Tuesday, November 23

Rather is leaving the evening News

Dan Rather is stepping down as anchor of the CBS Nightly News program in March, just 24 years after taking over from Walter Conkrite.
By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer

NEW YORK - Dan Rather, embattled anchor of the "CBS Evening News," announced Tuesday that he will step down in March, on the 24th anniversary of taking over the job from Walter Cronkite.

The veteran anchor has been under fire in recent months for his role in a "60 Minutes Wednesday" story that questioned President Bush (news - web sites)'s service in the National Guard, which turned out to based on allegedly forged documents.

Rather, 73, said he will continue to work for CBS, as a correspondent for both editions of "60 Minutes."

He made no mention of the National Guard story in announcing the change, saying he had agreed with CBS executives last summer that after the Nov. 2 election would be the right time to leave.

"I have always been and remain a `hard news' investigative reporter at heart," he said. "I now look forward to pouring my heart into that kind of reporting full time."

CBS did not mention a potential successor.

"He has been an eyewitness to the most important events for more than 40 years and played a crucial role in keeping the American public informed about those events and their larger significance," CBS Chairman Leslie Moonves said.
All I have to add, besides a possible update to follow the wingnut response, is this:
The media has fallen a very long way in such a short time. Jeez.

[....update it did not take long....]

7 huckfunn 11/23/2004 09:23AM PST

I'm located just west of Austin, and its been raining constanly for the past week. At the very moment FOX reported that Dan Rather is leaving, the sun came out briefly for the first time in at least 10 days. I kid you not. Is this a sign from God? I'm gonna go look for the rainbow.

.............
#14 Ghost 11/23/2004 09:24AM PST

Yee hah!
Congrats to Charles and all the others who had part in exposing the blatant partisanship of this man.

Who wants to bet that if Kerry had won the election, this wouldn't have happened?


............
#49 zulubaby 11/23/2004 09:34AM PST

November is the Best Week Ever!

He should have been thrown out but I'll take what I can get. Now we need to start working on getting rid of Ashrawi's boyfriend.

Now which pill was I supposed to take, the red one or the green one, or was it a blue pill?