…or it’s all about being handled.

I really don’t have much to say about the whole Paris Hilton saga, but…

I felt the typical outrage as I saw a system that’s supposed to be relatively blind kowtow to money, sex, and celebrity.

Not that I’m so naive to think the system isn’t played on a daily basis (OJ with that thought anyone) by those with money and a cult of celebrity. Nevertheless, I still believe that some semblance of what is core to the civil justice system will prevail and am disappointed when it doesn’t.

More than the outrage at a corrupt system, for me, it was really the utter disgust at the thought of all the pre-release crying, wailing, psycho mumbo-jumbo and the sheriff’s tie in to his feelings on those matters.

I understand dear, here’s a pass.

Of course that doesn’t apply to the prostitute they arrested while he or she was trying to make enough to feed their crack habit, or the petty thief who hears voices and sees visions.

Ask anyone in the criminal justice field and they will tell you that the majority of the incarcerated are drug addicted and/or mentally ill. They are welcome to partake of ‘state services’ or worse yet, contracted out state services (jails being a big industry in the U.S.).

The whole post-release breakdown thing appeared to be a reaction, not to the sentence or the process, but rather to the lack of handlers. Mom and Dad, no help. Makeup artist, couldn’t find ’em on one minutes notice. Clothing, not runway chic. Paris lost her security blanket.

It took about two days for her handlers to overcome the shock. Then we had Barbara Walters and the whole I’ve found God mockery going on.

I don’t know, a night in jail and her catechetical learning was resurrected? Oops, none of that back there. Her cellmate, a black woman from Louisiana, she brought Christ to Paris? Oh, that’s right, no cellmate. Maybe the Gideons left a bible for her?

My daily blog reads have worthy comments on the whole Paris issue. From the Young Fogey see: Picking on Parish Hilton and from Fr. Martin Fox’s Bonfire of the Vanities see: Reality is a harsh mistress.

On to Joseph Lieberman, Senator for the State of Connecticut.

The press typically places an “(I)” after his name to denote the fact that he is an “independent” i.e., not a Democrat or Republican. Well, independent would be an oxymoron in his case. I’m thinking that “(I)” stands for Israeli stooge.

The Senator found himself in the hands of the handlers this past weekend. He knew just how to look, and just what to say. The script was clear – threaten Iran with a military strike. Interestingly enough:

Over the weekend, Israel officials indicated that a strike against Iran was an option being considered if diplomacy fails.

You can read the whole sorted tale at the Christian Science Monitor in: Talk of attacking Iran escalates tensions.

I’m just wondering when, and if ever, the handlers are going to get a grip on reality.

There’s plenty of money in reality.

Earn it in helping the mentally ill, the incarcerated, the addicted. Rush to the front lines in defense of our borders, not Israel’s or Albania’s, or Korea’s, or Sudan’s, or…

The handlers are at heart cowards, afraid to step into the light and even more afraid of taking a stand. They live in hollow places that only God can fill. May God have mercy on us all and may He fill the vacuum in their lives.

Perhaps Judge Reggie Walton poked a little hole in their air filled arguments when he called on the handlers and the handled to step up to the plate on behalf of the poor and defenseless. From the Boston Globe see: Law scholars appeal to judge for Libby

WASHINGTON — A dozen of the country’s most respected constitutional scholars have leapt to the aid of I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby , asking a federal judge if they could try to convince him about critical legal questions that favor letting Libby remain free while he appeals his conviction in the Valerie Plame Wilson leak case.

Within hours of Friday’s filing from the scholars, US District Judge Reggie Walton wrote back , granting their request . In a footnote, he said he was delighted to know that such a distinguished group was available to help argue on behalf of criminal defendants on “close questions” of the law.

Walton promised he’d ring them up soon when — instead of Vice President Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff facing the threat of incarceration — there might be poor defendants who need big legal minds to avoid imprisonment…