From whence did they come?
Instapundit links to a recent summary of Rather's Memogate in Slate. Josh Levin addresses the question of where these memos originated:

So where did the documents come from? In a story filled with rumor and
innuendo from unnamed sources, the American Spectator claims a "retired military officer" gave them to an opposition researcher at the Democratic National Committee six weeks ago. An anonymous DNC staffer also says he "heard that they ended up with the Kerry campaign."

Powerline supports this statement with an apparent off-the-record conversation with Robert Strong, one of Rather's key witnesses:

Strong said that in his opinion, President Bush hadn't properly completed his service. Strong told our correspondent that "some new documents have turned up." These new documents turned up "because of the Swift Boat Vets' ads. Bush's people shouldn't have gotten involved in them. Those Swift Boat Vet ads made people mad, and as a result these new documents came up." Strong expressed the opinion that "Bush is getting what is coming to him because of his people's involvement in the Swift Boat Vets' ads."

Make of it what you will. We report, you decide.

- posted by The Dutchman @ 9:50:00 AM