The Armed Prophet draws our attention to a juicy tidbit in today’s Hotline: (subscription req.):

Burkett atty Van Os is currently running for TX Supreme Court — here’s his campaign website — and has been, according to his bio, a Dem activist since ‘72 and served as Travis Co. Dem chair from ‘96-’98. A Hotline source notes, “This is the same county Democratic Party for which Dan Rather gave a speech in 2001, causing a blowup questioning his impartiality. He claimed at the time that he only agreed to give the speech as a favor to his daughter … Maybe it’s just a coincidence” (e-mail, 9/17).

There exists a strong possibility here that Burkett and Dan knew each other. If Burkett is the source of the docs and the two did this over a handshake… oof.

UPDATE: A reader below points out helpful chart that a Freeper put together detailing all the connections between Texas Democrats and Rather, a la the NYT’s Swift Boat chart.