05
Oct 09The long and winding road.
Back in September, this post started as a plug for “Trial by Fire,” the exhaustive piece on Cameron Todd Willingham’s execution and the prosecutor’s limp-dick defense of his actions. NYer author David Grann has a response here. It’s all worth a read, especially right after Texas Gov. Rick Perry attempted to kneecap the forensic science panel charged with determining whether he executed an innocent man.
“Trial by Fire” links to another article, “Duped,” about liars and lie-detectors. Early in the piece, there’s this bit (emphasis added):
When people tell complicated lies, they frequently pause longer and more often, and speak more slowly; but if the lie is simple, or highly polished, they tend to do the opposite.
Now today, about a month after I started that post, I read a serendipitous takedown of Betsy McCaughey, (in)famous for her New Republic article, “No Exit.”
[McCaughey] resembles the tell-it-like-it-is good ol’ girl Palin, whose scorching self-regard and ostentatious disdain for politics-as-usual infuse even her most self-serving fabulisms. … Both women have an uncanny ability to shovel their toxic nonsense with nary a blink, tremor, or break in those dazzling smiles. People of goodwill and honest counsel don’t stand a chance.
Maybe a weak connection, but it’s leftover night. Tuna surprise or nothing, buster.
Tagged: nerdiness, news, politics, reading
October 10th, 2009 at 2:28 am
1) “Cameron Todd Willingham: Media Meltdown & the Death Penalty:
“Trial by Fire: Did Texas execute an innocent man?”, by David Grann
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/10/04/cameron-todd-willingham-media-meltdown–the-death-penalty.aspx
This was written and released prior to the Corsicana Fire Marshall’s report, below:
2) EXCLUSIVE: City report on arson probe:
State panel asks for city response in Willingham case
http://www.corsicanadailysun.com/news/local_story_276222736.html
3) No Doubts
http://www.corsicanadailysun.com/thewillinghamfiles/local_story_250180658.html
For a collection of articles, go to:
Corsicana Daily Sun, The Willingham Files
http://www.corsicanadailysun.com/thewillinghamfiles
OTHER REPORTS: There is the potential for, at least, 3 more, official, reports on this case: the Texas Fire Marshall’s office, which will give an official and requested reply, the Corsicana Police Dept. and Navarro County District Attorney’s office, both of which, I speculate, may only contribute to the TFM report, but could issue their own reports.
There is an official “report” which, it appears, few have paid attention to – the trial transcript.
I find that rather important because, at least five persons, who were involved with the trial, the prosecutor, defense attorney, two surviving fire investigators and a juror have all voiced support for the verdict, still, in the light of the criticism of the arson forensics.
One of those original fire investigators is, now, an active certified arson expert.