The death of Michael Jackson is going to be treated

[Political Tiger]

like the death of Princess Diana by the media. This is going to drive the news cycle for at least the next week, I make no judgments about this, but for those who think such coverage is unwarranted my advice would be better to get used to it now, because this is a big story. Despite his unparalleled strangeness, there is no doubt he was an amazingly talented person, and touched a lot of people's lives. As odd as he was, his musical legacy will live on.

[Uzybone]

1. As big as MJ was in the US, he is twice as big overseas

Its a huge story, like it or not.

[Political Tiger]

8. True, very true.

The fact that he died young, like Princess Diana, Elvis and John Lennon is a shocker. This is a big story whether it should be or not.

[Duer 157099]

2. Bull. Princess Di died in a very controversial manner

All sorts of other things involved, and that also drove that story.

His death will be a big media event, of course, but it's not the same.

He's a Mega Celebrity, no two ways about it

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. Not really, it was just another drunk driving accident.

There will probably be all sorts of conspiracy theorists trying to turn this into some big "controversy" too.

[Political Tiger]

15. Yep! It won't be long before people say he really isn't dead like Elvis

supposedly staged his death.

[Retrograde]

26. and they're living together in the Bermuda triangle even as we speak

Of course nothing happens by coincidence - Princess Di probably arranged the whole thing.

I didn't care for Jackson's work, although I will admit he is important in 20th century popular music. Didn't like Elvis much after he got out of the army either.

[Number23]

31. Yep! He, Biggie and Tupac are sitting in the Caymans laughing their asses off

They'll all pop a 40-ounce as soon as Elvis gets back from spearing a wild boar for dinner...

[anneboleyn]

49. Callers to George Noory's show are already saying this. No surprise there, I guess.

[MrModerate]

10. But, the media is twice as hyped as it was when Diana died . . .

They pop off like nukes when a man bites a dog. I think they'll pretty much blow the earth's atmosphere into space over MJ. Course, it'll only last a week or so -- a tad longer if he died of something more exotic than being 50 years old and having lived unhealthily.

[Political Tiger]

12. The "mega celebrity" aspect is what I am talking about.

I'm not comparing how they died, just that both died young and unexpected.

[RaleighNCDUer]

22. Having just turned 56, I am so glad to be hearing so many people

calling 50 'young'.

[democracy1st]

50. yep you have 30 more yrs to live my friend so take care of yourself

[Joe the Liberal]

3. Yup I'm predicting this as well......

They will be on this for about a good week or so, can you say "infotainment"? Don't get me wrong, his death is news but I mean there are more important things going on in the world, report on his death but don't spend 1-2 weeks on it.

[tridim]

4. It'll bug me that he'll get more respect than John Lennon

But I'll get over it.

[bliss_eternal]

17. "media attention" to one's death....

is not the equivalent of respect.

i recall lennon's death, and it also drew in a great deal of media attention--but of course, not like today. times were different (i.e. no internet, not as many periodicals/magazines reporting on celebrities, etc.)

so there's nothing for you to "get over." :hi:

[ddeclue]

44. You may not agree but he was on the same level with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

[tridim]

46. He was certainly on the same level in some respects.

But for genius I have to go with John.

I don't want to sound like I'm dissing Michael, he was extremely talented. I respect MJ more than Elvis for instance. :hide:

[babythunder]

45. If John Lennon died today

it would be just as a huge event. It has nothing to do with respect when it was first announced that he died most stations were talking about his child molestation case.

[charlie]

6. The last guy to enjoy Beatles-sized fame

Yeah, Jackson is going to be the center of attention for a good while.

Hell, Elvis was washed up and the Elvismania that followed his death tooks years to subside.

[Left Is Write]

9. And I still remember where I was when I heard that Elvis had died.

[charlie]

14. Me too, oddly

At the time, I considered Elvis an old fart has-been, so the news didn't rock my world. Yet I remember exactly how I heard it.

[dipsydoodle]

7. You summed that well -

unparalleled strangeness but no doubt he was an amazingly talented person. Yes - his musical legacy will live on.

[malaise]

11. 100% correct

Jacko was a celebrity - he is huge.

[Hello_Kitty]

13. I'm in a restaurant typing this and EVERYONE is glued to the TV and talking about it.

It absolutely is Princess Diana level.

[jus_the_facts]

16. Lest we forget JFK, Jr. ???

[Kazak]

18. Farrah?

:shrug:

[bigwillq]

19. Yes it will.

Not sure how I will feel about it, but that's exactly what's going to happen. I can always choose to turn off the news.

[Kahuna]

20. He's an American icon like Elvis. I always felt that Mike would die young..

So, I'm happy that he went fast and pain free.

[WeDidIt]

21. "unparalleled strangeness" and "odd" are interesting euphamisms for pedophilia. n/t

[Fire1]

24. YOU don't know if that man was guilty of pedophilia or not!!!

As a matter of fact, the same could be said about euphamisms used to describe YOU!!

[Milspec]

27. Not to just hop in to the thread but

Things than he admitted to seem to be close to pedophilia to me.
But to tell the truth I was not a fan.

[Fire1]

30. Yep and those 'parents' lived happily ever after. n/t

[WeDidIt]

28. HE paid off the kid

That's an admission of guilt in my book.

[Fire1]

29. YOUR 'book' doesn't count. b/t

[tekisui]

32. The kids' book counts.

If a kid says they were molested, and a grown man pays to settle, I will side with the kid.

[Fire1]

34. Kid's book ain't shit, either. n/t

[tekisui]

35. !

:wow:

[WeDidIt]

36. Bingo,. Michael JAckson WAS a pedophile

Just like OJ Murdered Nicole.

[Fire1]

37. You seem mighty definite about that. I guess you should know!

[WeDidIt]

38. My mind is made up

OJ got away with murder and MJ got away with diddling little boys.

[tekisui]

40. MJ went bankrupt paying of the little boys he played with.

Who really knows how many lives he messed up.

[Fire1]

41. Perfect set up. n/t

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[WeDidIt]

58. Buh Bye

[RaleighNCDUer]

63. The kids in the McMartin Daycare case said there were secret tunnels

under the school, and the guy drilled holes under a little girl's arms, and he could fly.

Of course, kids ALWAYS tell the truth - and the truth is what grownups want them to say.

[Phillycat]

56. For real.

[Fire1]

23. AMEN PT!!! Well said. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. Of course it will and that is the problem with the media

they decide what is important.

Now they could salvage this by using this to educate people on some things like Anorexia... but don't expect this either.

It will be a presidential or other head of state wall to wall...

[Top Cat]

33. You are right MJ was an American Icon even with the strangeness

The world will truly miss his magic.

[6000eliot]

39. More like Anna Nicole Smith.

[Fire1]

47. Who???? n/t

[6000eliot]

48. Believe me, I wish I didn't know.

[LatteLibertine]

42. I fully recognize this is going to occur

No I don't feel the event warrants non stop 9/11 style coverage. I feel our "news" channels are laughable. This is what you get with profit driven infotainment.

I hope the protesters in Iran survive while we discuss MJ for the next week.

[bullwinkle428]

43. This will be Elvis's death-level in its treatment. I know that Diana

had countless fans here in America, but Elvis was the last "home-grown" celebrity whose death seemed to transcend EVERYTHING, at least for a little while...

[jimlup]

51. I think maybe this deserves that level of coverage...

There is a human emotion here that can't really be denied.

On the other hand: Mark Stanford is sure one lucky politician who'll get to keep his job as a result!

And, we had better be damn sure that Health Care and the Environment don't totally go away.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

52. the man loved spectacle - wait til you see the funeral he probably had planned years in advance

it's going to make reagan and diana look like they were buried in potter's field

[Tx4obama]

54. They are trying to brainwash us! It is a distraction !

Okay great ... Michael Jackson was an American ICON.
He broke barriers when he got his videos on MTV when MTV was only showing white videos.
He was a great preformer.

BUT why is the media hitting the reset button and not telling us about ANY of the news that this happening?

Nothing on CNN, HLN, FoxNews, MSNBC about Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sanford and his mistress and his illegal trips to Argentina on the taxpayer's dime, Healthcare, The Obama Administration, etc.

Why?

Yes it is very very sad that Michael Jackson passed away --- and it was probably from misusing prescription drugs... but our lives don't have to completely stop because of it !!!

Everyone needs to go get a copy of George Orwells' "1984" and reread the part about the square screen on the wall that via the government tells the people how to think and what to think !!!

I bet if George Orwell were alive today he would be surprised that we Americans have flat screen TVs on our walls doing exactly what he imagined in his mind so long ago.

[excess_3]

57. JFK, jr ... RIP

died this time of year, IIRC.

four days of continuous video
of small boats floating around

[Dorian Gray]

59. Definitely get used to it

My friends were all in shock last night, and I received 7 phone calls by 9 pm about the whole thing. I can't say I'm SAD about it, but I can say I was SHOCKED about it. It was unexpected and surprising. Add to that his talent. And add to that the controversial nature of his life... from cute little boy to surgically deformed man.... IT's definitely a story.

[WeDidIt]

60. At least they aren't completely glossing over the pedophilia. n/t

[farmbo]

61. So much for the "Green Revolution" in Iran

MJ will drive the news cycle until he's planted in the ground.

Iran will be yesterday's news.

[progressoid]

62. Just next week? I was thinking at least a few months coverage & then the end of the year wrap up.

I'd say more coverage than the Pope's death.

Somewhere between Anna Nicole and Princess Di.

[lib2DaBone]

64. Don't know if anyone saw what James Kunstler said about the 'Gloved One'...

Farewell King of Pop

It's fascinating to follow the coverage of Michael Jackson's death, but especially the lavish tributes to his "genius" and general wonderfulness. He was, in fact, a monster, and an apt reflection of America's extreme collective cultural confusion. He was a distillation of the lies America tells itself. He was infantile, grandiose, horrifying, and probably dangerous. His "accomplishments" as a grown man amounted to little more than a half dozen popular songs. The arc of his life may have been tragic, but it was a tragedy of his own making. His sudden end brings to mind a remark Gore Vidal made upon hearing about the death of Truman Capote: "Good career move."

http://www.kunstler.com/index.html


but he could dance.....:rofl:

[scheming daemons]

65. Poor choice of words

"touched a lot of people's lives"

Yikes.

[Orsino]

66. Has Gov. Sanford been officially named a suspect yet? n/t

[TransitJohn]

67. Will it surpass the mediagasm

that was Tim Russert's death?