One of the One-Two Punch

Yeah, this space is no longer for rent. That was deleted a while back. This is why

Anyway.

I wrote a couple (literally, as in 2) things that I shared with my pal Ryan Boman. Practicing for an opportunity that may come soon. It's about time I use this for things that don't go anywhere else. This is one of them. It's also a little out of date now, but the general idea still feels relevant to me. So, here's this:

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Watching the drama in San Bernardino, CA unfold in real time. Hell with any action movie or scripted TV thriller - nobody's beating CNN when it comes to suspense right now.

They must be loving the ratings. If you listen very closely, you might be able to hear Wolf Blitzer pleasuring himself in a bathroom right now. Stories like this is what he and his network live for. They'll deal with the aftermath later with all the subtlety and tact of a bulldozer laced with explosives.

Because as much as they put the sympathy face when the cameras are rolling, they could give a damn about the lives they'll trample over on their way to getting the story. To many people want to hear gritty details for them to be concerned with the privacy and damage done to the loved ones left behind. Why bother with a select few when the masses demand entertainment?

And please make no mistake - that's what this is. Facts? Journalistic integrity? None of that matters where real money are involved. And the ratings from an incident like this surely means bank. They probably can't wait to unleash the "T"-word (terrorist) because that's another buzzword that opens the cash drawer. That word guarantees the story continues because what better way to get the masses to tune in than scare the entire hell out of them?

Matter of fact, no lie - Literally as I type this just now? Wolf Blitzer just said - and I quote - "Police cannot confirm or deny this was a terrorist act." Translation: We REFUSE to let that idea die!

The reason they refuse to let that word go. - and others like it, such as Muslim, abortion, Christian, controversy, mass shooting and much more - is because they want to "spark discussion." A bald-faced lie. In an age of political correctness where offending someone is as easy as putting on a sweater, that controversy is fuel to them. Let the masses argue amongst themselves and use social media as an excuse to harass and bully each other. Keep them to busy to notice how much money they're donating to our corporate cause of keeping us rich and then stupid.

I should be watching this thinking, "All those poor victims." But I can't. Because I've been witness to how the media tramples lived for the sake of a dollar. And it's happening again in San Bernardino.

Caylee’s Dead, Casey’s Free, and Ashton Profits

Consider this an addendum to ”Guilty Until proven Innocent: Casey Anthony and the Media”. In that piece, I decried how none of this media circus - much less the “outrage” expressed in the wake of the verdict - was about “Justice for Caylee” at all.

How do I know this? Simple observation.

Casey Anthony was sentenced earlier today (July 7, 2011) to 12 days in jail on four counts of Lying to Investigators. The State of Florida (probably looking to save face after such a bungle) is filing a motion to be able to pursue Anthony for costs incurred during the investigation due to being found guilty of the above charges. The State claims it is looking to recoup the costs of that investigation - including possibly suing Anthony, who may profit in the form of interviews, book deals, movie deals, you name it. Naturally, the State (as well as many other whom we’ll get to in a moment) are “outraged that Anthony would profit from the death of her little girl.

Meanwhile, lead prosecutor Jeff Ashton was not at the sentencing hearing this morning in the Orange County Courthouse. He announced his resignation after the acquittal on July 5, stating that he would remain on duty through July 7. Yet, he wasn’t in Orlando. So, where was Ashton during the sentencing hearing?

In New York. He had already appeared on The Today Show (NBC) and on Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell (HLN) on July 6. He appeared today on Good Morning America (ABC), Piers Morgan (CNN), Nancy Grace (HLN), and Joy Behar (HLN) making the media rounds. It’s safe to say that, just like Casey Anthony would be, that Ashton was paid for every one of those appearances.

So, if the State wants its investigation money back so bad, why doesn’t Ashton (still an employee of the State of Florida during his media appearances) donate his earnings to the state to recoup those costs? There is no plan to at the moment, leading to the conclusion that Ashton is profiting off of the death of Caylee Anthony just as much as Casey Anthony stands to. Those networks that had him on have had a fit with the idea of Anthony making money off of this ordeal, but have no qualms about paying Jeff Ashton, who skipped town the moment it was over to get his face on television. And yet, absolutely no one has called him on it.

The obvious hypocrisy is in the media and the State of Florida overlooking a State employee who failed to get the job done making money off of failing to provide “Justice for Caylee” while decrying Casey Anthony – who was found not guilty of any charges of murder or manslaughter, mind you – for doing the exact same thing. If the profiteer is one of the “good guys”, then it’s all good and fine, right?

That’s how I know that none of this entire ordeal was about “Justice for Caylee”. And, with that, I’m done dealing with it.