Media Thread (non Faux)

[GoCubsGo]

He's right and I can't begin to describe how much idgaf.

[Vrede too]

He's right and I can't begin to describe how much idgaf.

https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lswmn5quzs2q

Not that I'm paying any attention at all , but my guess is that they found him guilty on the 4 straightforward charges, but are struggling to reach consensus on the more complex and difficult to prove conspiracy to run a criminal enterprise charge. ICYMI

[GoCubsGo]

I missed it.

[Vrede too]

He's right and I can't begin to describe how much idgaf.

https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lswmn5quzs2q

Not that I'm paying any attention at all , but my guess is that they found him guilty on the 4 straightforward charges, but are struggling to reach consensus on the more complex and difficult to prove conspiracy to run a criminal enterprise charge. ICYMI

Nope. It was 2 guilty - 2 not guilty on the 4 straightforward charges, and now finally not guilty on the conspiracy charge. The convictions were on the least serious charges.

[O Really]

He's right and I can't begin to describe how much idgaf.

https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lswmn5quzs2q

Not that I'm paying any attention at all , but my guess is that they found him guilty on the 4 straightforward charges, but are struggling to reach consensus on the more complex and difficult to prove conspiracy to run a criminal enterprise charge. ICYMI

Nope. It was 2 guilty - 2 not guilty on the 4 straightforward charges, and now finally not guilty on the conspiracy charge. The convictions were on the least serious charges.

Somebody - I think it was I, along with others, said they had overcharged him and should have stuck with the violent assholery line. Given what he actually has done, and what an unlikeable and unsympathetic fellow he is, I'd say this is the best he could have hoped for and his side ought to consider it a big win.

[Vrede too]

Nope. It was 2 guilty - 2 not guilty on the 4 straightforward charges, and now finally not guilty on the conspiracy charge. The convictions were on the least serious charges.

Somebody - I think it was I, along with others, said they had overcharged him and should have stuck with the violent assholery line. Given what he actually has done, and what an unlikeable and unsympathetic fellow he is, I'd say this is the best he could have hoped for and his side ought to consider it a big win.

I could only handle about 5 minutes of the analysis while I was reading the sidebar on the tally, but that's my impression. Prostitution? Massive searches (cases of baby oil), years of investigation, years of incarceration, 2 month trial - all for convictions that are rubber-stamped through night court by the thousands every month. Diddy should walk with a 'time served' sentence and the U.S. Attorney should be fired.

He's had so many name changes. Will it be 'Pimp Diddy' now?

[O Really]

OK, prepare to groan, but here's a bit of humour tangentially related to the Combs trial:

There was a scientist in North Carolina who had discovered that on a diet of a special type of seagull, porpoises could live forever. But his lab and porpoises were in Wilmington, and the special seagulls only lived around old landfills north of Greensboro so he had to make frequent trips in a refrigerated truck to pick up some seagulls. On one such trip, he got lost in the fog and found himself in the NC Zoo. As he tried to get out, he felt two big bumps and shortly thereafter was pulled over by several cops. He apologized for being on Zoo property, explained about getting lost in the fog, and thought he was OK. But the cop said, "Oh, no, we're not talking about trespassing here - you're in big trouble. You're in violation of the Mann Act.

Spoiler:

You transported gulls across state lions for immortal porpoises
bada boom

[O Really]

So the "rest of the story" of the CBS sellout is, maybe depending on ones perspective, better or worse than you think. I had thought it was about corner office suits at CBS being intimidated by Trump, tucking their tails and throwing their highly acclaimed journalists under the bus. As it turns out, that was not the case. It wasn't CBS at all, but their corporate owner, Paramount. Sure there was under-bus throwing, and travesty was wreaked on journalism and First Amendment protections, but it appears Paramount wasn't particularly intimidated, they just made a financial decision and threw a $16mill bribe. Why would they do that? Paramount is preparing for a $8bn merger with Skydance Media, which requires approval from the US Federal Communications Commission. $16mill is nuisance money to them. Bribery, payoff to the protection mob, extortion, whatever, it was sleazy and probably illegal somewhere along the line, but won't ever be prosecuted since the prosecutor would be working for the bribe recipient.

[Vrede too]

So the "rest of the story" of the CBS sellout is, maybe depending on ones perspective, better or worse than you think. I had thought it was about corner office suits at CBS being intimidated by Trump, tucking their tails and throwing their highly acclaimed journalists under the bus. As it turns out, that was not the case. It wasn't CBS at all, but their corporate owner, Paramount. Sure there was under-bus throwing, and travesty was wreaked on journalism and First Amendment protections, but it appears Paramount wasn't particularly intimidated, they just made a financial decision and threw a $16mill bribe. Why would they do that? Paramount is preparing for a $8bn merger with Skydance Media, which requires approval from the US Federal Communications Commission. $16mill is nuisance money to them. Bribery, payoff to the protection mob, extortion, whatever, it was sleazy and probably illegal somewhere along the line, but won't ever be prosecuted since the prosecutor would be working for the bribe recipient.

Since we've lost all ability to prosecute corruption in office, especially with the SCOTUS deemed immune P*OTUS, why didn't Paramount just pay a bribe directly instead of throwing CBS and its highly acclaimed journalists under the bus?

[O Really]

Since we've lost all ability to prosecute corruption office, especially with the SCOTUS deemed immune P*OTUS, why didn't Paramount just pay a bribe directly instead of throwing CBS and its highly acclaimed journalists under the bus?

My guess is that to the extortionist, the public semi-grovel was as important or more than the $16mill. There's a fine line between extortion and bribery, depending somewhat on who initiates. We're not likely to find out how the negotiations went, but I doubt just an upfront cash payment would do it.

[Vrede too]

Since we've lost all ability to prosecute corruption office, especially with the SCOTUS deemed immune P*OTUS, why didn't Paramount just pay a bribe directly instead of throwing CBS and its highly acclaimed journalists under the bus?

My guess is that to the extortionist, the public semi-grovel was as important or more than the $16mill. There's a fine line between extortion and bribery, depending somewhat on who initiates. We're not likely to find out how the negotiations went, but I doubt just an upfront cash payment would do it.

Ah, the "fake news/Dems cheat" myth had to be given its due. Thanks.

[O Really]

I don't know which is worse - that CBS News was made a sacrificial lamb just as a cold financial decision, or if it was through weak-spined lily-livered cowardly fealty to Trump. Of course, the worst would be if Paramount actually believed that CBS News really did something wrong. But they had a choice: (1) get the nuisance suit dismissed, which they almost certainly would have been able to do, and deal with an uphill revenge fight over their multi-billion acquisition or (2) tell the emperor his new clothes look great and breeze through the approval process for their merger. Sadly, most corporations would probably have made the same choice as Paramount - character or ethics was never a real part of CEO job descriptions.

[GoCubsGo]

Sounds about lot like the current congresscritters.

[Vrede too]

... character or ethics was never a real part of CEO job descriptions.

Nor shareholder demands or expectations.

[O Really]

I saw the best summary of the Combs trial, stated by one of the alternate jurors. When asked about the evidence and "reasonable doubt", etc., he addressed the Cassie hotel beating video: "That was a horrible graphic video, but he wasn't charged with domestic violence." Prosecutors thought they could just paint Combs as a bad guy and the jury would just convict him of anything they asked. They were badly mistaken, paid the price, and should lose their jobs and go write a book a la the OJ fumblers.