In 1979 a former Governor of Arkansas named Bill Clinton was involved in a failed land deal where he and his spouse Hillery Rodham-Clinton lost money. In 1992 this same gent named Clinton was elected President and endured a 10 year war by a Press and News Media determined to follow the script that the Clinton's were crooked and the had to confess to their "crimes." That the so called Pillsbury Report written by a Republican Law firm in1995 completely exonerated the Clinton's was irrelevant, the script had been written and it would be followed.
What I call the script was was something I noticed in the 1990's. Instead of finding out the actual facts and report them, the SCLM would form a narrative and the look for facts to back it up. And as someone who grew up on Walter Cronkite (yeah I'm that old) this was disturbing.
And should the Reporter or Anchor actually attempt to report the facts (e.g Flightsuit in Chief was AWOL from the Texas ANG) they would find themselves out of a job.
It is unclear whether or not Rather's retirement was directly caused by this incident. Les Moonves, CEO of CBS, stated "Dan Rather has already apologized for the segment and taken responsibility for his part in the broadcast.
(Yes it was that Les Moonves. Remember him? And by the by there was no evidence that what Mr. Rather reported was false)
I have seen this pattern with everything from Whitewater to birtherism to "her emails" to the present "Bidens Old". A script was written (almost always positive for the GOP and Negative for Democrats), the inquisitors excuse me reporters would ask their questions and demand that the politician follow the script. Any deviation and they would start reviewing each answer with pilpul that would make a Talmud scholar get a brain hemorage.
But there is a solution to this garbage: don't follow the script. When the reporter ask you the question, instead of the required answer give him the facts, and triple dare them to prove otherwise. And thus is the conversation between the Head of the DNC GOV Howard Dean and CNN Reporter Wolf Blitzer:
Blitzer: Should Democrats who took money from Jack Abramoff, who has now pleaded guilty to bribery charges, among other charges, a Republican lobbyist in Washington, should the Democrat who took money from him give that money to charity or give it back?
Dean: There are no Democrats who took money from Jack Abramoff, not one, not one single Democrat. Every person named in this scandal is a Republican. Every person under investigation is a Republican. Every person indicted is a Republican. This is a Republican finance scandal. There is no evidence that Jack Abramoff ever gave any Democrat any money. And we've looked through all of those FEC reports to make sure that's true.
Blitzer: But through various Abramoff-related organizations and outfits, a bunch of Democrats did take money that presumably originated with Jack Abramoff.
Dean: That's not true either. There's no evidence for that either. There is no evidence…
Blitzer: What about Senator Byron Dorgan?
Dean: Senator Byron Dorgan and some others took money from Indian tribes. They're not agents of Jack Abramoff. There's no evidence that I've seen that Jack Abramoff directed any contributions to Democrats. I know the Republican National Committee would like to get the Democrats involved in this. They're scared
(Starts at 00:55. I was fortunate to see this live in '06)
The reaction of Mr. Blitzer is astounding. He was speechless. This was not part of the script. GOV Dean was suppose to admit what he (Blitzer) said was true and plead for forgiveness. Help.
When asked about Mr. Bidens poor performance at the debate President Biden and his Democratic allies have to take a page out of the Dean playbook and refuse to follow the "Biden must resign he is old" script. Use the narrative against them.
Trump fell asleep during his criminal trial, shouldn't he drop out of the campaign? Trump started speaking about sharks and batteries, shouldn't he drop out? Trump slurring his words and mixing up Nicki Haley with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, shouldn't he drop out. Well, is there a different standard for Republicans? Or are you on the GOP's payroll.
While it's unfortunate that a perfect storm of oversea's trips, not enough sleep and a bad cold hit President Biden at the most inconvenient time in his campaign, my own support for the President is unchanged. With NO apoligies to the seat stealer the Commander respects experts in any field who know what the frak they are doing. Absent any evidence otherwise (and I have not seen any) President Biden is just a sharp as ever and his ability to govern is equal to FDR or LBJ in terms of legislative accomplishments.
As a proud member of the reality based community I know the election of 2024 will be harder to win then in 2020. The states have passed multiple voter suppression laws. The 6 Justices Operatives have not only legalized gerrymandering but also made sure the GOP's Presidential Candidate is immunized from his criminal conduct for years, if not forever.
But it is not impossible, because in the end Trump will be Trump. He will snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Count on it.