Think about it. There's a lot of airtime this week and through November.
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Think about it. There's a lot of airtime this week and through November.
You need to be a member of writersnetworks to add comments!
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A corrupt district judge who 25 years ago was a corrupt prosecutor has been the subject of stories in the NY and LA Times and 60 Minutes of late. In the 80's he blurted out his plans to frame a man named Michael Morton so he could make the switch from liberal Democrat to conservative Republican and win election, by scaring the s#I* out of enough people. My father was one of two politicians present at the meeting, and Dad promptly mentioned the matter to me, and I promptly took up the matter with a personal friend in the US Attorney's office. The former prosecutor realized he had said to much to the wrong people and decided to take us out of his political landscape, too.
My father and I were prosecuted for offenses we did not commit, and nobody committed, but for which literal stacks of discovery appeared, to keep us shut up. Unlike Morton, we were acquitted. My father was found actually innocent, something that happens about as often as prosecutors being prosecuted for their misdeeds. My mother literally was hounded to death. Suffering metastatic cancer, my mother would be locked in the house by sheriff's patrol cars on the days she was scheduled to get her chemotherapy. These would always be days my father and I and our friends were called to court for one thing or another.
This guy is finally going to trial Tuesday.
Over the past year I've received maybe 2,000 congratulatory messages for having hung in there long enough to see the bad guy brought to justice. It's been suggested that I write a book about the other side of the Michael Morton affair. Interestingly, another local writer beat me to the punch. Fearful of what could happen if the judge is found not guilty at his own trial next week, the aspiring author wrote a novel, in which I am a prominent character. I really don't know quite what the heck to make of that, but bully for him. I may write my non-fiction account yet. So, yeah, I can comment on matters political. But by virtue of having survived them.
Robert--Congratulations on staying with it. I'm deeply sorry for what you went through. Just think of it this way: by writing a work of fiction, that "local writer" may reach more people than he could have with a non-fiction work. I can only hope that after the trial, the book will give you credit for the story.
Thank you. The author has credited me publicly--he's been a mensch, actually. And you're right. He may indeed reach more people with a version of the story that isn't as burdened by fact as my own!
Jeff--When you say "anything political," you take in an awfully large area. It seems to me that, as a writer of book-length fiction, my influence on the political sphere may be limited. I won't be able to make any impact on the coming election, but I might be able to make some individuals more conscious of their place in the political life of their country. Even Frodo had an effect on people, as did Harry, Katniss and all the other heroes. It's ALL political, in that sense.
Hey Jeff;
On election day in 2008, Obama worked-out at my gym and he won the election. Some people say it was just a coincidence, I truly believe it was destiny. I was thinking about starting a tradition, where the Presidential candidates train with me for good luck . . . no matter if you call it luck, destiny, or a serendipitous moment . . . you never go against a winning streak. Plus, it will give me even more juicy content for my memoirs about my life in the billion-dollar fitness industry. My client told me a funny story about the Obama day . . . she was waiting for me in the lobby speaking to an elderly lady who was wearing an over-size "Obama for President" t-shirt. Curious it might be Obama, my client asked the lady with the Obama t-shirt, if she knew the man standing by the lobby door. The lady in the Obama t-shirt answered; "I don't know the thin black man -- but the tall man next to him is Rico the Trainer, from the Body by Jake TV Show!" It just goes to show you that the voting process is flawed, and everyone looks the same in gym clothes!
Janet, I think you just unknowingly, made a political opinion!
Rico, you are hilarious! I did make a political opinion (sorry mom), but when I do, I try to slip them under the radar!! When I need some good luck, I think I'll fly to FLA and work out in your gym.
Janet, I always have a pocketful of Good Luck! You're always welcome to work-out with me in Florida, and who knows, we might even go to the gym!
Honestly, probably not.
I am. I paid a high price for my experiences. I have made a difference in the part of Texas where I live. But I have a very limited scope and stay within it.
Not me. I was raised to stay out of discussions about politics and religion. We need to know valid and unbiased info, no doubt, but the recent "involvement" of actors asked to give political opinions in the upcoming election has turned me off. I look closely at the stats, not an aging actor. (Guess that was an irrelevant political opinion, huh?)