Monday, April 18, 2011

History wins in Robert Redford's The Conspirator

Re: The Left

"[I]n 2009, Obama took itemized deductions of $514,819, a foreign tax credit of $59,372, and a deduction for interest on his home of $52,195. He was also able to take a deduction for $49,000 he contributed to his self-employed retirement fund. If he had not taken these deductions, he would have paid taxes on an additional $675,386, which in his income bracket would have meant he owed somewhere in the neighborhood of $200,000 more in taxes at the top marginal tax rate of 35 percent. Furthermore, he instructed the Nobel committee to donate his entire $1.4 million Nobel Prize directly to 10 charities, thereby avoiding the necessity of declaring the money as income on which he would have owed an additional $490,000 in taxes. If the president is so appalled at the rich and their ability to hire accountants to take advantage of each and every deduction, why doesn't he simply take the standard deduction on his tax return, like most Americans?"

--columnist Linda Chavez

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"Robin Wright’s portrayal of the defendant balance
s foe-honest defiance to feminine fear. James McAvoy’s open hostility to his appointed client retreats first into reticence and uncertainly, both to his client as well as himself, then burns into battlefield resilience as he fights for her life against an unrelenting foe who has abandoned the Constitution."

1 comment:

  1. It was well done, the movie monkeys with the facts a bit - but overall a very commendable job & movie - Every American should see it - Whatever Redford's motives the nails the yankee system in this one

    1. Movies leaves out Anna Surratt's plea to Andrew Johnson and being blocked by Rufus King (who later committed suicide)

    2. Puts Mary & atty at same table (wrong) and leaves out the case against the rest of the conspirators (sensible)

    3. Makes the hoods worn by defendants less barbaric than they were.

    4.Infers that John Surratt was close at hand (he was in hiding in Quebec)

    5. Lewis Payne was young and handsome - not the derelict portrayed - he also said repeatedly on the scaffold that Mary Surratt was innocent - that was left out - he also strangled in the noose for several minutes - that was also left out.

    But these are minor criticisms - Great Movie - go see it

    Kirk D. Lyons (Esq. SLRC)


    Other minor problems

    Counsel was not allowed to communicate with their clients - save in open court - Aiken never got to talk to Mary Surratt in her cell - with our without a soldier present. Also the hoods were padded with 1" cotton batting with extra padding around the eyes. All the prisoners were on a raised platform including Mary Surratt who as you entered the room was at the back and to the left - she did not sit with Aiken separately - as a matter of fact in the descriptions of the courtroom - I cannot find a place for defense counsel to sit or stand.

    Movie got this wrong: at the actual execution scene there were NO females present except the very weird Dr. Mary Walker who wore her uniform/bloomer outfit

    Also the movie folks obviously forgot what Catholic priests wore - they did not look like Baptist Deacons.

    Apparently Herold and to a lesser extent Atzerodt - strangled in the noose.

    Kirk D. Lyons
    IN Giffen 758
    BM, NC
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    Kirk comes to the Same Davis Youth Camp each year with his children.

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