PrintOctober 1, 2009
Inside the Rather mind
Today in an interview with Dan Rather by Neil Cavuto we learn that Dan thinks the story that 60 minutes II ran about President George W. Bush's Texas Air National Guard service record was true and that CBS news withdrew the story to curry favor with the Bush administration. Judging by Dan's comment one can be excused for thinking that Mr. Rather is a man who has lost touch with reality.
For those unfamiliar: 60 minutes II ran a story that was highly negative toward President Bush that was released in early September while the President was running for re-election. Hours after the story was released Internet bloggers were questioning the authenticity of the documents that supposedly backed up the 60 minutes thesis. A later review by outside experts hired by the CBS news organization showed that the documents in question were indeed false and the star witness, a former Texas Army National Guard officer Lt. Col. Bill Burkett, was found to have "misled 60 minutes".
Dan Rather doesn't care. Dan firmly believes what he believes and no amount of evidence will sway him. In Dan's eyes the 60 minutes story is a sacred truth. The ability to ignore all manner of evidence is a type of thinking pretty typical among those on the left side of the political spectrum. From welfare reform and peace through strength to anthropogenic global warming (we've been cooling since 1998) .
When reading opinion from the left the oft asked question is "Do you believe in science". That question betrays the writer's ignorance. Science is not a belief system, it's not something you "believe in" -- it is a methodology. As defined by NOAA, science is a method of learning about the physical universe by applying the principles of the scientific method, which includes making empirical observations, proposing hypotheses to explain those observations, and testing those hypotheses in valid and reliable ways; also refers to the organized body of knowledge that results from scientific study. In other words Science is knowledge gained through application of the scientific method.
If we apply that definition to some of the policies that the left advocates and start gathering evidence and facts, it becomes readily apparent to most observers that the far lefts position on arms control, global warming, and welfare reform don't match the rhetoric. A quick look at the facts might indicate that Dan Rather's view of President Bush's service is nothing more than the fantasy or wishful thinking. The problem is that Dan thinks he's right and that he is the holder of a great truth. This brings us to another definition.
Delusion: (psychology) an erroneous belief that is held in the face of evidence to the contrary.
Dan Rather demonstrates by his commentary that he is delusional. Unfortunately Dan Rather isn't the only person on the left that suffers this affliction.
