Orange Tabby
Curiosity thrilled the cat
- Joined
- Aug 30, 2014
- Messages
- 592
- Reaction score
- 676
I dont think Michael Elkin has helped Heather at all in Bali, I dont think Heather or Tommy are now acting from a position of strength, and I dont think the pubic at large believes any of their lovey-dovey nonsense.
I believe that in the many weeks since Michael Elkin first advanced his Racist Diet, Basic Instinct, and Needle People attacks, things have changed considerably. First, Elkin learned that in his own country, no one believed a word of his tripe. Worse, he found that people in the US despised Heather more because of these crude attacks. Imagine what Elkin must have concluded, after finally setting foot on Bali and talking to a local defense attorney. I believe he learned what those who cared about Schapelle Corby and other Australian defendants have learned: that you get absolutely nowhere with these kind of Western Privilege attacks. Moreover, that when it comes to trial, good character, a decent and modest approach to life, and a clear show of respect for authority is virtually the only way to go. Particularly when you have no other evidence on your behalf.
So what did we see in the past couple of days? Two Americans parading their religion in the most unsubtle and clumsy way possible: Tommy with his Bible and Heather with her crucifix. (They couldnt very well advertise an Indonesian religion, that would be going too far.) These soon-to-be-defendants want people to know they are God fearing and therefore of moral character.
What else did we see? Two Americans who might otherwise be considered by Indonesian judges to be fornicators who actually consider themselves married. They announced their moral marriage through their rubber wedding rings. (I think of them as something like rubber baby buggy bands.) This is consistent with their concocted story that it was their fierce love for each other and Sheilas hateful antagonism to that love which put them where they are now. They simply cannot fail to be love birds, and must seem oblivious to the world, because their whole defense relies upon it. (Although they were not actually oblivious to the world, but instead acting for it with the news photographers and reporters taking their show on the road.)
A lot has been made here in the past day or so in these pages of the fact that Heather looks good (while Tommy looks like warmed-over garbage), she has new clothes (while Tommy still huddles under the same ridiculous towel), she has a decent clutch (while Tommy has a crappy plastic bag), she has a new manicure (while Tommy still sports handcuffs), and so on. I am glad to see these things. If there is one thing which could have shifted public opinion around the globe in favor of these two murderers, it would have been if Heather looked physically frail or if her baby bump were too small for the babys gestation time or she was seen in clothes which any pregnant women would say would make everyday life difficult or uncomfortable and therefore potentially dangerous for the baby. I expect Bali authorities are coddling Heather to a certain extent. We should remember that this is in the interest of her innocent child. The fact that Heather benefits directly is a perverse side effect which cannot be avoided.
The smart manicure is an odd thing. There are various explanations which dont include any fix in the works to aid the murdering duo. One possibility is this is the kind of thing her American lawyers are paying for. Another possibility is that it is a cheap way for Bali authorities to keep Heathers spirits up, and that they consider this important for the unborn child. Related to this second possibility is that police authorities are in fact doing a lot for Heather specifically because it has served them well to this point. One thing weve learned in the past two days is that Heathers own lawyer admits that Sheila wasnt expecting to see Tommy in Bali, and therefore didnt know that her credit card paid for his ticket. I believe this to be a very important admission, one which, were I Heathers defense attorney, I would have fought against tooth and nail. It doesnt seem to me a point easily proven without Heathers admission, because even if the purchase could be linked directly to Heather and not to Sheila, Heather might have steadfastly maintained that her mother approved of the purchase. One possibility is that the authorities have pampered Heather in such a way as to squeeze such admissions out of her. If a regular manicure led to this kind of evidence, then I approve entirely.
I return to the idea that her lawyers might be paying for manicures, new clothes, and the like. It is possible (I believe likely) that Heather has no money of her own, but her lawyers are fronting the cost of various things, at prices we should remember that are a tiny fraction of American ones. If Heather beats the rap, the lawyers get paid. If Heather is convicted, there is yet another way they may still get paid.
What is this other way? Heathers unborn child has an attorney (associated with Michael Elkin). Baby lawyer Vanessa Favia has an investment in this case. No matter what happens to Heather, the baby is innocent. Even if Heather is found guilty of the top crime on the indictment and given the top penalty, the child will inherit, and Vanessa Favia is in place to be paid as the babys lawyer. Favia could be the source of money going to Heather, expecting that her expenses will be recouped later, on the ground that a healthy baby requires a healthy mother. This is pure supposition, but it is hardly impossible.
In the end, Heather Mack is someone accustomed to getting her own way via deceit and cunning. She may appear comfortable and at ease because that is how she has always convinced people that she wasnt actually responsible for her own misdeeds. Or she may be a person so convinced that shes always in the right that she doesnt feel any negative emotions connected to her nefarious actions. Remember how awfully damned calm she looked giving that cab driver instructions, even as her mothers still-warm body lay contorted in the boot of the taxi? Shes one cold fish.
I believe the world at large sees this with the reports now coming out of Bali.
I believe that in the many weeks since Michael Elkin first advanced his Racist Diet, Basic Instinct, and Needle People attacks, things have changed considerably. First, Elkin learned that in his own country, no one believed a word of his tripe. Worse, he found that people in the US despised Heather more because of these crude attacks. Imagine what Elkin must have concluded, after finally setting foot on Bali and talking to a local defense attorney. I believe he learned what those who cared about Schapelle Corby and other Australian defendants have learned: that you get absolutely nowhere with these kind of Western Privilege attacks. Moreover, that when it comes to trial, good character, a decent and modest approach to life, and a clear show of respect for authority is virtually the only way to go. Particularly when you have no other evidence on your behalf.
So what did we see in the past couple of days? Two Americans parading their religion in the most unsubtle and clumsy way possible: Tommy with his Bible and Heather with her crucifix. (They couldnt very well advertise an Indonesian religion, that would be going too far.) These soon-to-be-defendants want people to know they are God fearing and therefore of moral character.
What else did we see? Two Americans who might otherwise be considered by Indonesian judges to be fornicators who actually consider themselves married. They announced their moral marriage through their rubber wedding rings. (I think of them as something like rubber baby buggy bands.) This is consistent with their concocted story that it was their fierce love for each other and Sheilas hateful antagonism to that love which put them where they are now. They simply cannot fail to be love birds, and must seem oblivious to the world, because their whole defense relies upon it. (Although they were not actually oblivious to the world, but instead acting for it with the news photographers and reporters taking their show on the road.)
A lot has been made here in the past day or so in these pages of the fact that Heather looks good (while Tommy looks like warmed-over garbage), she has new clothes (while Tommy still huddles under the same ridiculous towel), she has a decent clutch (while Tommy has a crappy plastic bag), she has a new manicure (while Tommy still sports handcuffs), and so on. I am glad to see these things. If there is one thing which could have shifted public opinion around the globe in favor of these two murderers, it would have been if Heather looked physically frail or if her baby bump were too small for the babys gestation time or she was seen in clothes which any pregnant women would say would make everyday life difficult or uncomfortable and therefore potentially dangerous for the baby. I expect Bali authorities are coddling Heather to a certain extent. We should remember that this is in the interest of her innocent child. The fact that Heather benefits directly is a perverse side effect which cannot be avoided.
The smart manicure is an odd thing. There are various explanations which dont include any fix in the works to aid the murdering duo. One possibility is this is the kind of thing her American lawyers are paying for. Another possibility is that it is a cheap way for Bali authorities to keep Heathers spirits up, and that they consider this important for the unborn child. Related to this second possibility is that police authorities are in fact doing a lot for Heather specifically because it has served them well to this point. One thing weve learned in the past two days is that Heathers own lawyer admits that Sheila wasnt expecting to see Tommy in Bali, and therefore didnt know that her credit card paid for his ticket. I believe this to be a very important admission, one which, were I Heathers defense attorney, I would have fought against tooth and nail. It doesnt seem to me a point easily proven without Heathers admission, because even if the purchase could be linked directly to Heather and not to Sheila, Heather might have steadfastly maintained that her mother approved of the purchase. One possibility is that the authorities have pampered Heather in such a way as to squeeze such admissions out of her. If a regular manicure led to this kind of evidence, then I approve entirely.
I return to the idea that her lawyers might be paying for manicures, new clothes, and the like. It is possible (I believe likely) that Heather has no money of her own, but her lawyers are fronting the cost of various things, at prices we should remember that are a tiny fraction of American ones. If Heather beats the rap, the lawyers get paid. If Heather is convicted, there is yet another way they may still get paid.
What is this other way? Heathers unborn child has an attorney (associated with Michael Elkin). Baby lawyer Vanessa Favia has an investment in this case. No matter what happens to Heather, the baby is innocent. Even if Heather is found guilty of the top crime on the indictment and given the top penalty, the child will inherit, and Vanessa Favia is in place to be paid as the babys lawyer. Favia could be the source of money going to Heather, expecting that her expenses will be recouped later, on the ground that a healthy baby requires a healthy mother. This is pure supposition, but it is hardly impossible.
In the end, Heather Mack is someone accustomed to getting her own way via deceit and cunning. She may appear comfortable and at ease because that is how she has always convinced people that she wasnt actually responsible for her own misdeeds. Or she may be a person so convinced that shes always in the right that she doesnt feel any negative emotions connected to her nefarious actions. Remember how awfully damned calm she looked giving that cab driver instructions, even as her mothers still-warm body lay contorted in the boot of the taxi? Shes one cold fish.
I believe the world at large sees this with the reports now coming out of Bali.
