Three of the producers in the CBS faked National Guard documents scandal have been asked to resign, but they aren't and have recently hired lawyers.

Senior VP Betsy West, 60 Minutes Wednesday Executive producer Josh Howard and Mary Murphy, a deputy producer are all apparently fighting CBS' decision to blame them for the use of forged documents questioning President Bush's National Guard service.

CBS Chair Leslie Moonves had a panel hearing, decided these three were culpable and asked them to leave. Dan Rather, the talking head who ran the story, was allowed to resign as planned.

While it might appear crazy that these three are fighting this decision it makes sense to anyone familiar with the cutthroat nature of the newsroom. Reporters, and television producers, typically spend half of their career either working their way up the ladder in a major market or slaving away in a small market until they prove themselves. Once you make it to the big show you have one chance, screw it up and you're gone.

Howard said he won't resign until his name is cleared and Moonves retracts his statements. Again this might sound childish, but if that doesn't happen Howard can kiss big market news goodbye. The best he could hope for is a teaching position or becoming a news editor in some third rate market like Kansas City or Idaho.

Who wants to be the agency to hire the guys who didn't properly vett a story about President Bush.

News is a contact sport. At the end of the day you can look at an article or a broadcast and say who got the better story. Because of that it's cutthroat. While I was working at the Marietta Daily Journal I watched two people with very little experience become city editors. In my opinion they rose so high so quickly because they were yes man, and yes woman.

As for the people who think Dan Rather should have been fired or forced to quit earlier don't understand how little the news anchor does. All Rather was is talent. He's the pretty face that says all the words.

He didn't collect the news, didn't fact check and didn't edit the content. He and those like him, are just actors. You don't fire the actor for saying bad lines.