Michael Jackson arrives - handcuffed.

[doxieone]

CNN.

When I first got home, I see on TV a jet protruding from a hanger. I thought there had been an accident. Come to find out, that was Jackson's jet.

After motor caravan (dark glassed SUV was his attorney's car), MJ arrived separately in different car.

They just showed him exiting car, handcuffed with hands behind him. He made 'a hand motion' as almost lifting up the handcuffs behind him.

[Socialist Christian]

1. I feel so sorry for him i hope he didnt do it. Of course im alone though

I dont want anyones life to ever be ruined

[mac56]

2. I don't want the victim's life to be ruined either.

So yes, I also hope he didn't do it.

[Dookus]

3. I don't want the lives of the kids

he's accused of molesting ruined.

I believe strongly in the presumption of innocence, but the previous case in which he bought off the kid's family, as well as his repeated claims that he sleeps with young boys in his bed doesn't help his case.

Also, I remember years ago when he was interviewed (perhaps by Oprah?) and then his recent quotes, where he always talks about how he would never "hurt" a child. He used that word all the time - "I would never hurt a child." I think he honestly believes sexual contact with them is not hurting them.

He's wrong.

If the charges are true, he deserves everything the legal system can throw at him.

[doxieone]

5. A person on MSNBC earlier said that this child had been

given pills and wine before being molested. Also, this child's male sibling was given pills.

I have heard this reference only once (about the second child and use of drugs). The fact that he gave the 12 year old wine has been mentioned more than once.

[Catch22Dem]

12. I thought we gave Oscars to people like that

Are you listening Roman Polanski?

[Cronus Protagonist]

75. I hope he also gave them a meal

Most dates would include at least dinner and a drink.

Click Here To See Fair & Balanced Buttons, Stickers & Magnets

[doxieone]

6. Dupe

[doxieone]

7. dupe

[belle]

84. I think you're right.

I was creeped out by the "I would never hurt a child" line, too. It does leave a lot of room for interpretation, right? Like, as long as he's not actually hitting and causing physical harm, like, say, his dad, it isn't abuse. Like, *he* doesn't think he's hurting the kid, ergo he isn't--QED. Coupled with his very strange sense of what's appropriate--not to mention what's true (an unrelated but telling example: how can he honestly think people will believe him when he says he's never had surgery except for two nose jobs? not to mention, *why?* what planet is he on?), I really didn't have a doubt that something like this would come up again sooner or later.

[Ripley]

4. How about the child's life?

I do agree that too many people call people guilty before they have their day in court. However, MJ seems to have a history with this subject. Why did he pay the family of an accuser 20 million if he was innocent?

I don't feel sorry for rich celebrities who get away with crimes just because they can hire teams of lawyers.

[phirili]

9. Very, very sad what they are doing to MJ

[okieinpain]

66. I don't feel sad for MJ, but I would feel better if they charged the

kids parents too. hell everybody should know by now that leaving your kids with MJ, is probably not a smart thing to do. the only reason they do it is because of the money.

with this situation all I can think of is the scorpion and the frog. you know, "you knew what I was when you gave me a ride" or however it goes.

[Socialist Christian]

10. You've never bargained out of trouble if you were innocent?

i did alot with drugs and weapons back in my school days,

[greatauntoftriplets]

13. No. Never been in legal trouble.

:shrug:

[Socialist Christian]

21. Maybe its just because i went through it and got ALOT of

chances, and got accused for even more things i didnt do. I cant be another Bush do shit in my youth and castigate and punish people for the exact same thing. But i do feel my leaning in favor of mike results in being the crucified one before. I just hope this will be resolved soon, hes been thru a lot and something is obviously wrong, Psychological therapy is the awnswer

[demdave]

56. You readily admit that you did alot of what you were accused of

and because you were in the system so much you also were accused of things you didn't do. (I think I got that right?) It is always easier to accuse a person that has a history of the offense. In the same light, you never get caught for even a fraction of what you do.

With this in mind, and his past dealings and admissions, I am expecting some pretty damning evidence to be presented. In my mind, going by just what I know and have seen of his past antics, MJ has probably engaged in activities that are at least extremely questionable and ill-advised.


Pedophiles are the lowest form of creature and deserve the short, painful lives they they end up having in prison.

[Socialist Christian]

62. I was never in the system for the stuff i did. The stuff i admit to

was self protection in a bad neighborhood. the stuff i did was typical stuff for teens back then ganja, pills etc. Weapons is what i had spent time for. And it wierd thinking all those years ago had been the age i am now, id be gone for a long time. Shakes my cage

[Ripley]

23. What? You're saying the justice system works fine?

That poor people and rich celebrities have the same justice applied?

If you're asking me to feel sorry for MJ because he is filthy rich, fugetaboutit.

[Socialist Christian]

30. I mean would any poor person be lambasted and on cnn while his car

approaced the police station. I mean have a dimunitive amount of heart, we are lefties plus he hasnt even been tried yet

[belle]

86. No, they'd've had their ass in jail ten years hence.

And, if out of jail, would likely have had their entire careers and lives completely shattered by now, and without even a team of PR people and Elizabeth Taylor to make it all better.

Yeah, people are sometimes falsely accused. When it's a molestation charge, it's pretty dire. I do feel badly for people who get falsely tarred with child abuse charges (vindictive ex-spouse, eighties-style Satanic ritual abuse hysteria, whatever). Call me a cynic, but I don't think MJ is among those cases.

[candy331]

17. Seems like people

would get outraged at the news media for inflaming situations rather than reporting the facts and allowing the public to make up it's own mind based on the facts. Guilt/innocent who knows?

[belle]

85. Yup.

Also figure: all that money would've bought him a *lot* of therapy, you know? Yes, he had a messed-up childhood. That means, you go and work on your issues in a professional setting. That doesn't mean, you get to do whatever you want for the rest of your life, including messing up a brand new generations' worth of children, albeit in a different way.

[Drifter]

35. How could you feel sorry for ...

this pedophile ?

What about the hundreds of children whose lives HE has ruined. You can bet that this child (and the one 10 years ago) are merely the tip of the tip of the tip of the tip of the iceberg.

I am all for justice.

Cheers
Drifter

[Socialist Christian]

37. you are all for judgement <nT>

[chiburb]

50. ?

"I am all for justice."

But apparently NOT the presumption of innocence?


You may be right about there being "hundreds" more, but I suspect that if they've found 1 accuser in 10 years you are probably wrong.

[colorado_ufo]

60. Honestly don't know if he did it or not, but

he made an interesting comment earlier about how every time he comes out with a new video, album, concert, or anything, something like this happens.

[Ripley]

67. Every time?

How many albums, videos, concert tours has he had? Has he been accused of child molestation dozens of times?

So the Santa Barbara's sherriff's department is trying to sabotage his career?

[SemperEadem]

72. well, it does cost lots of $$$ to live well in Santa Barbara...

and the economy does suck... and medical expenses do make it difficult to live well in Santa Barbara... and some folks wax entitled... lots of folks have an axe to grind with him, it seems.

Knowing that MJ tread down this path before, I have to seriously question the parents of the child involved---they had to have been living in a vacuum to not know of his problems back in the mid 90's. It was international news.

My feeling is that they should also be charged as accomplices. They cannot say they did not know about MJ's proclivities towards young male children, because that's the common assumption on which any reasonable parent would err to protect their child from a predator.

[calimary]

70. I don't think I do. Feel sorry for him, that is. I remember when this

kind of thing was going on ten years ago. I was in the news business and covered a lot of it. If he WASN'T guilty back then (and frankly, from what I saw, I'd have to say it sure looked like guilt to me), I'd have to say at the very least that he was getting some ridiculously bad advice, legal and otherwise.

When you surround yourself with sycophants (and we have another spoiled rich kid in that particular situation), things can very easily go wrong and out of control.

While one IS indeed innocent til proven guilty, I'd say some chickens are finally coming home to roost.

[belle]

87. That's a good point--there are some parallels between * and MJ, it seems

And yeah, obviously it'd be nice if the Resident got one tenth of the scrutiny MJ has gotten--child molestation, as despicable as it is, doesn't rate for scale or damage compared to, oh, say, killing thousands of people, not to mention all the other crimes we're all too familiar with here--but, but, but. It is interesting, in a, I don't know, social way, to observe this happening right now. I actually don't look at it as just another distraction; I look at it as yet another sign of the times. The moral of both of these stories, if there is one, is this: no one, no matter how rich or powerful, can defy reality indefinitely. If you try, eventually, it *will* catch up with you, one way or the other. Bad shit happens when you let people live in their own little narcissistic cocoons for too long. Catering to people's every whim--that is, all the money and power you can eat, does not, to be trite, bring happiness. 'Cause, check it out.

It does seem like karma in the true sense of the word, not just as a revenge thing--more like, you reap what you sow.

[Selwynn]

77. You're not alone - I feel sorry for him, I hope he didn't do it... but

if he did, then he needs to be accountable for his crimes and get help while incarcerated.

[amazona]

8. well i hope he didn't do it either

There is clearly something wrong with him but being a weirdo is not proof of being a sex criminal. I think most of us hope for the best; after all, if he's guilty, it does mean that at least one and possibly many children have been affected. No one wants that.

[Noordam]

11. there is TWO sides to every story

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,103603,00.html

Forget all these stories that Mark Geragos was hired to represent Michael Jackson just yesterday. Or the day before. Were we all born yesterday? Geragos has been on the case since last March.

That’s right. Jackson has known for most of the year, even if he didn’t want to acknowledge it, that trouble was brewing at Neverland. The child who is now the subject of this molestation allegation began to raise questions about their relationship late last winter. Jackson -- who is not completely out of touch with reality -- responded by bringing in an expert defender.

Jackson’s camp, I am told, is more than ready to do battle with his accuser and his family. I am told that the mother of the child involved will be held up to severe scrutiny. In fact, Jackson’s side will likely argue that when he tried to break off his involvement with helping the boy and his family financially, the mother became, and I am quoting a Jackson insider, “a scorned woman.”

“She’s very screwed up,” said one source. “There’s videotape of her acting weird, too. And Michael was very kind to her, even getting an apartment for her boyfriend.”

But the argument will be that when this woman, who is financially so dependent that she claimed to have lived in a barn, was told by Jackson’s people that the party was over, she ran to a lawyer to see what she could get out of it.

..more at article......


While the Police have video tape so does MJ. And the Fox report says that will cut both ways.

[doxieone]

Jermaine Jackson just said "fucking" on CNN interview.

[Socialist Christian]

14. jermaine Jackson use "Fucking" on cnn live <nt>

[doxieone]

16. Xpost -- Did you hear the "ohhhhh" from the CNN staffers in the

background when he said that??

[Socialist Christian]

19. Yes, that was funny as hell <nt>

[Socialist Christian]

20. I Love Live tv lmao<nt>

[0007]

24. Is CNN some goddamn holy palace that the word FUCK would shock...

it's mindless viewers?

[Socialist Christian]

31. I mean you dont hear that on Network tv often. Ots like hearing the

teacher when we were in elementry school lol

[ClintonTyree]

15. Who the hell cares?

Everybody knows he has "issues" with children, why does this surprise anyone? This is what happens when a culture puts the wrong people on pedestals. I bet there were thousands of teachers that made a significant difference in some childs life today, bit we'll bot hear a word about that. We get Micheal Jackson shoved down our throat. I really don't give a rat's ass, let him swing.

[johnfunk]

18. Wine, pills and allegations

Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? My gut feeling about this arrest is not moving in Michael Jackson's favor, but it disgusts me that he's being so rigorously prosecuted in the press already with the leak of thw wine and pills allegation, not to mention that obnoxious and arrogant press conference yesterday.

And will someone -- ANYONE -- explain to me why this tawdry little mess is so much more important than:

1) the failed global war against criminal terror thugs making believe they're pious Muslims

2) protesters in London (and Miami) telling BushCo that he is the most reviled president in most people's lifetimes

3) all that "good news" about assassinations and improvised explosives in Iraq

4) where's Osama? where's Saddam? for that matter, where's Cheney?

5) the sellout of the AARP to the GOP and the phony Medicare "reform" bill

6) more corporate welfare for polluters

I'd appreciate a succinct explanation.

[Heddi]

22. God I can't believe I'm kicking a MJ thread

but I wonder if this is the boy that was shown on the BBC film that came out earlier this year.

As I remember, the boy in the video was a cancer survivor (as the accuser is), was around 11 or 12 or so (as the accuser is) and I believe his brother and maybe sister appeared in the video as well.

I saw the interview, and it was so disturbing. I really think that the interviewer/filmmaker went in there with NO agenda---but Michael ended up doing all the damage that was done totally himself.

I used to like MJ. In fact, I have my Thriller ALBUM (vinyl) in my record collection now. Liked most of his music.

But he is a very very odd person.

I wonder how the we would feel if the accused (MJ) wasn't a mega superstar with (supposed) billions of dollars---what if MJ was a 45 year old man that lived in YOUR neighborhood, and constantly had kids (namely, prepubesent young boys) over at his house, watching movies, eating popcorn, having sleepovers....wouldn't we be just a tad bit....curious? worried?

Yet because MJ is a pop icon, and is one of the most recognizable faces on the planet, many people give him a pass---he's eccentric, he's had childhood problems, he's a lost soul----please. If his name was John Jackson instead of Michael Jackson, and if his net worth was under $30k a year instead of whatever millions MJ is supposedly worth, we'd be crying to have this guy strung up by the balls and beaten with bats.

MJ is weird.

I don't presume guilt, and I don't presume innocence on his part. But I think his actions, and his words will definitely come back to haunt him. His stating repeatedly that there's nothing wrong with a 12 year old sleeping in the bed of a 45 year old is quite damming.

And as another poster said, he keeps harping on "I'd never hurt a child"---he is stating the ideas that most pedophiles state--that molesting a child isn't 'hurting' them. They're teaching them life lessons. They're teaching htem about sex. They're being friends with them. The kid wanted to do it.

Someone who molests children doesn't think what they're doing is "wrong" nor do they think they're "hurting" the child.

To MJ, he most likely equates 'hurting' a child with physical abuse, slapping, punching.....

[0007]

27. Yes, and the child's parents may have looked at Jackson as the 'cash cow'

With all the publicity about Michael Jackson what parent would let their child stay all night with him? I smell a rat.

[radwriter0555]

42. And it was a child psychologist who turned the case over to the cops..

NOT the parents.

please don't blame the victims here.

[Socialist Christian]

43. Nobody is blaming the victims, but the parents new better did you

hear what the father said? His car broke down and mike gave him a new bronco to bring the boy to and from the ranch

[0007]

55. I don't know the details but it would seem to me that this is...

where a good attorney would start for the set-up to look good.

I don't buy that psychologist crap one bit.

[Ripley]

28. Very good points.

I hate to kick a MJ thread too. But I'm a little shocked that people on DU are claiming this is about race. How anyone could overlook his fame, money, notoriety, physical oddities and eccentricities as well as his admitted questionable behavior and say it must be because he is black...

[ecstatic]

34. hmm lets see...

The media is already comparing Michael Jackson to OJ simpson and Kobe Bryant! I don't see a similarity between those three besides race? Do you?

[KaraokeKarlton]

47. They did the same thing to Robert Blake

and he's just as white as my ass.

Winona Ryder is another one.

It's not about race it's about celebrity.

[Drifter]

41. Micheal Jackson is Black Man !?!?!

Jesus, I thought he was a white woman.

Sorry couldn't resist

Cheers
Drifter

[drb]

25. First, I feel bad for MJ...

...as it's obvious the guy has some serious issues going on. Whether or not that has evidenced itself in him molesting kids, I don't know. The jury, as they say, is still out.

On the other hand, wouldn't it be great if Rush goes down on the money laundering deal, and they put both of them in the same cell? I'd give fifty bucks to see the look on El Rusho's face! :9

...and I'll buy the bottle of wine - I'm sure Rush will have his own pills!!:D

[johnfunk]

26. I have a better cellmate for Rushbo...

Mr. Christie, meet Mr. Chong...

Edited to fix "illegal" character in URL image link.

[Socialist Christian]

33. If i was still a druggie Rush would be the guy to hang out with

and the one who needs to be in jail, mike needs help,

[underpants]

29. PICTURES

And this is the "plane" he came in on, geez talk about flaunting it :eyes:



Oh Sorry my bad here's the plane

[Socialist Christian]

39. ROTFLMAO <nt>

[OneBlueSky]

32. couple of things to ponder . . .

yes, MJ is a freak . . . and, yes, he has a thing for young boys . . . however . . .

- he's not stupid . . . and given what he went through (and what he paid out) with the last allegation ten years ago, he'd have to be out of this mind to touch a kid inappropriately . . .

- the fact that he's turning himself in speaks volumes . . . if he thought for a minute that he could lose this case -- and lose his kids -- he'd be on a plane for someplace from which he couldn't be extradited . . .

- this one really bothers me . . . the language quoted in one of the stories I read about what the current kid said when describing the alleged sexual contact is EXACTLY -- and I mean word for word -- the same language that appeared in the kid's deposition ten years ago . . . and in neither case is that language the way a 12 or 13-year-old would describe these kinds of events . . . same DA, same charges, same language . . . strikes me as very strange, to say the least . . .

as an American, I'm assuming that MJ is innocent until proven guilty . . . and my gut tells me that he may indeed be innocent of this one . . . so think of him what you may, but let's not hang the guy just because the DA and the media says we ought to . . .

[ecstatic]

36. Did you forget? Blacks are guilty until proven innocent--oh wait

Even when found innocent they're still considered guilty. Oh well!

[Socialist Christian]

44. Oj. Kobe. Iverson.tyson will never be seen in light like Polanski.Downey.

perkawskiovitz

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

49. Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[Noordam]

45. The mother sounds like a greedy person

"Jackson’s side will likely argue that when he tried to break off his involvement with helping the boy and his family financially, the mother became, and I am quoting a Jackson insider, “a scorned woman.” " from Fox Report of all places.


" the fact that he's turning himself in speaks volumes . . . if he thought for a minute that he could lose this case -- and lose his kids -- he'd be on a plane for someplace from which he couldn't be extradited . . "

With his money and plane he could have gone to a lot of places and lived well......

[Heddi]

48. My views:

yes, MJ is a freak . . . and, yes, he has a thing for young boys . . . however . . .

- he's not stupid . . . and given what he went through (and what he paid out) with the last allegation ten years ago, he'd have to be out of this mind to touch a kid inappropriately . . .

Many pedophiles (not suggesting that MJ is one, or was one) continue to abuse children even after they are arrested for child abuse, after going to jail for child abuse, knowing that they're under close scruitiny. Pedophillia is a mental illness. It's a physical and mental compulsion. Not something that someone can just 'shut off' because they've been arrested, or questioned about pedophillia in the past

- the fact that he's turning himself in speaks volumes . . . if he thought for a minute that he could lose this case -- and lose his kids -- he'd be on a plane for someplace from which he couldn't be extradited . . .

has a huge wordlwide following. He is the most recognizable living human on the planet. He could not hide. His Passport was taken from him yesterday, before his arrest.

- this one really bothers me . . . the language quoted in one of the stories I read about what the current kid said when describing the alleged sexual contact is EXACTLY -- and I mean word for word -- the same language that appeared in the kid's deposition ten years ago . . . and in neither case is that language the way a 12 or 13-year-old would describe these kinds of events . . . same DA, same charges, same language . . . strikes me as very strange, to say the least . . .

where can one get a word-for-word transcript of the deposition of the CURRENT accuser? I've seen the one from the accuser in the case 10 years ago, and I don't see what's so odd about a 12 year old using the words 'oral sex' and 'penis' and such


as an American, I'm assuming that MJ is innocent until proven guilty . . . and my gut tells me that he may indeed be innocent of this one . . . so think of him what you may, but let's not hang the guy just because the DA and the media says we ought to . .

I don't know if he's innocent or guilty either. I know that some people say that parents are cash-cows and are doing this for $$. If that's so, then why no civil case like the one 10 years ago which was settled for a HUGE amount of $$? ALso, the accuser in the case 10 years ago was NOT willing to testify in front of a jury re: alleged molestation. This accuser is.

What I find amazing in our society is that we're generally apt to believe children and their accusations of molestation against regular joe's who live in 1500sf houses, or double-wide trailers. We give THOSE children the benefit of the doubt--probably because the accused is generally not a well-known pop-star, millionaire, etc.

Yet ANY time there is an accusation against a 'famous' person, we're suddenly supposed to NOT believe the accuser in ANY way. They're money grubbing, they're looking for something, they've got something up their sleeve.

Believe it or not, rich and popular and loveable people can be monsters too. Mental illness (particularly pedophilia) is not a disease that ONLY inflicts poor people with no education

[Whoa_Nelly]

68. A pedophile by any other name....

- he's not stupid . . . and given what he went through (and what he paid out) with the last allegation ten years ago, he'd have to be out of this mind to touch a kid inappropriately

A pedophile is a pedophile is a pedophile. Just because a pedophile can extricate himself from a previous allegation/charge, doesn't mean the pedophile will stop. Am not accusing Jackson, but am simply responding to your comment O8)

[OneBlueSky]

71. pedophile is a word that's often misused . . .

the suffix -phile means, loosely, an attraction to . . . as in audiophile, for example . . . having an attraction to boys is one thing . . . acting on it is quite something else . . .

[Whoa_Nelly]

76. I stand corrected

A pedophiliac is a pedophiliac is a pedophiliac.

[belle]

93. That, and, by all appearances, he really *is* out of his mind...

[LeftCoast]

38. No offense doxieone, but...

I don't care. I don't care. I don't care. I don't care. I don't care. I don't care. I don't care. I don't care. I don't care. I don't care. I don't care. I don't care. I don't care. I don't care. I don't care. I don't care.

Everyone on DU bitches about all the coverage "the media" is giving this story but look at all the coverage here on DU. Can't we at least talk about important stories HERE? Please? Pretty please? Pretty please with sugar on top? Pretty please with sugar on top and whipped cream and a cherry? PLEASE?

[Socialist Christian]

40. I wish someone would pay attention to all the stories i broke about

Georgia and Africa. But noooooooooooooooooo i bet most couldnt point georgia out on a map of the eastern block

[Dookus]

58. There are literally

hundreds of other threads here on DU discussing all sorts of topics.

Go to CNN.COM or MSNBC.COM or any other news website. You'll find a variety of stories on a variety of subjects.

Yes, the most famous pop star in the world was arrested today for child molestation. Like it or not, that's newsworthy, and it will be covered.

But I have also seen stories today about protests in Florida and London, explosions in Istanbul, Hepatitis in Pennsylvania, and lots and lots of other stories.

Believe me, if any network thought they'd get higher ratings showing a Free Trade Conference over Michael Jackson's arrest, they'd do it.

[LeftCoast]

59. Dookus, you are absolutely correct!

I think I'll put my MJ blinders on and just ignore the story(s). It'll help my sanity if nothing else! :)

[doxieone]

63. No problemo. Sometimes I feel like providing...

info on threads (as with MJ today) -- it's not necessarily because I am concerned or not, I just know how the 'market' is, and right now the market on DU is inclined to be interested in MJ.

What interests me HOWEVER is how gaga gooo-gooo the media is about this story. They are acting like this is the 'first time' we have had this circus with MJ. As we all know, this is a 'rerun' of prior MJ behavior.

All network news is turning into "National Enquirer." They know deep subjects are boring to the general population whose attention span is less than 5 minutes. They want the numbers for their networks. They produce accordingly.

[Ripley]

69. Wolf Blitzer just said stay tuned for HARD news at CNN.

Then proceeds to drool over MJ's SUV speeding down the highway...

Also heard Toobin say back in the 1990's when it was tabloid journalism's (Hard Copy, etc.) "golden years" or "heyday" or something like that...they covered his first child molestation relentlessly...

Well, bub look at your own network. CNN, the new Hard Copy.

[blindpig]

46. who cares?

don't we have other fish to fry?

[imax2268]

51. This is rediculous...

I mean we all know he's a bit touched...anyone who buys the elephant mans remains has to be a little touched in the head...

But the thing that get's me is the coverage from CNN and some of the other stations...the reporters are foaming at the mouth and tripping over themselves to get the latest scoop...it's rediculous...it's nonsense...I wrote CNN a scathing letter about this BS...I told them that they are on the verge of losing another viewer over this stupidity...

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think there are more important things going on in the world than non-stop coverage of MJ getting arrested...

Just my honest opinion...

[underpants]

53. The worst part is the trial won't start for __ months to a year I'm sure

And there will be no news. Okay little leaks here and there and LOTS of lawyers on TV.

[Ratty]

52. This seems like such an obvious Asscroft ploy

None of the local authorities knew about it. The FBI swooped in all of the sudden, nobody was warned. I smell an Asscroft. You just know the very idea of the existence of a Michael Jackson, completely apart from guilt or innocence, deeply offends the man. Asscroft experiences a "visceral disgust" at Michael Jackson (which is proof it comes from god!). I see this as the beginning of Asscroft's long-delayed campaign to cleanse the nation of deviants and pornography.

I don't know if Michael is guilty or innocent, but unlike most Americans I entertain the real possibility he's innocent. Bizarre beyond words but harmless. It's possible to have a slumber party with a bunch of boys without anything sexual going on. Yeah, I know I'll be flamed for it, but that's what I think.

[BiggJawn]

54. Hmmm...No glove...Real butch-lookin' bracelets, though...

My fellow Murkans, meet your "Great Shark Attack of 2003-4"...

To find out what else happened in the world that didn't include a really freaky alleged child-molester, we now switch you to the BBC.....

[nocreativename]

57. there are bombs going off

in turkey, americans are still dieing in Iraq, thousands of protecters are getting beat up by cops in Miami, Brits just rocked london over the bush visit.

And CNN is covering MJ. and we make it flame bait.

[meisje]

61. and children are being molested

get a clue

[OneBlueSky]

64. and you have no idea whether or not this particular child . . .

was molested by this particular individual . . . innocent until proven guilty . . . get a clue . . .

[nocreativename]

65. I'd be happy

if every time a child was molested they would get this kind of t.v. time, but they don't

this about MJ not the child who was molested.

[0rganism]

73. Fuck this story. I mean no disrespect to you, doxieone, but Fuck It.

Michael Jackson is just the latest in a string of celebrity fuckups that will be be used to distract the Attention Defecit Majority from the consequences of US foreign policy.

* protests vs. bush all over the UK
* protests vs. FTAA in Miami
* additional troop casualties in Iraq
* disastrous bombings in Turkey

Every one of these stories is newsworthy, but the MJ and Kobe trials are going to get the lion's share of airtime.

[Socialist Christian]

79. geez. What do you really think?? lol <nt>

[bacchant]

81. Hey Org!

I'm awake now.

Baby

[0rganism]

82. As Marx would say, "Eet vas eeneffitable"

at the risk of bumping a michael jackson thread, it's good to see you posting again.

[bacchant]

83. Thanks man

Speaking of eeneffitable, a little lurking has revealed the Lifeline is dead and buried thanks to our old buddy Bard. Oh well...

You're right about this convenient MJ business, Karl Rove can always depend on America's fascination with the lurid.

[0rganism]

88. Speeking of lurid

nice classic "seasonal" picture you got there.

Many years from now, when historians are trying to reconstruct the decline and fall of the American empire, they will come across that picture and wonder what the hell was going on.

[chromotone]

74. His mug shot...

[imax2268]

78. oh man...

I think I'm going to be sick...


:puke:

[sleepyhead]

80. Nooooooooooooooooooo!

My poor eyes!

[loyalsister]

89. Origins?

I was watching some of the coverage and one of the facts I caught was that Jacko was singing in strip clubs at age 6. Seems to me like that could possibly make a kid very uncomfortable. Would that be a form of "passive" sexual abuse? Seems possible to me. I don't think it excuses, but it could explain.
One of the strangest things about him is that he hasn't appeared to maintain either heterosexual OR homosexual long term intimate relationships with adults. People in the public eye usually can't hide it when they have something going on. From what I remember, he has only had that thing with Lisa Marie and it didn't last.
The latest allegation is pretty troubling considering the number of kids who have spent time at Neverland. I do believe he deserves fair trial, however I am pretty worried about the possibilities.

[pinniped]

90. What we really want to see...

"George Asshole BULLshyt" arrives- handcuffed."

As reported by the Hague Tribune.

Who's Michael Jackson?

[jsw_81]

91. Michael Jackson sickens me

At best he's mentally ill and in need of serious help, and at worst he's a disgusting pervert who belongs in prison. Either way, he shouldn't be around little kids. Period.

And what's with all the idiots in Las Vegas cheering him on and shaking his hand? That reminded me of all the stupid fucks who cheered for O.J. Simpson shortly after he brutally murdered two people. WTF is wrong with people?

[w4rma]

94. In America, we are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law

If he's guilty, he needs to serve his punishment.

If he's innocent, he won't. But, covering MJ like this is the most important topic on the planet should be condemned.

[jsw_81]

92. From AP:

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: