Trial by Media

Deadeye watched the Casey Anthony trial with rapt fascination over the past six weeks. I would venture that there is no one out there as knowledgeable about that case (outside of the attorneys, that is) than Deadeye. When Casey Anthony was found not guilty on all charges except lying to police yesterday, Deadeye was dumbfounded. She has officially lost all confidence in the jury system.

While I would tend to agree with her the the cumulative evidence should have led to a verdict of guilty, I'm less concerned with the verdict and more concerned about a growing trend that became apparent during this trial. Call it what you will, it boils down to trail by media.

The worst offender was Nancy Grace, of course. Were it up to Ms. Grace, Casey Anthony would be dead already. Nancy Grace has spent the past three years proclaiming the guilt of "tot mom". I thought that the "not guilty" verdict might elicit some sort of contemplative pause from her. As if! She said in response to the verdict that "the devil is dancing tonight". On her show last night, she spent an entire segment excoriating the defense team for having the audacity to celebrate their victory. Claiming "I never did that as a prosecutor", she heaped derision on Casey's attorneys. Being ever cynical...and knowing Nancy's predilection for playing fast and loose with the law during her career as a prosecutor...I would guess that the reason she never celebrated was because she didn't want to draw too much attention to her tactics.

If it were just Nancy Grace acting this way on the airways, you could dismiss this is as one bitter crank amid a sea of babble. But it's not just Ms. Grace. It's Jane VOLUME-Mitchell. It's Vinnie Politan. It's the hosts of In Session on Tru TV. The babble from this Tower of Babel is not just harmless words. If you listen to the comments of people around the country, they are convinced that the jury flat out blew the case. They're convinced that Casey Anthony is GUILTY, GUILTY, GUILTY. And the reason they're so convinced is because they've been harangued for three solid years by people selling sensationalism for ratings.

Still not convinced it's all that dangerous, Vulture. Okay, indulge me for a second. What happens when a sizable segment of the populace is worked up into a frenzy about something or other? Answer: laws get passed. Bad laws. Laws that make us less free and more susceptible to unwarranted incarceration. THIS is what concerns me. THIS is what I see as the danger.

Here's hoping that the Casey Anthony verdict does NOT have the effect of giving politicians a premise for abolishing or negating trial by jury.

Vulture Droppings - the question is when...

Vulture Droppings is a semi-regular feature of this blog. It's a kind of "Random Thoughts" post in which I try to quickly summarize a particularly large event or series of events. Think of it being sort of like what a vulture leaves behind after devouring a horse. You don't get the whole horse, just highly processed leftovers.

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It's been a LOOOONG time since I did a Vulture Droppings. There just hasn't really been anything going on that would merit that kind of in-depth breakdown.

I'm doing something different with this edition of VD. I'm going to address things I'm sick of. Yeah, I know. Not exactly the kind of weighty, issue-oriented post you've come to expect from Droppings. But it's my blog, and my rules. So read it and like it!.

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WHEN is that sub-90 IQ loser Levi Johnson's 15 minutes of fame up? I know it's chic to put that knuckle-dragging monosyllabic douche bag on TV 24/7 because he gins up more anti-Sarah Palin sentiment, but COME ON! There ARE limits! If this guy weren't such a gold mine of anti-Palin material, there's NO WAY anyone would even know his name, let alone be subjected to his Neanderthal-like puss on virtually every talk show known to man. Enough already! Find a new flavor-of-the-day, please!

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WHEN is Big Media (the BM for short) going to stop the Kabuki Dance and admit that the Ft. Hood massacre was perpetrated by a Muslim acting in accordance with the precepts of his religious beliefs, NOT a common soldier who "snapped" under the strain of being exposed to the stresses of other service men and women? People who "snap" don't go around yelling Allahu Akbar! as they mow down innocents.

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WHEN are NFL analysts going to stop with the Brett Fav-re worship? OMG, it's SOOOOOO old! Seriously, there ARE other players making contributions to the Vikings' success this year. Yeah, even besides Adrian Peterson. So...enough, please!

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WHEN is the American public going to demand an end to the ridiculous "War on Drugs"? It's a complete waste of money, police resources, prison resources, and human lives.

In the case of marijuana, we're talking about a product with proven medical use (Federal "studies" to the contrary are heavily flawed - perhaps even falsified). We're talking about a product that is infinitely safer than, less addictive than, and less likely to lead to criminal behavior than alcohol, yet alcohol is legal and universally available, while marijuana possession is still a felony in excess of 1 oz.

It's the stupidest policy enacted by a government known for stupid policies. It's time for a change. Make it legal, tax the crap out of it, and empty the prisons of everyone prosecuted for any marijuana offense.

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Last one. WHEN is the NBA going to come clean and admit that they're every bit as rigged as the WWE?

I'm just saying...

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Toxic Culture

I think anyone who reads this blog knows that I'm a huge Steve Czaban fan. His is the only sport-talk radio program worth listening to. He's just a fun but commonsensical kind of guy who doesn't take himself too seriously.

Not long ago, the Washington Redskins paid tribute to their former strong safety, Sean Taylor, who was senselessly murdered during a home invasion burglary just over a year ago. Czabe took the occasion to opine on the root cause of the tragedy: the toxic culture that created the three thugs who took Taylor's life.

Because this poisonous lifestyle being peddled as entertainment, is not a white problem. It’s a black problem. Yes. White kids listen to rap. Yes, white kids commit crimes.

But by and large, the glorification of the lifestyle, and the destruction of lives it brings, hits overwhelmingly on the inner city, and black youths.

Bulls eye.

Here's the thing. There is undeniably a toxic culture afoot in our land - what some call the 'hip hop' culture, but what I call the 'ghetto' culture, because one who lives it can only count on ending up in one of three places: the ghetto, prison, or dead.

Hollywood and the music industry shamelessly promote this toxin as 'hip', 'cool', 'with it'. But generation after generation of young black men are ruining their lives chasing this nonsense when they should be pursuing an education or a trade - a LEGITIMATE way out of the inner city horror they currently live in.

I can't tell you whether this acid eating away at the core of the black community is part of an intentional effort to destroy black America, or if it's just greed driving the creation and promotion of movies, "music" (if you can call it that), and videos that glorify thuggery and paint women as objects to be used and discarded. But the Klan can't be upset with the results. More and more young black men are forever ruining their lives. It's beyond a tragedy. It's a crime.

One last thing: it's not racist to point out the obvious, that the 'ghetto' culture is destroying black America. It's racist to bury your head in the sand and pretend it's okay.

Wiener of the Week

There's a special kind of Wiener, the kind that just positively can't see when it's time for them to ride off into the sunset because everyone has had their fill of that person's shtick. Ladies and ruffians, let me present exhibit A -- Rosie O'Donuts O'Donnell.

Rosie is back on TV. Yes kiddies, the original BFH (Big Fat HURTing) put on her own little variety show. She described it as being a throwback to the 70's variety shows, like Sonny and Cher, Donnie and Marie, and the Carol Burnett Show. *shudders*

One reviewer saw through her attempt at regaining her "nice" image: Alessandra Stanley of The New York Times called it a "hokey comedy with an enemy list".

Rosie O'Donnell's Wednesday night special on NBC, "Rosie Live," was supposed to be a tribute to the variety shows of the 1970s, but she added a Nixonian twist: Christmas songs, tap-dancing twins and an enemies list.

There isn't a more genuinely unlikable person on the planet than Rosie. Every time she opens that toxic waste dump of a mouth she alienates SOMEONE. Her blog is a cesspool of hate. But she wants everything to think of her as "nice".

For the crime of being a big fat (and I do mean FAT) phony, Rosie O'Donnell is the Wiener of the Week.

Shoot the messenger

Report the truth, bear the wrath of the PC Police! Reuters found that out the hard way when they published the results of a Ziegler poll that pretty much confirmed something I've already alleged: most of those who voted for King Barack (cue choir of heavenly voices) know absolutely nothing about him.

Zogby and Zeigler have endured an excrement storm for DARING to poke their thumbs in the eye of Big Media (the BM for short) as well as to question the integrity and intelligence of those who voted for their lord and savior, Barack Obama (cue choir).

Here's the high-level results of the offending poll.

Just 2% of voters who supported Barack Obama on Election Day obtained perfect or near-perfect scores on a post election test which gauged their knowledge of statements and scandals associated with the presidential tickets during the campaign, a new Zogby International telephone poll shows.

Only 54% of Obama voters were able to answer at least half or more of the questions correctly.

Wait. Did I read that correctly? Just over half of the respondents were able to answer half of the questions? That would mean that 46% of those who voted for Obama (cue choir) were pretty much voting for the DoublePlusGoodHopeChange, and not for the actual person who represented those things.

Quoth Ziegler:

After I interviewed Obama voters on Election Day for my documentary, I had a pretty low opinion of what most of them had picked up from the media coverage of the campaign, but this poll really proves beyond any doubt the stunning level of malpractice on the part of the media in not educating the Obama portion of the voting populace.

Amen, brother! Preach it!

Obama supporters might not have known much about Obama, but they knew PLENTY about Sarah Palin and McCommie.

• Ninety-four percent of Obama voters correctly identified Palin as the candidate with a pregnant teenage daughter
  
• 86% correctly identified Palin as the candidate associated with a $150,000 wardrobe purchased by her political party
• 81% chose McCain as the candidate who was unable to identify the number of houses he owned.
  
• When asked which candidate said they could "see Russia from their house," 87% chose Palin, although the quote actually is attributed to Saturday Night Live's Tina Fey during her portrayal of Palin during the campaign.
  

Isn't that amazing?!?!? Especially in light of these numbers.

• 83% failed to correctly answer that Obama had won his first election by getting all of his opponents removed from the ballot
• 88% did not correctly associate Obama with his statement that his energy policies would likely bankrupt the coal industry
• 56% were also not able to correctly answer that Obama started his political career at the home of two former members of the Weather Underground
• 72% did not correctly identify Biden as the candidate who had to quit a previous campaign for President because he was found to have plagiarized a speech
• 47% did not know that Biden was the one who predicted Obama would be tested by a generated international crisis during his first six months as President.
• 57% were unable to correctly answer that Democrats controlled both the House and the Senate

All Zogby did was publish the results of a poll. The questions weren't slanted in a way that would elicit a predetermined response. The questions didn't employ inflammatory language or buzzwords. They were just simple questions designed to test the knowledge of the voter.

This poll and the resultant fallout are yet more evidence of something I harped on throughout the campaign: the BM was beyond "in the tank" for their candidate. They were actively steering the result through a premeditated campaign of impugning one side while heaping adoration on the other. The fallout is also proof of another truth: if you expose facts that buck the prevailing societal 'truth', prepare for the worst, because you're gonna get it!

The top-10 irritating phrases

Apparently, someone at Oxford has a whole lot more time on their hands than I do. They've compiled a list of the 10 most irritating phrases.

The top ten most irritating phrases:

1. At the end of the day
2. Fairly unique
3. I personally
4. At this moment in time
5. With all due respect
6. Absolutely
7. It's a nightmare
8. Shouldn't of [instead of "shouldn't have"]
9. 24/7
10. It's not rocket science

This list has a decidedly British slant to it. We Americans have WAY more expertise at coming up with annoying catch phrases. I can think of a number of them right off the top of my head that are WAY more irritating than those in the list above. Here's a sampling.

1. It is what it is
2. New paradigm
3. Think outside the box
4. Be proactive

How about you? Do you have any pet peeve phrases that drive you bananas? Leave a comment to add your $.02 to the topic.

Al Sharpton gets p'wned

Al Sharpton is a disaster looking for a tragedy to exploit. He is a race-baiting charlatan who has apparently taken the mantle of ambulance-chaser-in-chief from Jesse Jackson. His latest "cause" was an attempt to shut down New York City as a protest against the "not guilty" verdict for the police officers involved in the tragic slaying of a man on the morning of the day he was to be married. Mr. Sharpton also tried to insinuate himself into the boiling cauldron created by the beatings of three individuals at the hands of the Philadelphia PD.

Sportswriter Jemele Hill of ESPN.com recently wrote a column on Karl Malone and his "parenting" of his three illegitimate children. In the process of excoriating Mr. Malone for his abandonment of his son, Buffalo Bills draft selection Demetrius Bell, she also threw down the gauntlet for Mr. Sharpton.

If Al Sharpton is itching to picket something, he should organize a protest outside Malone's house, since the National Fatherhood Initiative says two out of three African-American children grow up without their father in the home.

Take that, Sharpton! Called out publicly by a woman of color! What are you gonna do now, Mr. Pompadour?

Not surprisingly, there was NO media coverage of Ms. Hill's challenge to Mr. Sharpton. After all, there are more important things to cover...like Brittney being reunited with her children and Mariah Carey getting married to a child 11 years her junior and the premier of the Sex and the City movie and.......

Just shoot me.

The Apocalypse is upon us

Be afraid. Be VERY afraid.

If this isn't one of the signs of the apocalypse, I don't know what is. Mariah Carey's next #1 hit single will tie her with the Beatles for #1 all time. GAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!

Move over, Beatles. Mariah Carey is on the verge of tying the legendary British band for having the most chart-topping hits.

The hip-hop diva's newest single "Touch My Body" is poised to give her 18 No. 1 singles, knotting her with the Fab Four.

The song is the lead track on her latest album "E=MC2," due to hit stores later this month.

The 37-year-old songstress is currently tied with Elvis Presley for second place for top singles.

Man, if this doesn't speak to the diminished intelligence of the American people, I don't know what does.

Here's the thing: I could think of about a dozen Beatles songs that might have been #1 hits, right off the top of my noggin. I couldn't name a single Mariah Carey song if you put a gun to my head. *Vulture shakes head sadly*