Tuesday, September 21, 2004

His days are numbered...or are they?

The Elder is running a poll on when Mr. Rather will be shown the door at CBS. This is interesting because CBS's position is pretty tricky. If they want to salvage their reputation with the public as a responsible news organization, they should toss him now. However, if they keep him, they salvage their reputation with him and they try in vain salvage his reputation with the public. So which will it be?

My guess, CBS will try to stall Rather's departure, but the outcry of viewers, affilates and sponsors will force them to change their minds. In the same way that the outcry from all of the above plus the blogosphere causes CBS to give up the stonewalling about the documents in the first place. I would be very surprised if CBS learned its lesson.