Friday October 27, 2006

The Final Word: “Crime and Punishment Edition ”

(The media experiment in which we conjoin the headline and last paragraph of each bylined article in the A-section of today's New York Times.)

Page 1

G.O.P. Moves Fast to Reignite Issue of Gay Marriage:

"We're going to stick with the issues that we've been winning on this entire campaign," the spokeswoman, Jill Hazelbaker, said. Gay marriage, she said, "is not an issue that he's not talking about, or that he's trying to avoid. But in terms of our marquee issues that we're winning on, I don't think it rises to an issue that's going to define the campaign."

Clinton Wouldn't Block Law if Albany Backs Gay Marriage:

They said Mrs. Clinton described supporting the federal Defense of Marriage Act as a strategic decision to help derail a constitutional amendment that would have banned gay marriage. She also said that it was not fair that the gay partner of a late congressman from Massachusetts, Gerry Studds, was not receiving his benefits, participants said.

Democrats Fear Disillusionment in Black Voters:

"Last time, you had hip-hop leaders like Russell Simmons, Eminem and Sean Combs with the Vote or Die campaign and lots of young blacks voted but what did they get?" said Mr. Brown, 26, pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Baltimore County. "Now when you talk to young black voters you can't just say, 'Get out the vote,' you have to first do a lot of explaining, cut through a lot of confusion about the 2004 vote and first talk about how change takes time."

I.R.S. Going Slow Before Election:

"A lot of people are upset," Mr. Trostorff said.

Family Ties Help Kean in Senate Race, Poll Says:

"Both of these people are just slandering each other, getting vicious, spending X amount of dollars, I'm just sick of it," said Georgette Hendricksen, 59, a Republican from Roselle Park, a middle-class town in central New Jersey. " I don't know which we'd be better off with. I'm going to wait until the last minute to decide."

Sanctions Don't Dent North Korea-China Trade:

"The business interest is the most important thing," he said. "Helping them comes after that." Then, pausing to reflect on the potential and perils of trading with North Korea, he added: "North Korea is just like China in the past. It is a blank sheet of paper. You can draw wherever you want to. The question is whether the paper is going to be there at all times for you to draw on."

Cameras Catch Speeding Britons and Lots of Grief:

"A lot of drivers feel alienated by speed cameras," Mr. Yearley said. "But the best way to deal with a speed camera is simply to comply with the law, and not to set fire to it."

Other News

Tennessee Controversy Shaped by Spin Expert:

"It may seem confusing and convoluted that the R.N.C. has no knowledge of these ads," said Brian Jones, a committee spokesman. "But that's the way the law's been written, and we abide by it."

Spitzer Withdraws Endorsement of Hevesi:

In its report, though, the Ethics Commission concluded that the state-paid driver did not provide security, but simply driving services and companionship for Mrs. Hevesi.

42 Iraqis Die as Insurgents Attack Police Near Baquba:

The general said the American command was reviewing its notification procedures "to understand why the prime minister, as he states, had not been personally notified."

New-Home Prices Fall Sharply:

Over all, the latest economic data pointed to continued but slower growth through the end of the summer. When orders for the transportation equipment sector were stripped out, the gain in durable goods orders was only 0.1 percent.

Rigs on the Skyline and Gas Far Below:

"I can barbecue at home," said the Rev. Raymond Oliver of the Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, who had been an early supporter of Dale's efforts before the new signs went up. "You telling me we don't get paid for a well on my front door and we don't get royalties? I got a problem about that."

Democrats Are Divided on a Solution for Iraq:

The Democrats have a plethora of proposals to extricate the United States from Iraq but no unified approach, said Marshall Wittman of the Progressive Policy Institute, a centrist Democratic research organization. "The overriding dynamic in this election is the war," he said. "The paradox is that once they take control of Congress, there is little they can do. That's the great irony of this election."

China's Corruption Inquiry Targets Beijing:

Some party officials and political observers think Mr. Hu would be reluctant to confirm that corruption extends to the top ruling body. They say it is more likely that any evidence gathered against Mr. Jia would be used to push him into retirement in 2007 and to reduce his political influence in the meantime.

Nicaragua Passes Total Ban on Abortion:

Illegal abortions can be punished with jail terms of up to six years for the woman and the doctor. Lawmakers put off discussion of sentences under the new law, though far stricter terms are expected to be added.

World Series Game 4 - Cardinals 5, Tigers 4: Cardinals Put Tigers on the Brink:

"We lose, we go home," Casey said. "We win, we keep playing. We've got to win and get this thing back to Detroit."

International

In '97, U.S. Panel Predicted a North Korea Collapse in 5 Years:

"Maybe I just don't have a great imagination, but the idea that South Korea and Japan and other countries would come to North Korea's rescue wasn't one of the hypotheses that I was entertaining," said Nicholas Eberstadt, a North Korea expert at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington.

Karzai Orders Investigation Into Bombing by NATO:

"They should have done a proper operation with troops on the ground," he said.

Prize to Honor Heroes in African Democracy:

The prize, Mr. Ibrahim said, will be financed from his own resources following the $3.4 billion sale of his company, Celtel, in 2005. Depending on how many former presidents are selected, the prize could cost his foundation up to $18 million a year, he said in a brief interview.

National Report

4 Firefighters Killed by Blaze in California:

Wildfires in California's national forests are common this time of year. Almost exactly three years ago, fires killed 17 people and burned more than 376,000 acres and 2,600 homes across San Diego County.

Reprimand for a Justice Who Met With Inmates:

"You make them afraid to become involved in the process," Mr. Bulmer said. "In these sorts of visits, it's commonplace for judges at all levels to talk to the residents or prisoners. Otherwise, all you get is a walk-through."

Incumbents on the Ropes Over Ties to Abramoff:

"There's a lot of similarities," Mr. Pombo said. "A lot of the stuff they send out, they just scratch off his name and put mine in."

Republican Attack Ad Offends Canada:

David Wilkins, the United States ambassador to Canada, said Thursday at a meeting in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, that the ad "certainly doesn't represent the view of the president, or the view of the administration, or the view of most Americans," reported The Canadian Press, a news agency.