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Every few years the powers-that-be trot out a high-profile someone to financially destroy, to show all us Little People that justice is blind and evenly applied (ha ha), and that earning lots of money after working 30 years for it is really a drag...dangerous, even.

So we should be happy and relieved to be broke, but honest citizens who are actually lucky to file the Short Tax Form.

I think they miscalculated on this one. Leona Helmsly was a pig. Stewart, though imperial, has a blue-colar upbringing and worked for and earned every cent she made. And did it on her own after her husband ran off with her assistant.

Women I've talked to about this think she's getting railroaded because:

1. she's a woman;

2. she's not a blue-blooded woman;

3. she's an easy target;

4. she's involved in "women's work."

Do any of you honestly think every single mover and shaker doesn't get those calls DAILY by friends to buy or sell?

The government is going to quietly drop this case because the men going after her have wives and mothers who stand in line at the grocery store and buy her magazines and watch her shows and appreciate her making "women's work" more enjoyable.

Women I've talked to about this think she's getting railroaded because: 1. she's a woman; 2. she's not a blue-blooded woman; 3. she's an easy target; 4. she's involved in "women's work."

It's possible that Stewart is being made an example by prosecutors, a la Leona Helmsley, but there's no way I, as a woman, will believe it is because she bakes cookies and makes lovely centerpieces. While her buddy Waksal is the real scoundrel who passed on inside info to a select bunch of friends, it's possible that Martha acted on that info by dumping her stock (although it's also possible, as she claims, she already had a "sell" order in with broker).

Martha already has a reputation as a prickley, imperious person who thinks she's above the law (ask her neighbors), and that doesn't help.

Do any of you honestly think every single mover and shaker doesn't get those calls DAILY by friends to buy or sell?

Possibly, but they would be the more foolish ones. Most of the people that I know who have real money, have their estates and/or affairs under some form of professional management. When the odd solicitation call does sometimes get through to them the normal response is "Talk to so-and-so at such-and-such about it, he handles my affairs."

Stewart, though imperial, has a blue-colar upbringing and worked for and earned every cent she made.

I am a big fan of hers for the reasons you cited.

And your list of the reasons why she is being prosecuted covers my opinions as well.

The list of people prosecutable for this offense is significant. One has to wonder why she was "selected."