Mary Mapes was also instrumental into the staging the Abu Gharib (sp?) non-torture fiasco. That whole episode should be investigated as well.

Abu Ghraib happened. She didn't stage anything. If you are referring to the excess coverage, that was out of her hands after they broke it, though I'm sure she was pleased.

There's nothing to investigate.

It would perhaps be instructive to find out how what was, after all, evidence, found its way into her hands. I'm sure it was one of the defense attorneys, but I think we deserve to have the full story.

Especially WHY the attorney would think of contacting her.

I don't follow your logic. It was a legitimate story, and that's how typically journalism works. Just because we don't like the story doesn't mean it's not news.

Bill sez: "My prediction? She gets fired from CBS and gets a job at PBS within 60 days."

She'll get fired all right, but do you really think any news organization (even PBS) is gonna touch her with a 10-foot pole after this?

I suspect that unless she's been banking those payroll dollars for a "rainy" day or she has some other skill then "producing", she'd better breakout the big shopping cart. Heh, maybe I'll see her down on "D" Street by the Federal Center Metro station.

but do you really think any news organization (even PBS) is gonna touch her with a 10-foot pole after this?

Yes.

Would you like to make a public wager? Say, $20,000?

Would you like to make a public wager? Say, $20,000?

Hell, no.

I'm not sure about the organization of PBS, but my gut says she'll land some sort of job with a 'public' station. Or maybe CNN? Or...hey, I'll be Chris Matthews could use a new producer...

Heh..well you don't spend numerous hours writing up a 68 page essay to try and save your "professional reputation" if you think you have a hells bells of chance of being rehired by someone/anyone fairly quickly.

20 Grand is a bit rich..and I admit I could be wrong...but if you lay out something more reasonable for a working class slob, say loser pays for dinner at DC Chophouse and specify exact terms of the bet, I'll go for it.

This is on topic, and funny besides:
The Case of the Misbegotten Memos

Bill is actually probably correct.

Look at the case of April Oliver. She was the CNN producer who produced the "Operation Tailwind" special that charged that the US military had used nerve gas in Vietnam.

When her story turned to dust, and CNN fired her, she went on the lecture circuit, but AFAICT, has not found work again in the TV-journalism biz. (This is based on a few minutes' googling of her name, admittedly---none of which turned up anything more recent than 2002, in an anthology of essays.)

So, it would appear likely that, if CBS burns Mapes, she's probably done in the field.

Actually, I think she'll end up working in academia. Mary Mapes: Professor of Journalism.

Nice, eh?

I love your prediction.

Well, I do not love it as much as I think it may be accurate, which is horrifying, actually. I stopped watching PBS after Bill Moyers went off the deep left end--she would fit in well there.

FWIW- Kevin Craver over at Rathergate.com had an interesting take. Mapes will be allowed to resign/retire with a generous severance package. One of his sources is saying that Mapes is negotiating a "big payoff" with CBS in order to avoid her publishing a "tell-all" book about CBS' "inner workings" ala Bernie Goldberg.

A potential win-win scenario here for Mary and certainly no shopping cart down by "D" street.
(rats!).