Madoff Sentencing
I think some of the vitriol aimed at Madoff, even by those who weren't his victims, is based on the acknowledgement that he is not sorry for what he has done. Not in the slightest. A sociopath, devoid of conscience.
While he was confined to his apartment, (a show of leniency that added insult to those he injured), Madoff brazenly mailed expensive jewelry and cash to friends and relatives, right under the noses of his federal keepers. Now skeptics say he's pleading guilty in hopes the feds will leave his family out of the investigation. He holds no cards, yet he's still trying to game the system.
Personally, I find it refreshing. I'm tired of people in the public trust--like politicians, for example--dragging their wives up to the podium with them to blubber about how sorry they are for what they did (read here: for getting caught at what they did). Madoff is a genuinely detestable character, unrepentant, an equal-opportunity perp who is shuffling off to the slammer with his head held high.
There is no room for pity. None asked for, none given. Bernie is offering himself up as the national pinata, someone we can hate without reservation. We needed a clear embodiment of the inchoate violation we all feel, and he has done himself proud.
CHAN LOWE has been the Sun Sentinel’s first and only editorial cartoonist for the past twenty-six years. Before that, he worked as cartoonist and writer for the Oklahoma City Times and the Shawnee (OK) News-Star.
Comments
I am surprised he didn't have the convenient "heart attack" that Kenny Lay had.
So in return for a guilty plea, we get to give him free room and board for the rest of his life. We should make him repay those folks for the next 150 years, not hang out in Club Fed.
Posted by: Burn Bernie. | March 12, 2009 2:26 PM
I don't even know why we should put Madoff in jail. We should put him in charge of Social Security. The man knows how to run a Ponzi scheme. This is Social Security's best hope for surviving. If he could print money like the Federal Reserve his investors would still be wealth.
POP!: Sound of tongue being removed from cheek.
Posted by: Lolly | March 13, 2009 7:57 AM
Madoff had more than the best in life by taking from others. Now he deserves to experience what the worst is for the rest of his life. We need to stop the pussy-footing with his type. There are too many greedy, selfish people. They need to know
just what to expect when it's their turn. Admitting guilt doesn't mean getting a "pass"!The system need to be tough and this is the time to begin!
Posted by: AT | March 14, 2009 4:39 PM
I was overseas this week when Maidoff was put into jail, and that same day we saw a European jail. They call it the Palace of Justice. And there, Maidoff is King.
Posted by: Maria | March 16, 2009 2:45 PM
Wow, I spelled that wrong twice. Jeez. Ignore that....
Posted by: Maria | March 16, 2009 2:48 PM
This is the last cartoon that made me laugh
out loud. It was strong enough to make this lazy american actually google your name and bookmark this blog too.
Posted by: David | April 3, 2009 11:20 PM