Let's play "what if"....

[PCIntern]

Simply put, what are the political ramifications in Los Angeles and in California as a whole if Paris Hilton were to 'expire' in custody? Now for those of you who find this utterly tasteless and classless, I only have this to say: The O.J. Simpson trial put this country at loggerheads with itself and may in some part have led to the amplification of the right-wing revolution since it became a polarizing race issue as well as a law and order issue. Remember, this was July of 1994, just a few short months before the Republican Revolution. Anyone who believes that these things do not resonate in the body politic is just not paying attention, and I for one firmly believe that the Simpson verdict was the judicial and political equivalent of the white hands crushing the rejection letter while the voice-over spoke of affirmative action.

Now nothing is impossible; while it may be most unlikely that anything could happen to her, you never know. Can you imagine the sequelae of a jailhouse tragedy which involved her? For a series of motor vehicle violations? In a crazy way, it would almost, but not quite, match the O.J. outrage with two distinct sides emerging and waging war. It would wind up eating 'valuable' media time, water-cooler discussion, dental office repartee, and the like. The scandals in Washington would virtually disappear while this relatively unattracive, dim-witted, soft-core wannabe is discussed ad infinitum. It has all the elements of Anna Nicole, O.J., and dozens of other L.A. Confidential stories possess. Those of us who are old enough to recall Nicky Hilton beating his new bride Liz Taylor on the Ship on their honeymoon will get to weigh in with all the peculiarities of this scandal.

Personally, I couldn't care less if she were arrested, incarcerated, or pregnant with Jon Bonet Ramsey's father's baby, but as they say: you can't make this shit up. Let's see what happens, but I for one am watching the higher-order aspects of how the MSM is handling all this. Stay tuned.

[Nikki Stone1]

1. Your post is the first I've read of a link between OJ and the 94 Republican win

I wonder if you have something there.

[PCIntern]

2. I've been spouting this privately for years...

No one would/will listen to me.

Guess I'm a moran...

:hi:

[Nikki Stone1]

3. Without the requisite flag and misspelled sign?

Nah. This is an interesting idea.

[PCIntern]

5. Nikki:

Back when the whole OJ thing was going on, I had a theory that the prosecution wanted to lose the case b/c the city was afraid of the Rodney King-like backlash. Lots of young people today do not recall OJ's charisma which extended over the decades of his multiple careers. Camp was big in those days and who can say that they hadn't watched one of his horribly-acted movies and enjoyed them? Despite this, many caucasians resented, despised, and disliked him exceedingly, after the fact, that is, after the accusations were made, and things got nuts.

But the prosecution and the judge kept fumbling the ball and when the judge allowed the phlebotomist's testimony without any chance of cross-examination that was the nail in the coffin of the prosecution, for if he were convicted, this was the guaranteed appeal and indication for a new trial. But it was not necessary. The jury did what they did and that was that.

But the whites were mad as hell and they weren't gonna take it anymore. This modern-day story of Othello would play out in the changing of the guard in D.C. and the post-verdict anger was demonstrated a priori and on Election Day 1994. Of course, Newt and his crowd benefited from the election and the rest is history. And if it weren't for the bombing of the Murrah Building, Clinton might well hve lost his Presidency, but those circumstances intervened and he reclaimed his leadership position in the country. Then came the Blue Dress. But that's a story for another day.

[Nikki Stone1]

6. I am an Angelino and lived in the city at the time of the trial

It was insane, and talk radio (KFI in particular) stoked the anger. I agree with you about the fear of backlash. I think the neocons used that trial to its fullest extent.

[rug]

4. Chauffeurs would be beaten on Rodeo Drive.

[Jed Dilligan]

7. Interesting.

I would add that OJ came in the wake of the 1992 riots, which a lot of angry white men felt were insufficiently punished.

The question is, what would the "two sides" in the hypothetical Hilton tragedy represent? Rich vs. poor?

[PCIntern]

8. We don't need a class struggle for an effective diversion...

in this country, the RW has almost perfected a science of taking one small aspect from the gestalt, and demonizing it. Edwards' haircut, Whitewater, Schiavo, etc. Who the heck knows what they could pull out of this situation.

It could go on for months...Anna Nicole was just a warmup pitch.

[Stinky The Clown]

11. I tend to think *this* diversion will help our side

I *do* think it can stir feelings of class and entitlement and the ever widening rich/poor chasm. That works for us. There's nothing sympathetic about Paris Hilton and her camp followers.

There is a larger issue here, too. I was watching MSNBC's morning show with Scarborough today. His co-host is John Ridley, a very smart, seemingly middle of the road, Angelino.



Ridley's view is that this is a very hot and serious story that will go on for a very long time. It is not a story of a rich blond heiress It is a story about a very broken judicial and corrections system. The 'dirty little secret' is that the treatment of Hilton was actually *no* different than almost anyone with her charges and general history ...... usually they serve about 10% of their sentences because of gross, and severe overcrowding.

Indeed, after she was thrown back in the hoosegow, the LA sheriff said that her treatment, now, is far more harsh than anyone else would expect, simply because she is a celebrity.

[nini]

9. I know a guy who died in custody

The guy I know was just a black guy in the wrong area. There was a lawsuit and his parents won a wrongful death verdict, but Ron was still gone.

btw: he was also in after being pulled over in a car - not DUI but speeding. He died at the hands of an over zealous cop while in custody (choke hold) - he did nothing serious and should not have been brought in at all and only received a ticket.

Paris? Well, she's not innocent - so she belongs in jail for failing to follow the rules after multiple warnings. If it was MY son he'd be in there for sure.

[Stinky The Clown]

10. I find myself in complete agreement with the importance of pop culture issues on the body politic.

Paris Hilton is the embodiment of the rich, white, privileged class. Remember the "Paris Hilton Tax" meme? That was easy for even morons to understand.

Your notion that OJ may have been a factor in the 94 electoral catastrophe is not hard to consider. I never thought of it, specifically, but it is a very reasonable thesis.

And so, too, are the larger issues embodied in this whole media frenzy. A modern day parable for the French Revolution. Anyone talking about tax cuts for the rich in this climate would be excoriated. Similarly, any policy that benefits the rich over the rest is going to icily received.

Excellent OP. Thanks!

[Name removed]

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