Ray Lewis to retire.

[CountDeMoney]

That's the beautiful thing about the criminal justice system.  You don't have to be "cleared".  You don't have to demonstrate innocence.  You are innocent by presumption.

Well, at least the APD and the SA's Office didn't show too much zealotry in charging Ray Ray, because, you know, cops and prosecutors never get big boners over the possibility of landing celebrity defendants.  That never, ever happens.

[Berkut]

That's the beautiful thing about the criminal justice system.  You don't have to be "cleared".  You don't have to demonstrate innocence.  You are innocent by presumption.

Well, at least the APD and the SA's Office didn't show too much zealotry in charging Ray Ray, because, you know, cops and prosecutors never get big boners over the possibility of landing celebrity defendants.  That never, ever happens.

What bastards, charging your favorite player with a crime he has basically admitted he was involved in! The nerve of them!

I think thou doth protest too much Seedy. You know in your heart of hearts that I am right. That is why it upsets you so much.

[CountDeMoney]

What bastards, charging your favorite player with a crime he has basically admitted he was involved in! The nerve of them!

I think thou doth protest too much Seedy. You know in your heart of hearts that I am right. That is why it upsets you so much.

I think you're showing an unhealthy stalky-feely thing with me for some reason, so go pick on BA or Neil for a while. 

[Berkut]

What bastards, charging your favorite player with a crime he has basically admitted he was involved in! The nerve of them!

I think thou doth protest too much Seedy. You know in your heart of hearts that I am right. That is why it upsets you so much.

I think you're showing an unhealthy stalky-feely thing with me for some reason, so go pick on BA or Neil for a while. 

Yeah, but I don't expect more out of them.

[CountDeMoney]

Yeah, but I don't expect more out of them.

You should learn the power of forgiveness and atonement, Berkie.  Ray Ray has.

[Sophie Scholl]

What bastards, charging your favorite player with a crime he has basically admitted he was involved in! The nerve of them!

I think thou doth protest too much Seedy. You know in your heart of hearts that I am right. That is why it upsets you so much.

I think you're showing an unhealthy stalky-feely thing with me for some reason, so go pick on BA or Neil for a while.

I backed out of this a while ago.  Certain people haven't gotten in a debate in a while it seems and are itching for a go.  I don't think it's worth my investment of time.

[Neil]

What bastards, charging your favorite player with a crime he has basically admitted he was involved in! The nerve of them!

I think thou doth protest too much Seedy. You know in your heart of hearts that I am right. That is why it upsets you so much.

I think you're showing an unhealthy stalky-feely thing with me for some reason, so go pick on BA or Neil for a while.

I backed out of this a while ago.  Certain people haven't gotten in a debate in a while it seems and are itching for a go.  I don't think it's worth my investment of time.

And I just don't care.  Berkut doesn't have the ability to make me re-examine my preconceptions and opinions.  Nothing he says resonates with me, so I just make throwaway comments about how Lewis' obstruction of justice was less serious than Washington's treason.  Ray Lewis has, in the balance, done good, and he's also been a good football player.  Not ratting doesn't change that.

[garbon]

  I mean the dude is hardly a spokesperson for a thug life, he works out and does community work.

?

Per that great song, Valms is saying he is sexy and thus not a spokesperson for thug life.

[garbon]

What bastards, charging your favorite player with a crime he has basically admitted he was involved in! The nerve of them!

I think thou doth protest too much Seedy. You know in your heart of hearts that I am right. That is why it upsets you so much.

I think you're showing an unhealthy stalky-feely thing with me for some reason, so go pick on BA or Neil for a while.

I backed out of this a while ago.  Certain people haven't gotten in a debate in a while it seems and are itching for a go.  I don't think it's worth my investment of time.

Probably because you realize your defense of Lewis is weak.

[jimmy olsen]

His soup kitchens obviously exist to facilitate his penchant to stab homeless bums, the most vulnerable of us to said crime. 

At least somebody thought it was funny.

[Berkut]

What bastards, charging your favorite player with a crime he has basically admitted he was involved in! The nerve of them!

I think thou doth protest too much Seedy. You know in your heart of hearts that I am right. That is why it upsets you so much.

I think you're showing an unhealthy stalky-feely thing with me for some reason, so go pick on BA or Neil for a while.

I backed out of this a while ago.  Certain people haven't gotten in a debate in a while it seems and are itching for a go.  I don't think it's worth my investment of time.

I think it is more a matter of realizing that defending the claim that someone who was involved in murdering two people is a great human being because he tackles well is a tough job.

[Barrister]

Well that is what I do.  I just get the feeling that Barrister looks at everyone as a potential conviction.

That's the beautiful thing about the criminal justice system.  You don't have to be "cleared".  You don't have to demonstrate innocence.  You are innocent by presumption.

The presumption of innocence makes perfect sense for a rule of law - you don't want to throw people in jail unless you're really, really sure they're guilty.

It makes far less sense when it comes down to other decisions - like who to idolize.

[Razgovory]

But it is your job not to presume innocence.

[Barrister]

But it is your job not to presume innocence.

In my job I have been trained not to presume anything.  Assuming guilty, in particular, is very dangerous.

[The Minsky Moment]

Well, at least the APD and the SA's Office didn't show too much zealotry in charging Ray Ray, because, you know, cops and prosecutors never get big boners over the possibility of landing celebrity defendants.  That never, ever happens.

Sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn't.
Sometimes the prosecutors want to make an example of a prominent celebrity, as some contend happened with Martha Stewart.
But sometimes prosecutors are wary of bringing cases with some holes in it against prominent people because of fear of backlash and the knowledge that the defense will be thorough and relentless.
And sometime prosecutors can be influenced by star power, which arguably helped Joe Paterno escape more serious inquiry.

My guess with Lewis is #2 was in play but who knows?