Comments on: Digital lipstick on his collar.

By: nancy

nancy — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 20:26:23 +0000

This isn’t the Clinton case, however. Not only did the city lose $9 mil (they were settlements on wrongful-termination cases from police who were whistle-blowers, Brian), but this is perjury, big-time. Even if people say it’s understandable to lie about sex, etc., it doesn’t change the fact that both the mayor and his aide were asked about the affair in a court of law, and denied it flatly under oath.

Just had lunch with JohnC, and he points out that the mayor is a lawyer himself (which I didn’t know), which makes it even worse. There’s a reason the legal community has zero tolerance for perjurers, and the mayor should expect to face some big-time sanctions.

By: del

del — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:14:24 +0000

It isn’t. It’s got insurance too. But that gets lost in the media frenzy.

By: brian stouder

brian stouder — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 18:52:23 +0000

From this distance, the Detroit scandal looks bizarre. The Seinfeld take would be - the guy lied and he should face consequences, yadda yadda yadda.

But how does $9,000,000 of public money come into play? When WJC lied and then lost the civil suit against him, I thought it was his own umbrella liability coverage that had to foot the bill.

Why is the city of Detroit on the hook, here?

By: del

del — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 18:37:08 +0000

Not sayin’ it’s okay. He lied and he should be punished. The question is just to what degree and does it merit the 24/7 Detroit media coverage it’s getting? Hell no. George Bush lied and 150,000 people died. No media frenzy over that. Nothing like Monica Lewinsky coverage. I think it was your recent post that showed a bumper sticker linking Hillary to it. That’s harsh. Methinks that folks shouldn’t be, as Kramer’s lawyer in Seinfeld might say, so “shocked and chagrined” by hizzoner’s lying.

By: MichaelG

MichaelG — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:57:08 +0000

The 310 always was one of the prettiest aircraft ever.

Del, I feel a lot of wind but hear a guy basically telling me that it’s OK that Kilpatrick is a lying sack of shit.

By: Joe K

Joe K — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:32:50 +0000

av gas is around 4.50 a gal
Joe

By: del

del — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:47:41 +0000

John c, I didn’t see the video of Kilpatrick lying but I’m sure it would disgust me. As for the GM chairman harassing a female employee that would surely be wrong but the most important thing to me is that he and GM be justly punished. Your most provocative comment is that my standards may be too low. I wrestle with that. Am I too cynical? Or just informed? Having practiced law for 16 years I have a different take on things — kind of like cops have a different view on apprehending criminals than attorneys and judges. Cops, for example, are supposed to obey constitutional case law by which they must “knock and announce” before busting in on drug dens full of drugged up young men with guns. I think they routinely ignore this law. And I believe I’ve witnessed them lying about this in a federal prosecution of a murderous drug lord (13 U.S. marshals present for the reading of the verdict). The cops may have perjured themselves but should they be prosecuted? Would it matter that the defendant had been acquitted of attempted murder in state court after his gang had reached the witnesses who then swore that they saw nothing? Perjury again. Alberto Gonzalez intimated that the Constitution does not allow for habeas corpus to the Senate. Damn. But you warned me not to digress.
In civil employment litigation employers routinely lie. Rarely, however, are hundreds of thousands of dollars spent to uncover old text messages confirming the lies. Yeah, he lied and it’s perjury but the ugly truth is that in about 80% of these types of cases someone’s lying. Just a guess. The greater problem is that in Michigan the conservative supreme court has ruled that an employee may prove that the employer gave a “false” reason for firing him and the judge can still rule for the employer — case doesn’t even get to a jury (forget the state constitution’s provision of a jury trial for civil matters). By that the judge is saying that “reasonable minds cannot differ” with his ruling.
Why did Kilpatrick’s case reach a jury? Too many people watching.

By: Marylou Guihan

Marylou Guihan — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:42:51 +0000

There was an interesting article that Washington Post did on the “Britney Empire” (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/21/AR2008012101691.html)
but the story about having Mary Kate on Heath Ledger’s speed-dial just made me think: well, at least she has people - for all the money that Britney has, she doesn’t seem to have the kind of insulation that could actually help her with all the mess she’s made of her life lately.

By: john c

john c — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:06:29 +0000

Love the michaelj posting up in the paint image … I’m picturing that guy in the rec league game in the shorty-shorts, too-tight tank and headband, with the high socks and the Chuck Taylors. I look at him with amusement until he throws an elbow into my gut and sends my lay-up attempt through the doors and into the lobby. Loping down to the other end he stares me down, flares his nostrils and says: Keep that weak-ass shit outta my house!

By: basset

basset — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 12:53:42 +0000

hmmmm, if I figure that right it’s about 8 and a half miles per gallon at cruising speed. what’s a gallon of aviation gasoline cost these days?