Turn it on if you're by a tv. Sharpton rocks!

Instapundit has the latest on the fake Abraham Lincoln quote making the rounds--it was debunked by the Chicago Sun Times here:

"There's no honorable way to kill, no gentle way to destroy. There's nothing good in war except its ending." Attributed to Lincoln by anti-war protesters earlier this year, the statement actually was made by an actor portraying Lincoln in an episode of "Star Trek."

Nonetheless, you can buy the t-shirt here.

And former Governor George Ryan of Illiniois used it in his speech on January 7, 2003 announcing his decision to commute the sentences of Illiniois death row inmates.

As I prepare to leave office, I had to ask myself whether I could really live with the prospect of knowing that I had the opportunity to act, but that I failed to do so because I might be criticized. Could I take the chance that our capital punishment system might be reformed, that wrongful convictions might not occur, that enterprising journalism students might free more men from death row? A system that's so fragile that it depends on young journalism students is seriously flawed.

"There is no honorable way to kill, no gentle way to destroy. There is nothing good in war. Except its ending."

That's what Abraham Lincoln said about the bloody war between the states. It was a war fought to end the sorriest chapter in American history--the institution of slavery. While we are not in a civil war now, we are facing what is shaping up to be one of the great civil rights struggles of our time.

We'd just say it's the thought that counts.

Author Sara Paretsky, who writes the popular V.I. Warshawski series, is afraid of the Patriot Act. So her new novel, Blacklist, has the heroine coming smack up against it. Good for Ms. Paretsky, what a great way to get a message out. Here's an interview with Ms. Paretsky in which she describes how the book came about. [link via Hamster.]

From Amazon:

Privilege, politics, and perfidy jointly propel the circuitous plot of Blacklist, Sara Paretsky's 11th novel featuring tenacious Chicago private-eye V.I. Warshawski. By the time this story runs its course, V.I. will have harbored an alleged Arab terrorist, resurrected the ghosts of America's 1950s anti-Communist hysteria, and questioned the integrity of a man she once admired "to the point of hero worship." In other words, it's a typical case for this hard-headed, sarcastic, and perpetually sleep-deprived sleuth.

Nathan Newman watched an episode of The Practice, which has undergone a shift in cast and tone, and writes, " Dirty Harry for the Defense."

We don't think there is an increase in defense lawyers breaking rules to achieve justice in real life. It's a television show, folks. But Nathan writes a fun op-ed --we're going to tune in next time and watch for ourselves.

Our good pal, NY criminal defense lawyer Joe Tacopina, made Page Six of the Post today....

DASHING defense lawyer Joe Tacopina, who's made his name representing high-profile clients like publishing guru Judith Regan and Abner Louima cop Thomas Wiese, is copping an eyeful of himself on TV. Script writers for CBS's legal drama "The Guardian" confess they used Tacopina's courtroom charms as the model for their slick lawyer Clay Simms, played by Mark Kiely. "I looked Joe up on the Internet," Kiely tells PAGE SIX. "He's a classic alpha male - knows no fear." Tacopina is flattered by the attention but says, "When do I get my check?"

Update: Joe Tacopina will be guest hosting the Dan Abrams report Wednesday night on MSNBC.

Update: We'll be on with him.

[comments now closed.]

Kimberly at Brief Intelligence recommends Orson Welle's The Trial (1963), from the novel By Franz Kafka:

Josef K. awakens one morning to find that he has been arrested by officers who refuse to disclose the charges. His nervous protests estrange his friends and neighbors who proceed to distance themselves while his every action seems to further indict him. Josef's attempts to discover his alleged crime pull him into a perplexing world full of secrets and lies. As the horror and brutality of this nightmare world becomes apparent to Josef, he attempts to fight back with argument, avoidance, disobedience and pleading - all to no avail. Orson Welles' vision of Kafka's world is faithfully disorienting, absurd and suspicious. From the vast, overwhelming courtroom to the wasteland of books and papers in the advocate's office, Josef K. is spectacularly dwarfed by the power and madness surrounding him. Accented by a revolutionary "pinscreen" prologue and remarkable performances by Anthony Perkins and Orson Welles, "The Trial" is a brilliant adaptation of Kafka's masterpiece.

Kimberly calls it "a stunning and chilling achievement" and that "today’s poisonous political climate and the dawn of the Patriot Act give it an especially jarring relevance."

We're still thinking about Mystic River, which we saw two weeks ago. We might want to see it again. Sean Penn was that good and the story was a mystery until the end.

As for reading, now that we've finished two novels, Namesake and the DaVinci Code, we're ready to break into The Brass Wall by NY Times reporter David Kocieniewski.

It's written with the tone and pace of a legal thriller, but at its heart, is an expose--showing how the Guliani Administration allowed the NYPD's good ol' boys to risk the life of an undercover agent and undermine the investigation of two mob-related homicides that remain unsolved. It examines the way New York City handled dangerous police corruption cases during the time the Mollen Commission was supposed to be reforming the NYPD--and when the Abner Louima and Amadou Diallo cases raised concerns that the department's failure to police itself was endangering the public.

Showtime will air the controversial movie about Ronald Reagan that CBS pulled on November 30.

As Nathan Newman says, "If you need to order Showtime, click here."

Comedian Dennis Miller is jumping from Fox to CNBC where he will have his own hour long news show. It does not appear there was any contract-breaking. Dennis says he hadn't heard from Fox on renewal of his one year contract so he took the CNBC offer.

Nonetheless, Fox doesn't sound pleased with Dennis's decision:

Frankly, when we deal with talent we usually have better conversations before someone leaves," says Kevin Magee, FNC's vice president of programming. "I don't think he'll have as many viewers as he had on "Hannity & Colmes," but we'll figure out some way to fill those three minutes and move on."

Hmm....we can think of lots of liberals who would be glad to fill three minutes of Hannity and Colmes on Friday nights. Liberals? Here's our reasoning: Since the last year belonged to Dennis, who was a conservative, to put it mildly, we hope Fox goes fair and balanced and gives the spot to a liberal for the next year. [link via Atrios.]

CBS is pulling the plug on its Ronald Reagan miniseries . Too many complaints the series cast Reagan and wife Nancy in an unflattering light.

The Reagans, a mini-series that is said to depict Ronald Reagan as an affable but rather detached president and Nancy Reagan as something of a control freak, was due to be broadcast in two parts later this month.

But since snippets of the less than flattering drama were seen last month, CBS has faced an onslaught of complaint. Michael Paranzino, who last month set up the website BoycottCBS.com to rally opposition to the show, said: "The idea that a TV network can make a buck... while a great American president lies on his deathbed with his wife taking care of him at his side is repugnant to the American people."

CBS on Tuesday announced it was pulling The Reagans off the network, saying: "Although the mini-series features impressive production values and acting performances...it does not present a balanced portrayal of the Reagans." The programme will instead be made available to Showtime, the cable channel also owned by CBS's parent Viacom.

Looks to us like Viacom wins both ways--only network viewers lose.

These ought to do the trick. The new anti-marijuana ads produced by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Partnership for a Drug- Free America, will utilize sarcasm.

The effort launches with a pair of 30-second spots. In "Pool," a toddler carries an inflatable raft to a swimming pool and places it in the water. As she teeters on the edge, a voiceover says: "Just tell her parents you weren't watching her because you were getting stoned. They'll understand."

The other ad, "Pick Up," shows a group of young boys leaving a baseball field. One sits on the curb, waiting to be picked up, as day turns to dusk. The voiceover says, "Just tell your little brother that you forgot to pick him up because you were getting stoned. He'll understand."

You will not only be subjected to the "Pool" ad on tv, but at the movies, around Thanksgiving time.

Executive creative director Mark Monteiro said DDB chose to use the notion of disappointing friends and family as "the motivating consequence" of smoking marijuana. "It comes up in research over and over again as being incredibly important to [teens]," said Shaw, adding that they are particularly concerned about being role models to younger siblings.

How much are we paying for this nonsense?

The House of Representatives is proposing $150 million, the Senate $100 million. The House is expected to set a date for a conference hearing on the issue by the end of this week, said an appropriations committee staffer.

Legislators have been critical of the campaign's effectiveness. "ONDCP needs to produce evidence that there is a decrease in drug use specifically because of the campaign itself," said the staffer, adding that an ongoing study funded by the House has shown "no direct causational link."

Source: Ad Week (subscription)
Author: Rebecca Flass
Published: October 27, 2003
Copyright: 2003 VNU eMedia
Contact: info@adweek.com

Surely this money could be better utilized elsewhere. Let your elected officials know how you feel about spending large funds for reefer madness campaigns. Call the toll-free congressional switchboard at 1-800-839-5276. Find your elected officials here.

These ought to do the trick. The new anti-marijuana ads produced by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Partnership for a Drug- Free America, will utilize sarcasm.

The effort launches with a pair of 30-second spots. In "Pool," a toddler carries an inflatable raft to a swimming pool and places it in the water. As she teeters on the edge, a voiceover says: "Just tell her parents you weren't watching her because you were getting stoned. They'll understand."

The other ad, "Pick Up," shows a group of young boys leaving a baseball field. One sits on the curb, waiting to be picked up, as day turns to dusk. The voiceover says, "Just tell your little brother that you forgot to pick him up because you were getting stoned. He'll understand."

You will not only be subjected to the "Pool" ad on tv, but at the movies, around Thanksgiving time.

Executive creative director Mark Monteiro said DDB chose to use the notion of disappointing friends and family as "the motivating consequence" of smoking marijuana. "It comes up in research over and over again as being incredibly important to [teens]," said Shaw, adding that they are particularly concerned about being role models to younger siblings.

How much are we paying for this nonsense?

The House of Representatives is proposing $150 million, the Senate $100 million. The House is expected to set a date for a conference hearing on the issue by the end of this week, said an appropriations committee staffer.

Legislators have been critical of the campaign's effectiveness. "ONDCP needs to produce evidence that there is a decrease in drug use specifically because of the campaign itself," said the staffer, adding that an ongoing study funded by the House has shown "no direct causational link."

Source: Ad Week (subscription)
Author: Rebecca Flass
Published: October 27, 2003
Copyright: 2003 VNU eMedia
Contact: info@adweek.com

Surely this money could be better utilized elsewhere. Let your elected officials know how you feel about spending large funds for reefer madness campaigns. Call the toll-free congressional switchboard at 1-800-839-5276. Find your elected officials here.