Posted on 11/29/2001 5:49:50 AM PST by codebreaker
Just uttered this spew right in front of Diane Sawyer unchallanged on Good Morning America .
That is an apt description of our perfect justice system that another FReeper better characterized as the entertainment industry. One question (among many) is justice must be seen to be done by whom? I think that nowadays justice is seen to be done by fewer and fewer non-participants in the system, and certainly not by the victims of the privileged criminal class. Yes, justice was seen to be done by OJ Simpson who famously said that "the system works!", did he not? Yes, seen! It's a game of tricks, mirrors and perceptions is it not? We'll execute McVeigh after 5 years of appeals to create a perception that justice is being done, when the typical parasite on a death rows lives there for 12 to 20 years.
Let's perhaps start by questioning why procedures are more important than justice, shall we?
Dershowitz is not displaying his guts and he is not standing up for "patriotism" or any other high-falutin' thing. He is an egotistic fool who is displaying his greed and twisted logic for all to see.
If bin Laden is brought to a military court for trial, he will get representation of an American lawyer - even if it is not the esteemed (in his opinion) Mr. D. In addition, there is little doubt (at least in my mind) the patriotic Mr. D. would refuse to represent bin Laden if he couldn't get camera face-time 24/7 and make his usual $500/hour fee along with his lucrative spots on the nightly cable shows.
No, what Mr. D. is looking for is fame and fortune at the expense of the American system, not justice for all, and he is willing to use bin Laden and all the rest of us to do it. Imagine that! He probably thinks all the rubes out here are buying his b&llsh1t! There is a difference, and you as a smart lawyer surely know that. Perhaps we can excuse Diane Sawyer for not knowing that. After all, she is a clueless Talking Head. You aren't - or at least your many previous postings haven't indicated anything of the sort.
Do you have a reading problem?
Not to change the subject, but this reminds me...I can't log onto DU anymore. I keep getting an "Error, Please Try Again Later" message. This has been going on for DAYS.
Any other FReeper/DU posters here who can tell me if I've been banned or something? I don't feel like starting up yet ANOTHER email account just so I can "sign up" to post on DU.
Thanks,
cake
Right on !!
Excellent...For me, Dershowitz is a walking poster boy for military tribunals. I can just see him and Johnny Cochrane in court filled with diaper heads with Judge Ito playing solitaire on his laptop.
Now, many folks don't have a problem with a defendant receiving poor representation by a court-appointed attorney, that is, until they become that defendant.
I loathe Dershowitz. He is a self-promoter of the worst kind. But his point, which I think would not be lost on this cite that purports to uphold the virtue of America is, that everybody is entitled to a fair trial and competent representation. The rule of law and principals of civilization are served best when we are prepared to extend those rights to even the most vicious of all killers. It is why we are Americans, and everyone else is not.
Some might argue, that such rights don't extend to non-citizens. That is certainly a different argument with which I have some concern, but I certainly feel it is valid for debate.
Lawyers are a bit like Congressman, we all seem to have everyone else's, but we love our own.
I agree, but it won't happen because of Pres. Bush's family's dealings with the Carlyle Group.
This is not surprising coming from Alan Dershowitz. But what I'd like to know is: "Alan, would you defend a poor American schmuck who has no money"?
Hmmmmm....a lawyer defending an "indigent" terrorist:
Osama: "I was unloved as a child. My parents mistreated me and called me names. That's why I turned to opium for comfort. It wasn't me who plotted all those American deaths, REALLY! It was the opium. I didn't know what I was doing!
< */CROCODILE TEARS>
Lawyer: "Your honor, I request lenience to my client. He's not a monster! He's just a poor, abused child, who grew up and became a drug addict. Under the constant influence of opium, he was unable to differentiate between right and wrong!
<*/CROCODILE TEARS>"
Judge: <THINKING> "WHY didn't Congress go along with military tribunals?"
General population after Osama's release leads to next terrorist attack: <REAL TEARS> ...again.
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