were wounded as a result of the shootings, and one remains in critical condition.

A Delaware State spokesman, Carlos Homes, said one of the female victims has sustained very serious injuries, potentially life threatening.
Thursday night, University officials say students and staff were warned of the shooting from a message on the campus website. Officials also made phone calls and notifications to residents and all housing buildings.

As of now, according to authorities, students have been instructed to stay in their dormitory rooms and commuters were instructed to stay home while police in Dover scour the campus and examine surveillance video.

It appears as though University administrators have responded in a timely and appropriate fashion, saying last years Virginia Tech massacres taught them the ultimate lessons. Virginia Tech administrators were severely criticized for not quickly alerting students about a shooter who killed 32 people in Blacksburg.

“We have learned from Virginia Tech. We need to act on the side of caution and do the best we can to protect our student population,” stated Mr. Homes.

All this comes just a month after the Delaware State community mourned the tragic loss of 3 students shot execution style during a robbery in New Jersey.

Delaware officials believe the shooter left campus, but they don t know that for certain.

Few details of this latest incident have been released. There's no word whether the shooter knew the victims or whether they just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Stayed tuned to CBS 2 HD and wcbstv.com for the latest from Dover.

CNN Susan Rogerson Missreporting Of Jena 6 Issue Fuels Racial Tension

I'm watching CNN, and Susan Rogerson tells me that I'm supposed to feel soory for Justin Barker -- the white student who was beaten up after racially taunting Black students in Jena, Louisiana, and attended a social function after supposedly being beaten so hard.

She says "What about him?" WHAT? Is CNN nuts? Look, this story started because a Black student wanted to sit under a tree supposedly just for White students -- which is totally crazy itself. Then when he did, White students hung nooses on the tree. Black students were beaten up by White students -- but charges never filed.

Now, I've got to hear CNN's Rogerson talk about this idiot like he's the victim, and then hear this racist Jena D.A. down there back him? Come on! Racism is a mental illness, and that town's got a problem.

Jena's a nutso place it seems. But CNN's fueling racial tensions by the way it's reporting the issue. For a totally great explanation of what happened down there, watch this video:

Barack Obama's Statements On Jena 6 - Jesse Jackson Jr. Helped Obama

Barack Obama Statements on Jena 6

CHICAGO, IL – U.S. Senator Barack Obama released the following three statements on the Jena 6.

September 19, 2007 | Obama Statement on the Jena 6
"Outrage over an injustice like the Jena 6 isn't a matter of black and white. It's a matter of right and wrong. We should stand as one nation in opposition to this and any injustice. That’s why I’ve previously spoken out and demanded fairness in the Jena 6 case. That's why I've fought against injustice as a civil rights attorney and public official, and why I'll continue to fight to heal the wounds of division in our nation as president. My statements on Jena 6 were carefully thought out with input and support from one of my National Campaign Chairmen, U.S. Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr."

September 14, 2007 | Obama Statement on the Jena 6
"I am pleased that the Louisiana state appeals court recognized that the aggravated battery charge brought in this case was inappropriate. I hope that today's decision will lead the prosecutor to reconsider the excessive charges brought against all the teenagers in this case. And I hope that the judicial process will move deliberately to ensure that all of the defendants will receive a fair trial and equal justice under the law."

September 10, 2007 | Obama Demands Fairness in Jena 6 Case
"When nooses are being hung in high schools in the 21st century, it's a tragedy. It shows that we still have a lot of work to do as a nation to heal our racial tensions. This isn't just Jena's problem; it's America's problem."
"There are a number of signs that the system is not working in this case. It's a problem when criminal charges are brought against some students for fighting, but not others. It's a problem when a public defender doesn't call any witnesses. And it's a problem when a prosecutor decides to try teenagers as adults for a school fight, a charge that could leave them in jail for the majority of their lives. That is why I join my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus in calling on the judge to consider all the relevant factors and calling on the District Attorney to drop the excessive charges brought in this case. And I, along with other members of the CBC, will continue to monitor this case closely."
"Going forward, we have to fix our criminal justice system. Whether it's Jena 6 or Genarlow Wilson, it's long past time for us to admit that we have more work to do to ensure that our criminal justice system is fair. We must ensure that both victims and defendants can receive equal justice under the law, regardless of race, wealth, or other circumstances."

Bionic Woman On Comcast On Demand - Saw It

I just saw Bionic Woman on Comcast OnDemand. Click on this -- Bionic Woman -- to read my review of the pilot episode.

Bionic Woman - Just Saw It; Michelle Ryan's Intense

I just found and watched NBC's new program Bionic Woman on Comcast ondemand. First, it's good actually great and intense. It has a lot of characters that are well intervoven. The trouble is that it moves too fast -- so fast that scenes that need more time to unfold to have real meaning last in seconds.

The version I saw is without commercials, so I thought maybe I was "fooled" by a shorter version. But then I thought of the Star Trek episode "Balance of Terror" and it seemed longer than the Bionic Woman even though they're both about 35 minutes of screen time.

The "problem" is the Bionic Woman's so rich with story, scenes, people, and tech that you want to taste a scene, only each one's too small a bite to enjoy. That's a problem the writers and Dave Eick, it's producer, have to work on. It's a nice problem to have.



Overall, I did enjoy Bionic Woman. It's not anythng like the Bionic Woman I remember as a kid. This is much darker and has subplots that you beg to be unraveled right then. For example, who's the Russian guy who seems to be Katie Sackhoff / Sarah Corvus's love interest and likes to sew his arm with string? (An apparent signal that this is some kind of bionic man?)

The special effects are a seemless part of the story -- no sound effects. The fight scene between Jamie Sommers and Sarah Corvus is very well done and includes one really cool and real-looking action scene where Jamie throws Sarah like she's a sack of trash.

What about Jamie's bartender life? How can she handle it and work for the organization that re-built her? And how can she make love to her boyfriend Will without harming him? That he was on top was a start -- it's where I'd like to be -- but the whole orgasm matter was skipped over. Ah, details.

I look forward to the Bionic Woman, but it's days could be numbered if the matter of this rapid pacing isn't adressed right away. But they've already got the episodes in the system, so we'll just have to wait.

I can't wait.

Mean, Sneaky Senator Clinton Gets Free Pass From Media

I'm serious about this. There's a conspiracy in the media to get her elected. It's so insidieous that it must be pointed out. One blogger points out that she's hiding from the press, but that doesn't stop others from keeping her name out there favorably.

But not with bloggers, who point to her lack of a press conference and this well-planned set of public appearances with Bill Clinton.

Then there's this video of her avoiding shaking hands with a well-wisher. Yikes.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee “Lone Iraq No Vote” Fundraising Event - Sunday, September 23, 2007

Please Join Hosts
Steve Phillips & Susan Sandler,
Gene Eidenberg & Anna Chavez, Elizabeth Colton,
Zenophon Abraham, Ed Penhoet,
Wayne Jordan & Quinn Delaney,
Hari Dillon, John Gooding and Miguel Bustos

In honor of
Congresswoman Barbara Lee
And the 6th Anniversary of the “Lone Vote”

On September 14, 2001, Rep. Barbara Lee was the only member of Congress to vote against a resolution that gave President George Bush a blank check to go to war without constraint. Bush used this resolution to launch his “global war on terror.” Since then, she has led the effort to prevent – and now to end – the War in Iraq. We are proud of her leadership and urge you to join us in honoring her.

At the home of
Steve Phillips and Susan Sandler
553 Arkansas Street
San Francisco

NEW DATE!
Sunday, September 23, 2007
6:00 pm until 8:00 pm

$2,300 Champion • $1,000 Host
(Includes a signed copy of the Lone Vote speech)
$500 Partner • $250 Friend

RSVP by contacting Mitchell Lester at 415-308-5849 or Maria Ali at 510-663-1207 or maria@leeforcongress.com.Valet parking will be available.


Congresswoman Barbara Lee

September 14, 2001

Mr. Speaker, Members, I rise today really with a very heavy heart, one that is filled with sorrow for the families and the loved ones who were killed and injured this week. Only the most foolish and the most callous would not understand the grief that has really gripped our people and millions across the world. This unspeakable act on the United States has really -- really forced me, however, to rely on my moral compass, my conscience, and my God for direction.

September 11th changed the world. Our deepest fears now haunt us. Yet, I am convinced that military action will not prevent further acts of international terrorism against the United States. This is a very complex and complicated matter.
Now this resolution will pass, although we all know that the President can wage a war even without it. However difficult this vote may be, some of us must urge the use of restraint. Our country is in a state of mourning. Some of us must say, let's step back for a moment. Let's just pause, just for a minute and think through the implications of our actions today, so that this does not spiral out of control.

Now I have agonized over this vote. But I came to grips with it today, and I came to grips with opposing this resolution during the very painful, yet very beautiful memorial service. As a member of the clergy so eloquently said, "As we act, let us not become the evil that we deplore."

Congresswoman Barbara Lee

Barbara Lee was first elected to represent California's ninth Congressional District in 1998. On September 14th, 2001 Barbara Lee courageously cast the lone vote against granting the President a blank check to wage war without constraint. She is currently on the Appropriations Committee – bringing her bold voice and progressive agenda to the powerful spending committee. Congresswoman Lee also serves as the First Vice Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and the co-Chair of the Progressive Caucus.




Lone Vote Event — September 23, 2007

Federal Election Law allows individuals to donate up to $4,600:
$2,300 designated for the Primary Election and $2,300 designated for the General Election

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Checks should be made payable to “Barbara Lee for Congress” and mailed to:

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Credit card contributions can also be made online at www.barbaraleespeaksforme.org



Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and name of employer for individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in an election cycle.

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O.J. Simpson Free On Bond Of $125,000 - Case Flimsy

As of this writing, O.j. Simpson is on his way home to Florida after posting $125K in bail in Las Vegas. I saw the accusers on CNN and I've got to admit their case is flimsy at best. I believed from the start O.J. was being set up and the person who did it isn't even being tried for a thing!

This case's going nowhere fast.

University of Florida student Tasered - Former Cop Provides Sane Look

I saw this post over at Salon.com and was overjoyed:

"Former cop here

And those cops were oafs. They may or may not get away with their unprofessional, excessive behavior, depending on the quality of the investigation, but they handled that situation with a level of incompetence one would usually only expect from a Bush political appointee.

Setting aside for a moment the question of whether the kid should have been taken down in the first place (I think he should have been allowed to rant, myself), skillful, well-trained police officers have methods for dealing with unruly individuals, not the least of which is basic diplomacy..

There is absolutely no reason why that situation should have devolved the way it did except that the officers involved didn't know what they were doing and overreacted. In my former department, that level of incompetence wouldn't be tolerated.

-- Bukk63"

The world needs more active police officers like him. Thank God for this voice of sanity.

University of Florida student Tasered at John Kerry Forum

Here's the story:

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A University of Florida student was Tasered and arrested Monday when he attempted to speak at a forum with U.S. Sen. John Kerry during a question and answer session, university officials said.

Andrew Meyer, 21, asked Kerry why he did not contest the 2004 presidential election, which he lost to President Bush, and why there had been no moves to impeach Bush.

"He apparently asked several questions — he went on for quite awhile — then he was asked to stop," university spokesman Steve Orlando said. "He had used his allotted time. His microphone was cut off then he became upset."

While as many as four police officers tried to remove Meyer from the forum, he yelled for help and asked "What did I do?" Minutes after Meyer started speaking, he was Tasered.

Meyer was charged with resisting an officer and disturbing the peace, according to Alachua County jail records. No bond had been set. Meyer was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday morning, a jail official said.

Orlando said university police would conduct an internal investigation on the incident.

"The police department does have a standard procedure for when they use force, including when they use a Taser," Orlando said. "That is what the internal investigation would address — whether the proper procedures were followed, whether the officers acted appropriately."


The event was sponsored by the UF student government speaker's bureau, according to a news release. A telephone message left at the speaker's bureau office was not immediately returned Monday evening.

It was not known if Meyer had an attorney.


But the bottom line is that -- if you look at the video -- Andrew wasn't even making a big fuss. He may have been asking uncomfortable questions, but that was it. That's supposed to be America. For the UF police to do what they did was totally nuts. Plus, their own internal review's not going to turn up anything.

Between this action and the way Capital Police treated the minster at last week's Petraus hearing , one has to ask what's going on with the kind of people law enforcement's bring in. They seem to lack proper judgement on when and why to use force, and thus bring shame on the very police departments they're suppose to bring respect to.

We must demand a higher standard. Now.

I also totally disagree with Michelle Makin's take on this, as it seems she's knee-jerk into defending anyone in a uniform just because they're in a uniform. Michelle' s not using her intellect by adopting this lazy thinking, rubber-stamp approach to the analysis of any controversial action in American culture. Her take also shows the limits of dogma, where people are so blinded they can't see injustice before them.

Makin's obviously not aware that college police are developing a pattern of over-the-top behavior, but fortunately Salon.com's got a collection of videos showing this travesty of the American legal system.

Senator John Kerry comes off looking bad. He tells the newspapers he didn't see what happened, and yet on the video we can hear him talking as this is going on and referring to the question. This kind of behavior is why John Kerry lost the election -- he's afraid to take a stand and defend basic American rights because he wants to look good for the cameras. Can't have that hair messed up when you're taking a stand, right Senator Kerry?

And to think I supported him for President in 2004.