Dan Forbes in DrugWar on why the Superbowl anti-drug ads won't work.

In other drug war news, Free Ed Rosenthal protests are being held Wednesday at U.S. Embassies around the world. Details here.

Who's Ed Rosenthal? We tell you here. The case went to the jury today, and deliberations begin Friday.

And in still other drug war news, in Denver, Senior U.S. District Court Judge John Kane, Jr. told guests at a packed City Club luncheon at the Brown Palace Hotel that "America's war on drugs is costly, ignorant and doesn't work." Kane got a standing ovation.

A detailed article about Gary Condit's libel suit against author Dominick Dunne, A Horse-Whisperer's Tale Trails Dominick Dunne, appears in today's New York Times' book section. The article sets out the details of Dunne's tall tale. The lawsuit is over Dunne's retelling of it on radio and television talk shows.

Here's part of what Dunne said on the radio:

"Now some of this I can't explain, and I don't want to get into any trouble saying. But according to what the procurer told the horse whisperer who told me, is that Gary Condit was often a guest at some of the Middle Eastern embassies in Washington — where all these ladies were.

"And that he had let it be known that he was in a relationship with a woman that was over. But she was a clinger. He couldn't get rid of her. And he had made promises to her that he couldn't keep. And apparently she knew things about him and had threatened to go public. And at one point he said, `This woman is driving me crazy,' or words to that effect.

"And I wrote all this down at the time, and what the horse whisperer said that the procurer said is, by saying that, he created the environment that led to her disappearance. And she shortly thereafter vanished." Reminding his audience that "I can't vouch for any of this," Mr. Dunne added that he was told that a semi-conscious Ms. Levy had been hustled aboard a private plane. The procurer, Mr. Dunne said, speculated that "she was dropped at sea."

Dunne repeated his remarks in a shorter fashion on Larry King Live. The issue in the lawsuit, according to the Times, is "...whether and when journalists can traffic publicly in rank rumor."

When the Times reporter telephoned Dunne for his comments on the lawsuit, "Mr. Dunne said, "How did you get my number?" He added: "I just am not going to talk. This is a very bad time in my life." Laura Ingraham, the conservative radio host on whose show Dunne told the story, did not return repeated calls to her.

Lin Wood, the excellent Atlanta libel attorney who has obtained libel settlements for John and Patsy Ramsey and Richard Jewell, is representing Condit. Wood argues that "Mr. Dunne knew the story was "nothing more than unverified and unsubstantiated rumor and gossip."

Wood, who said this was the first defamation suit filed by the former Congressman but may not be the last, expects the case to be "a close call." He added: "Does our legal system sanction a society that basically approves of rumor-mongering on national television and national radio stations? Can you simply go on the air and make any accusation you choose?" Journalists do not operate by written rules, but disseminating rumors is not a generally accepted practice in mainstream media.

The suit is considered a long-shot, but not out of the ballpark. Dunne is the sole defendant, so there may not be any deep pockets to fund a large settlement.

Tune in Monday, January 27th, 7 PM eastern standard time, as Gary Hart joins hosts Paul Begala and Robert Novak on CNN's Crossfire.

Susan McDougal is on Geraldo At Large tonight on Fox.

We'll be on at the end of the show, 9:40 EST discussing Laci Peterson. Geraldo suspects the husband. We think people ought to be slower at rushing to judgment.

Update: Don't miss Media Horse and it's scathing attack on the NY Times Book Reviewer who reviewed Susan's book--they see a libel action coming on behalf of the Clintons and McDougal. You can order her book here.

Here's our weekend reading list:

The Woman Who Wouldn't Talk
by Susan McDougal

Buy the Book Today!

Whitewater figure Susan McDougal tells about about her experiences being grilled, then jailed for contempt for refusing to give Ken Starr his smoking gun-and she lays on the horrific details with righteous fury.

Down By the River:
Drugs, Drugs, Money, Murder, and Family
by Charles Bowden

Buy the Book Today!

Acclaimed author and journalist Charles Bowden offers a gripping, very disturbing look at the drug trade and international relations between Mexico and the U.S., seen through the tragic killing of the younger brother of a DEA agent and the subsequent investigation. A dramatic detective story and a biting critique of the U.S. war on drugs.

And, due out Feb. 4, but you can order it now:

What Liberal Media
by Eric Alterman

Buy the Book Today!

Acclaimed author and journalist Eric Alterman's scathing and witty investigation into who really controls the media. Armed with data and in brisk, light-hearted prose, Alterman exposes the fallacy of the vast left-wing conspiracy that never was.

Here's more on the marijuana billboard ads we like-- from The Coalition For Medical Marijuana. The ads have an especially appealing tag line, "Medical Marijuana: Compassion Not Federal Prison."

Speaking of federal prisons, check out USA Today's Kevin Johnson on how many offenders are currently packed into them.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons reported a population of nearly 165,000 this month, making the system larger than perennial prison giants California and Texas....

At least part of the increase, officials say, is because of a growing pool of non-citizen offenders who represent nearly one-third of the federal inmate population..... The majority have been convicted of drug-related crimes, and their numbers jumped from 22% in 1998 to 28% in 2002....

The Bureau of Prisons is one of the fastest-growing arms of the federal government. In 1980, the bureau's budget was $330 million, and there were 24,000 inmates in 44 prisons. In 2002, the budget was $4.6 billion, and there were 102 prisons. Eleven more federal prisons are in various stages of construction.

War on Drugs, War on Iraq, Prison Nation....does the Government think money grows on trees?

If you'll be watching the Superbowl, you may want to keep your channel clicker nearby.

"The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) today announced the launch of two new sets of advertisements, premiering during the Super Bowl and pre-game show, designed to further educate Americans about the risks of drug use. Two of the ads aimed at teens are a response to research showing that American youth want to be provided with the facts about marijuana. A second pair of ads will follow up on the groundbreaking spots linking drugs, terror and violence that were released during last year's Super Bowl. The ads are part of the ONDCP's National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, which is designed to help America's youth reject illicit drugs."

In the "We Can't Believe He Said That" department.....

"This campaign is designed to show teens some of the ways that using marijuana can cripple a young person's future," said John Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy.

And don't forget to bring Kleenex if you'll be watching:

"Pregnancy Test" focuses on teen pregnancy and highlights the fact that marijuana can seriously impair judgment and lead to risk-taking that has serious long-term negative consequences. "Roadside Memorial" highlights the tragic consequences of drug-impaired driving.

Another set of ads links drug use to terrorism. "Part of a continuing effort to inspire national dialogue about the connection between drugs, terror and violence, the spot illustrates the sobering point that drug use has social consequences far beyond those that affect the individual user and his or her family. The ads challenge potential drug purchasers to examine the wider implications of their actions." Here's the website for the ad campaign.

We much prefer this marijuana ad campaign.

The new documentary film Mad Dog Prosecutors has been selected for the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival to be held April 2 through April 12, 2003 in New York City. The film will be featured at the opening evening's gala event at Madison Square Garden and will have individual screenings throughout the following week.

Executive Producer Michael Zinn said, "We are so pleased that our timely film has been recognized during a period of erosion of constitutional safeguards and rapid changes in our legal system. We sincerely hope Mad Dog Prosecutors will become one of the most important legal documentaries of our time."

Lisa English of Ruminate This is on top of an important story the mainstream press needs to pick up on. The head of the Center for Public Integrity has charged that media companies are essentially buying political favor through hundreds and thousands of fancy all expense paid trips being given to politicians and FCC employees, respectively. Lisa and Democracy Now point out that the FCC, under Michael Powell's leadership, is aiming to remove the last vestiges of regulation on our media. The bottom line will be a media that is owned by very few -- and the likelihood of their corporate agenda reflecting the liberal ideology is nil. They see political endorsements on the horizen with further consolidation and deregulation, as well as a host of other problems.

From Democracy Now:

Columbia Law School yesterday held a public hearing on the Federal Communications Commission's plans to loosen or scrap all remaining media ownership rules. The hearing was at the instigation of unions and media activists, originally organized by the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the Writers Guild of America, the Center for Digital Democracy, the Media Access Project and others.

The six rules under review include:

*the ban on broadcasters owning television stations that reach more than 35 per cent of the country * the prohibition of mergers between the four largest TV networks

• and the prohibition from owning a newspaper and broadcast outlet in the same market.

If those rules are scrapped, a single CEO could theoretically own all of the largest media outlets in the country. The event featured all-day panels where media activists, public interest advocates, representatives from think tanks and Hollywood guild members outnumbered industry reps like Viacom's Dennis Swanson, Fox Entertainment Group's Ellen Agress and David Poltrack of CBS.

You can listen to the tapes from the Columbia Law School hearing here. You can download a free copy of the Center for Public Integrity's report, Off The Record: What Media Corporations Don’t Tell You About Their Legislative Agendas here.

Mad Kane has outdone herself (again) with her Dubya Does College Comic Strip.

Unrelated but interesting comment on Pete Townsend from Smythe's World. Here is the correct link to the referenced document.

And via Political Parrhesia, the Republicans in Congress are in fear of Hillary Clinton's increasing clout and urging others to keep their legislative distance from her.

How uninformed are Americans about the 9/11 hijackers? Check out Sideshow and see the latest poll numbers showing that far too many believe most or some of them they were citizens of Iraq.

Red Hot News which calls itself "The Internets Largest Media Site". We are impressed and are bookmarking it and adding it to our Alternative News Sources immediately.

Via Instapundit and Tim Blair, Keith Richards is lashing out at Paul McCartney for canceling an Australian tour. The Stones tour will go on.

Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards has lashed out at former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney for calling off an Australian tour because of the Bali bombings.

"I say to Osama and the boys bring it on, evaporate me," Richards said on the eve of the band's Australian tour. "If it gets to the stage where these guys are dictating if we rock or not, then forget about it.

"If McCartney uses these guys as an excuse, he should give it away. Don't give them the power. I can't wait to tour Australia, even if they take out my plane on the way there."

And, you gotta love the guy on his attitude on age.

He and Jagger turn 60 this year, drummer Charlie Watts will be 62 in June and guitarist Ron Wood, the baby of the band, turns 56 the same month. Critics have claimed they are too old to rock, but Richards said: "I don't care what anyone is saying. Man, we are never going to give it away. You tell them down there that Mr Richards is still very up for this gig."

Ok, so we love Mick and Keith no matter what. Always have. We found the live concert last night at Madison Square Garden, shown for free on HBO, nothing short of mesmerizing. There will likely be repeats in the coming weeks, don't miss it.

Update: Via Drudge, Mayor Bloomberg is fuming that Keith Richards and Ron Wood smoked a few cigarettes on stage while perfomring and sent cops to issue summonses but they had already split...lighten up, Mayor, it's only rock and roll.