"There is no such thing as justice...in or out of court." Clarence Darrow

Say what you will about the Michael Jackson trial, but you have to hand it to him - no one is unabashedly weirder. Nothing in his case was black and white, including 

Michael himself. And, since I am not in a position to comment on the merits of the child molestation case as I have only seen it through a sketch artist and E! TV’s reenactment,

Therefore, I just want to point out the way this taxpayer funded circus unfolded, discuss Michael’s demeanor with the jury and then, at some point in my life, try to forget about it. I do not know what happened at Neverland ranch, but let’s just say what we do know happened would be frowned upon in the Red States.

Sadly, and as I have pointed out in the past, in America we have so many of our celebrities incarcerated or awaiting justice today. I am reminded of the values that we, as a nation, hold so dear. That if you are famous or good looking, you just get to play by a whole different set of rules. Yet my heart is warmed when a celeb like Russell Crowe throws a hotel phone at a bellhop. Russell spoke for all of us who travel to NY and have to pay $5 for a local call.

And even if you are old and not so good looking anymore you get away with murder, just ask Robert Blake. Blake, in a recent appearance on Larry King Live show, told the old CNN talk show star (archeologists estimate Larry’s age at 98) that he wants to hunt down and kill his wife’s killer. So apparently, as Jay Leno points out, Blake is suicidal too. During his trial in Northern California, Michael Jackson took the high road. His attorneys never played the race card. My guess is they did not know which race card to play with Michael and felt it too risky. The jury, which was 75% white and 25% minority (just like Michael) as of this writing have not delivered a verdict.

The way Michael and his trial handlers went about appealing to the public was quite remarkable, and really displayed his common man touch. Nothing says I am one of you like having another human being follow you with an umbrella for the 12 long steps that you have to endure in the sun walking into the court house. Further, nothing says that I am not a creepy vampire like creature living in my own cave like being afraid of the light of day. Well played Michael, well played! It just gives the people a sense that he is one of us. And sadly, in California, Michael may well be.

The other PR move that caught my attention is Michael’s decision to wear his more conservative suits and interesting ensembles to trial. His fashion since was remarkable situation appropriate as he wooed the jurors his way. He had his traditional modified sailor suits and his puffy shirt suit with a fake badge on it. Once he appeared in his pajamas, then later he came with the military outfit with bars on the shoulder. Now I have done some checking on the internet and with the Pentagon and, as it turns out, Michael Jackson does not have any military rank at all. I am no investigative journalist, but just on the surface there may be some impersonating an officer charges  possible against Michael. It would impossible to attain any implied military rank with so little control of your privates.

The liberal mainstream media needs to take a break from slicing and dicing George W. Bush’s service as a fighter pilot on the Texas Air National Guard 35 years ago and really focus on Michael’s military background.

We also need to remember Michael’s untimely visits to the hospital during this trial, apparently for back pains. This cannot be blamed on Michael as it is more a reflection on our times. Kids are just heavier these days.

And, as we all know by now, of the 99% of what transpires in the legal system in the U.S., the only winners are the attorneys. It is all about them and their buddies and fellow lawyers the judges. Not since the case of To Kill a Mocking Bird vs America’s Guilt has an attorney done such a magnanimous thing. And of course, that was fiction.

Kayla

Adult spayed female domestic short hair, Kayla was found wandering around in Port Charlotte and obviously belonged to a family. She’s a very funny girl, who is active and full of pep. Come in and check out her little antics, and she’ll keep you laughing and happy.

This and other pets are available for adoption at Suncoast Humane Society, 6781 San Casa Drive, Englewood, 474-7884, www.humane.org Photo by Jim Hanushek