General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBreaking - State Attoney MOSBY - Freddie Gray's death was a homicide
Live press conference on GENBComcast
The knife was not a switchblade - he was arrested illegally
This is something else.
malaise
(269,022 posts)All those officers must be charged with murder (my words)
malaise
(269,022 posts)Dem2
(8,168 posts)I didn't think justice was possible in this country. Not that convictions are guaranteed or even likely, but the BS false arrest was uncovered and charges filed - this in itself is totally unexpected.
Welcome to DU
I think I'm going to be in shock for days after watching that.
I may watch it a 3rd time just to ensure that I'm not dreaming.
Malraiders
(444 posts)the cops were not aware of his knife in the firsty place.
And I wonder if the knife was planted by the cops.
If the cops are willing to lie that the knife was a switchblade then they will be willing to plant evidence when they screw up.
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)Finally, maybe we will see justice!
malaise
(269,022 posts)About time
Involuntary manslaughter and several others
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)calimary
(81,298 posts)She's systematically ticking off multiple offenses - on the part of the officers.
No probable cause for arrest, repeated violation of police practices.
2nd degree murder, multiple manslaughter and misconduct, assault.
Ticking it off. One by one.
"To the people of Baltimore, I heard your call - no justice, no peace."
To the six of you police in this case - brutalize your way out of THAT one.
malaise
(269,022 posts)pleasantly surprised
calimary
(81,298 posts)I'm impressed, too. The crowd seems to be, as well. When she said "murder" for the first officer, voices in the crowd reacted with what sounded like pleasant surprise.
She looks like a kid. But she speaks with the power and authority of someone twice or three times her age.
"A warrant has been issued for their arrest."
malaise
(269,022 posts)one day - I can see it. She is one serious woman
calimary
(81,298 posts)headed for a higher office. Wouldn't be surprised.
Magnificent, impressive debut on the national scene for this young woman today. She just won a lot of respect, I think. No-nonsense. And pretty clearly - no bias apparent. Looks like HER office is not one of those many prosecutors' offices that's in bed with, or otherwise biased toward, the police. Like her counterpart in Ferguson CLEARLY was.
malaise
(269,022 posts)at the Democratic Convention - early days but a great debut.
daleanime
(17,796 posts)she seemed very impressive.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)I like this woman. A LOT!!!!!!!
NoJusticeNoPeace
(5,018 posts)about time but it took a
BLACK person to do it
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)I'll have to find video link. Gotta see this.
calimary
(81,298 posts)BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)It's time.
There's research showing women are more effective in a variety of positions and bring a level of response and communication above what their male counterparts do.
calimary
(81,298 posts)He loved it. I think it was during Rachel Maddow's interview with him. He said the Senate became steadily better as more women entered the picture. Less bullshit. Problems got worked on, and in some cases solved. More got done.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)But we all know it's true. Women respond to problems in context, while men tend to adhere more to ideology, not recognizing the realities and variables of individual situations.
I read Dr. Carol Gilligan's study on the differences between women's and men's thinking styles. "In A Different Voice." realllllly excellent.
Hekate
(90,706 posts)Anyway, this young prosecutor is impressive as all get out. She gave one of the more thorough, complete, and informative statements to the press I have ever heard -- with not a nanosecond's hesitation in telling them she was still not going to give them either info or opinions she had already given them good reason for withholding.
I would not like to be facing her with nothing but lies and BS in my defense.
I wish her all good fortune in this prosecution and in her future.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)calimary
(81,298 posts)AND in the statehouses, AND in the governor's mansions, AND, yes, in the Oval Office. Forty-four Presidents we've had. All men. Time for a change. But it's been time for a change for awhile, if you ask me.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)if there ever was one.
My husband tends to be very flexible and is a good peacemaker.
I just don't agree with categorical generalizations.
More women than men have a lot of "social intelligence," but there are a lot of exceptions.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)No argument there.
I still want more liberal democrats who are women in high places, though!
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)agree.
Joe Chi Minh
(15,229 posts)a hurry, either, as I've found to my cost !
StarlightGold
(365 posts)A couple of them said " I don't like her attitude". And "she has a bad attitude".
Now, an official calling for people to be held to account has an "attitude"; translation...Uppity.
I'm sure they will be calling her a "thug" if they haven't already...
calimary
(81,298 posts)Glad you're here! They'll call her all kinds of things that aren't fit to print, I'm sure. I call her magnificent. And impressive as hell!!!
StarlightGold
(365 posts)Having this place and people like you to vent with is a godsend after a lifetime of dealing with uber RW batshit crazy family members.
calimary
(81,298 posts)That's what we're here for! DU has been a lifesaver and an oasis in a very large, dry, barren desert. Those of us who have been here since Selection 2000 found a solace and a safe haven we never dreamed existed. HOW MANY of us came here, pleasantly surprised, with the same opening comment: many versions of "So glad I finally found you guys, because I've felt so isolated and alone!" and "I thought I was the only one who felt this way!"
Sometimes we just almost literally cling to each other! Sometimes it feels like we're all alone together on some liberal lifeboat. And other times I know we've felt like we're dancing on top of the world - in a very large, and sympathetic, AND expanding crowd! We ALL use each other to vent to. The difference is - those on the receiving end are all venting on the same outrages, with many of the same words and phrases and complaints!
This place kept me sane and kept me company during the nightmare that was bush/cheney. It was just what I needed, and just when I needed it.
And I've found it makes you smarter. I can't even begin to count how much I've learned since I started reading in here. There are so many brilliant people here at so many different levels of expertise and experience, professional and otherwise. There's a WEALTH of it here. Some people are just hot-diggity-damn CLEVER. Brutally, sometimes. And some of 'em are world-class writers, researchers, and teachers. I've got TONS of quotes in my quotes collection from people - either that they made up themselves or they were quoting one of their favorites. I've learned boatloads about so many issues that people have either researched and attached links, or they know about it because it's what they do for a living or they were married to it, or they're debating it or defending it in some way. Just learning-learning-learning all the time here. It helps you formulate your own opinions, examine issues, and gain perspective on events and crises and personalities in the news. It expands your insights. Lots of truth serum and a little tough love too. But I can't tear myself away. And I know I've certainly bored or annoyed my share of people here! And for that I apologize. But I know SOOOOOoooooo much more now than I did when I arrived.
One other thing I love about DU is - there's so much compassion here you almost drown in it. As our own Skittles once said - "someone's always here." Can't tell you how many times I've enjoyed that. I always seem to find work, throughout my life, that keeps me up and busy at odd hours. And DU is there. I posted here the night my mother passed. TONS of mixed feelings! And she'd been in increasingly bad health for so long it was one of those "at least she isn't suffering anymore" type of things. Didn't know how to feel, or which of about a thousand feelings to face first. So I posted. And within about a minute, somebody posted back. And then there were a few. And then a few more. Then a few more. Then QUITE a few more, and it just continued for a whole 'nother day! People reached out and comforted me and shared and just all kinds of wonderful posts. A few hundred of them. I CANNOT tell you how much that meant. I CANNOT tell you how much that helped. CANNOT find the words. People reached out - that whole thing about the friendly and intimate strangers of most of the anonymous people we know on the internet. I was overwhelmed. I still am. And that was back during bush/cheney! People messaged me and offered more solace and shoulders to lean on. Phone numbers, even. Which I never got to, and I didn't want to intrude, but I appreciated that so much. I didn't know what to say or how to say the kind of thank you that these people deserved. And still deserve.
Some of us refer to it as the "DU family." Well, yeah. Actually - it is.
Glad you're here!
StarlightGold
(365 posts)This place is great, much in part to people like you!
Looking forward to posting more often and also giving out as much compassion as I may receive!
Joe Chi Minh
(15,229 posts)calimary
(81,298 posts)RockaFowler
(7,429 posts)I hope the people in Baltimore can be patient to wait for any charges against the officers. This is so sad
Oh and if I see anything on my Facebook feed where he deserved this I will scream. No-one deserves to die that way. For any reason
malaise
(269,022 posts)They are cheering her - amazing
RockaFowler
(7,429 posts)malaise
(269,022 posts)Start with second degree murder and several other charges
Now Mayor and governor - end the curfew and remove the national guard.
Investigation was independent ot the Baltimore Police.
Well done Marylin Mosby
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)randome
(34,845 posts)But good news.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]You have to play the game to find out why you're playing the game. -Existenz[/center][/font][hr]
Thanks
B2G
(9,766 posts)Are there any out there?
malaise
(269,022 posts)Mugs shots will soon be available
B2G
(9,766 posts)Thanks!
7962
(11,841 posts)panader0
(25,816 posts)I wonder if these indictments would have come about without the public outcry, whether peaceful protests or riots.
madinmaryland
(64,933 posts)Robbins
(5,066 posts)When i heard she came from family of police officers i thought she would be biased towards them.
I have natural tendacy to think escpecilly after ferguson if proscuorters have person connections to police they will protect police.
Just imagine prosecutors actully doing their job not being biased towards police.
I am very impressed with her.
malaise
(269,022 posts)with the culture of 'cover-up'. The really great news was that they investigated this independent of the police.
calimary
(81,298 posts)Last edited Fri May 1, 2015, 12:40 PM - Edit history (1)
I like this woman. She looks and behaves like a no-bullshit type. Very professional. She's stressing her department's investigation was independent, not solely relying on the police version of events.
Baltimore's State Attorney. Just in office for a few months. Impressive woman.
This is the Quote of the Year!
KingCharlemagne
(7,908 posts)calimary
(81,298 posts)miscarriage of justice. He was WAY too cozy and WAY too biased toward the cops. TOO MANY like him are that way. This wasn't.
I'm impressed! About time!!! The civilians in the crowd during her announcement were audibly pleased with what they were hearing. She's throwing the book at 'em.
KingCharlemagne
(7,908 posts)proceedings, an event with historical roots in the Missouri KKK\White Citizens' Council past. I swear you cannot make this shit up. Apparently St. Louis has an 'irony deficit disorder.'
Robbins
(5,066 posts)St Louis is one of 2 main democratic areas of MO and blacks are key part of democratic base.Many blacks In St Louis have voted for
him and he thinks nothing of them.
Robbins
(5,066 posts)He acted before grand jury as darren wilson's defense attorny.Here prosecutor remembered she was suspose to get justice for the
victim.
malaise
(269,022 posts)Most refreshing approach I've seen in years.
Agschmid
(28,749 posts)My heart was sinking yesterday, and I see this just now.
Thank you, I feel much better now.
Duppers
(28,125 posts)This is such a relief. Had to call my husband at work.
This DA has so much evidence to convict these cops.
And CNN has had some good interviews on the streets today. You can feel their emotions. I'm still wiping tears. Wow, just wow.
I was in Bmore over the weekend and felt the tension. This is such a relief.
H2O Man
(73,558 posts)A powerful day!
malaise
(269,022 posts)She was impressive
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)kelliekat44
(7,759 posts)Kingofalldems
(38,458 posts)Renowned expert Mark Fuhrman will comment along with the brilliant Steve Doocy, who will also make faces at the camera.
Guy Whitey Corngood
(26,501 posts)Kingofalldems
(38,458 posts)Guy Whitey Corngood
(26,501 posts)awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)half an idiot savant
KingCharlemagne
(7,908 posts)spurious 'conflict of interest' charges or some such nonsense). Because, see, on Fox News black people are not allowed to be successful, except maybe as athletes or entertainers and then only so long as they keep their mouths shut about life as it is actually lived.
Hekate
(90,706 posts)As she stated, her husband as a legislator makes the laws and she enforces them.
But expect some other idiot to bring it up again.
NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)that since the prosecutor is black, she's siding with the rioters and thugs out of racism and hatred of white people.
Of course, they won't out-and-out say that, but they'll imply it strongly.
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)IDemo
(16,926 posts)"Misconduct in office", "False imprisonment", "Depraved heart murder" (any other kind?). The "Manslaughter by vehicle" one makes me wonder if they haven't concluded that the death was the result of a rough ride rather than a rough arrest.
Chakaconcarne
(2,453 posts)I heard some discussion about this early on...but little since then.
malaise
(269,022 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)realize that now I will have to stay on reaction, and I am NOT THERE.
libodem
(19,288 posts)That I had to finish crying before I could reply.
Segami
(14,923 posts)...I was watching the news conference in awe. It took some real integrity to file these charges today and not kick the can down the road.
Unbelievable!
malaise
(269,022 posts)itsrobert
(14,157 posts)Fix The Stupid
(948 posts)never ever did I believe this would happen.
Bravo to all the peeps that made this happen - it was your pressure and voice that directly resulted in these charges being laid.
Now...maybe we can all see the power of sticking together and having a common cause?
This is what the PTB/Plutocrats/men behind the curtains fear the most.
malaise
(269,022 posts)but this is a great start
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)Doesn't it make you want to scream. Guilty of being black while on a street.
malaise
(269,022 posts)What a set of racist scumbags
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Segami
(14,923 posts)The police union has stated they are all innocent of the charges..................sure they are...
7962
(11,841 posts)Joe Chi Minh
(15,229 posts)to white, racist police and judicial authorities, as tools, as your question illustrates. From the police union's depraved angle, they are probably their most precious asset imaginable. That is why, with good men being tortured and killed for their patriotism, during insurrections of occupied peoples (already by definition on the back foot), traitors are dealt with mercilessly. Giving aid and succour to the enemy.
7962
(11,841 posts)charges brought by a prosecutor who is also black, in a city administration that is also black!
But being serious, maybe this case will finally make people realize that bad cops come in all colors and have been abusing all colors
Joe Chi Minh
(15,229 posts)poor whites, real enough, and that of poor blacks under the rug, like that. The massive preponderance of blacks in the 'for profit' prison and parole systems, both absolute and relative, speaks for itself. Nevertheless, this thread throws light on what both persecuted groups face:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026612007
I remember Joe Bageant wrote on the depressing theme. I believe they even have to pay for their parole interviews and what have you.
7962
(11,841 posts)I'm just tired of the REST of the story always getting ignored here, or just get a passing mention. The guy in Cal. who was tased and beaten a week or so ago while he was lying on the ground with his hands behind his back is one example. the person who posted the OP even said "I assumed the man was black, when I found out he was white I almost didnt post it". Absolutely ridiculous. The black cop in Ala. who shot and killed an unarmed white kid was pretty much ignored here too. These cops need to be exposed regardless of race.
But you are right; the "system" wanting to bleed you. I've been around that many times where I live. And here, you are almost guaranteed to be considered rehabilitated within days of paying off your fines!
Joe Chi Minh
(15,229 posts)call the turncoats who supervised their work gangs and were frequently brutal criminals, in exchange for privileges, 'kapos'.
7962
(11,841 posts)You need to do a little more research. When some people put on the blue, it doesnt matter what color THEY are
Joe Chi Minh
(15,229 posts)None of them would have an ounce of moral fibre in my book, but only the likes of the driver, perhaps, would otherwise be as pro-active in such murder and mayhem.
So, yes, most of them would 'go along to get along.' Not because they are necessarily better than their white colleagues, but few life-long victims of the same sub-human oppression, would sink as low as the 'kapo', pro-actively. It takes a special, Stygian degree of blindness born of an abyss of moral turpitude to fail to recognise one's own kinship any other human beings, especially when part of a tyrannized subculture, and to join in taking the homicidal initiative among their persecutors.
malaise
(269,022 posts)They are all tools of the system and the culture of racism is embedded in their modus operandi
NobodyHere
(2,810 posts)Is this really about race? Or is it just general police thuggery.
7962
(11,841 posts)And they come in all colors. But a lot of folks here only want to focus on race most of the time. Its sad, but true
Gothmog
(145,291 posts)The State Attorney did a good job and was prepared
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)malaise
(269,022 posts)lovemydog
(11,833 posts)I like this local Baltimore reporting much more than the national coverage. They interview many good people in Baltimore.
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)Hoyt
(54,770 posts)servants.
ScreamingMeemie
(68,918 posts)malaise
(269,022 posts)When the fines and awards for constitutional violations come from their paychecks we will see real change
Vattel
(9,289 posts)workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)Grinding their damn jackboots into people who have every damn right to protest the horrible conditions most Americans have to live under these days!
These fuckers in blue are paid killers for the 1%!
BumRushDaShow
(129,053 posts)I just watched the video replay of her statement.
You could feel (or at least *I* could feel) her difficulty in suppressing the absolute agony and fire in her soul with respect to the situation as she read her statement.
I think for many of us, given the events of the past year and expanded media coverage, little has changed in terms of police departments reading the writing on the wall and dealing with the fact that "times have changed" and this sort of thing will no longer be condoned or covered up. Just a lot of bad apples out there, up the chain. It's not unlike the child-abuse cases finally being dealt with in the Catholic church - getting the infection exposed, accepting responsibility, and ridding the institution of the infestation.... and this needs to happen in many LE departments.
damnedifIknow
(3,183 posts)This is good news.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Maybe Lying Fox News will call for an armed insurrection.
Dream Girl
(5,111 posts)I just got out of the shower😉
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)I figure they will mount an attack later once they get their talking points written.
malaise
(269,022 posts)Joy Reid is reporting live. People are jubilent even though they know the trial is still to come.
Wonder if the officers will get out on bail and go on vacation in the islands (has that happened recently???!). There's still a long, long way to go on this thing to get justice.
Initech
(100,079 posts)I would suggest fixing that title ASAP.
muntrv
(14,505 posts)NoJusticeNoPeace
(5,018 posts)malaise
(269,022 posts)says he didn't know a decision would be coming down today.
Praising Marilyn Mosby big time.
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)He said earlier this morning that he knew she would analyze all the facts, apply them to the law, and treat everyone fairly. He said earlier this morning that he would accept her decision. Cummings also said that Freddie Gray was a human being. That Marilyn Mosby saw him as a human being.
Cummings said that many community leaders in Baltimore have been saying they have never seen justice in these cases before. Never.
He also cautioned that until fundamental issues like equality of education are addressed and corrected, justice has not been achieved.
He said that everyone in Baltimore wants a better day rising for their children.
jmowreader
(50,559 posts)That idiot in Missouri must have had his head in a bucket to not notice he was dealing with a homicide. This lady saw it right off.
NoJusticeNoPeace
(5,018 posts)respect to the dead kid.
Intentional
LittleBlue
(10,362 posts)Justice will hopefully be served. This seems more straightforward than the Trayvon trial. ME ruled definitively a homicide AND he was shackled. Hard to believe the officers will get off.
kwassa
(23,340 posts)spanone
(135,841 posts)A Simple Game
(9,214 posts)Who will cut who's throat to get a better deal? I doubt when there is real cell time on the line that they will be loyal to each other.
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)Marylin Mosby, Baltimore City State's Attorney
PatrickforO
(14,576 posts)skeewee08
(1,983 posts)Was not expecting that....
jmowreader
(50,559 posts)I wonder if she could negotiate a permanent truce between the Crips and Bloods.
suffragette
(12,232 posts)Nice to see good news and positive change 1st thing in the morning!
Takket
(21,573 posts)even though the murders of Martin and Brown went unpunished due to the inherent racism in the system, if those deaths were not in vain. The country in the last year is really starting to pay attention to this stuff and may finally be slowly turning into the light.
Think of it.... would Grey's death have been any more than a blurb in the local newspaper (if even that) to come and go without being analyzed or questioned by anyone, if not for the murders or Brown and Martin?
malaise
(269,022 posts)People are paying attention and the 'black lives matter' movement is spreading.
IHateTheGOP
(1,059 posts)Maybe justice will win out, for a change. Keep your fingers crossed
TBF
(32,062 posts)go get'em Marilyn. Respect.
vive la commune
(94 posts)I don't know how it will turn out in court, but this is wonderful news.
BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)Trillo
(9,154 posts)If people are treated fairly by cops, they wouldn't desire to riot.
NBachers
(17,117 posts)"Warrants have been issued for their arrest."
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)Turin_C3PO
(13,998 posts)Attorney Mosby! It's time to start cleaning house in all law enforcement agencies, from the top down.
malaise
(269,022 posts)Response to malaise (Original post)
libdem4life This message was self-deleted by its author.
sendero
(28,552 posts)Get ready to serve your Dime.
Hekate
(90,706 posts)This is such good news.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)She was awesome. That's what I expect from a prosecutor. A measure of justice. So much better that St Louis prosecutor, much better. We need more like her!
MineralMan
(146,317 posts)detailed to protect me. There are going to be a bunch of B'more cops really pissed at her today.
Mr Dixon
(1,185 posts)Followed her on twitter, stand for justice
countryjake
(8,554 posts)A shudder is sweeping across this nation's Blue Wall.
As sad as this case is, I think that was possibly the best presser this country has ever listened to! Historical.
What a May Day!
Thanks, malaise, for breaking this news!
countryjake
(8,554 posts)bravenak
(34,648 posts)malaise
(269,022 posts)Hope they are not treated the way they treat others
Cha
(297,273 posts)TheObamaDiary.com @TheObamaDiary
Marilyn Mosby
7:22 AM - 1 May 2015
http://theobamadiary.com/2015/05/01/marilyn-mosby/
Mahalo malaise
MoreGOPoop
(417 posts)For Justice!
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)We have a pretty good DA here in Albuquerque, Kari Brandenberg...
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/01/12/1357155/-Big-Big-News-Albuquerque-DA-to-File-Murder-Charges-Against-Two-APD-Officers
"ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) District Attorney Kari Brandenburg plans to file murder charges on Monday against the two Albuquerque police officers who shot James Boyd in the Sandia Foothills last March, according to multiple sources with firsthand knowledge of her decision.
It will mark the first time an APD officer has faced criminal charges for shooting someone in the line of duty in New Mexicos largest city. APD has one of the highest rates of police shootings in the country, and the Boyds death was the result of the most controversial in a series of 27 fatal shootings here since 2010."
What a brave woman. She is taking sooo much crap for this!
Solly Mack
(90,769 posts)malaise
(269,022 posts)You go girl!
raven mad
(4,940 posts)n/t
Suji to Seoul
(2,035 posts)X_Digger
(18,585 posts)Joe Chi Minh
(15,229 posts)after their felony is beyond disgusting, and should itself be a criminal offence; trying to pervert the course of justice, perhaps. Or perhaps simply a cretinism that shames mankind. And leaving his body in the street like that for four hours strongly suggests that the whole law-enforcement set-up, not just the police, must be close to ranking as the scum of the earth. Get that crossbow out again, Burt !
Wilson hadn't even heard the allegation that Brown had stolen from a shop, when he killed him, yet Brown, without a criminal record, was branded by all and sundry as a criminal. Nor, at the time, was the shopkeeper sure it was him, and now, after mature reflection, and perhaps feeling a little safer, he has stated that the thief was not Brown.
malaise
(269,022 posts)Fugg 'em
Joe Chi Minh
(15,229 posts)d_legendary1
(2,586 posts)And fuck the police! Your inquiry into your own actions should not interfere with the course of the courts who have a case against you.
Joe Chi Minh
(15,229 posts)sickened to read the last several paragraphs.
malaise
(269,022 posts)Joe Chi Minh
(15,229 posts)malaise
(269,022 posts)BobbyBoring
(1,965 posts)they had no choice but to file charges. The rest of Baltimore would have burned down if they didn't.
chervilant
(8,267 posts)I am astonished that he would step into the limelight, given the charges pending against him, about which he has stated:
totally false and totally made up in every respect.
Methinks he doth protest too much...
Joe Chi Minh
(15,229 posts)Only imbeciles and/or knaves could fail to be familiar with such an elementary law as that distinguishing between the carrying of a flick-knife and a different type of knife, under Maryland law.
This is, after all, their domain - street-level crime; the laws of which they should be familiar with; not white-collar crime, such as fraud, so ambagious as to rely heavily on statistics.
Everyone makes mistakes, everyone makes big mistakes, but God give the prosecutor every assistance, as it seemed imprudent of her to effectively 'cheer-lead the prosecution to the demonstrators (despite having every private and well-founded ground to harbour the underlying sentiments she expressed), thereby giving oxygen to eminent, compulsive attention-seekers, sometimes demonstrating a lamentable lack of a sense of proportion as, imo, Dershowitz has, here.
But then, did he not accept to defend O J Simpson, and contrive to get him off the hook? That surely took an appalling depth of cynicism. 'What does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?' It seems to have escaped Dershowitz that the man-made laws of States and nations must be the handmaidens of good governance, not the other way round. What's that they say? To a hammer, everything looks like a nail..? He seems to see everything as grist to his legal mill.
So, it seems to me there are severe limitations on the wisdom that could expected of him. A high degree of worldly, analytical intelligence has hardly been a guarantee of wisdom - still less common sense, so let's hope that wisdom is given very opportunity in the upcoming trial.
The wisdom of his confreres, other professors, could do with some boosting in terms of the public's esteem, not further ridicule. 'Absent-minded professor' can have an all too literal meaning. Given a false assumption, the most pellucid and faultless logic will lead to the madhouse; and sound assumptions are by no means a special prerogative of those with a high analytical intelligence, but tend rather to be the province of the heart, our desire.
Because the factors that contribute to our world-view are so abstruse, atheism is just as much a religion as any Christianity or any other religion properly so-called. And strident, secular fundamentalism is in no wise less foolish than Christian fundamentalism.