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Bill O'Reilly's Lincoln

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Sorry, but I couldn't resist posting this.  Republicans have generally distanced themselves from Lincoln.  After all, he instituted the first federal income tax to fund the Civil War, conscripted soldiers, successively abolished slavery and began the federally-sponsored Reconstruction of Southern states, all of which would be anathema to present-day Republicans, except maybe abolition of slavery.  So what does Bill O'Reilly have to say about Lincoln?

To read this article from The Daily Beast, it seems O'Reilly has essentially made Killing Lincoln into a political potboiler, and if successful plans more books in this vein.O'Reilly boasts of an extensive "Presidential Library."  With his money, he certainly can afford some prized first editions, but he isn't willing to divulge the contents of his library for fear that he might attract unwanted attention.  As it is, he has a close security watch given the "death threats" he receives.

O'Reilly has also been promoting his book on The Daily Show.  Seems he and Jon Stewart have developed an amicable relationship over the years.

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  1. avrdsSeptember 30, 2011 at 4:05 PM

    He's thrilling alright.

    ReplyDelete
  2. avrdsSeptember 30, 2011 at 4:14 PM

    The Michael Jackson of the pinhead right.

    ReplyDelete
  3. MartiOctober 1, 2011 at 7:31 AM

    Isn't it strange that they have the author name above "Killing Lincoln"? Jon Stewart pointed that out on his show.

    While Stewart and O'Reilly have a kind of rapport, they shoot barbs at one another.

    ReplyDelete
  4. James FergusonOctober 1, 2011 at 11:22 AM

    O'Reilly is a showman. He's been in broadcasting all his life and knows a good story when he sees one. My guess is he felt the public was ready for a good potboiler on Lincoln's assassination. Maybe he will tackle the divided convention of 1876 next? The sellout that allowed the Republicans to stay in power and further corrupt themselves. If all else fails, he can resurrect Jefferson's affair with Hemings in a few years time. That story never seems to run out of steam.

    ReplyDelete
  5. avrdsOctober 1, 2011 at 4:03 PM

    Marti, that's because the publishers assume that Bill O'Reilly is more famous than Lincoln, which may be true. I saw a little clip of him talking about the book -- he thinks of himself as a Presidential scholar and apparently collects memorabilia because he can. And now he can make yet more money writing for his fellow pinheads.

    ReplyDelete
  6. James FergusonOctober 1, 2011 at 5:05 PM

    Maybe it is just me but there seems to be some morphing in the image of Lincoln on the book cover. As if Bill's own mug has been photoshopped to look like Lincoln. Or, maybe it is just the tilt of the head that looks so similar.

    ReplyDelete
  7. avrdsOctober 1, 2011 at 5:20 PM

    Wouldn't he love to think so!

    ReplyDelete
  8. MartiOctober 2, 2011 at 1:09 AM

    So sad that O'Reilly might be better known than Lincoln.

    I worked at WCBS-TV Channel 2 in 1981 when O'Reilly was a reporter/weekend anchor there. Had no idea he was such a right-winger at that time. He had yet to find his niche and fame.

    ReplyDelete
  9. MartiOctober 2, 2011 at 1:10 AM

    I should have said that it's sad that O'Reilly may be better known in SOME CIRCLES.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousOctober 2, 2011 at 7:37 AM

    Who's Bill O'Reilly(bosox)

    ReplyDelete
  11. avrdsNovember 13, 2011 at 4:47 AM

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/bill-oreillys-lincoln-book-banned-from-fords-theatre-because-of-mistakes/2011/11/11/gIQAhJpyFN_story.html?hpid=z2

    ReplyDelete
  12. James FergusonNovember 13, 2011 at 11:43 PM

    I would think the publisher would take more responsibility for a book like this, but since it was fiction, it seems O'Reilly could get away with a few "mistakes."

    ReplyDelete
  13. avrdsNovember 14, 2011 at 12:49 AM

    Nice to see, though, that they aren't going to sell it in an historic site where history matters. I'm sure Bill will see it as a giant liberal conspiracy ...

    ReplyDelete

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