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The Concept of government can be hard to understand for adults, let alone kids. These beautifully photographed books are a wonderul resource for young readers, clearly explaining the basic offices and roles of officials and how they influence our world. ... Read more

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Factually traces the historical and Quranic violence and cruelty directed toward all women.Discusses the error of comparing the ... Read more

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For the first time since 1993, the sole legal secretary for the father of the then 13-year old boy that accused Mr. Jackson of molestation him, steps forward with new information about the 1993 child molestation case against Michael Jackson and notes the striking resemblance between the 1993 case and the recent allegations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (52)

This book that proves nothing - she's disgruntled
It is obvious that Ms. Hughes hated her employer, Mr. Rothman, as she goes on at length about how mean he was and what a jerk he was.She quit after 8 months.

This book doesn't prove anything at all.I was hoping to find enough information to satisfy myself that MJ was framed in 1993 but this book doesn't even come close to providing "redemption".In fact, it is a joke.Ms. Hughes "proof" that MJ is innocent consists of her assessment that Jordie was warm and loving and acted like a "normal" 13 year-old who liked listening to his Walkman.Problem with her assessment is that she had only met him briefly twice and she's no mental health professional.Furthermore, she has no clue what was "normal" behavior for Jordie since she had never met him BEFORE his association with MJ - maybe he was completely different then and the "warm loving" behavior she observed was completely out of character for him.That's not proof of anything.Her other "evidence" is the fact the Mr. Rothman went to great lengths to keep things confidential.That's not unusual.MJ was the biggest star in the world, so of course counsel went to great lengths to keep things from leaking to the press.Lastly her "evidence" is that Rothman carefully planned how the abuse would be reported and instructed Mr. Chandler to have the psychologist report the alleged abuse to the police rather than do it himself.My response to that is "so what"? So what they planned how best to report the alleged abuse given MJ's celebrity status.That doesn't mean the abuse didn't occur - it just meant they were carefully planning how to proceed in light of the alleged molestation.

A Must Read for True Jackson fans
I was fortunate enough to meet Geraldine Hughes last weekend at an MJ charity event.
I do have to say, that I did not spend anywhere near $150.00 for this book. I think she remarked that the book was currently out of print except the few she had with her that night. For anyone wishing to know the truth behind those nasty allegations, this is a must read. Miss Hughes is a fine human being and is very sincere in her attempt to explain what she knows happened. She gives us, the reader an inside view to the team of individuals who set about to destroy Mr. Jackson.
Miss Hughes was quick to point out that it took her along time to write the book as she didn't want to be viewed as someone "doing it for money." At the urging of her Mother, she finally came forward with what she saw and heard during her time working for the lawyer hired by the dentist to destroy Michael Jackson.

I could barely put this book down! I read it in three nights and confirmed what I long had known in my heart. Michael Jackson was completely innocent of all charges.
This was a casethe worst kind of extortion! If you can get your hands on this book and want to know the whole truth, this is the book to read!

Thank you to Miss Hughes for having the courage to come forward and defend MJ.

Great Book
Geraldine make the 1993 allegation fall into place so th ereader can see the story for what it was, extortion.I recommend anyone who wants to know the truth to read this book.

Ms. Hughes--A Voice of Courage
If onlyMs. Hughes' careful documentation during her employment with the prosecuting attorneycould actually be focused on, today, in mainstream media.The bald-faced lies, the vicious accusations and deliberate acts of extortion exposed during the 1993 molestation case could be revealed by journalists interested in seeking the truth and finally vindicating this innocent man.

Ms. Hughes carefully recorded the details surrounding Dr. Chandler's vindictive attempt to extort millions from Michael Jackson.The fact that he ultimately was successful in gaining a huge settlement doesn't cast doubt on Michael's innocence; rather it proves that it was only money he was after all along.If he truly was outraged at alleged criminal behavior committed against his son, MONEY would have NEVER been the goal.If the facts were there, Mr. Jackson would have been arrested and tried in a court.There was no evidence to prove any criminal act.But that did not stop his relentless quest to destroy Michael Jackson.

Few people are probably aware thatDr. Chandler, the father of the 13-year-old boy in question, recently committed suicide.One is compelled to ask, "Was he driven to take his life because he could no longer live with his vile deed, knowing that his bloodlust for ill-gotten gain ultimately played a pivotal role in the gradual downfall of Michael's career and personal life?"

As a reader, you have to judge for yourself.Millions of Michael Jackson fans knew the truth.Even though we did not know him, personally, what this man projected in his tireless philanthropic efforts, and the love evident in his music and dance, we were convinced that he was simply incapable of carrying out such repulsive behavior.He clearly was childlike in his love of children, yet very adult and mature in his efforts to reach out and help them, too.Of course he was human and flawed, making many personal and career mistakes throughout his life, but I will defend his innocence where these sick accusations are concerned until I die.

It is time that we citizens hold the media responsible for their words.Lives are destroyed because of prejudice and failure to seek the truth at all times.

Thank you, Ms. Hughes.I hope truth seekers everywhere read your book.Michael Jackson is not here to see it, but I hope he is remembered because he was the greatest entertainer ever, a loving father, and a man with a sincere hope for humanity to live together, peacefully, as one.

Can't Even Finish the Book - It's That Bad
I was really looking forward to receiving this book.It was written by a former legal secretary who was working for the attorney that represented MJ's accuser, and I thought she would really know something about what really went on. I'm a legal secretary myself so I was interested to know what she knew.I read over half of the book and it was nothing but her opinion of how wonderful MJ was.I thought MJ was wonderful, too, but that doesn't prove anything.Most of what she said was already in Randy Taraborrelli's book about MJ, and I didn't learn anything new in her book.I didn't appreciate the religious quotes all through the book, either.I feel totally ripped off by her.Plus, I agree with another reviewer that she seemed to have despised her boss and it really came across in the book.That was pointless.I would not waste my money on this book. ... Read more

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Unlike Hollywood, this is the reality of a family's life in an endless, diabolical nightmare. A fifteen year battle with the state, county, a corrupt, inadequate lawyer and, at best, an extremely questionable Judge. Corruption on every corner and every piece of paper, from letters to legal Court documents being forged! The State Bar of Texas doesn't function any better than the Courts or the judicial system. From personal experience, the State Bar exists to cover their "fellow lawyers." No accountability or responsibility for undeniable evidence. Apparently, we took too long for the discovery. Resulting in a 20 year sentence for sending a Birthday card!Mix in the inept Departments and employees of Human Services with CPS and you have a recipe for disaster! A catastrophe, largely due to our government's haste to protect the children, instead, creating a monster, run amuck. False accusations have become a "national epidemic," with the highest sentencing rate. Requiring an unhappy, unstable woman wanting a divorce, food stamps, grants and such, paid for by, "the taxpayers!"My goal is to expose the massive corruption consuming Texas, the huge enterprise of the State Prisons and the miserable failures of a broken system. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Do Not Waste Your Time
The book was very poorly written.I would hate to think that people read this book and believe that this is the way justice works in Texas.That is simply not true.

A serious question: Are we the problem or the solution?
You will be OUTRAGED!Completely outraged!Your mind will spin. Injustices are knowingly allowed to occur in America.What are we to do?YOU may be next!My question is not rhetorical.What ARE we to do?

This book is about a terrible injustice and I keep asking myself, "What is the one thing the author and her family didn't do to prevent this Judicial Terror in Texas?"And, what's tying my brain in a knot is that I cannot think of one thing this family has not done to free their innocent brother and son.

I LOVE this country.But the next time I salute the flag, I'm not sure I will be as moved as I usually am. The next time I hear our National Anthem, I'm not sure my eyes will still well-up with tears.

It has jokingly been said that "our prisons are full of innocent people."This excellent book has shown me the sickening realization that we ARE tormenting many innocent people.

I want answers!WHY is Rick still in prison?For that matter, how did he ever get there in the first place?I want to gather a group of justice-loving patriots and picket the offices of every individual who has contributed to stealing the life from this innocent man!This man is innocent and we are fools if we don't realize this can happen in our own towns and to our own families.And Texans, I feel compelled to advise you to beware!

Your eyes will not blink as you read this book.People are exposed.Names are named... important names that you will recognize.Corruption is exposed... BUT NOBODY CARES!I feel that if "we the people" do not make these individuals accountable for this injustice, and the parts they all played, then we, too, have helped lock Rick up and have thrown away the key, just as our Judicial System has.

I cannot connect the dots as far as all this family has been put through.It's pure insanity.I thought the Bill of Rights was mandatory, not optional.

Once you read this you will be forced to ask yourself the question, "Am I going to be part of the problem or part of the solution?"Calls need to be made.Letters need to be written.Those of us who aren't a part of the solution ARE part of the problem.And after reading this book, you will be astounded by HOW many problems we have!

This is a book about corruption, injustice, evil, agony and FAITH.This is a story that could have never been told without the unwavering faith of this author.

POWERFUL BOOK!
This book is just yet another example of how the judicial system fails to protect those who rely on it to protect their innocence. This book is well worth the read and will open your eyes to an incredibly corrupt system.Show your support for the innocent and purchase this book.

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Chronicles the events in Waco, Texas, leading up to the fire that killed over ninety members of David Koresh's Branch Davidian cult. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Major Acts of Congress, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 786 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.An encyclopedia of congressional acts from the earliest days of the American republic up through recent years. This reference work provides comprehensive information on the legal statutes that affect all citizens. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Major Acts of Congress, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 675 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.An encyclopedia of congressional acts from the earliest days of the American republic up through recent years. This reference work provides comprehensive information on the legal statutes that affect all citizens. ... Read more

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In Confirmation Wars, Benjamin Wittes examines the degradation of the judicial nominations process over the past fifty years. Drawing on years of reporting on judicial nominations, including numerous interviews with nominees and sitting judges, he explains how the process has changed and how these changes threaten the independence of the courts. Getting beyond the partisan blame game that dominates most discussion of nominations, he argues that the process has changed as an institutional response by Congress to modern judicial power and urges basic reforms to better insulate the judiciary from the nastiness of contemporary politics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Confirmed - analysis of confirmation process
Excellent treatment, in the context of an historical narrative, of the controversial subject of the selection of Justiceson the US SupremeCourt.Book lays out the political priorities of key senators and the "mutual hypocrisy" of both Republicans andDemocrats.

An Interesting Book With Good Information, But One Key Flaw
I liked this book.The detailed events, perspective, and clear thinking that it promotes on this topic are, in my view, pretty original.The author uses a great deal of scholarship by Stephen Carter and John Lott.He always notes where he does this though, expresses where he agrees and disagrees, and produces a thought-provoking bound essay which is appropriately and extensively footnoted.Ok, so I like the book and the information... why only 3 stars?We'll, as background, my first experience watching SCOTUS confirmation hearings was in 1987 during my last semester of college.I was taking only 3 or 4 classes and had time on my hands to watch Robert Bork's confirmation hearings.I was apolitical at the time and found the nominee had so clearly out performed his inquisitors that he had to get approved, right?Well, no.Chairman Biden (D-Delaware) had closing remarks that praised the brilliant nominee to such a degree that I thought it possible that Bork had convinced him to buck the pressure and vote to confirm him.Maybe in a perfect world, but not this one.As far as the 3 star rating goes, Biden and his ilk are the reason the central proposal of the book falls flat on its face; that is, the proposal to ban personal testimony of SCOTUS nominees as had been done more often than not in the past.In subsequent hearings for other nominees I've seen Biden and others so clearly in love with the sound of their own voice on television that he/they take up the majority of allotted time ASKING simple questions and apparently caring little what the nominee says.Too darn bad. TV sunk Nixon vs. JFK (not all bad) and in subsequent years has made the otherwise entirely reasonable thesis of this essay laughable in terms of practicality. Other than that, it was a great book with a lot of information and insight that I appreciated.

Finally a balanced discussion of the Judicial Confirmation Process
Published Sunday, January 28, 2007, in New York Post

DEMOCRATS now paint Republicans as evil for appointing reactionary judges and for trying to kill all Democratic nominees to the bench; Republicans pillory Democrats for acting similarly at the opposite extreme. In "Confirmation Wars," Benjamin Wittes shows that both sides have blood on their hands, though I don't think that his proposed cure will work.

Wittes offers a terrific history of Supreme Court nominations - showing convincingly that confirmations could be tough long before the modern battles over William Rehnquist and Robert Bork. For example, he cites Louis Brandeis and Thurgood Marshall, who both faced rough confirmations - as did several nominees after the court delivered its Brown v. Board of Education ruling. But in denying that something fundamental has changed since those battles, Wittes is simply wrong.

The confirmation process is getting more bitter and drawn out with every passing Congress, whether Republicans or Democrats control the White House or the Senate. Yes, Wittes rightly notes that confirmations were taking longer even before senators started threatening filibusters, indeed hearings have long been used to produce political attacks, rather than insights into a nominee's thinking.

But the trends are clear. Consider the 47 appointments to the Supreme Court from 1901 through 1977: 39 were confirmed in a month or less, and 20 within 10 days - nine of those within three days.Since 1986, however, bitterness has reached an historical high, with the average confirmation taking 79 days. . . .

I wish Wittes was right that this bitterness could be reined in by ending confirmation hearings. But I fear such hearings are more a symptom than a cause of the problem. Unless the role of the courts is reined in - something that liberals will not seriously discuss - neither side dares to disarm.

An Interesting Look at a Complicated Issue
Everybody acknowledges that the confirmation process for Supreme Court Justices (and increasingly Court of Appeals judges as well) has evolved into a large mess.Many books have been written on this topic in the last several years; this one is quite interesting and designed for the general reader, and even comes equipped with a fascinating proposed solution.The author is an editorial writer for the "Washington Post" here in town.And although the book is published in conjunction with the conservative Hoover Institution at Stanford, it is fairly well balanced in casting brickbacks at both parties for their miserable conduct in connection with confirmation hearings.The author first sums up the various positions asserted in the debate about the current mess--i.e., who/what is responsible and why.Next he traces -- in probably the book's best chapter -- how the confirmation process has unfortunately evolved over time. How the present system might result in a threat to judicial independence is addressed in a separate chapter.The most fascinating element of the book is the author's proposal: let's just abolish confirmation hearings and work out some other alternative to assessing the qualifications and values of nominees. While this not likely to happen, and an argument can be made that the Senate is abdicating its responsibilities if it does not hold hearing to probe nominees, it is nonetheless a proposal deserving of serious consideration.The author's style is easy to read and the book moves along (it is only about 150 pages), supported by some good notes, but alas lacking a bibliography.It will be interesting to see if the book will spark a serious discussion about adopting his proposed solution. ... Read more

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Specifically written to engage high school students, Students Guide to the Presidency presents a comprehensive overview of the history and ongoing evolution of the American executive branch. This single-volume resource does not require any prior knowledge of the presidency and covers topics that meet national high school curriculum standards.  The third installment of the Students Guide to the U.S Government series is also appropriate for introductory American government college classes. Teachers and students alike will want to use this resource in preparation for exams and research papers. ... Read more

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Quick-fix plans to "restore democracy" are a dime a dozen. Happily, Reforming the Electoral Process in America: Toward More Democracy in the 21st Century offers a more nuanced approach, emphasizing the value of civic engagement in a democratic society.

Author Brian L. Fife situates our current plight in the context of the growth of democracy, from the Founding Fathers through the Jackson era, the enfranchisement of blacks after the Civil War, women's suffrage, and the Voting Rights Act of the 1960s. He reflects on the work of the Framers as it pertains to voting and elections, compares voting laws and voter turnout in the various states, and offers an analysis of the impact of money in American elections. Ultimately, Fife proposes a blueprint for reform that includes national same-day voter registration, elimination of punch card and mechanical voting machines, reconsideration of felons' voting rights, regional primaries, and the abolition of the Electoral College.