Thank you SO much for this, Jim! I did not get to it with the whirl of the week but hearing from someone whose life revolves around evidence is sitar. I had not heard about the Armstrong video but remember the case so well. Actions and consequences in real,life but, as you say, IF….he, of course, drove people nuts for years as he protested innocence…..
Absolutely concur! As a former investigator, evidence is the name of the game. Without it...you usually have no case, or at least not one you can prosecute. Very few prosecutors will agree to take a case to trial if they don't have sufficient evidence to prove the criminal offense beyond a reasonable doubt. When they can't, that's when plea deals are made. But even with 100% irrefutable evidence that a crime occurred and the suspect did it, it's still not easy to convince a jury.
Same with the media and politicians. I'm convinced you could present irrefutable evidence of an event taking place, or a conversation that happened, or a meeting, etc. and some will refuse to accept it. You can have a politician dead-to-rights lying about an issue and they'll refuse to accept it nor take responsibility for it. When's the last time anyone heard a politician say: "Yeah.. you caught me. I lied about that. I'd like to apologize and retract that statement. Here's what really happened.... " Probably never. Their attitude seems to be more along the lines of "I'm just going to lie because there is no accountability and it'll blow over after the 24 - 36 hour news cycle... I can weather that storm." The only accountability for the blatant lies and hypocrisy is our vote.
If you want to watch an interesting story about absolute, flat-out lying ... denial...then coming clean but still not fully taking responsibility for the lie, watch "30 for 30 Lance" on Netflix. It's the rise and fall of Lance Armstrong. It's a fascinating look at that whole story and provides insight into a serial liar who did not fear any repercussions and took no responsibility for the destruction he left in his wake until he was caught. And then, only grudgingly. Had he not been caught... I'm convinced he would have never come clean.
Facts and evidence don't lie. But as mentioned, even when solid, there are many who choose not to believe that they're seeing or being told.
Thank you SO much for this, Jim! I did not get to it with the whirl of the week but hearing from someone whose life revolves around evidence is sitar. I had not heard about the Armstrong video but remember the case so well. Actions and consequences in real,life but, as you say, IF….he, of course, drove people nuts for years as he protested innocence…..
Absolutely concur! As a former investigator, evidence is the name of the game. Without it...you usually have no case, or at least not one you can prosecute. Very few prosecutors will agree to take a case to trial if they don't have sufficient evidence to prove the criminal offense beyond a reasonable doubt. When they can't, that's when plea deals are made. But even with 100% irrefutable evidence that a crime occurred and the suspect did it, it's still not easy to convince a jury.
Same with the media and politicians. I'm convinced you could present irrefutable evidence of an event taking place, or a conversation that happened, or a meeting, etc. and some will refuse to accept it. You can have a politician dead-to-rights lying about an issue and they'll refuse to accept it nor take responsibility for it. When's the last time anyone heard a politician say: "Yeah.. you caught me. I lied about that. I'd like to apologize and retract that statement. Here's what really happened.... " Probably never. Their attitude seems to be more along the lines of "I'm just going to lie because there is no accountability and it'll blow over after the 24 - 36 hour news cycle... I can weather that storm." The only accountability for the blatant lies and hypocrisy is our vote.
If you want to watch an interesting story about absolute, flat-out lying ... denial...then coming clean but still not fully taking responsibility for the lie, watch "30 for 30 Lance" on Netflix. It's the rise and fall of Lance Armstrong. It's a fascinating look at that whole story and provides insight into a serial liar who did not fear any repercussions and took no responsibility for the destruction he left in his wake until he was caught. And then, only grudgingly. Had he not been caught... I'm convinced he would have never come clean.
Facts and evidence don't lie. But as mentioned, even when solid, there are many who choose not to believe that they're seeing or being told.