(Washington) The grass-roots watchdog group, Pervs For Politicians(PFP) has released its nominations for the Political Pervert Of The New Millennium Award.  An executive panel was convened at the PFP national convention to evaluate the nominees. The  criteria for selection included overall depravity of the act, whether the act broke any laws,  whether public funds were used to support the pervert lifestyle and how long they were able to conceal their perversions from family and public.  Among those casting votes were honorary PFP board members including former President Bill Clinton, former Speaker Of The House Newt Gingrich, former presidential candidate Gary Hart and Monica Lewinsky.  Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain declined an honorary board membership based on the nebulous timeline in his divorce and subsequent marriage to Cindy McCain.  When asked for comment McCain stated, “cut me a break, I’m 71 and my trophy wife is smokin.”

Here are the nominees:

1.  Elliot Spitzer – Former New York Governor Spitzer earned his nomination by cheating on his wife with now infamous Hooters girl gone wild party hooker Ashely Dupree.   Spitzer was recently seen entering the Mayflower hotel for a rumored meeting with Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis.  They are rumored to be in negotiations for the new Francis reality series entitled:  “Pervert Politicians Do The Beltway! Get On The Bus!”

2.   John Edwards:  Former presidential candidate John Edwards was a late entry for the PFP award.  Edwards recently admitted to having an affair  with his former campaign videographer Reille Hunter.  One panel member who spoke on the condition of anonymity stated that Edwards nomination was a close call.  The panel was divided on whether having an affair while his wife battled terminal cancer qualified him as a political pervert or for the Political Scumbag of The Year Award to be handed out later this year.   It is rumored that as the story broke Edwards was lobbying the Bush administration to have Hunter declared an enemy combatant and sent to live in a private villa at Guantanamo Bay.

3.  Kwame Kilpatrick (Democrat): In 2002 Kwame, the current mayor of Detroit, was accused of throwing a “stripper party” at the Manoogian Mansion.  In January 2008 The Detroit Free Press broke the existence of more than 14,000 text messages exchanged between Kilpatrick and his chief of staff Christine Beatty. Many of the messages were sexually graphic in nature and referred to the extra-martial relationship between the two as well as efforts to cover-up his alleged misconduct while in office.  Mayor Kilpatrick also has the honor of being the only serving mayor currently under felony indictment for official misconduct.  He was unavailable for comment on his nomination as he is currently incarcerated for violating the terms of his bail stemming from the pending felony charges.

4.   Larry Craig(Republican):   Idaho Senator Larry Craig is considered to be a front runner for the PFP award. Senator Craig was arrested for lewd conduct in the men’s bathroom at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Craig gave a whole new meaning to the “footsies mating call” in allegedly soliciting some good old bathroom peep hole “yanks” from an undercover police officer. Unfortunately for the Senator the only thing yanked that day was the cloak over his perv lifestyle.  It is rumored that Senator Craig will be introducing legislation to have all toilet stalls in Idaho public restrooms moved closer together.  When asked to comment on the new legislation, Craig stated that contact in public restrooms should be encouraged as a learning experience bringing people closer.

5.   Mark Foley(Republican):  Foley resigned from Congress after allegations that he had sent suggestive emails and sexually explicit instant messages to teenage boys serving as Congressional pages. He had allegedly also sent them to former pages.  Foley allegedly e-mailed one page offering a stay at his home in exchange for oral sex.  Foley allegedly e-mailed another page requesting a photo of his “erect penis”.  Foley was unavailable for comment on his PFP nomination.  It is rumored he is chairing the “Foley’s Young Perky Pages For Congress” Convention in Bangkok, Thailand.  A calendar is rumored to be in the works along with the Foley’s Perky Pages Twitter Network.

6.   James Mcgreevey(Democrat): The former governor of New Jersey resigned from office after admitting that he had an affair with a male aide.  When reached for comment, Mcgreevey condemned the nomination. When it was pointed out that the PFP nomination was not for being gay but for having and affair and shaming his wife and family he stated, “They will get over it”. Mcgreevey, now a seminary student further stated that he was happy over a recent ruling that he would not have to pay his ex-wife alimony.  He and his love partner wold be using the money saved for a two week trip to the Hedonism Resort.

7.David Vitter(Republican):  The senator from Louisiana found himself ensnared in the D.C. Madam scandal when his telephone number showed up in her phone book.  Vitter was previously accused by a member of the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee of carrying on a lengthy affair with a prostitute in New Orleans’s French Quarter.  Vitter has recently been seen in the company of nasty girl gone wild Ashley Dupree.  When asked for comment he stated, “She was good enough for Spitz, shes good enough for the Vittsman”.

8. David Patterson(Democrat):- Not to be out-done by former New York governor Elliot Spitzer, current governor David Paterson admitted to several affairs.  Patterson stated he maintained one relationship for two or three years with “a woman other than my wife.” It is rumored that Patterson will introduce new legislation that anyone running for the Senate or Governor in New York must have at least one extra-marital affair under his/her belt.  The legislation is co-sponsored by New York Senator Hillary Clinton.

A reprsentative of the Pervs For Politicians national selection committe stated that all nominees have been asked to provide photos, sex tapes, hotel receipts and any other evidence that would support being named the Political Pervert Of The New Millenium. Voting will begin online shortly. Stayed tuned for further details.

I read a story that brought back unpleasant memories. The article was entitled “Too Fat Teen Model Spotlights Fashions Dark Side” You can read the article here.

The article addresses the pressures to be thin. It also speaks to the anorexia and bulimia “epidemic” in the fashion industry.  The most famous tragedy being Anna Caroline Reston who died at the age of 21 from multiple organ failure secondary to anorexia nervosa.  Anna weighed 88 lbs at the time of her death. You can read her story here.

The article was disturbing not only for the mindless tragedy of it all but because I could identify with it.  I can not identity with the pressures in the fashion industry, or being a ‘too fat teen model’ or just a teen model.  I am about as far in looks and in age as you can get from that.  I can however identify with all the adolescent pressures and fears.  Pressures and fears that lead to being obsessed with your body to the point of self destruction.

How can I identify with this?   Many years ago for three years in college, I struggled with the eating disorder of bulimia. I was not a model. I was just your average kid trying to fit in.  I was a long distance runner as well.  I would run 10 miles daily then down a big bag of peanut M&Ms.  I would then head straight to my next best friend, the toilet, to puke it all up.  This behavior was repeated with pizza, fast food etc.   No matter how much weight I lost or how thin I became,  I always saw the same person in the mirror.  It was some beastly kid who still needed to drop a few lbs.  In the span of one year I went from 230 lbs to 165 lbs at 6’2.  As appealing as that may seem to some, it was a brutal, almost deadly ride that I would not wish on my worst enemy.

I told absolutely no one. I had no one to lean on. I had no support system. I was very lucky that I was able to beat it on my own.  I can not tell you how I beat it.  The whole thing is a blur.  In the 1980′s telling someone I had a eating disorder would have been like admitting that I had just had a sex change and was now a cross-dressing pimp. I frankly had no conception that I had any kind of problem.

The majority of those who suffer from the disease tell no one.  Eating disorders are some of the most under-reported diseases out there.   Many die of the disease because it goes untreated.  It was difficult for me on another level because it was and still is primarily a female eating disorder.  Males who suffer from it are significantly less likely to seek help due to the stigma. It is estimated that about 10 percent of those reporting eating disorders are male and that number has been climbing rapidly.

Nancy Grace is abrasive, confrontational and arrogant.  There is no one better in the tabloid legal arena of taking content worth 15 minutes of coverage and stretching it into a interminable Law and Order style interrogation.  Nancy has been known to rattle even the most seasoned attorney. Nancy can be tiring.   When a case has been beaten to death so badly even vultures have stopped circling we can count on Nancy to find a crime scene stalker, expert witness wannabe or friend of a friend of the maid’s sister’s friend to interview.  Her coverage of the Natalee Holloway disappearance was agonizingly redundant. No horse was spared.  For better or worse this is Nancy’s style.  It has made her the queen of tabloid legal.  She understands that the first rule of tabloid television is to create content when there is little or nothing left to talk about.  This is done by creating, prolonging or exaggerating controversy.  Without the ability to consistently create content in this manner tabloid shows would consist of 20 minutes of Youtube video.   Content must be created daily. It must draw the audience in and then drive them to  the next episode.  Nancy is an expert at this.  Many a witness, person of interest and experienced attorney has walked into her studio with confidence hoping to tell a story.  Many have left with a grimace and a sign that says “You Are The Story Sucker!”  stuck on their back.  Nancy  does not back down.  She has been accused of going too far with her guests. The family of Melinda Duckett think so.  They have sued Nancy and CNN to make the point.

Melinda Duckett was a troubled single mother.  There was  a contentious divorce from Joshua Duckett, the father of her son Trenton.  There was an on-going custody battle.  By all reports she lived a chaotic life. This included alleged involvement in an online amateur porn business including some disturbing images of her allegedly posing nude on her son Trenton’s crib.

On August 27, 2006 Melinda contacted the police and  reported Trenton missing.  She claimed someone had entered her residence and kidnapped him.  An Amber Alert style search for Trenton ensued. The focus of the investigation eventually turned to Melinda. The initial theory being that she had handed the child off to someone she knew.  Melinda was eventually narrowed down to the sole person of interest.  This is nothing new in these types of scenarios.  Statistics overwhelmingly point to a primary care giver or other family member.   A kidnapping by a stranger is a statistical rarity.   Melinda adamantly denied any involvement.  The case became the focus of intense national media scrutiny.  As would be expected the entire tabloid machine quickly revved into jet motion looking for any angle to create content and keep the drama alive until resolution for better or worse.

Melinda was approached by representatives of The Nancy Grace show.  Melinda and Josh Duckett agreed to do the show.  On September 8th Melinda and Josh Duckett appeared on the show.   A review of the show transcript reveals a fairly even keel interview until Nancy begins to  hammer Melinda about her refusal to take a polygraph exam.   Josh Duckett had already taken two and passed.  Nancy’s legal guests chime in.  They all but accuse Melinda of lying about Trenton’s disappearance.  Melinda begins to fluster and stammer.  You can read the transcript here.

Melinda Duckett walked into the interview with Nancy Grace hoping to tell her story.  Melinda left the interview considered the prime suspect by both law enforcement and the tabloid public.  Was Melinda naive, stupid or calculating in what she hoped to achieve?   In a battle of wits the war was lost to Nancy before Melinda ever did the interview.  It was no contest.   We will never know what Melinda’s true motives were.  A day after the taping Melinda Duckett committed suicide.

The Duckett family has brought a wrongful death suit against CNN and Nancy Grace.  They allege that Nancy lured an unsuspecting and emotionally unstable Melinda in the interview under false pretenses. They allege that it was Nancy’s plan all along to ambush Melinda, painting her as the prime suspect in her son’s disappearance.  It was the  emotional distress brought on by her aggressive questioning that caused of Melinda to kill herself.

Did Nancy Grace do anything wrong?   As  rhetorical as the question seems, there is precedent for an extremely “gracious” verdict.   In 1999 The Jenny Jones Show was ordered to pay 25 millions dollars to the family of Scott Amedure.  Jonathan Schmitz killed Scott three days after Amedure revealed his secret crush on Schmitz during a taping of a “same-sex, secret crush” episode of the show.  The Ducketts should not be getting too excited over similar prospects.   The Amedures had the benefit of an extremely friendly jury instruction.  It stated that the negligence of the Jenny Jones show only had to be “a cause” of the circumstances leading up to the killing of Scott Amerdure.   The Amedures  never collected on the verdict.  It was thrown out by an appeals court.  The court stated that Jenny Jones show owed no duty to protect Scott Amdedure.

In 2002 The Jerry Springer Show was sued by the son of a guest who was murdered just hours after the segment was broadcast.  Nancy Campbell-Panitz was murdered by her ex-husband after they appeared on a May 2000 episode in which he revealed that he had secretly remarried.  The lawsuit alleges that the Springer Show created a “mood that led to murder”.

Did Nancy Grace have a duty to protect Melinda Duckett from herself or at least warn her of the show’s agenda?   Did she “create a mood” that led to suicide?   Melinda Duckett had a troubled life long before she met Nancy Grace.  Linda Duckett knew she was a person of interest in the disappearance of her son before she agreed to do the show.  Linda Duckett  voluntarily did the interview. She could have stopped it at any time.  Melinda was outgunned and over-matched.  It is unclear how that translates into a duty to warn her of anything.  Nancy should not be to cocky about victory.  A federal judge recently denied a motion to dismiss the case.  It looks like Nancy is going to get pleasure of being grilled by an attorney who will probably be abrasive, confrontational and arrogant.  They will have a lot in common.

Nancy Grace is guilty. She is guilty of being Nancy Grace.   While that might be a death sentence to some watching her show it has worked for well for her over the years.  Neither her nor CNN owed any duty to warn Melinda Duckett that Nancy would be tough on her.   It is difficult to imagine a realistic scenario in which they would affirmatively create such a duty unless Melinda told them she was going to harm herself if Nancy were too hard on her.  The Ducketts will probably not be getting that same “Jenny Jones jury love”. Trenton Ducket is still missing…..

When you think of cities hosting the lowest levels of sexual and human depravity what comes to your mind? New York City? Los Angeles? Maybe New Orleans is your cup of gumbo. How about Mineola Texas? Mineola is a small East Texas town boasting a very non big city population of 5, 600 residents. The Mineola web site boasts a congenial small town warmth for numerous antique shops, bed and breakfasts etc. It is also “The Birding Capital of East Texas”. The web site goes on to state that Mineola is “Where People Make The Difference”. There is no doubt that people have made the difference in putting tiny Mineola on the national radar of depravity along side above mentioned cities. Over the last year, Mineola has been the focus of one of the most despicable scenarios of depraved sexual theater known to mankind. It is not a question of subjective sexual morality and values. What has allegedly taken place in Mineola would probably shock the most hard core pedophile. Children in Mineola as young as 7 were allegedly working and performing sex acts for paying customers in a local swingers club. The club ironically had previously operated as a day car center.

Here are the facts as reported by The Dallas Morning News:

1. The sex-abuse allegations were first reported to police and Texas Child Protective Services in 2005.

2. The biological mother of three of the children was convicted of aggravated sexual assault and two counts of sexual performance by a child. She was sentenced to life in prison. The foster parents are not defendants. They have been foster parents for 36 years. They have have adopted 27 children, including the three siblings in swing club sex ring sex-ring case.

3. It is alleged that children were threatened with beatings, hanging and starvation if they didn’t perform sex acts and lewd dances as strangers watched. The children were allegedly given Vicodin to relax them. These drugs were called “silly pills”. The children were allegedly taken to the homes of several of the defendants where they were instructed in sex acts and dancing. These lessons were called “kindergarten”. When the children were deemed “ready” they were made to perform for an audience at the sex club.

While not as shocking as the allegations it is surprising that this reality sex show has not garnered more national attention. In NYC this is just another group of perverts who may be your next door neighbors.  You would not know however because you do not speak with your neighbors. In Mineola Texas these ARE your next door neighbors.

The cases against the defendants are proceeding under a gag order. There is undoubtedly a script in the works for a Lifetime or USA network movie of the week. Dallas, Austin and Los Angeles producers and scriptwriters are perched like vultures waiting for the gag order to be lifted so they can swoop down on the the involved parties for the option rights to their story. This would certainly be more juicy than the Texas Cheerleader Scandal.

The Mineola Web sites also mentions the “Peforming Arts”. I do not think anyone had this in mind. Welcome to Mineola!