Sandusky

[Glen Longino]

So how do you guys feel/believe about the Michael Jackson molestations/accusals?

We all wish Michael had not done it to you, but we are powerless to change the past.
If any of us can help you deal with your problem, call BR-549!

[jack grebe]

Plus Mike McCreary's testimony and the fact that Sandusky admitted on TV that he liked to shower with small boys. Dude's ******! Where does the state of Pennsylvania send rich white 60 year old convicted pedophiles?

With any luck, they first send him to get castrated, then to a cell with a 6' 10" 350 lb
cell mate named Bubba who is sweet on rich 60yo white men

[Mrleft8]

Dude's ******! Where does the state of Pennsylvania send rich white 60 year old convicted pedophiles?

Hell....... And your point is?......

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

The important thing is not the conviction of Sandusky; what matters are the convictions of those who knew or who should have investigated and who should have acted.

THAT is what will stop further cases of this type.

[Boater14]

The present PA governor was the state attny general when the investigation started. He had a posse of investigators looking into democratic legislative staffers doing political work on state time and one investigator part time on Sandusky. This would be the same governor who is so concerned with passing debt on to our kids.

[elf]

Nothing will stop further cases like this. People who need to do to kids or others what Jerry Sandusky was convicted of doing will still need to do that, and still seek out opportunities to do it.

People beholden to those people who fear for their jobs/marriages/lives/reputations/system/society, whatever, will still choose to protect the thing they fear for.

The examples are legion.

If the Pakistani government couldn't get itself together to rat out bin Laden, you must be naive to believe that convictions would stop this.

[Boater14]

Well god forbid I should be naive but do you think the people who replace the two indicted officials who lied to the grand jury and whoever replaces the soon to be indicted president of the university will go along with the next coverup? Agreed you can't stop the predictors but you can scare the hell out of the suits who knew and covered it up.

[elf]

Did it bother the Catholic Church that they had to pay off a child abuse case years before the scandal hit?

Self righteousness knows no bounds.

[Boater14]

What?

[elf]

Well, here's a rundown on Porter. I'm sorry I can't find an earlier reference for my statement but I distinctly recall reading about something well before the scandals became public. I'll keep looking.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

elf - surely if people fear that the thing they fear for will suffer more if they don't act correctly, than if they do, then they will act?

[elf]

I wish I believed that. But over and over I read, nearly daily, in my local paper of women and siblings who are being abused being unwilling to cooperate with the courts when their abusers get caught.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

I think that tells us that for those people the balance of fear is incorrect.

It was very far from correct in this case, if I have understood what I have read correctly.

[elf]

In the Sandusky case, as we know, there were other factors - friendship, incredulity, fear of loss of prestige, fear of loss of (maybe) an otherwise exemplary coach, social position of the academic and athletics men in State College, social position of McCreery, pecking order in the department. Many there are apparently still outraged that Paterno's career, which made Penn State and State College something to be inordinately proud of, was ended so ignominiously.

Of course, if you raise an entire culture to stare at the boob tube on weekends and watch sports, then you are at risk of getting a population for which football is more important than child abuse.

[PhaseLockedLoop]

If the Pakistani government couldn't get itself together to rat out bin Laden, you must be naive to believe that convictions would stop this.

A perfectly idiotic analogy.

[Paul Girouard]

Nothing will stop further cases like this. People who need to do to kids or others what Jerry Sandusky was convicted of doing will still need to do that, and still seek out opportunities to do it.

People beholden to those people who fear for their jobs/marriages/lives/reputations/system/society, whatever, will still choose to protect the thing they fear for.

The examples are legion.

If the Pakistani government couldn't get itself together to rat out bin Laden, you must be naive to believe that convictions would stop this.

You're right, nothing new about this issue , or even the issues you relate to around the subject. There is nothing new under the sun , or son for those with a religious bend. Bad people will continue to do bad things to others, no amount of "convictions / punishments " will stop them. Vigilance pursuit of these situations may slow the trend, or bring some justice to the victims , but it will never stop, entirely, the behaviors.

[Phillip Allen]

In the Sandusky case, as we know, there were other factors - friendship, incredulity, fear of loss of prestige, fear of loss of (maybe) an otherwise exemplary coach, social position of the academic and athletics men in State College, social position of McCreery, pecking order in the department. Many there are apparently still outraged that Paterno's career, which made Penn State and State College something to be inordinately proud of, was ended so ignominiously.

Of course, if you raise an entire culture to stare at the boob tube on weekends and watch sports, then you are at risk of getting a population for which football is more important than child abuse.

I don't think I would have phrased it quite the same way but I agree, Elf. The excuses for the excesses and trespasses for the sake of 'our' team are always voiced by the team watching public. if there one I am tired of hearing it's "But look at all the money they bring in to the University"... they don't get it

[elf]

And it doesn't matter whether you put the word "university" in that sentence, or "church", or "god", or "investers" or "UBS" or "Oracle" or Abn Amro" or "Boy Scouts" or even "pimp".

Sadly, the priciple holds - that money is more valued than treating other human beings with respect and dignity in most human transactions.

[Y Bar Ranch]

The important thing is not the conviction of Sandusky; what matters are the convictions of those who knew or who should have investigated and who should have acted.

THAT is what will stop further cases of this type.

Indeed. I live less than a mile from sandusky's house, so the whole thing is front and center here.

People like him will always be out there. The question is whether the system you live in is self correcting, i.e., you catch them before they hurt anyone and themselves.

I work at Penn State, and have a lot of disgust for the system that let this thrive. I meet the new coach the other night, seems like a good guy. I'm just not sure that you can run a top college football program that simultaneously is successful and that guarantees this sort of thing can't happen. There has to be a certain amount of closed ranks for these players to make big mistakes, and that sort of system allows predators a place to thrive.

[fishrswim]

If the guy or gal at the top lets it be known that there is NO tolerance for sexual abuse then those who consider it may reconsider, and those who see or hear of sexaul abuse won't be afraid to report it.

[brad9798]

Did it bother the Catholic Church that they had to pay off a child abuse case years before the scandal hit?

Self righteousness knows no bounds.

Scot ... this has nothing to do with this post ... but some folks are so bitter and retarded ... I just do not know what to say anymore ...

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Indeed. I live less than a mile from sandusky's house, so the whole thing is front and center here.

People like him will always be out there. The question is whether the system you live in is self correcting, i.e., you catch them before they hurt anyone and themselves.

I work at Penn State, and have a lot of disgust for the system that let this thrive. I meet the new coach the other night, seems like a good guy. I'm just not sure that you can run a top college football program that simultaneously is successful and that guarantees this sort of thing can't happen. There has to be a certain amount of closed ranks for these players to make big mistakes, and that sort of system allows predators a place to thrive.

Thank you for that post and for the good observation.

[John Smith]

Why does he get prosecuted and the Priests don't? I expect more people who helped cover this us will be put on trial, and I'll be asking the same question.

It's not that I don't disaprove of the behavior, but with the system's selective prosecution of criminals.

I was watching the Maddow show when we got breaking news that we would have a verdict soon. Why couldn't they wait untill the had the verdict and simply break in and tell us what is was?

I really believe we'd all be better served if we were told who was arrested, and what he was charged with, then let us know what the jury decided.

[Paul Pless]

I really believe we'd all be better served if we were told who was arrested, and what he was charged with, then let us know what the jury decided.

That's a ridiculous position to take. Secrecy in the courts is the province of totalitarian regimes.

[Sam F]

Scot ... this has nothing to do with this post ... but some folks are so bitter and retarded ... I just do not know what to say anymore ...

No it didn't have anything to do with the Sandusky trial.
It was also factually incorrect, but when one is beside the point, there's no reason to bother about accuracy.

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

[Y Bar Ranch]

*sigh* Everyone thinks they just thought that one up.

Boris Badenov: Ah, it good to be back on campus.
Natasha Fatale: Boris, you went to college? Penn State?
Boris Badenov: No, state pen.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054524/quotes

[David G]

If there's any way he can create restitution, or otherwise make amends to his victims... that would be helpful for all involved. Punishment, and retribution is tempting, but ultimately cheap and pointless.

how?

Lee - I wish I had the answer. I guess I'm vaguely aware of some creative sentencing that judges have come up with that has been a step in this direction... but I can't cite the cases without a bunch of digging.