Who will be Edward R. Murrow to stand up to a witchhunt?

[Patsfanin Philly]

We can almost predict what will happen on Tuesday after Commissioner Goddell's meeting with Matt Walsh and his Attorney. Levy and Walsh will leave early to meet with Senator Specter, avoiding the press conference where the Commissioner will announce that there was no new evidence presented of Patriots' transgressions, no evidence of walk through tapings prior to Super Bowl 36 and that the issue was closed as far as he was concerned.

Then Walsh will meet with the good Senator who is very invested in this situation, having gone on Rush Limbaugh's radio show and said,

"I think ultimately, Rush, if we get enough fire under it, they're going to have to show those letters -- and when they do, they're going to have to change their tune and let Walsh testify, because those reports are looking pretty strong, but there was filming for the 2002 Super Bowl."

I expect him to come out after that meeting on Tues with Levy/Walsh and say that the issue needs further investigation even if Commissioner Goodell says "it's over". It's time for someone to stand up as Edward R. Murrow did to Sen. Joseph McCarthy and his witch hunt over half a century ago with his " have you no sense of decency speech?"

I am not comparing the hunt for Communists in the government to illicit taping of football signals but a witch hunt is a witch hunt is a witch hunt, especially when it's based on unfounded allegations. This is true whether it's in Salem in the 17th century or in the halls of Congress today and it's the closest analogy I can think of at the moment.

 

[Tunescribe]

We can almost predict what will happen on Tuesday after Commissioner Goddell's meeting with Matt Walsh and his Attorney. Levy and Walsh will leave early to meet with Senator Specter, avoiding the press conference where the Commissioner will announce that there was no new evidence presented of Patriots' transgressions, no evidence of walk through tapings prior to Super Bowl 36 and that the issue was closed as far as he was concerned.

Then Walsh will meet with the good Senator who is very invested in this situation, having gone on Rush Limbaugh's radio show and said,

"I think ultimately, Rush, if we get enough fire under it, they're going to have to show those letters -- and when they do, they're going to have to change their tune and let Walsh testify, because those reports are looking pretty strong, but there was filming for the 2002 Super Bowl."

I expect him to come out after that meeting on Tues with Levy/Walsh and say that the issue needs further investigation even if Commissioner Goodell says "it's over". It's time for someone to stand up as Edward R. Murrow did to Sen. Joseph McCarthy and his witch hunt over half a century ago with his " have you no sense of decency speech?"

I am not comparing the hunt for Communists in the government to illicit taping of football signals but a witch hunt is a witch hunt is a witch hunt, especially when it's based on unfounded allegations. This is true whether it's in Salem in the 17th century or in the halls of Congress today and it's the closest analogy I can think of at the moment.

Well, you live in Pennsylvania and are a constituent of Sphincter's. Have you written to him and said enough is enough?

 

[shmessy]

having gone on Rush Limbaugh's radio show and said,
". I think ultimately, Rush, if we get enough fire under it, they're going to have to show those letters -- and when they do, they're going to have to change their tune and let Walsh testify, because those reports are looking pretty strong, but there was filming for the 2002 Super Bowl."
__________________________

What I remember from my Civics classes as a lad, one cannot file a libel suit against a Senator for words uttered on the Senate floor.

However, he said these words on a radio show. Wouldn't THAT be a hoot if Kraft took him to the cleaners? ".....BUT there was filming for the 2002 Super Bowl". He could not defend that in the context it was spoken as 'Oh, I meant Fox was televising it'. Nope.

If he had used the word "that" instead of "but" he would have a defense. However, he used the word "but".

I know it seems like semantics, however Specter is dealing in semantics (taping from the end zone is fine, taping from the sidelines is a threat to the sport and merits a Congressional investigation!).

 

[BelichickFan]

I have a feeling Kraft and Belichick have both let Jolly Roger know they won't take it up the ass this time.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

The words were actually spoken by Joseph Welch and reported and written about by Murrow.

As for your point, as long as people feel that there is an issue of fairness at stake here (and most outside of New England feel that the Patriots didn't play "fair"), there's little point in hoping for such a statement to be made with any credibility.

We on this board and in New England have a different view of this matter than most others. We might be right on the point that the Patriots were never accused of "cheating" but only of breaking a rule and we might be right in arguing that "others did the same," but that's not going to do us much good.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

The words were actually spoken by Joseph Welch and reported and written about by Murrow.

.

mea culpa, here's the audio of the exchange.....

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/welch-mccarthy.html

 

[Pats726]

Frankly, I am not sure who has any guts these days... so many have ties that make them like silent lemmings..BRAVO to one that has the guts to do that!! But frankly, I am a bit pessimistic..

 

[fgssand]

I have a feeling Kraft and Belichick have both let Jolly Roger know they won't take it up the ass this time.

Bend over my Patriot fan brothers......I have an ever growing sickening feeling that they ain;t done with us.

Not by a long shot - listening to the ESPN Sports Reporters and reading the Times (and don;t tell me not to read or listen - burying head in sand is akin to fiddling while Rome burns) proves they do not care about fact or truth. The witch hunt will not end until BB is suspended, which will lead to asterisks galore.

Choosing to try to fight ESPN, they way they are doing it is truly like bringing a butter knife to machine gun fight.

I just don't like where I sense this is heading - and don;t hit me with logic, it does not apply here.

 

[Pats726]

As I said on another thread...SANITY and common sense do NOT APPLY here..it MIGHT seem that is logical..but with the media idiots and the witch hunt Patriot haters...all is off teh table..my thought?? A whole rebellion against Roger the dodger.. and make him pay BIG TIME!! Kraft should get his lawyers out and direct the punch right at him..the NFL has not won ANY lawsuit..ask Big and old Al..make him spend a ton of NFL money defending his BS actions and maybe the others will get wise and get his behind OUT of the league..as MANY have said BB and Kraft took one for the NFL...but NO MORE!!

 

[flasox27]

Its all upto Goodell now. He can't hide now and say the media or Spector made me do it. If there are anymore penalties or investigations after Tuesday, its because Goodell doesn't want it to end. Kraft had better man up then and fight because his NE fan base who fills his stadium and shops at his mall will be unhappy. IMO this end when either Belichick or Goodell goes and it better not be Belichick.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Bend over my Patriot fan brothers......I have an ever growing sickening feeling that they ain;t done with us.

Not by a long shot - listening to the ESPN Sports Reporters and reading the Times (and don;t tell me not to read or listen - burying head in sand is akin to fiddling while Rome burns) proves they do not care about fact or truth. The witch hunt will not end until BB is suspended, which will lead to asterisks galore.

Choosing to try to fight ESPN, they way they are doing it is truly like bringing a butter knife to machine gun fight.

I just don't like where I sense this is heading - and don;t hit me with logic, it does not apply here.

I had thought all along that the Pats were in the clear if there were no Walkthrough tape.

However, I am now very concerned that if a consensus builds among owners and in the media that in the fall the Commissioner kept from the public the "full extent" of what the Pats did over the years and that what the Pats did over time was signficantly against the principle of "fair play," then there will be further penalties and suspensions.

I go back to what I have said many times out here since the Jets game. The Patriots should have aggressively "crisis managed" this mess from the beginning. They have now completely lost control of the story and it is the "story" that will drive what happens, not the "facts as we Pats fans see them."

 

[DaBruinz]

As I said on another thread...SANITY and common sense do NOT APPLY here..it MIGHT seem that is logical..but with the media idiots and the witch hunt Patriot haters...all is off teh table..my thought?? A whole rebellion against Roger the dodger.. and make him pay BIG TIME!! Kraft should get his lawyers out and direct the punch right at him..the NFL has not won ANY lawsuit..ask Big and old Al..make him spend a ton of NFL money defending his BS actions and maybe the others will get wise and get his behind OUT of the league..as MANY have said BB and Kraft took one for the NFL...but NO MORE!!

Your premise that the NFL hasn't won any lawsuit is false. In fact, they've beaten Al Davis on numerous frivolous lawsuits. Including ones where he sued the league for allowing the Buccaneers to have a pirate on their Logo and the Panthers for having Black and Silver as part of their uniform.

 

[Pats726]

Your premise that the NFL hasn't won any lawsuit is false. In fact, they've beaten Al Davis on numerous frivolous lawsuits. Including ones where he sued the league for allowing the Buccaneers to have a pirate on their Logo and the Panthers for having Black and Silver as part of their uniform.

OK...so they lost the frivolous ones..I was talking more about the more substantive ones...(should have clarified that...forgot that AL would sue them over the smallest things...)

 

[Pats726]

and what of the Spector-Goodelll connection....I saw this at first as Spector (comcast) vs the NFL...Goodell...BUT..what is interesting is that I am sure Roger Goodell and Spector KNOW each other...Goodell's father was a senator with Spector for a number of years..the closeness in states..politics (liberal Republican) and such...but do you think that Goodell is using Spector to push an investigation a bit further?? Just trying to see possibilities in how they are linked..NOT opposed in this whole mess...

 

[flasox27]

That is the story behind the story friend. With Walsh's story kicking around for months and Goodell not responding to Spector (wink,wink) do you think its just a coincidence it all comes together at Superbowl time especially with a NY team represented. Unlike some people I don't believe in coincidences.

 

[shmessy]

That is the story behind the story friend. With Walsh's story kicking around for months and Goodell not responding to Spector (wink,wink) do you think its just a coincidence it all comes together at Superbowl time especially with a NY team represented. Unlike some people I don't believe in coincidences.

I don't believe in ongoing coincidences either.

But you're looking at the wrong one. Spector's Comcast is in too many legal actions for too many years against Goodell's NFL Network and the Anti-Trust. That's a COVER for Spector and Goodell cooperating against Belichick??????

 

[flasox27]

We will see how it all shakes out. I believe that Kraft is the head of the NFL TV committee and Goodell doesn't have any say on TV contracts and the NFLN. This may be a power play between Comcast (Spector)and Kraft with Goodell the theoretical intermediary. No coicidences.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

and what of the Spector-Goodelll connection....I saw this at first as Spector (comcast) vs the NFL...Goodell...BUT..what is interesting is that I am sure Roger Goodell and Spector KNOW each other...Goodell's father was a senator with Spector for a number of years..the closeness in states..

They never served togather in the Senate,Goodell from '68-71 (serving out Bobby Kennedy's term after his assassination )while Specter served from 1980- present....

 

[flasox27]

You are right about them serving together in the senate. However consider the fact that Spector was a rising star in the Republican Party with his service on the Warren commission and that Goodell's father rermained an influential member of the liberal wing of the Republican Party in the Northeast to which Spector belonged.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

If Godell does not end this on tue, and he has to flat out say this is it, its over lets move on... If its not ended, and Belichick some how suspended for a rule that was put in place 2006, and for tapes that were in 2001.. Belichick will not go quietly

This is what could happened.. You suspend me, well this is who I learned it from, Bill Parcells, who learned it from Ray Perkins, who was told by Joe Gibbs, who was taught by Don Coryell, who taught Bill walsh, and Jimmy Johnson also found out that way as well.. Shall I go on, he is not going down quietly, This would be a disaster of major proportion for the nfl, and the drive by's that started this...