POP & POLITICS

8 Years

I just found out that someone I knew back home was released from prison this week after 8 years (for murder).  This has made me think about two things;  everything I've done every day for the past 8 years, and the question of exactly "what is just?" for someone who takes the life of another.

8 years was half of his sentence; he was sentenced just prior to a reform in Illinois law, which now requires over 80% service.  Months later, and he would still be in prison for years for the same crime.  People who have talked to him say that he's a different person, and determined to go straight.  So should he still be in prison?  The person he killed is still dead, and I'm sure the victim's friends and family are uninterested in this turn of a leaf.  All I know for sure is that our system of justice can never provide an adequate remedy, whether the goal is to punish or rehabilitate. 

Since the murder, I learned how to drive.  I had my first serious girlfriend.  I graduated high school, went to college, moved to Tempe, Arizona.  I entered a bar with my own driver's license.  I moved to California to go to law school, and lived in Santa Monica.  I've spent the last two summers in Europe.  I graduated from law school.  I moved back to Tempe, where I bought my first home.  I took the Bar Exam.  I discovered the joys of high speed internet, digital cable, and blogging.  An awful lot has happened, and an awful lot has changed.  He'll also be surprised at how different our old neighborhood looks, and that place never changes in any meaningful way. 

8 years have flown by, at least for me. 

Gay times in Paris

The Labour Party of Great Britain has dropped Christine Wheatley as a possible candidate for Parliament in Copeland.  In a recent interview to a local newspaper, she revealed that she had worked as a prostitute in Paris.   

"I have done lots of things in my life, lots of different jobs. I'm not ashamed of working as a tart."

The 53-year-old from Birmingham said she was more ashamed of working as an encyclopaedia salesman than as a prostitute for around six weeks in 1979.

"It was very gay, I was living on the Left Bank - Paris in the 1970s, and I was a delightful young woman."

She told how she used to sit in a cafe on the Boulevard St Michel and wait to be approached by men.

"French guys would come along and say, 'Would you like something to drink?

"I would say, 'I will have a coffee.

"Then I would say, 'Would you like to make love?' They always said yes. Then I would say, 'Do you have the money?' Then we would go to a hotel."

She went on: "We have single mothers who want to be MPs, gay and lesbian candidates, so why not former sex workers?"

Ms Wheatley, who is now training to be a barrister, said she would not be giving up on politics and that she had always wanted to be prime minister.

Good luck with that one. 

Touchdown in Pennsylvania!

I reported a rumor a few months ago about Lynn Swann, the former NFL star and Hall of Famer, who was interested in running for governor as a Republican in Pennsylvania.  Now Swann has formed a committee and looks ready to go. 

In the general, he would face incumbent Governor Ed Rendell.  To win statewide in Pennsylvania, a Democrat has to maximize their voter turnout in the two major urban areas.  As James Carville once described Pennsylvania, "It's Pittsburgh in the West, Philadelphia in the East, and Alabama in between."  Swann's base is in Pittsburgh (he played for the Steelers when they won 4 Superbowls).  Studies of black voting patterns suggest a stronger preference for a Democratic candidate than a black candidate in general.  It's an open question whether Swann, an African-American, could make any inroads there.  Either way, Swann is a dream candidate, who threatens the support that Rendell needs if he's going to win re-election.  Pennsylvania will also feature the marquee Senate race of 2006, with Senator Rick Santorum facing Treasurer Bob Casey (a conservative, pro-life Democrat and son of a former governor). 

Bottom line: Swann's probable entry into the race is the best thing that could have happened to PA Republicans.  I hope they're smart enough to nominate him. 

The Queen Dethroned

The Mayor of North Chicago was soundly beaten in the primary this week.  North Chicago's gain is Politics Blog's loss. 

Ahhh

The perennial favorite political story.  A dead candidate leads the pack. 

Kathy Mullen's name will appear on Tuesday's ballot for a second term as a McHenry Township trustee, and some of the retired schoolteacher's supporters expect her to do quite well.

"She will be the top vote-getter," predicted Mark Justen, a family friend. "First of all, she is a woman. And the last time she ran, she was the top vote-getter. People absolutely loved her."

The problem is Mullen, 68, is dead. She died suddenly 11 days ago -- too late to take her name off the primary ballot.

I think if you can vote, you should be able to run for office.  In Chicago, as everyone knows, you don't have to be alive to vote. 

The Queen of North Chicago

Heading into her re-election, this mayor has some explaining to do. 

In 2003, city council members sued her, contending she was spying on council chambers with audio equipment and a video camera. They also challenged a Thomas-instituted policy that forbade aldermen from speaking to city employees unless she was present.

Her critics say Thomas, who early in her term was accused of personally pulling over motorists to give them traffic tickets, is more interested in accumulating power than in working for the city.

How did she even do it?  "Hey, you!  I'm the mayor, pull over."  Maybe they outfitted her car with wig-wag (police) lights. 

Even before the spying spat, Thomas angered the city council in 2001 when she slapped her picture on the city's vehicle stickers, arguing her election made her a historical figure in town.

Maybe, but probably not for the reasons she hopes. 

"Pull over, or I'll shoot!" 

Be careful what you joke about

I once said to a friend, entirely as a joke, "You know how I know that God is against gay marriage?  If he was for it, he'd give traditional marriage supporters gay children." 

In a related note, Alan Keyes' daughter has come out of the closet, describing herself as a "liberal queer." Keyes described Mary Cheney as a "selfish hedonist," and said that homosexuality leads directly to incest.  Is he getting his comeuppance? 

Listen to this legalistic disavowal of his daughter:

''My daughter is an adult, and she is responsible for her own actions. What she chooses to do has nothing to do with my work or political activities.''

Reminds me of the "Seinfeld" episode where Elaine, an athiest, discovers that her boyfriend, Putty, is a Christian. 

Elaine: So it doesn't bother you that I'm an atheist? 

Putty: No. I'm not the one going to hell. 

I happen to strongly favor traditional marriage.  Be careful what you joke about. 

The Michael Jackson variety show

This Michael Jackson trial is going to be pure spectacle.  Look at this witness list: 

For the Defense

Backstreet Boy Nick Carter and little brother Aaron Carter (of Hillary Duff/Lindsey Lohan love triangle fame). 

Court: Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? 

Nick Carter: "Yes I will.  I'll make "10,000 promises" to tell "Everything I have to give."

Defense Attorney: What can you tell us about Mr. Jackson? 

Carter: He's "Larger than Life," but Michael is "Like a Child," and as we all know, "Boys will be boys."   

Defense: Do you know what will happen if Mr. Jackson goes to prison? 

Carter: He'll have to "Get Another Boyfriend." Can you "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely?" 

(note: various reports list these two as either prosecution or defense witnesses).

Kobe Bryant, former celebrity trial star.  Will Shaq testify for the Prosecution? 

Magician David Blaine, who lived in an egg suspended above the River Themes living off of bread and water for 44 days, to the the international acclaim of no one (on either side of the pond).  His experience can help Jackson prepare for a possible life in prison, and in the event of a guilty verdict, help him escape. 

Famed starlet Elizabeth Taylor will take the stand.  Will she testify to "The Last Time I Saw Paris" (Jackson, Michael's daughter)?"  Hopefully, nothing comes out about an "Elephant Walk." Will the jury be suckers for her testimony?  After all, "There's one born every minute." Taylor's appearance will help make this trial "The Only Game in Town."

Family members of the late Marlon Brando.  Could this possibly be a good thing? 

Christian Brando got wasted and killed his sister's boyfriend for abusing her.  She fabricated the abuse because she was suffering from schizophrenia.  He is currently facing charges of spousal abuse stemming from an incident in which he pushed his wife to the ground and kicked her.  Brando claims he mistook her for an intruder.  Could this family be even more messed up than the Jacksons? 

Rounding out the field will be Ed Bradley of 60 Minutes (Will an employee of CBS News be allowed to authenticate documents?), and child stars Macauley Culkin and Emmanuel Lewis.  During Lewis' testimony, the witness box will be outfitted with a special high chair for the 3'4'' "Webster" star.  Hopefully it will go better than his appearance on "The Weakest Link," where he answered that 'May' has the fewest days of any month. 

Jay Leno may also be called to the stand.  I really hope that any gag orders during trial won't apply to him.  Consider his thoughts on the subject thus far: 

"Michael says that he is going to fight these charges tooth and nail---because those are the only body parts he has left." 

"I guess they got Michael on that new law--three tykes and you're out."

Boy, it's like the old saying: with defense witnesses like these, who needs prosecutors?  But Leno has also taken aim at one of the prosecution witnesses.

That’s the big story today. Former child star Corey Feldman has been subpoenaed to testify in the Michael Jackson case. I think this is the first callback Corey has had since the movie "Goonies"!

The prosecutor will have some fun impeaching Leno's claims that Jackson has good character.  Remember when he dangled his kid off the balcony? 

"Actually, yesterday, a lot of the news agencies were reporting that people weren't sure if it was even Michael's baby, which of course it's Michael's baby. Would you let Michael Jackson baby sit your kid? No."

Bottom Line: The King of Late Night is a wildcard.   

Not to be outdone, the Prosecutor has a star studded lineup walking up the red carpet to the Santa Maria, California courthouse. 

Barry Gibb from the Bee Gees will testify for the prosecution, and perform time honored songs such as "Dancing Queen"  and "Stayin' Alive" for the jury on sidebars.  He will also take requests. 

No word yet on whether Gibb will team up with fellow prosecution witness Diana Ross.  A former friend of Jackson's, he must be wondering, "Where Did Our Love Go?" 

Chris Tucker will also be taking the stand.  If the prosecution gets tripped up over mishandling evidence, they should borrow a line from "Rush Hour."   

Police Captain: You lost a lot of evidence!

Tucker: There's still a little bit left. 

Maury Povich (Mr. Connie Chung) and Larry King will also be testifying against Jackson.  Is Povich like the easiest guy in the world to cross examine?  Remember that tabloid TV show he hosted, "A Current Affair?" 

Deepak Chopra will be there too.  Jurors were also asked on voir dire whether they had ever purchased one of his self help books.  If they had, the court reasoned, it would unfairly prejudice the prosecution and result in an automatic acquittal for Jackson. 

Rumored to be the "Amber Frey" of the Jackson trial, Stevie Wonder will be the prosecution's main witness.  Apparently, he saw everything.  Mon Cherie! 

Judge Rodney Melville is currently entertaining a motion to recuse himself in favor of Judge Judy Schiendlin.   

For real this time

Every few years there's a story about Deep Throat, the confidential informant to Washington Post reporters who exposed the secrets of Watergate.  The story is always the same; pretty soon, his identity is going to be revealed.  Three people know who he is (besides anyone he may have told); Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, Post reporters, and their editor, Ben Bradlee.  The identity of Deep Throat will be revealed after his death.  Now comes the most detailed story I've seen on the subject; apparently, the death of Deep Throat is imminent and his obituary has already been written.  We could be days away from discovering this decades old mystery. 

Girls gone wild, Iraq

I seriously don't know what the fuss is all about. 

In front of a cheering male audience, two young women wearing only bras and panties throw themselves into a mud-filled plastic kiddie pool and roll around in a wild wrestling match.

At one point a man in the audience raises a water bottle and douses the entwined pair.

At another, a "referee" moves in to break up the scantily clad grapplers.

A young blond lifts her T-shirt to expose her breasts. A brunette turns her back to the camera and exposes her thong undies.

These scenes, taken from 30 photos leaked to the Daily News, could have been snapped at an out-of-control frat party.

But this happened a world away from any American college.

The photos were taken in Camp Bucca, the military prison at Umm Qasr in the hot sands of southern Iraq near the Kuwaiti border.

The women are not coeds but military policewomen who had left their uniforms in a pile not far off.