Burn, Bernie, Burn!

[New Mitanni]

All-time record swindler Bernie Madoff has just been sentenced to 150 years in the big house. The judge threw the book at him. Maximum sentence.

It's just been reported on Fox News Channel. Link to be posted when it's available.

So, what do you think? Too harsh? Just right? Not enought?

[Blouman Empire]

I never understood why the US has such large sentences. 150 years? Like the guy is going to live for another 150 years, why not just say for life?

And why wait for FOX why not any other news service?

Here's one.

http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/0 ... s_max.html

[Treznor]

It's not Fox News, which is why I link it.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/06/26/news/economy/madoff_sentence/index.htm

I think the only reason this influential white-collar criminal got the book thrown at him is because his victims are similarly influential white-collar folk. If he'd been scamming minorities, he'd have gotten a slap on the wrist.

[Blouman Empire]

I think the only reason this influential white-collar criminal got the book thrown at him is because his victims are similarly influential white-collar folk. If he'd been scamming minorities, he'd have gotten a slap on the wrist.

*Yawn* Any case history of the judge in question to show this?

Or is it simply just hate?

Actually the reason is because he ripped of Jews.

[The_pantless_hero]

I think the only reason this influential white-collar criminal got the book thrown at him is because his victims are similarly influential white-collar folk. If he'd been scamming minorities, he'd have gotten a slap on the wrist.

*Yawn* Any case history of the judge in question to show this?

Or is it simply just hate?

Actually the reason is because he ripped of Jews.

Assumption based on historical occurrences.

[Domminus]

I never understood why the US has such large sentences. 150 years? Like the guy is going to live for another 150 years, why not just say for life?

They can't, because each count of the crime carries a certain sentence. None of them have a maximum available sentence of life, only X number of years. However, each count's conviction can have the sentences run concurrently or consecutively. If the judge makes them run consecutively, you might wind up with 100 years or 150 years, but since no single count carries "life" as a possible punishment, you can't give them life.

Make sense?

[New Mitanni]

It's not Fox News, which is why I link it.

Yeah, live TV feeds from a federal courthouse are obviously unfair and unbalanced.

I think the only reason this influential white-collar criminal got the book thrown at him is because his victims are similarly influential white-collar folk. If he'd been scamming minorities, he'd have gotten a slap on the wrist.

If he'd been "scamming minorities," the damages wouldn't have reached $170 billion. If he'd been "scamming minorities," he wouldn't have brought the integrity of the entire financial system of this country into further question.

And btw: last time I checked, Jews were a minority too. The vast majority of his victims were Jewish.

[Ravea]

Good. He deserves it.

[Parthenon]

Hes going to get a pardon when Barack realizes he needs an expert on ponzi schemes to organize his health care policy.

[New Mitanni]

Hes going to get a pardon when Barack realizes he needs an expert on ponzi schemes to organize his health care policy.

Don't go giving him any ideas!

[Neo Art]

I never understood why the US has such large sentences. 150 years? Like the guy is going to live for another 150 years, why not just say for life?

Because a judge can not give a sentence the law does not allow. If he's convicted on 10 counts, each count having a maximum of 15 years, you can't just go "ok, well, give him life". You have to give him 15 years max, and no more than 15 years, for each crime.

What the judge can decide is consecutively or concurrently.

[Chumblywumbly]

Hes going to get a pardon when Barack realizes he needs an expert on ponzi schemes to organize his health care policy.

Don't go giving him any ideas!

Get a room, boys.

[Treznor]

It's not Fox News, which is why I link it.

Yeah, live TV feeds from a federal courthouse are obviously unfair and unbalanced.

Especially when they give commentary afterward. Depending on Fox News for fair and balanced reporting is like paying the fox to guard the henhouse. The ulterior motive always comes forward.

I think the only reason this influential white-collar criminal got the book thrown at him is because his victims are similarly influential white-collar folk. If he'd been scamming minorities, he'd have gotten a slap on the wrist.

If he'd been "scamming minorities," the damages wouldn't have reached $170 billion. If he'd been "scamming minorities," he wouldn't have brought the integrity of the entire financial system of this country into further question.

And btw: last time I checked, Jews were a minority too. The vast majority of his victims were Jewish.

Granted, if Madoff had been scamming poor people he would have been less likely to reach $170 billion, but that's not the point. He was scamming people with influence, and the judge threw the book at him. Their racial status is of less concern to me than their social and economic standing.

The US has long demonstrated it applies the law differently to criminals based on who the victims are.

[Blouman Empire]

Because a judge can not give a sentence the law does not allow. If he's convicted on 10 counts, each count having a maximum of 15 years, you can't just go "ok, well, give him life". You have to give him 15 years max, and no more than 15 years, for each crime.

What the judge can decide is consecutively or concurrently.

Yeah I know, I suppose it is something that stuck with me from watching the news as a child and seeing reports from the US, and not something I properly thought about. As well as life sentences being allowed over here. But yes I now know.

[Deus Malum]

It's not Fox News, which is why I link it.

Yeah, live TV feeds from a federal courthouse are obviously unfair and unbalanced.

Especially when they give commentary afterward. Depending on Fox News for fair and balanced reporting is like paying the fox to guard the henhouse. The ulterior motive always comes forward.

I think the only reason this influential white-collar criminal got the book thrown at him is because his victims are similarly influential white-collar folk. If he'd been scamming minorities, he'd have gotten a slap on the wrist.

If he'd been "scamming minorities," the damages wouldn't have reached $170 billion. If he'd been "scamming minorities," he wouldn't have brought the integrity of the entire financial system of this country into further question.

And btw: last time I checked, Jews were a minority too. The vast majority of his victims were Jewish.

Granted, if Madoff had been scamming poor people he would have been less likely to reach $170 billion, but that's not the point. He was scamming people with influence, and the judge threw the book at him. Their racial status is of less concern to me than their social and economic standing.

The US has long demonstrated it applies the law differently to criminals based on who the victims are.

An example of Fox News' journalistic integrity:
http://images.cheezburger.com/completes ... 702876.jpg
They pulled the same shit with the Mark Foley scandal, too.

[Domminus]

Because a judge can not give a sentence the law does not allow. If he's convicted on 10 counts, each count having a maximum of 15 years, you can't just go "ok, well, give him life". You have to give him 15 years max, and no more than 15 years, for each crime.

What the judge can decide is consecutively or concurrently.

Yeah I know, I suppose it is something that stuck with me from watching the news as a child and seeing reports from the US, and not something I properly thought about. As well as life sentences being allowed over here. But yes I now know.

Sure, ignore the new guy.

[Parthenon]

An example of Fox News' journalistic integrity:
http://images.cheezburger.com/completes ... 702876.jpg
They pulled the same shit with the Mark Foley scandal, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXFaElFI_s0
See the (R)? Stop with the thread jack to make your nonsensical claims about fox, this is a Bernie Madoff thread.

[Blouman Empire]

Sure, ignore the new guy.

I dont speak to newbs

Actually I did see it and was going to respond along with Neo, and then you open up a few tabs and you miss one or two and the whole thing goes out the window.

Thanks for your input too, and yes it makes sense.

[New Mitanni]

Especially when they give commentary afterward. Depending on Fox News for fair and balanced reporting is like paying the fox to guard the henhouse. The ulterior motive always comes forward.

"Child, please." -- OchoCinco


As if CBSABCNBCCNNMSNBC don't "give commentary afterward" or have "ulterior motives." Seems that you just don't like Fox because they aren't slavish exponents of your political agenda.

And since in fact Fox is demonstrably more "fair and balanced" than any of the Dishonest Liberal Media (as I have previously posted concerning the '08 Presidential election), your complaint is without merit and mere leftie blather.

He was scamming people with influence, and the judge threw the book at him. Their racial status is of less concern to me than their social and economic standing.

The US has long demonstrated it applies the law differently to criminals based on who the victims are.

Cry me a river about "social and economic standing."

In every society since the dawn of civilization, people with money and influence have used them to hire better lawyers and get more advantageous treatment. That's the way it is. It's hardly unique to the US. Deal with it. If you're poor and don't want to end up in jail, don't commit crimes. It's not that hard.

[Deus Malum]

An example of Fox News' journalistic integrity:
http://images.cheezburger.com/completes ... 702876.jpg
They pulled the same shit with the Mark Foley scandal, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXFaElFI_s0
See the (R)? Stop with the thread jack to make your nonsensical claims about fox, this is a Bernie Madoff thread.

Nonsensical? They ALREADY did this once with Mark Foley. Whether my source on this is wrong or not. And since when are you the thread police?

[New Mitanni]

An example of Fox News' journalistic integrity:
http://images.cheezburger.com/completes ... 702876.jpg
They pulled the same shit with the Mark Foley scandal, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXFaElFI_s0
See the (R)? Stop with the thread jack to make your nonsensical claims about fox, this is a Bernie Madoff thread.

Thanks for the reminder, I was letting myself get sucked into hijacking my own thread.

IMO Madoff got off easy. But hopefully he'll be sent to some prison suitable to criminals of his magnitude, and not some country club lock-up. Likely he won't even make it to the 12 years his mouthpiece was asking the court for. He may not even survive the (inevitable ) appeals process.

Quite a lifestyle change, eh Bernie?

[Vervaria]

An example of Fox News' journalistic integrity:
http://images.cheezburger.com/completes ... 702876.jpg
They pulled the same shit with the Mark Foley scandal, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXFaElFI_s0
See the (R)? Stop with the thread jack to make your nonsensical claims about fox, this is a Bernie Madoff thread.

Nonsensical? They ALREADY did this once with Mark Foley. Whether my source on this is wrong or not. And since when are you the thread police?

Especially considering this gem of on-topic-ness by him.

Hes going to get a pardon when Barack realizes he needs an expert on ponzi schemes to organize his health care policy.

[Ravea]

Especially when they give commentary afterward. Depending on Fox News for fair and balanced reporting is like paying the fox to guard the henhouse. The ulterior motive always comes forward.

"Child, please." -- OchoCinco


As if CBSABCNBCCNNMSNBC don't "give commentary afterward" or have "ulterior motives." Seems that you just don't like Fox because they aren't slavish exponents of your political agenda.

And since in fact Fox is demonstrably more "fair and balanced" than any of the Dishonest Liberal Media (as I have previously posted concerning the '08 Presidential election), your complaint is without merit and mere leftie blather.

Any news source claiming to be "Fair and Balanced" is full of complete and utter bull. You really think that there are any neutral news sources in this nation, left or right?

[Deus Malum]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXFaElFI_s0
See the (R)? Stop with the thread jack to make your nonsensical claims about fox, this is a Bernie Madoff thread.

Nonsensical? They ALREADY did this once with Mark Foley. Whether my source on this is wrong or not. And since when are you the thread police?

Especially considering this gem of on-topic-ness by him.

Hes going to get a pardon when Barack realizes he needs an expert on ponzi schemes to organize his health care policy.

Aye. Reminds me of something about pulling a plank out of one's own eye, before criticizing the speck in someone else's...

[Parthenon]

An example of Fox News' journalistic integrity:
http://images.cheezburger.com/completes ... 702876.jpg
They pulled the same shit with the Mark Foley scandal, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXFaElFI_s0
See the (R)? Stop with the thread jack to make your nonsensical claims about fox, this is a Bernie Madoff thread.

Nonsensical? They ALREADY did this once with Mark Foley. Whether my source on this is wrong or not. And since when are you the thread police?

Excerpt from the forum rules:
Thread Hijacking: Appropriating a thread for a discussion totally unrelated to the original purpose of said thread. Hijacking can take the form of a single post or a long discussion. Such posts may be split or deleted, and the poster warned.

Since this thread is about Bernie Madoff, not Fox news, you are hijacking it. I do not claim to be the thread police, however, if you would like me to inform them I would more than happy to.