Martha Stewart in the dock

[T_i_B]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/01/04/wmarth04.xml&sSheet=/portal/2004/01/04/ixportal.html

It is Trial of the Century time again, and Martha Stewart, America's doyenne of domesticity - perhaps the only woman in the world who decants her washing-up liquid - is in big trouble. The preliminary skirmishes are over, the media circus is assembled, and on January 12 at the Manhattan Federal Courthouse, a jury will be asked to decide if Martha is a crook.

According to the indictment, Martha Stewart obstructed justice by covering up her part in an insider share-trading scandal, but Martha knows what the real charge is. "In China," she told the New Yorker recently, "they say the thinner the chopsticks, the higher the social status. Of course, I have got the thinnest I could find. That's why people hate me."

Some legal observers have suggested that finding a jury of 12 men and women with no strong opinion on Martha may be impossible. The trial will begin with jury selection, and as trials involving controversial public figures are notoriously prone to jury-selection difficulties, the process could not only take weeks, but, possibly, scupper the whole proceedings.

The start of the trial is being breathlessly awaited in a country where the line between justice and entertainment has become increasingly blurred. Even the Federal Courthouse in Foley Square, a greystone, late 19th-century edifice, is the star of countless movies.

[rfranklin]

1. And when does Neil Bush go on trial?

Just asking.

[dusty64]

7. I was wondering the same thing.

Funny how the whole Harken/Halliburton thing went down the memory hole also.

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. So how many millions are we going to spend on this trial

For one $48,000 stock transaction? The only reason why they are going after her for this is because she's a dem.

If they want to try people for obstruction of justice why don't they start with the WH and Cheney who thinks it's okay to ignore a subpoena?

[Racenut20]

3. Excellent point

I have had e-mails with her staffer, and am convinced it is over campaign contributions not obstruction of justice.

[The Zanti Regent]

8. Yet Ken Lay WALKS!

Once again, you see the power of the MAGIC (R)™

[murielm99]

4. Speaking of Martha, have any of you seen those ads for Trump's new TV

series, "The Apprentice?"

Imagine Martha in that ad, doing that series.

Martha has done the same thing as Trump, but she gets laughed at and hated for it.

Don't misunderstand me -- if Martha is found guilty of anything, she should be fined big-time, and made to do thousands of hours of community service.

But who has Martha hurt? Her business empire has suffered. She has been the butt of lame jokes by late night comedians, and the subject of several "political" cartoons. She has been the subject of countless news and magazine articles, not to mention a very unflattering book and miniseries.

Has she bankrupted a major company, due to accounting scandals, thrown thousand out of work, and lost their pensions? Ken Lay has, and he remains unindicted.

Has she stolen an election, squandered a surplus, caused the rest of the world to hate us?

Let's keep Martha in perspective.

[xchrom]

5. as i understand it

the governments indictments against martha have actually begun to come under question.
they've dropped a number indictments against her -- and are now down to this.
there are some legitimate questions about why they are pursuing this case.

[0007]

6. This was a very clear article that explained more than I've heard ..

about Martha.

The only two powerful things I can see that Martha has going for her, is the judge and Martha's high powered defense attorney with a great record. Other than that I think and believe Martha got caught up with that sticky issue called, 'greed' - that has ruined many good intentions.

[Bridget Burke]

9. Yes, but greed is OK if you're a Republican.

Also consider she's a successful businesswoman. Which of the Bush boys has ever made a success in business?

[0007]

10. Goddamn I keep forgetting! Thanks for waking me up.

[cthrumatrix]

11. What about the Dennis Kozlowski (Tyco Trial) $600m embezzeld or used

fraudulently...lavish parties etc... corruption at it's finest and not a media peep.

Oh..I forgot he contributed to the Bush campaign and Martha did not.

Where the hell is the media?

[Benhurst]

12. "Where in the hell is the media?"

Embedded in George W's rear end. :hurts:

[Skittles]

13. I cannot stand Martha Stewart

I have seen through her phony act since day one. However, I do believe Ms. Stewart is being scapegoated for the sins of corporate America and it just a tad sickening.

[bleedingheart]

14. this is the case of a Woman taking the Fall while the Men get away

its the perfect conservative wet dream...punishing the uppitty smart woman and turning a blind eye to the Ken Lay's and Neil Bush's...

add in the fact that Martha was a democratic fundraiser...and boy its a real coup on the bush admin's part.