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Court Trials and Media Coverage

Los Angeles, CA—L.A. seemed to be Ground Zero for televised trials in the nation. Nobody will ever forget that O.J. Simpson Circus that mesmerized the nation. It was O.J., all the time and after many months of trial, TV and book publishing careers were established for many of the players. The court was transformed from an evidence testing and truth finding exercise to an entertainment event worthy of ancient Rome. I did not find fault with the verdict as most of the nation did, I found fault in the behavior of the judge, lawyers and witnesses that were playing for the camera and hope for future celebrity. Many of the TV commentators repetitively misreported what happened in the court. Of course the only person convicted of a crime was that infamous LAPD detective, Mark Fhurman for his perjury. Simpson was acquitted because police only proved they’d do anything including lie under oath to convict him and for shoddy evidence gathering that was inadvertently exposed by TV news camera...

Memories of one Chicago Police 023 District Sergeant

Chicago, IL —One of the most important landmarks in Chicago is the old Town Hall, 023 District station . It should be restored and turned into a museum or at least a watering hole for off-duty coppers. I never worked that district but would have loved the assignment for sure. One veteran of this building is my pal, Andy Murcia . I met Murcia long ago as we were waiting for our cases to be called in the old Branch 64 courtroom of Judge Lawrence I. Genison . This was the last stop misdemeanor court for those defendants demanding jury trials. Nobody wanted jury trials just a better break before this very soft judge. Andy had just made sergeant at a time when few white males could be promoted do to never-ending litigation in the federal District Court. Andy had a great part-time security gig at the Ambassador East Hotel on the gold Coast. One night he happened upon a terrific looking lady that changed to good sergeant’s life forever. That lady was none other than, Golden Globe and Emmy ...

The Right Way for Reporters to Cover a Breaking Crime Story

I see it time and time again. A serious crime occurs and the media races to the scene. It’s the job of the reporters and photographers to gather the facts and inform their viewers/readers/visitors of significant details. Too often reporters have nothing of substance to report even after several hours. The reporters arrive to a silent scene surrounded by yellow crime scene tape they generally are forbidden to cross. With scant information reporters desperately hound every neighbor looking for information connected to the home in question. This is necessary work. Sometimes the neighbors are friends or witnesses with a solid connection to the story. I have no problem hearing from these folks. That’s useful and relevant information. More often than not the neighbors know little or nothing about the occupants of the house and are encouraged to offer their opinions about the event anyway. Usually it’s the neighborhood busybody wanting to be on TV who will deliver the rambling “That’s so ...

Obama and the Teleprompter

Washington, DC —Certainly George Washington or Abraham Lincoln did not have teleprompters. That gizmo was invented after television in 1950. Prior to that stagehands held up cue cards. The actors were looking everywhere but at you when they were reading them. Teleprompters are great for TV news anchors who must deliver clear and accurate information to their audience sometimes minutes or even seconds after news breaks. Teleprompters allow actors to look directly into the camera lens and read the material rather than to rely on memory. Later they began to use multiple Teleprompters for use in addressing large audiences. Teleprompters are critically important when the people reading the text to the audience did not write it. Speechwriters make our politicians sound intelligent and informed. Somehow I’ve always been offended by politicians that can support their own positions in their own words. Teleprompters have been used by all presidents since Harry Truman . It’s been said that Ri...

The Nazis Could have Won World War Two But for…

Berlin, Germany —There were three major blunders by Adolph Hitler that brought about his defeat. 1. A valiantly fought air battle over Brittan was lost by the Germans. They would have instead clobbered the UK with a ground invasion. The Brits had an unarmed population and their young men trained with sticks to fight the enemy that never came. The unarmed cops and population was no match for armed invaders. The Brits never learned from that blunder. Additionally the politicians in the UK like Neville Chamberlain were accomplished Nazi collaborators. American politicians collaborated with despot Communists back then as they still do today. The UK would have gone along with Nazi rule with a stiff upper lip! 2. There was a huge population of Communist hating Ukrainians in Russia that would have aligned with Hitler to defeat the Soviets. Instead the Nazis enslaved and further victimized the Ukrainians. That was a colossal blunder. 3. The Nazis developed the Messerschmitt fighter jet t...

Trying John Demjanjuk for War Crimes is a Pointless Exercise

Munich, Germany —Defense lawyer Ulrich Busch has once again asked a court to discharge his client, 90 year-old retired Cleveland auto worker, John Demjanjuk from War Crimes allegations. Demjanjuk’s trial has reached the one-year mark without any smoking-gun or even newsworthy revelations being made. The trial of Demjanjuk is largely symbolic since Germany has no death penalty and the worst that could happen is that the accused war criminal would spend his remaining days in a nursing home. Demjanjuk most likely will never leave a nursing home anyway since he is in need of regular blood transfusions and is very frail. Busch has raised Demjanjuk’s declining health and a seemingly valid claim of Double Jeopardy. Demjanjuk was tried and eventually cleared of war crimes in Israel after documentary evidence supplied by the United States Office of Special Investigations was determined by the court to be forged. Germany has no Constitutional guarantee against Double Jeopardy but it’s a wor...

Actor, Mel Gibson May be Closer To Being Rid of his Nightmare

Los Angeles, CA --According to postings over at TMZ.com , Oksana Grigorieva’s computer data was seized by sheriff’s investigators armed with a search warrant. I suspect a full forensic examination of this computer may reveal evidence of a conspiracy to commit extortion. E-mails, chat histories, visited websites will lead to many additional avenues to locate evidence. TMZ also reported that Grigorieva’s unlicensed convicted felon bodyguard, Kristian Herzog is exploring publishing a book that will chronicle his alleged sexual relationship and other activities with her. I can’t imagine sheriff’s investigators not grilling this fellow about any evidence of Grigorieva’s efforts to mislead police and prosecutors. The bodyguard reportedly has loads of text messages and other scandalous pillow talk material he’s marketing while it’s hot. Selling his story and material would however cheapen it's value as evidence in any courtroom. I would not be surprised to learn that other people'...

TSA is the Theater of the Absurd

Memphis, TN— ExpressJet Airlines, first officer Michael Roberts reached his saturation point for mindless TSA thugs that rob him of his rights and simple dignity. He refused to be fondled and groped by the sub-species of humanity employed for that job. Robert’s also rejected a ride through the body scanner that would reveal his penis size to inquisitive TSA screeners. He may be fired for taking this stand. Roberts can only hope there is a reasonable mind at Homeland Security or in our Congress that can end this government embarrassment forever. Perhaps standing up to the folly can bring change. All of our airline pilots should put their feet down and force this issue to a sane solution. Why is the Airline Pilot’s Association hiding rather than facing this head on? Searching the carefully vetted and medically screened commercial airline pilot is an exercise of extreme nonsense. It is nothing more than a shining example of dysfunctional government groupthink. If pilots have a conce...

Wisconsin Concealed Weapon Prohibition Declared Unconstitutional

Clark County, WI —Last June, Joshua D. Schultz , of Sauk City was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon. Since this state had no provision for permits exactly like Illinois this absolute ban violates the right to keep and bear arms. The defense made a simple Motion to Dismiss and Judge Jon M. Counsell ruled the law violated the Constitution. Schultz was freed. Now Schultz can go to the U.S. District Court and sue police for the violation of his Civil Rights under USC 1983. Like it or not Heller and McDonald is the law of the land. State and local governments may be able to require permits if they are freely issued to law-abiding citizens. The existing blanket prohibitions against concealed weapons cannot stand. Here is the ruling: Schultz CCW

My Take on a Missing Phoenix Police Sergeant found Murdered

Phoenix, AZ —Usually when police fail to respond to radio or MDT transmissions it’s usually the failure of equipment that’s responsible. Officers are trained to check their radios if there are prolonged periods of silence perhaps due to a dead battery. The South Mountain precinct is usually a busy assignment for any cop. There are trailer parks, loads of very modest homes and often they include various farm animals and chickens. There is the South area of the state capital campus that’s patrolled by the Capital Police Department . At night this area is desolate and void of all but a few homeless types that can be found sleeping there. The Capitol police have their own radio frequencies and generally are not alerted about nearby matters handled by Phoenix police. Sergeant Sean Drenth of the South Mountain Precinct was missing and incommunicado. Fellow officers along with the helicopter unit began a search just after 10 PM last night. An hour later a Capitol police civilian security...

Jody “J-Fled” Weis' Payback to Chicago Cops

Chicago, IL — Mayor Daley’s appointee to the position of police superintendent, Jody "J-Fled" Weis was an utter disaster for public safety in Chicago. The former FBI agent with an inflated salary and ego never belonged in that position. Weis has accomplished nothing except the alienation of officers already demoralized, depressed, outgunned, and undermanned along with being underpaid. Despite his wearing the coveted Chicago police uniform, Weis has never been a cop and is nothing more than a lap dog for the corrupt reverends and politicians in control of the city. Weis’ attempt at spinning crime statistics and Chicago’s bloody summers into some illusion of public safety progress has been an abject failure. It’s very simple Chicagoan’s tax dollars have been distributed to criminals and political whores as the police department has been run into the ground with deprivation. The manpower shortages have resulted in surrendering the streets to emboldened thugs. The police ar...

Obama’s Lost Magic, One German Correspondent’s View

Germany--Der Spiegel Magazin e is a popular publication for the German speaking world. Because of the ease of Internet publishing they also offer Der Speigel Online International in English. Der Spiegel is uncomfortably Left of the political center but well written and informative. Most of Germany’s Liberals love Barack Obama and are disappointed that he’s not caught fire as the Socialist Messiah of the world. The writer of the Der Spiegel article, Klaus Brinkbäumer gives us his version the political climate surrounding our mid-term elections. The article laments the “vitriol and hatemongering” of the Tea Party movement and other Conservatives. Brinkbäumer seems to compare Sarah Palin and Fox News commentator, Glen Beck to Adolph Hitler’ s own National Socialism pre-holocaust intolerance campaign. Brinkbäumer thinks that it is unfair to suggest that Obama’s agenda mirrors that of Hitler and Stalin. What Brinkbäumer totally misses is that Obama’s entire platform is right out of ...

Obama Is The Best Campaigner the GOP has

As the mid-term elections are just a couple of weeks away, Barack Obama is reminding all the voters of the all the damage he’s done. That, as those with their seats in peril regret any affiliation with the Comrade Obama they now view as a giant stone around their necks. We can only hope the Socialist Messiah will get as much face time as possible and appear everywhere.

A Thief with a Heart, say it ain’t so!

Sweden —Your laptop is stolen or lost. The reality is you will never see it again. Panic sets in as you start thinking that your whole life is on that machine. Your correspondence, documents, pictures and video is forever lost. Yes, you know you were supposed to back up that data but you were just a little too busy. That happened to one victim here but one exceptional thief dutifully performed a back-up of the purloined machine on appropriate media and mailed it to the owner! Now that’s classy! Read more about this random act of ???? here

Surge in Robberies Tied to the Miserable Economy

Banks, armored cars, jewelry stores are seeing a surge in violent robberies. We are at the very beginning of an inflation nightmare that will that will make the perfect conditions for robbery gangs. Businesses that have gotten by with unarmed (and therefore worthless) guards and security cameras for protection will suddenly be in for real trouble. Kidnappings for ransom and home invasion/robberies will begin to climb. This is happening as police departments are being downsized and habitual criminals are getting released at record rates. Criminal aliens are no longer being removed from our soil by the government. Food and gasoline prices are suddenly climbing and this time there may be no end to that in sight. The criminal element won’t be looking for ways to take honest jobs and working overtime to make ends meet. They will be looking at you, your business and family instead. Americans are going to have to rethink the idea of special training and carrying firearms for self-defense. ...

We have a National Emergency, Suspend the Income Tax!

I can’t imagine what these politicians are thinking. They are shelling out billions in unemployment and welfare benefits bankrupting America. We send them our money to redistribute back to us as handouts. That never made sense. I say Suspend all personal income tax withholdings for Americans. Suspend all requirements for quarterly tax payments from businesses that will not lay off employees. Americans can accept lower paying jobs if there are no withholdings. Businesses will finally thrive. That will stimulate the economy. That will return confidence and productivity. That will sell homes, cars and the goods we make. How many homes can we save from foreclosure this way? It’s not the way of Karl Marx or Barack Obama . It should happen but it just won’t happen. Perhaps it will happen if American patriots take up arms against an oppressive government. It worked in 1776 and will work again today. What will it take to make Americans angry enough to act? Should we wait for abject ho...

Mel Gibson’s Mega-Mess

Los Angeles, CA—Mel Gibson entered his middle age crisis and hit a huge land mine. Her name is Oksana Grigorieva , a Russian immigrant and aspiring singer. Gibson stepped out of his long time marriage for a fling and wound up with a new baby. This was the result of Gibson’s little head telling the big head what to do. The much younger Grigorieva quickly adapted to Gibson’s lavish wealth. I can’t help but believe she was a cunning predator with a big plan. If Grigorieva somehow got pregnant that Catholic actor, would only do the right thing and be a father. Grigorieva did not want a father for the child but the lavish life sans, Gibson. The monthly child support checks would buy lots more than baby food and diapers. The kid is an absolute gold mine for this young woman. Next, was the obligatory domestic discord. Gibson is well-known for his emotional outbursts and rants. He has no history of violence he simply likes to hear himself yell. Gibson has those buttons and when p...

Drug Laws, States Rights and our Freedom

Los Angeles, CA —As California voters vote on a proposition that will legalize marijuana U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has threatened stepped up federal enforcement. I think Obama’s Attorney General is delusional since their DEA agents are already overloaded and chasing California pot smokers would simply crash the entire system. Who is going to build all the new federal courthouses and jails to handle the enforcement? They would have to triple the number of federal judges in California. I’m no fan of non-medical drug use but recognize the Drug War as an utter failure. Enforcement has become much more dangerous and detrimental to our freedom and quality of life than the drug abuse. A number of states have rejected federal firearms enforcement and others are resisting Obamacare . Congress has stuck their nose into every aspect of our lives to the peril of freedom. We must begin reversing this trend. States need to begin expelling the federal government’s shadow from everyday life...

Real Hope and Change is on the Way!

Washington, DC —I've been looking at respected pollster Scott Rasmussen’s figures for the House race showing the GOP picking up 55 seats. Soon members of the Obama Administration will be emulating cockroaches in a filthy kitchen after someone turns the lights on. The blizzard of Congressional subpoenas will bring much needed sunlight to Barack Obama’s birth, student grant/loans and travel records. Obama has spent $1.5 million in legal fees shielding the records in all those birther lawsuits. Many of those actions are still pending in court but so far no judge has allowed access to the evidence. It’s no secret that there are many specific additional Congressional investigations in planning stages that are focused on Obama Administration officials. Many key staffers are exiting well before the storm. Nancy Pelosi will be powerless to stop the probes. Oh yes, they definitely will be looking up Pelosi’s skirt too. 2011 appears to be the year of the nastiest Washington scandals e...

The Most Dangerous Man in Will County, Illinois is James Glasgow

Joliet, IL —I’ve written extensively about the Drew Peterson case because it’s been so poorly handled. Let me be the first to repeat that I’m not clairvoyant and I have no special insight into revelations surrounding Stacy Peterson or Kathleen Savio . I’m a well-qualified investigator that has simply reviewed the facts as a Monday morning quarterback. There are some circumstantial facts that have properly thrust Peterson under a microscope. The arrest and prosecution Peterson is deeply flawed because of insufficient evidence. Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow has endangered the credibility and validity of the entire investigation by pulling the trigger far too early. Stacy Peterson married a much older cop and at some point became disenchanted. We have no reliable record of what she told anyone. Only as it became convenient, profitable or provided celebrity for friends or family members they began to make claims of what Stacy Peterson said. Frankly the claims have...