IIRC it was Thomas Sowell who first used the term "cool the mark" with respect to the Duke hoax. I thought his article was interesting, but I didn't think much more of it. Now I'm amazed at how insightful he was.
That is exactly what they are doing. Cooling the mark with all the delays in this case. And usually it's the defense that wants delays! It's the defense that wants a gag order.
But notice how fast DC tried Finnerty.... That's the case that should have been delayed. Delayed until there was resolution of the Durham case.
Yep Sowell first commented that what we were seeing is cooling the mark. The question is what mark?
1. The Duke black voters that Nifong took advantage of to win the primary?
2. The lacrosse families, the defendants and other team members?
I am not sure either group has been cooled yet? I am not sure that the lacrosse group can ever be cooled and he is going to face civil actions. I think with an opponent looming out there the black community he used can not e cooled. Nifong is stuck.