Patterico's Pontifications

Oh, to work for LA law enforcement today.

I still can’t imagine how OJ got off the first time. Such a mangled mess of a prosecution. It’s true that with money you can turn all those civil liberty protections into an absolute injustice.

A lot of people are crying that this all-white jury was issuing retribution for the murder OJ confessed to in that book and never paid the civil judgment for. Hard to have sympathy for a guy like that, at any rate.

At least now he can try to find the real killers in prison… you never know where they might be!

Juan (4cdfb7) — 10/3/2008 @ 11:45 pm

My favorite moment in the proceeding was when Galanter, OJ’s lawyer, tried to offer his argument in opposition to the remand motion. He paused……then he said OJ had never missed nor been late for any proceeding. Then, he paused….and mumbled! “ah, he has a home in Florida. ah”…..

How much was OJ paying this guy? He had to know this was possible. Yet, he had nothing when it counted.

Ed (8d1569) — 10/3/2008 @ 11:47 pm

Well Ed, you have to admit, it’s impossible to even try arguing that OJ isn’t a flight risk. He’s the most famous evader of police since Jack the Ripper! I still remember watching that car chase with my high school girlfriend on CNN. Always loved those Broncos.

OJ faces at least 15 years. That’s going to leave a mark. It was such a tragedy for Goldman, a man who just tried to return those stupid glasses and had nothing at all to do with the Simpson mess. No less of a tragedy for Nicole either, but at least she had some idea of what she was dealing with.

Juan (4cdfb7) — 10/3/2008 @ 11:53 pm

Heck yeah, I acknowledge he had a major burden to overcome. But, for the 3 bills an hour (if not more) he is getting, I expect a good acting job at the least.

Ed (8d1569) — 10/3/2008 @ 11:57 pm

Here’s video of the verdict being read (watching OJ).

As I look as his much older face, I realize that he really did get away with murder. He’s been able to grow old under a blue sky. Must be maddening to have known a murder victim and see the killer go free for so many years. All that anger, and I’m sure in the hearts of so many people, but not one of those people murdered OJ with all that justification. Yet all it took for OJ was seeing some random guy near his wife. Or missing some collectibles in Vegas.

I’m glad most people aren’t wired like OJ.

Juan (4cdfb7) — 10/4/2008 @ 12:00 am

From the first time I heard about this case:
How F*ing Stupid Is This Jerk Anyways?

Ya got away with MURDER. And…you jack it up for some stupid, macho BS? And poorly planed BS, at that?

/spit

Foxfier (15ac79) — 10/4/2008 @ 12:19 am

foxfier, I had the same reaction at first, but come on… it’s not like his murder of Nicole was well planned either. He just ran up and cut her viciously (and got himself hurt too).

Anyone can watch cable TV and see 100 premeditated murder dramas that made more sense than OJ’s plan. He didn’t get away with murder because of cunning. I do respect law enforcement most of the time, but OJ being free was completely their fault. They had too many little goofs, presented the case in a very convoluted manner, and in that context of a huge legal defense team and LA reverse racism, those goofs amazingly became reasonable doubt (with less jury deliberation than today’s decision got… and of course that’s sickening).

OJ was pure rage. On the football field, with his wife, and in the more recent case. He almost certainly beat the hell out of a lot of innocent people over the course of his life. And I imagine he’s not even done. I would hate to be locked up in a cell with this person.

Juan (4cdfb7) — 10/4/2008 @ 12:29 am

For some strange reason I could not stop my self from watching the trial. Had a job that I could.

BTW, take any well fitting leather glove, soak it in blood/water, let is sit on a shelf for a year and see if you can get it on again!

LA should demand a refund from the dolts they actually paid to put on that circus!

Pretty cool that this verdict came in on the 13th Anniversary of his acquittal for murder. I guess this is OJ’s REAL Friday the 13th! Eh?

TC (0b9ca4) — 10/4/2008 @ 12:32 am

TC-
So, so wrong. Right, but SOOOO wrong!

Foxfier (15ac79) — 10/4/2008 @ 12:54 am

Oh no, who is going to catch Nicole’s killer if O.J. is in the slammer?

daleyrocks (d9ec17) — 10/4/2008 @ 5:02 am

daleyrocks,

didn’t you hear? OJ just put Nicole’s killer behind bars for a very long time! Way to go, OJ!

Juan (4cdfb7) — 10/4/2008 @ 5:05 am

Please, can I say “The Postman Always Rings Twice” just one more time?

nk (77debb) — 10/4/2008 @ 5:45 am

That OJ man is so stupid. I think he deserves this. Fool!

love2008 (1b037c) — 10/4/2008 @ 5:47 am

The LA jury would never have convicted OJ. It did not matter how compentent or incompetent the prosecution was. Nor did it matter how competent or incompetent the defense was. The biggest mistake was the effective change of venue out of the oj’s neighborhood which resulted in a highly biased jury pool. That mistake was the DA’s mistake not marcia clarks’.

No he got a jury pool of normal and comptetent peers.

Joe - Dallas (d7c430) — 10/4/2008 @ 6:14 am

typo is last post should be Now he got competent jury pool

Joe - Dallas (d7c430) — 10/4/2008 @ 6:14 am

Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy!

Mike Myers (31af82) — 10/4/2008 @ 6:56 am

He almost certainly beat the hell out of a lot of innocent people over the course of his life. And I imagine he’s not even done. I would hate to be locked up in a cell with this person. — Juan

It might end up the other way around. It’s easy to overcome a woman and a waiter when you have the knife. Not so easy when you don’t have a weapon and you’re against someone who is used to fighting.

BTW, take any well fitting leather glove, soak it in blood/water, let is sit on a shelf for a year and see if you can get it on again! — TC

Especially when you try to slide it over a latex glove.

MD in Philly (3d3f72) — 10/4/2008 @ 7:09 am

Just stopping by to see what the lunatic fringe was talking about this morning. Apparently we are blaming civil liberties for murder. You know, Juan, isn’t it against the conserva-crazy creed to use anything other than personal choice as a scapegoat for a crime?

truthnjustice (d99227) — 10/4/2008 @ 7:10 am

The times we live in. It’s “Breaking News” that OJ’s guilty. Well, we already knew that, the real news is that the criminal justice system was able to convict him. That’s the only issue worthy of note here.

Seems like being a Black celebrity is only good for a pass to kill two White people, but pull a strong arm stick-up and that’s beyond the limits of acceptable behavior.

Ropelight (1be620) — 10/4/2008 @ 7:33 am

Why wouldn’t he remain the predator he is, with special perks and maybe even protective environment and what sort of prison will he do his time in? Most prisons offer loads of amenities. Will there be the possibility of conjugal visits by some adoring twenty-something blonde bimbo? What happens with his $25k a month NFL pension?

Poetic justice would have the Juice iced in prison.

OJisToast (0c6cfc) — 10/4/2008 @ 7:45 am

And right on cue, Pissinmouth makes his timely appearance. Hey, how are those spellcheck lessons going, Toothfilledwithpuss?

Dmac (cc81d9) — 10/4/2008 @ 8:09 am

OJ was pure rage. On the football field, with his wife, and in the more recent case.

On the football field, no, it was tremendous talent. In my opinion one of the 3 most talented running backs ever.

Gerald A (ebb8b5) — 10/4/2008 @ 8:25 am

Wonder what the over/under will be on OJ’s survival timein prison? I’m thinking a little longer than Jeffrey Daumers, unless he’s smart the first day, gives another Inmate a Nicole Simpson makeover and gets himself put in solitary on Death Row.

Frank Drackman (af2a6b) — 10/4/2008 @ 8:43 am

He had to face a Vegas jury — one that wasn’t interested in parsing the word “is”.

But what, pray tell, will the forthcoming appeals process hold in the way of shenanigans?

[Oh, and Gerald A is correct; one of the most talented running backs ever.]

Icy Truth (84d054) — 10/4/2008 @ 8:44 am

Ironic that it was on the anniversary of his acquital. What a contrast in reactions. In his acquital it seemed to be one of “My God I did it!!” versus last night’s sense of resignation “Crap, my luck ran out. It’s over”

voiceofreason2 (10af7e) — 10/4/2008 @ 9:06 am

“He’s dead, Jim!”

C. Norris (6d6025) — 10/4/2008 @ 9:26 am

Now if we could only find a way to include people living in Las Vegas in the LA County jury pool.

Stu707 (7fb2e7) — 10/4/2008 @ 9:39 am

#22, Jim Brown, Gayle Sayers, Walter Payton, Earl Campbell, Eric ? of the Rams and Colts, Berry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, and others, and yes OJ too.

Ropelight (1be620) — 10/4/2008 @ 9:43 am

It’s kind of surprising that people of color aren’t rioting after this verdict. The most intense expression of pure ecstasy I’ve ever seen was by the black community after OJ was found not guilty for butchering the two white people. I always felt we needed to have a national dialogue about that, but the media and politicians put their heads in the sand.

J Curtis (3c4f3b) — 10/4/2008 @ 9:47 am

#29, JC, you won’t have to wait long, this election will produce an eruption in the Black community, one way or another. And, it’s gonna be big, very big, either way. Count on it, and be prepared.

Ropelight (1be620) — 10/4/2008 @ 9:58 am

Ropelight,

What are you predicting if (a) McCain wins or (b) Obama wins?

voiceofreason2 (10af7e) — 10/4/2008 @ 10:03 am

The cynical joy here isn’t surprising. I’m used to it from you guys. “Yay! Our justice system treated a murderer unfairly!”

Two wrongs definitely make a right with you guys, with no concern for the fact that this same screwed up justice system also applies to you and your families. Oh well, at least you get to feel good about it today, not because it worked, but because it got you the mob justice you crave.

It’s kind of surprising that people of color aren’t rioting after this verdict.

A couple reasons I can think of:

First, we’re in an era where police violence and abuse have spread far beyond the black community, thanks to meth and militarization of the drug war. Rodney King now has lots of white counterparts. Unfortunately, the system has become more fair since OJ, in a way, by spreading the unfairness across all races.

Second, despite the law enforcement mess we live with in this country, there is Obama as a contrast — there’s at least hope that civil liberties will get a boost in the next eight years.

Phil (3b1633) — 10/4/2008 @ 10:06 am

there’s at least hope that civil liberties will get a boost in the next eight years.

Phil,
Specifically what civil liberties need to be “Boosted”?

voiceofreason2 (10af7e) — 10/4/2008 @ 10:10 am

Phil:

The cynical joy here isn’t surprising. I’m used to it from you guys. “Yay! Our justice system treated a murderer unfairly!”

After you answer VOR2’s question, please explain to me what you think was unfair about OJ’s Las Vegas’ trial.

DRJ (c953ab) — 10/4/2008 @ 10:15 am

#31,vor2, it should be clear. I’m saying that elements within the Black community have demonstrated a pronounced proclivity to express themselves rather exuberantly, in response to events, either in joy or in anger.

Further, prudence should provide a guide for those who decline to participate, and who wish to remain outside the loci of expression.

Ropelight (1be620) — 10/4/2008 @ 10:27 am

#35
Ropelight,
You could make the case for each city that has a winning sports team every year. Pretty diverse group of people in these celebrations.
What are you really trying to say? As you describe it above it sounds like a first amendment right to express themselves.

voiceofreason2 (590c85) — 10/4/2008 @ 10:35 am

Specifically what civil liberties need to be “Boosted”?

Primarily I’d like to see limitations on the use of criminals as informants and entrappers, and strong limitations on the police force as a quasi-criminal organization that commits crimes in order to catch criminals. I’d also like limitations on the use of the police as basically a military/spy organization attempting to regulate domestic commerce (the drug trade).

What makes me the sickest is this idea that somehow railroading Simpson, through collaboration with a bunch of criminals, is anything more than an exercise in mob justice. This is something Tony Soprano would have done.

Does it result in visceral satisfaction if you think OJ is guilty? Sure — but wait until someone thinks YOU’RE guilty and decides that they’re going to take you down this way, since the system hasn’t put you in jail yet.

Phil (3b1633) — 10/4/2008 @ 10:35 am

DRJ, the trial itself isn’t what bothers me – its the prosecution strategies.

Phil (3b1633) — 10/4/2008 @ 10:38 am

Phil,

You have managed to dodge specifically saying what civil liberties.
Can you provide proof to back up the claim that (a) crimes are committed to catch criminals, (b) your assertions about the drug trade (which almost sounds like you are really wanting legalization of certain drugs) and (c) how was Simpson “railroaded” in the Vegas case

voiceofreason2 (590c85) — 10/4/2008 @ 10:39 am

#36, vor2, are you stupid, or pretending to be stupid? I said what I said, and I answered your question. You are permitted to disagree, or respond as you choose. You are not permitted to put words in my mouth, or make snide insinuations, you ass. Knock it off.

Ropelight (1be620) — 10/4/2008 @ 11:10 am

#40,
Ropelight,
You can’t clearly articulate your opinion – I understand.

voiceofreason2 (10af7e) — 10/4/2008 @ 11:19 am

#41, vor2, my position is clear as a bell, expressed and restated in plain english. You willfully refuse to acknowledge the obvious in presupposition to your underlying prejudice. I’ve got your number.

Ropelight (1be620) — 10/4/2008 @ 11:25 am

We are already getting a preview of “boosted civil liberties” in a potential Obama Presidency. Boosted in the sense of ripped off. Or are not many people noting the attempts to stifle free speech by Obama’s goons? See the way NRO’s Stanley Kurtz was treated while trying to get to bottom of Annenberg Challenge scam or recent attempts in Missouri to prevent political ads critical of Obama.

And then what pressure will Obama’s proposed massive army of civilian brownshirts put on various freedoms? What will The One do to rob us of right to bear arms? Or even to pursue happiness when he and an accomodating Congress can and will raise taxes to a confiscatory level?
Has not the Obambi also proposed a sharp increase in death taxes and capital gains on home sales. Funny how the people who already don’t pay income taxes are fine with those already bearing the brunt of taxes paying even more. Look for business investment to tumble, along with jobs.

madmax333 (0c6cfc) — 10/4/2008 @ 11:47 am

For once, I’m with VOR2 here– Ropelight, you *aren’t* expressing yourself clearly.

You seem to be saying there’s a civil right to sell drugs and not be charged for it, mixed in with a bunch of hyperbole about the cops being criminal.

Don’t blame us if you’re so disorganized that you can’t even explain what you believe after you make an accusation.

Foxfier (15ac79) — 10/4/2008 @ 12:29 pm

I love how somehow Obama is the cure to California’s criminal problems.

Has Obama said how he’s going to fix it?

No, it’s just more deification of The One.

Juan (4cdfb7) — 10/4/2008 @ 12:43 pm

Unless the police go to extraordinary lengths to suppress them, I expect riots in Chicago on November 5 whether Obama wins or loses. In 1992 half the West Side of Chicago was burned down after the Bull won the championship. One man was stomped to death for wearing a Lakers jacket.

The question is the aftermath. If Obama wins there will be calm the day after and things will go back to normal. If Obama loses it will go on to exhaustion.

nk (77debb) — 10/4/2008 @ 12:46 pm

mk – Car-B-Ques, just like France. What kind of fish is best on an Escalade?

daleyrocks (d9ec17) — 10/4/2008 @ 12:55 pm

Foxfier, say what? If you think I’ve been going on about civil rights or drugs, or that I’m making some sort of accusation against cops, you’re so wide of the mark as to be in the wrong time zone. There’s just plain wrong and then there’s Dennis Kucinich wrong, you’re a candidate for the latter category.

Now, if by “us” you mean you and vor2, and if you actually think you see evidence which shows I’m so disorganized that I’ve failed to explain myself, please skip over my comments and go on your way, there’s nothing I can do for you.

Ropelight (1be620) — 10/4/2008 @ 12:57 pm

Bah, mixed up the two loons.

You didn’t give any detail; Phil gave the ludicrous ones.

My bad.

Foxfier (15ac79) — 10/4/2008 @ 1:05 pm

#s 46 & 47, carefull there guys, the Black Helicopters are now over my humble abode and I hear the sounds of some distant melody gently on the wind. My lights just flickered, and the hair on the back of my neck is standing up straight.

I believe I’ve been the subject of a Vulcan Mind Meld. I have to go now, I’m scheduled to drive a golf cart at a wedding to transport the old folks who can’t get around much anymore.

Ropelight (1be620) — 10/4/2008 @ 1:06 pm

I love how somehow Obama is the cure to California’s criminal problems.

Has Obama said how he’s going to fix it?

Everyone remembers Obama’s preacher having his god damn America tantrum but no one caught what it was that got him so worked up. It was three strike laws.

An Obama presidency will definititely mean fewer black men in jail.

j curtis (3c4f3b) — 10/4/2008 @ 1:24 pm

As usual, Phil shows willful ignorance regarding The Messiah’s activities here regarding law enforcement issues during his time as a local state senator. I’ll give him a clue, since he can’t buy one at this point: the murder rate in Illinois is the highest it’s been in over three decades. That’s a trend of historic proportions, and The Messiah’s ability to whistle past the graveyard on this issue was just one of the more egregious acts during his political career.

Dmac (cc81d9) — 10/4/2008 @ 2:11 pm

I’m trying to figure out what was immoral with the prosecution’s strategy here. Is it always wrong when the prosecutors let one bunch of guys plead out on lessers to get them to flip on the head bad guy?

As Scott Greenfield has argued — he persuaded me; YMMV — the only real unfairness was for the codefendant, who was stuck sitting next to the murderer. There’s only so much that can be done to avoid the problem that Simpson was going to have in court with everybody with room temperature or better IQs knowing that he’d literally gotten away with murder, but, I’m not sure I see why that necessarily should have splashed over his buddy, who probably could have and should have been convicted in a separate trial.

That said, from this remove, it looks like Simpson got convicted for what he did this time, not in retribution for the murders. If some nonparticipants in this — Patterico, say — get some joy out of this, I don’t see the problem. I would see it as a problem if the NV prosecutors decided to nail him, unfairly, because he skated on the murders, but I don’t see any reason to think that that happened.

Joel Rosenberg (677e59) — 10/4/2008 @ 2:12 pm

I’m white, I thought O.J. was innocent of murder, I thought the jury in that trial acted correctly, and although I am not a lawyer, I think that referringto him as a murderer is criminal. That so-called confession was ghostwritten by someone else who seems to have thought it O.K. to insinuate Kato Kaelin helped because Kaelin didn’t perjure himself on the stand in the name of political correctness. To have Fox News involved depresses me.

Alvin Belt (f47577) — 10/4/2008 @ 2:26 pm

Alvin, to refer to him as a murderer is to express an opinion.

A jury of his peers found him liable for murder, so perhaps you should give your hysterics a rest.

His IS a murderer. He left a trail of blood from the scene to his car to his home, etc. He ran from the cops because he knew he was guilty. He threatened to kill himself during the chase because he knew he was guilty.

He has a record of beating the hell out of people, and the evidence in this case was damning. You’re free to your opinion that he’s innocent, but I’m free to my much more reasonable view that he is guilty.

Juan (4cdfb7) — 10/4/2008 @ 2:34 pm

Comment by Stu707 — 10/4/2008 @ 9:39 am

Actually, most of the Las Vegas jury pool used to live in L.A….

phil, could you please tell us:
After “boosting” those civil liberties, where do you think they’ll be “fenced”?

To have Fox News involved depresses me.

…and, just how was Fox News involved?
Were they in the room when the action OJ has been convicted of was conducted?
Do they run the Clark County Court System?

You might as well blame it all on George Bush.

AOracle (96da32) — 10/4/2008 @ 2:50 pm

Alvin – I’m white, I thought O.J. was innocent of murder

A fundamental error in the ability to reason. O.J.’s skin color has nothing to do with his guilt.

Apogee (366e8b) — 10/4/2008 @ 3:02 pm

AOracle: I was referring to the fake confession book. I was really hoping Fox would shake things up more, but I uess they have to carry the baggage of other journalists ( Henry Lee testifies during the first trial, and the media didn’t report it. Later, they ascribed the acquittal to nullification rather than go back and fix their omission.)
Juan: I think you misunderstood me. When I said ‘criminal’ I meant literally. Prosecutors, cops, and journalists get careless about it all the time, but it is my understanding that to refer to someone acquitted of murder as a murderer could be slander or libel.

Alvin Belt (f47577) — 10/4/2008 @ 3:04 pm

You might as well blame it all on George Bush.

Comment by AOracle — 10/4/2008 @ 2:50 pm

AO, please don’t give ’em ideas…..

Foxfier (15ac79) — 10/4/2008 @ 3:17 pm

First, we’re in an era where police violence and abuse

I felt this blip on the radar screen needed one round of response.

Phil, 4 police officers have been killed in Philadelphia within the last year, the last one when her side of the police car was rammed by a stolen Escalade driven by an 18 yo. Previous to that an officer was blown away by the Russian assault rifle the bank robber was carrying. More would have died but the perpetrator’s gun jammed when facing a second police officer.

Ten days ago my son arrested a fellow for possession of a sawed-off shotgun stuck in his belt; as it happens the guy probably is responsible for about 15 robberies. He was apprehended almost in front of his grandfather’s house, who came out yelling (not politely) about why the police had his son (a “well behaved boy”) down on the ground. My son (kneeling on the criminal’s back and cuffing him) directed his flashlight to the weapon lying on the ground. Grandpa’s comment? “You don’t have to say anything, grandson”.

Phil, please do some community organizing yourself, get everyone to agree that your neighborhood would be better off without those mean, nasty, downright rude police officers, and organize a town watch. When someone commits a crime, just ask them to hold on a moment while you take down their name and address.

Oh, one thing, Phil, sometimes (like in the instance described with my son) when you ask someone to “hold on a minute” they actually have the nerve to ignore you and keep walking. Since my son is young and strong, he didn’t have to pull out his gun as he was able to forcibly put him up against a fence to search him. Of course, you probably don’t believe in physical intervention of any kind. But just think how much the community will save by not needing to pay for a jail.

MD in Philly (3d3f72) — 10/4/2008 @ 4:08 pm

Comment by Foxfier — 10/4/2008 @ 3:17 pm

I was channelling Glenn Reynolds.

AOracle (28e671) — 10/4/2008 @ 4:19 pm

MD, I’m glad your son didn’t get shot. Amazing how parents and grandparents of scumbags generally fit in that category of outrage at authority / sheer pragmatic lawyering for their kid.

J Curtis, indeed I had forgotten that Wright had been outraged by 3 strikes laws. I do wonder if anyone will ask Obama about his views on the 3 strikes laws, and if American law enforcement and 3 strikes laws are racist.

Of course, he would just ignore the question.

Juan (4cdfb7) — 10/4/2008 @ 4:52 pm

nd thee was no bunch of blood sucking liberal journalists to be broadcating this whole debacle and he didnt have JOHNNY COCKRAN as well as his lawyer JUSTICE IS DONE LETS END HIM INTO THE PHANTOM ZONE

Krazy Kagu (538674) — 10/5/2008 @ 12:04 pm

Okay, so they finally nailed OJ. But what about the person who left those fingerprints on Nicole Simpson’s arm? When does HE go to jail? Oh, I forgot. OJ Simpson killed Nicole and Ron all by himself. At least that’s the fairy tale we’ve all been told. Everyone sleep well tonight.

sweetpea (211545) — 10/5/2008 @ 7:46 pm

10/3/2008

Breaking: O.J. Guilty

64 Responses to “Breaking: O.J. Guilty”

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