I found this document relating to AEG and how they were a part of the death...It long but has some very good points....
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Login''Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.''
Deception is a false reality imposed on a true reality. It is a fragile and complex weaving of truth, half truths, lies and lies of omission. To successfully deceive another or several people, one must be skilled in the art of deception. To create a deception worthy of belief one must be able to create plausible details that help create the illusion of truth. It is the details that people listen to and remember and the one deceiving is obligated to remember these detail in order to avoid having the lie exposed. The problem with remembering the lies we tell is that all people are basically good and we tend to forget the bad things we've done. In order to successfully perpetuate deception, the liar must be willing to live that lie when necessary. This becomes the tangled web we weave, especially when first we practice to deceive.
Investigative reporter Greg Palast revealed how Republican gubernatorial candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger was part of a larger scheme to help Enron and other power companies avoid paying back $9 billion in illicit profits by replacing Gov. Gray Davis (Democrat) during the bogus recall (s)election. (Don’t miss “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room.) Well, in hindsight, we all know where Arnie boy got us, don’t we? At least those in California do. Not to mention how Jr. Shrub brought America to her knees. (1)
And regardless of your feelings about Michael Jackson, it’s beginning to appear that his murder is the same song, different verse; same players, different game.
Conrad Murray is only tip of the iceberg in Michael Jackson’s murder. What is at the base of this iceberg, or rather, “who” is lurking at the murky depths? This is a case similar to that of Charles Manson who was found guilty of conspiracy to commit the Tate/LaBianca murders, carried out by members of the group at his instruction. He was convicted of the murders themselves through the joint-responsibility rule, which makes each member of a conspiracy guilty of crimes his fellow conspirators commit in furtherance of the conspiracy's object. And Manson is still in prison.
Except in Michael’s case, the public is only allowed to see the Squeaky Fromms i.e., Conrad Murray and not the Mansons. Who could be potential “Mansons” in Michael Jackson’s case?
Thomas Barrack
Philip Anschutz
Randy Phillips
Tohme R. Tohme
Then there’s the man charged with getting justice for Michael Jackson, District Attorney Steve Cooley (Republican), the wannabe Attorney General for California….running on the neo-con Republican ticket. Wonder if Barrack and Anschutz have donated to his campaign yet? Or are they waiting for the “verdict” to come in regarding Conrad Murray?
California definitely does not need another neo-con in the mix. As a Ron Paul Republican and member of Campaign for Liberty, I vote for the man best qualified for the job, if that man is a Democrat and running for Governor, he’ll get my vote; if the man is not qualified but a Republican, he won’t get my vote. I do not vote on party lines; I vote on the qualifications and integrity of the individual. Furthermore, I am disgusted by the current attempts of the neo-cons to co-opt Ron Paul’s Tea Party movement and, as a result, disparage real conservative Republicans. These types need to have a light shined on them and then get rooted out. Similar to flushing out cockroaches. And I have to ask myself if these neo-con scum are using ill-gotten gains from Michael Jackson’s death to fund their agenda?
Michael Jackson did not involve himself with politics; but he did speak out against the atrocities he saw occurring in the world. Unfortunately, Michael did not get the memo which states:
Just because you don’t have an interest in politics; doesn’t mean politics doesn’t have an interest in you.
Here’s some info on each of the above named individuals:
Thomas J. “Tom” Barrack, Jr.:
His first job was at the firm of Herb Kalmbach, President Nixon's personal attorney.
In 1990 Barrack formed Colony Capital. Originally established to cash in on the savings and loans crisis. (Bush Sr.) Colony Capital owns a majority stake in Neverland Ranch, the former residence of Michael Jackson. (2)
Five years ago, Barrack became interested in Costa Smeralda. Barrack was a deputy undersecretary in the Department of the Interior under President Ronald Reagan; a friend of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and a supporter of President George W. Bush. Born in Los Angeles as the son of a Lebanese grocer, he first visited the Costa Smeralda some two decades ago intending to stay two days.
According to Barrack, “I think that Berlusconi has made clear his commitment to … Sardinia, where he has a home. The man is a visionary. He is a lucid businessman as well as a brilliant politician.” (3)
That’s right. The same Berlusconi who helped Jr. Shrub kick off his illegal invasion of Iraq and murder millions of innocent civilians as well as expose one of America‘s own CIA personnel as retaliation against her husband stating the Niger Yellowcake tale was false.
[H]ow the Bush White House obtained false Italian intelligence reports when Berlusconi was PM of Italy... Sismi's involvement in promoting the Niger yellowcake tale to U.S. ... what motivated the Berlusconi government and its intelligence chief ... who acquired the documents from a Sismi mole at the Niger embassy …(4)
Philip Frederick Anschutz:
Often identified as "Christian billionaire Phil Anschutz", he is a Republican donor who supported George W. Bush's administration. He has been an active patron of a number of religious and conservative causes. In 1970 he bought the 250,000-acre Baughman Farms, one of the country's largest farming corporations, in Liberal, Kansas for $10 million.
Warning! These are actual photographs and videos documenting the abuse found in "food animal" factories, stockyards, and slaughterhouses. Many people will find them unsettling. (5)
With his acquisition of land in other Western states, he is thought to own more farm and cattle land than any other single private citizen in the United States. In May 2001, the Bush administration upheld Anschutz's right to drill an exploratory oil well at Weatherman Draw, in south-central Montana where Native American tribes wanted to preserve sacred rock drawings. Environmental groups, preservationists, and 10 Indian tribes had appealed the decision without success.
In May 2003 New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer reached a settlement with Phil Anschutz after Anschutz was found guilty of accepting IPO shares from Salomon Smith Barney in exchange for his firm, Qwest's, investment banking business. He was given $4.4 million penalty. Tit for tat? Because just five years later….
The Eliot Spitzer prostitution scandal began on March 10, 2008, when The New York Times reported that Democratic New York Governor Eliot Spitzer had patronized a prostitution service called Emperors Club VIP. This ultimately led him to announce his resignation as governor on March 12, effective March 17.
Anschutz’s AEG also owns the Manchester Evening News Arena, the London Arena, the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, The Staples Center, The Home Depot Center, and the multi-purpose arena known as "The O2," formerly the Millennium Dome. Anschutz's investment in the Millennium Dome in London, (through his company Anschutz Entertainment Group now The O2) has resulted in his involvement in controversy related to the possible influence of former British Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott in the award of the "super casino" license by the British government. Anschutz knows Prescott personally, having had him as a guest for a two-night stay at Anschutz's ranch in 2005 and footing the bill for hospitality and gifts.
In January 2007, the "Super Casino" license was awarded to a group in Manchester, rather than to Blackpool or London. Anschutz spent £50m on the MEN arena and the winner of the casino license is a close ally of Anshutz, Sol Kerzner. (6)
Even “citizen” journalism seems unable to avoid the long reach of these types.
As readers and writers at NowPublic know, gazillionaire Philip Anschutz owns NowPublic citizen journalism site. That's news!
But who is he? There are oodles of threads that link this oil and gas tycoon to deep policy and financial involvement with Christian conservatives, the Republican party, Geroge W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and denial through big oil lobbying against the Kyoto Protocol and climate change.
I have found one NowPublic photographer objecting to the use of photos published on NowPublic as showing up on another Philip Anschutz news portal, without consent, and plenty of consternation.
It is true that NowPublic has a rather neo-conservative core. Many liberal activists have been summarily banned from posting to NowPublic, without appeal, especially during the Israeli massacre in Gaza last year. Still, there is always a glimmer of hope that citizen journalism can leverage its new believability. Philip Anschutz has denied reporters access, granting only 2 interviews in 30 years, and remains tight-lipped concerning his latest postmortem rush to get a film out and make a buck on Michael Jackson at the time of his premature passing, or lose his investment in the AEG (Anschutz Entertainment Group) tour, having to redeem $85 million in fans' concert tickets.
Is Philip Anschutz a paragon for leading the future of citizen journalism and one of its brightest constellations of citizen journalists at NowPublic? Or could this be a moniker that citizen journalism is dead or dying, and consumers consuming consumers is now big business - $25 million reaped by NowPublic. How much is that for each of us to date per posted word? Perhaps the database admin at NowPublic can do that calculation and post it here as a comment?
Here, Philip Anschutz campaign contribution history. Solid George Bush believer both times around. Anschutz puts his money where his mouth is concerning everything W. and Republican to the hilt, the largest checks by far were for George W. Bush, a second term.
Philip Anschutz and fellow board members of the American Petroleum Industry in Washington are credited by Bush's energy secretary for the Oval Office decision to kill the Kyoto Protocol in 2001. The Competitive Enterprise Institute is granted major funding from the American Petroleum Institute board, with film producing Philip Anschutz as a full board member, to pursue a campaign of confusing and twisted science to spread denial of the real causes for our current climate dilemma.
Philip Anschutz' latest entertainment coup was to recoup his investment lost in the Michael Jackson tour 2009, where the event was to take place under AEG at its London venue. AEG is Anschutz Entertainment Group. A blogger writes:
"Now, AEG Live is partnering with Jackson's estate to release a movie culled from more than 100 hours of footage of Jackson preparing for the concerts. This Is It, which hits theaters October 30, was shot (per a Sony release) ‘in high definition with state-of-the-art digital sound’ at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the site of Jackson's July memorial service…AEG, not so incidentally, owns the Staples Center. Two AEG Live executives, Randy Phillips and Paul Gongaware, are listed as producers on the film as well." Is this it?
As owner of NowPublic, Philip Anschutz and his examiner.com reveals the same-old-sh*t media diet on their screens that America has grown used to like foxes do rabbit on their menus. That's your boss, and perhaps, the pay-off for all citizen journalists who have shared an ideal that could well be but a pipe dream. Is NowPublic cashing in on the 'believability' that citizen journalists were trying to bring back into public media? And what do the citizen journalists at NowPublic use to pay health care and education, heat and transportation, if not a fair per-word payment from the purchase price (and buy back NowPublic.com)!
Philip Anschutz, called by The New York Times 'a conservative billionaire' bought Dick Cheney's favorite magazine, The Weekly Standard, in June 2009: The New York Times writes:
“On foreign policy, The Weekly Standard had a lot of influence with the Bush administration,” said David Frum, the conservative writer and former speechwriter for Mr. Bush. “It was among the most consistent defenders of the broad outlines of Bush policy. Staff members say Mr. Anschutz, who has visited the magazine’s Washington offices once since buying it, did not meet with the staff as a whole. He instructed the two top editors - William Kristol, who last year was also a columnist for The New York Times, and Fred Barnes - not to alter the publication’s ideological complexion.” Source: nytimes.com
It seems as though this sale is a sign that the 'divide and conquer' military maxim that propelled mass media, keeping readers isolated in front of their news screens and sheets, has given way to a 'unite and conquer' maxim that does the same thing. And in so doing, redefines citizen journalism as just one more channel for certain news in certain forms to get the same old message out. That is NotPublic. Don't we want it Now, Public?
Then there’s the interesting article in the Los Angeles Times called, “AEG's chief is a force in L.A.” On the first page of the article (it’s about Tim Leiweke of AEG), it says,
“To critics, however, Leiweke is a classic example of an influence peddler who curries favor with lawmakers through huge financial donations and gets, in turn, handouts in the form of tax breaks and a rubber stamp on his vision. The company received approximately $246 million in tax breaks on the L.A. Live project alone - plus a grant of $5 million from redevelopment funds.”
Later in the article it shows Leiweke hobnobbing with the mayor of L.A. and our own Arnie the Governator. While according to Dennis Hathaway, of the Coalition to Ban Billboard Blight, which has tangled repeatedly with AEG, “[T]here's a perception that AEG has kind of become the tail that is wagging the dog of the city (Los Angeles)." (7)
So you do have to wonder if Michael will get a fair trial in L.A. It almost has a Daniel and Goliath feel to it…There’s an old saying “follow the money”….with this saying usually being applied when there are questionable circumstances. It’s also one of the oldest motives in the book….and Michael’s death is shaping up to fit this scenario with the players themselves being extremely sketchy.
Now let’s look at “Doctor” Conrad Murray…as a glorified home health care worker in relation to AEG; hired by AEG; and supposed to be paid by AEG (who reneged) with Michael as the client. With this in mind as we follow the money, what do we get?
If Michael fell into a coma as a result of induced water intoxication, remember on the very first page of the coroner’s report, it states that Michael was complaining of dehydration, think of the financial LOSSES to AEG. They would be subject to lawsuits by Michael’s family; they would be out their initial investment in the show; they would be out the advances paid to Michael; there would be no revenue (income) because there would be no show without Michael; there would be long-term life support for Michael being in a coma, etc.
BIG money drain for AEG. So much so, that if someone saw him in a coma and realized the potential loss of money (and remember, this is basically what these greedy multi-nationals are all about….the bottom line), they could have said something like, “He might as well be dead.”
At which point, the light bulb might have gone on in these creatures’ little pin heads.
If he “might as well be dead” why not make it so? Flood his system with propofol and kill him? Any qualms Murray might have would be assuaged by him being told that this could be portrayed as an “accident” and the D.A. with his “Involuntary Manslaughter” charge as well as the media have been guilty accomplices in this respect with all their salacious speculation about Michael’s alleged “drug abuse” and “demands for propofol” etc., ad nauseum. Not to mention the fact that these same creatures own the media and, quite possibly, the District Attorney. But what about the money? Where does it come in?
Well, in Michael’s contract, under Section 13.1, it states:
“In addition, Artistco (Michael) shall acquire cancellation insurance…to cover the risk of loss of Artistco’s (Michael’s) profits and Production Costs in an amount that, at a minimum, will equal or exceed any unrecouped portion of the Advances, and Artistco (Michael) shall name Promoter (AEG) as a loss payee thereon. As a loss payee, Promoter (AEG) shall be entitled to receive insurance proceeds directly as a means of recouping any unrecouped portion of the Advances…”
That’s one. Then, of course, there’s the “Dead Peasant Insurance” I’ve mentioned or COLI. That’s two. Section 4.2.3(b)(v) states, “…in the event the escrow on the…“ rest has been redacted. (blacked out)
What is Escrow? a writing, deed, money, stock or other property delivered by the grantor, promisor, or obligor into the hands of a third person, to be held by the latter until the happening of a contingency or performance of a certain condition, and then by him delivered to the grantee…a system of document transfer in which a deed, bond or funds is delivered to a third person to hold until all conditions in a contract are fulfilled e.g., delivery of deed to escrow agent under installment land sale contract until full payment for land is made.
Neverland? ATV Catalog?
That’s a possible three.
Section 4.2.5 Right to Recoup Artist Advances.
Above section 4.2.5 has been totally redacted. Cannot see under what conditions Advances can be recouped (taken back) from the Artist (Michael).
That’s four.
Both indemnification clauses have been redacted (blacked out). But what does indemnification mean?
According to Black’s Law Dictionary indemnification says to look at indemnify and indemnity; first indemnify:
“To restore the victim of a loss, in whole or in part, by payment, repair, or replacement. To save harmless; to secure against loss or damage; to give security for the reimbursement of a person in case of an anticipated loss falling upon him. To make good; to compensate; to make reimbursement to one of a loss already incurred by him.”
Hate to break it to you, but the “victim” in the above would be AEG and their initial investment. Now indemnity:
“A collateral contract or assurance, by which one person engages to secure another against an anticipated loss or to prevent him from being damnified by the legal consequences of an act or forbearance on the part of one of the parties or of some third person. Term pertains to liability for loss shifted from one person held legally responsible to another person. The term is also used to denote a compensation given to make the person whole from a loss already sustained.”
And again the “person” made whole in the above would be the corporation called AEG since corporations are deemed a “person” at law.
Possibly five.
Then there’s Section 16.3 Security. To secure the faithful performance of Artistco (Michael) of Artistco’s and Artist’s (Michael’s) obligations under this Agreement (including to repay Advances), Artistco (Michael) hereby grants Promoter (AEG) a lien in all of Artistco’s (Michael’s) right, title and interest in, to, and under the following properties, assets and rights, wherever located, (Neverland? ATV Catalog?) whether now owned or hereafter acquired or arising, and all proceeds and products thereof (all of the same being hereinafter referred to collectively as, the “Collateral”): - redacted - Artistco (Michael) shall reasonably cooperate with Promoter (AEG) in its efforts to perfect such security interest.
Six.
Not to mention all the portions of the contract that have been blacked out.
Looks like AEG had a pretty good windfall if Michael died.
Michael dies = Windfall or PROFITS for AEG
Michael in coma from water intoxication = Liabilities or LOSSES for AEG
Therefore the observation is made that if the DA is worth his salt, and not a paid lackey of AEG, “the tail that wags the dog called L.A. through ***generous political donations***” perhaps Michael will receive justice. (
The following is just one example of how the media has skewed the facts regarding Michael Jackson’s death. Note how the story is skewed to make the family look ‘wrong’ for asking questions, how the reporter is going to set the record “straight” (read: media spin) and how the “reporter” appears to depend “solely” on quotes from AEG, who, technically, should be a suspect in Michael‘s death all the while painting Michael as a drug addict demanding drugs since, at the time of this “report” the coroner’s toxicology report had not been released to the public.
Oh, and before I forget….Who owns CNN? TIME-WARNER TBS - AOL (donated 1.6 million to GW's 2000 campaign)
JOHN KING, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight, breaking news, shocking allegations by Michael Jackson's father telling Larry just moments ago his son was the victim of "foul play" and naming the people he blames for it. We are looking closer at those allegations and taking it several steps beyond. Randy Kaye, who's been breaking Jackson stories almost daily, is working hard on these latest developments - Randi.
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's quite an interview Larry King just had there, John, as you saw. Joe Jackson and family friend Leonard Rowe made a lot of allegations tonight. Again, calling Michael Jackson's death "foul play," saying he was controlled by the promoter of his upcoming concert; that promoter would be AEG. They said Michael was not in control of his finances and was not allowed to make his own decisions and that he was being made to do more concerts than he had agreed to. (Joe Jackson’s allegations are correct; all “decisions” were made by Tohme Tohme.) Well, we are digging here to set the record straight. (Read: media working overtime on spin.) AEG told us just a couple of weeks ago that Michael Jackson had agreed to do 31 shows, not the 10 shows you heard from those two gentlemen tonight, and then agreed to do 50 because he, quote, "needed the money." That was from Randy Phillips. (NOTE: If you look at Michael’s contract, you can see that CNN and Randy Phillips are liars.) When I interviewed Leonard Rowe, who you saw there tonight on "Larry King," just two weeks ago he told me that Jackson had asked him to call AEG and work out an easier concert schedule, spread out the shows a little bit more. He said he did, called Randy Phillips, the CEO of AEG. But Phillips told us he never spoke to Leonard Rowe. Leonard Rowe said they actually spoke. We have been in touch with AEG tonight, and later in the show we will share their response to the accusations by Leonard Rowe and Joe Jackson. We'll also update you on the latest turns in whether or not this is heading toward becoming a criminal investigation and tell you why Tito Jackson, MJ's older brother, Michael Jackson's older brother, thinks his doctor may be to blame - John.
KING: It's the tragedy followed by a mess.
KAYE: Yes. A lot to make sense of here but we really do want to set the record straight, and we'll do that later on. (They don’t “set the record straight” what they do is set their agenda.)
KING: In an explosive interview, Michael Jackson's father told Larry King tonight he believes foul play led to his son's death. Joe Jackson also said Michael Jackson was being controlled by the promoters of his London concerts. Hear Joe Jackson "In His Own Words" in just a moment. But first: the latest in the investigation. Randi Kaye joins us now. Randi, the autopsy, toxicology results not made public yet. But there is already plenty talking about possible criminal charges. What's going on?
KAYE: Absolutely. This has been going on for weeks, really, whether or not somebody would be charged in this case, possibly with criminal charges. (What was really going on was deciding who would be the scapegoat.) The "L.A. Times" quoting a senior law enforcement official is reporting that Michael Jackson's death will likely not result in murder charges against any of his former doctors. We've confirmed independently, investigators are working their way down a list of Jackson's doctors, trying to figure out who prescribed what, when, and whether or not any of these drugs were prescribed under false names. They also want to know if any of these drugs may have contributed to his death. I spoke to the D.A.'s office again today asking about possible murder charges or criminal charges, and was told, quote, "It is all speculation." I was told the case has not been presented to the district attorney to consider charges, and that there is no telling when that might happen. All of this, of course, comes in the wake of La Toya Jackson, Michael Jackson's sister, telling a London newspaper her brother was, quote, "murdered," and the singer's father, Joe Jackson, again we heard tonight on "LARRY KING" suggesting there was foul play here. The problem with charges in a case like this is that it seems Jackson was getting so many different drugs from so many different doctors, so it actually may be hard to prosecute since one doctor may not have known Jackson was doctor shopping, which sources have told us he was. (Notice how the media smears Michael insinuating he is a drug addict; yet when the actual coroner’s report came out, Michael’s body was virtually clean as a whistle and he was in very good health for a man his age.) The doctors may not have known what else he was taking. But the bottom line here, Deputy Coroner Ed Winter, who is also the chief investigator in the case, has said they are not investigating doctors. They are investigating a death - very important clarification there - John.
KING: So then, let's add Tito Jackson to the conversation. What about the comments he made to a London tabloid about Jackson's doctor?
KAYE: We are talking about his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, who has said he tried to give the singer CPR (on a bed which is NEVER done) after he stopped breathing. He was at the house that day. We've confirmed Dr. Murray has been interviewed twice by investigators. His car was seized and then returned. But his lawyer says he is not considered a suspect, only a witness. Meanwhile, "The Sun" newspaper in London says it interviewed Tito Jackson, Michael Jackson's older brother. And in speaking about Dr. Murray, the paper says Tito said, "My opinion is that he panicked when my brother didn't wake up. I think the doctor probably figured there could be trouble. He tried to revive Michael. I believe if he had immediately called for help we might still have my brother here today. He would definitely still be alive." Strong statement. So, we called Dr. Murray's office to get a comment about this, and we're told they do not want to speak out against the Jackson family right now considering their loss. A spokeswoman for Dr. Murray's lawyer told us, quote, "We are going to continue to cooperate with investigators and do whatever we can to help investigator's come up with a solution as to what killed Michael Jackson." And finally, I wanted to get back to that back and forth between Jackson's father, Joe Jackson and his friend Leonard Rowe, which you saw on "LARRY KING" tonight. They told Larry King tonight that the promoter for what would have been Jackson's final tour forced him into a grueling schedule and would not back down. As I said earlier, we were digging to get to the bottom of this. AEG told me two weeks ago that Jackson had agreed to 31 shows, and then agreed to do the 50 shows because he, quote, "needed the money." Tonight we got a statement from AEG and it reads in part, "Whether Michael Jackson would be doing one show or 50, the rehearsal preparation and schedule would have been exactly the same. He always had the option to change his schedule or miss a rehearsal, and did indeed decide to miss certain days he had previously committed to. The show's schedule was based on his schedule." That is coming from AEG, the promoter, tonight. Jackson family friend Leonard Rowe told me more than a week ago Michael Jackson did not want to do so many shows, just didn't want to work that hard. So clearly, the two sides still don't see eye to eye on this - John.
KING: Clearly they don't. And well, you can understand the family's grief. One gets the impression those investigating this would rather the family not speak out so much.
KAYE: I think so.
KING: All right, Randi Kaye, thanks so much tonight. That's a lot of reporting. And now more on the explosive allegations from Michael Jackson's father. Joe Jackson told Larry King tonight his son's death was no accident. And he is blaming everyone from Michael Jackson's personal doctor to the company producing those planned London concerts. Here is Joe Jackson "In His Own Words."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LARRY KING, CNN HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": How did you learn of Michael's passing?
JOE JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON'S FATHER: Well, I learned that by some of the fans, you know. They called me and they told me that the ambulance was leaving Michael's house, like it's headed towards the hospital.
L. KING: How are you doing? It is four weeks later. Is it any easier?
JACKSON: Well, you know, I took it very hard but, you know, I'm sort of a tough person myself. But I took it very hard. But I didn't let nobody know about it. Yes.
L. KING: Did you get a chance to say goodbye?
JACKSON: Yes. I said goodbye to him when he was up, well, when he was up there in front of us. I said, "I'm saying goodbye to him now." What others say, that's what they say. What I'm saying is I do feel the loss of my son, Michael Jackson, who was an international star all over the world.
L. KING: But you didn't get to see the body or say anything...
JACKSON: No, I did not.
L. KING: ... or the remains?
JACKSON: No, I did not.
L. KING: Do you wish you could have?
JACKSON: I could have. But I wanted to see Michael - I wanted to remember Michael alive because I didn't want to see him laying up in a casket.
L. KING: Are you surprised, Joe, you were left out of the will?
JACKSON: Well, I wasn't too surprised, because, you know, that's the way he wanted it. And it is not going to hurt me that I was left out of the will. It happened.
L. KING: I know you are denying the stories about violence. As you look at it, were there any mistakes you made?
JACKSON: I didn't make no mistakes, Larry, because Michael was raised properly. He didn't run the streets like most of those other kids that was in his neighborhood.
L. KING: Why did he say you were...
JACKSON: Listen, listen, now. You have to understand me. Don't cut me off here, Larry. Michael claims that he had a dull life. Michael never had that. He had his own brothers and sisters to play with. But most of those kids that was Michael's age during that time, they are not living now.
L. KING: You never physically harmed him?
JACKSON: Never. Never have. I raised him just like you would raise your kids, you know. But harm Michael for what? That is my son. I loved him. And I still love him.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Tohme R. Tohme:
Tohme is Lebanese and does not practice as a medical doctor in the U.S. Tohme is front and center in the aftermath of Jackson's death. He helped negotiate Jackson's contract with AEG for concerts in London. (9)
It’s interesting to note that Tohme, who is Lebanese, put Michael in touch with Thomas Barrack, Jr., the son of a Lebanese grocer, now owner of a real estate firm, Colony Capital, who bought the note on Neverland, and in exchange, Michael was connected with AEG. It’s also interesting that both Thomas Barrack and Philip Anschutz, owner of AEG, were heavy duty neo-con Bush supporters.
It would seem that Michael reluctantly agreed to the terms outlined in his contract. Or did he? Did Michael really sign the contract, or did Tohme, as Michael’s “business” advisor, sign them? Regardless, somewhere along the way, 10 concerts became 50 concerts in less than two weeks. And, according to Tohme, “I would never interfere with his (Michael’s) creative decisions and he wouldn’t interfere with my business decisions.” And since the concerts would have been a business decision, my guess is Tohme is the one who set this up and Michael didn’t find out until after the fact.
Then there’s Tohme’s statement, “I am not in the music business. I’m a stranger to this business.” Yet it was Tohme who said he was working with others to renegotiate the terms of Jackson’s main assets, his share of the Sony-ATV Music Publishing Catalog - which includes music by the Beatles - and the catalog of Mijac, the company that controls Michael Jackson’s own music.
I am bringing up death by induced water intoxication again and, hopefully, by the time you’re done reading this, you’ll understand why.
Just forget propofol for a while….I did the minute the media started focusing “solely” on this drug; yes, it played a part in Michael’s death - especially the empty 100mL container with the spike that was found in the closet - but I have never seen it as the originating cause. According to the autopsy, Michael had
1. Complained of being dehydrated
2. Mild, diffuse swelling of the brain
3. Numerous puncture marks listed under “Recent Therapy”
4. Been prescribed “Flomax” a drug that “…relaxes your veins and arteries so that blood (and any drug) can more easily pass through them.”
5. I haven’t seen anything in the autopsy regarding Michael’s electrolyte levels at time of death.
All of the above could contribute to, or be symptoms of, the result of water intoxication or the efforts of someone improperly re-hydrating the body. Again, if the electrolyte levels at the time of death were released, this could be put to rest. The body is a very sensitive machine and electrolyte, mineral, and other nutrient balances are essential.
Now look at the following cases of death by induced water intoxication:
1. Artist Andy Warhol died from a cardiac arrhythmia. His family sued the hospital, claiming the arrhythmia was a result of water intoxication from being overloaded with fluids after routine gallbladder surgery. (10)
2. On January 12, 2007, Jennifer Strange, a 28-year-old woman and a mother of 3, from Rancho Cordova, California, was found dead in her home by her mother, hours after trying to win one of Nintendo's Wii game consoles. KDND 107.9 "The End" radio station's "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" contest, involved drinking large quantities of water without urinating. Civil charges against the radio station were filed by Jennifer's family and the family was eventually awarded $16.5 million in the ensuing wrongful death lawsuit. The FCC has launched its own investigation to determine if the station violated the terms of its operating license. (11), (12)
3. On September 12, 1999, US Air Force basic trainee Michael J. Schindler died of heat stroke, severely complicated by water intoxication, two days after becoming seriously ill during a 5.8 mile march. The Air Force changed its recruit training procedures as a result.
Interestingly enough, this article is no longer available.
Contrast the above deaths with the following:
1. Death related to a recreational abuse of propofol at therapeutic dose range (13)
2. Now I can’t find the article on the nurse in California whose patient died from an overdose of propofol with the trial resulting in the case being deemed an accident.
And we all know that the media’s slant has been on the “addiction” to and “recreational use” of propofol, somehow always working in Michael’s name into the articles…but then we all know who “owns” the “media” and that, by law, they are not required to report facts or news which is why it is now called “infotainment”
Now think about the focus of who’s responsible for the deaths in the induced water intoxication cases and who’s responsible for the deaths in the propofol overdoses.
See a pattern yet?
In the induced water intoxication cases, the victim was shown to be a victim; whereas, in the propofol cases, the victim is being painted as responsible for their own death or said death being referred to as an accident.
If Michael had initially become comatose or died from induced water intoxication at the hands of Murray, the focus would have been on Murray from the beginning, along with AEG who hired and paid for Murray.
However, with the media trumpeting Michael’s death by propofol, the focus is on Michael’s alleged “drug” abuse. What makes for better headlines? Doctor induces water intoxication or a “weird” drug being abused by a “weird” guy….Wacko Jacko, no less?
Now think about what the media has been reporting.
In other words, a red herring put out through the complicity of the media.
The way Michael’s case stands, sure, the defense will say, Murray killed Michael; but it was an accident and besides, Michael demanded the drug.
This plays for the defense.
Yet, if it can be shown that Michael **originally** was put into a coma from induced water intoxication by Murray and then, seeing what had happened, Murray was given orders to flood Michael’s system with propofol…so much that it was in the vitreous humor of his eyes, this would be to the prosecution’s advantage, as well as support a charge of Murder: 2nd degree. Keep in mind all of the delays in getting help for Michael; not to mention the missing security footage. What was really going on during this time? Was CPR really being performed?
Randy Phillips of AEG:
Randy Phillips, when referring to Michael Jackson, crows, “We finally made Mohammed come to the mountain of the O2." Phillips grins. Jackson refused twice, but several months ago, the idea arose as the superstar was putting together a restructuring plan for his finances. Still, it seems that AEG encountered problems. According to AEG, it claims its premium ticket partner, Viagogo offered seats for re-sale in bulk, allowing touts and other re-sellers to push up prices. A court has now ordered Viagogo to stop selling to anyone not believed to be an individual fan until a further hearing. In spite of all of this, the deal could have been off if Phil Anschutz, the billionaire behind AEG, had not taken to him. "Phil Anschutz had to give me permission to spend all this money.” Randy Phillips said. I’m sure Phil Anschutz had the final word in other areas as well.
Randy Phillips CV
Background - My father was born in Bayswater, so I'm an Anglophile. But I'm from the US
First job in music - I promoted events at Stanford University, where I studied law, before deciding to go into business
Next big tour - I would love to get ABBA back together
Career highlights - Managing Rod Stewart for years, working with Jim Kerr, Bon Jovi, Prince, Britney, Justin, Take That, Lionel Ritchie, Guns'n'Roses
Randy Phillips serves as Chief Executive Officer and President of AEG Live of AEG Ehrlich Ventures, LLC. In this position, Mr. Phillips oversees the nation's second-largest concert promoter, responsible for Bon Jovi's Have a Nice Day tour, the industry's No. 7 tour; Celine Dion's "A New Day" show at the Caesars Palace Colossuem in Las Vegas, the top permanent concert; and the touring King Tut exhibit. Mr. Phillips is an artist manager who's guided the careers of Lionel Ritchie, Rod Stewart and Tony Braxton - has led efforts to complement AEG's core business with deals like the joint venture with AOL and XM to create and distribute live shows through the Internet, satellite and wireless. Mr. Phillips serves as Member of Management Board and Advisory Board of FameCast, Inc.
CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
3000 East Cesar Chavez
Austin, Texas 78702
United States
Phone: 512-583-5640
Other: AEG Ehrlich Ventures, LLC (14)
FameCast, Inc. (15)
On the hook for what has been called "one of the biggest ticket refunds in history" is an entertainment company owned by San Francisco Examiner proprietor Philip Anschutz.
The company, AEG Live, was the promoter of Michael Jackson's London concerts, which reportedly had sold approximately 1 million tickets, at a face value of $85 million. AEG Live is part of the Anschutz Entertainment Group, one of the world's largest sports and entertainment enterprises, which in turn is a subsidiary of the Anschutz Co., a private holding company owned by the Denver billionaire.
Anschutz recently added the Weekly Standard, the conservative political magazine previously owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., to his list of media properties, for an undisclosed price. Apart from the ticket refunds, Anschutz's entertainment company also owes Jackson's physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, $300,000, according to Murray's attorney, Edward Chernoff. AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips said Murray was to be paid $150,000 per month, but that AEG, as reported by the Associated Press, "was merely advancing the money to Jackson."
I guess this is one way to get out of paying Murderous Murray; especially since, according to Michael’s contract, Section 13.1.
Looks like AEG made out regardless of what happened.
It is not clear what AEG Live, or anyone else in Anschutz's far-flung empire, might have known about some of Murray's reported problems, including $400,000 in court judgments in Nevada, a declared bankruptcy in California, and the lack of board certification in cardiology, Murray's medical specialty. (16)
Let me repeat that last in case you didn’t catch it. Conrad Murray, a cardiologist, was NOT board certified in cardiology, and that isn’t all.
Conrad Murray:
It’s interesting to note that, regarding Dr. Murray’s credentials, there don’t appear to be any. It appears that Murray is not board certified in cardiology or a member of the American College of Cardiology. On top of which, Murray was operating well outside of his training. This alone would give prosecutors their first plank in building a motive…that is, if they truly are seeking justice for Michael Jackson and not just doing a whitewash job for AEG. It would appear that Murray didn’t care about Jackson as a patient; he only wanted that $1.5 million pay check.
Murray is licensed to practice medicine in Nevada, where he apparently met Jackson, as well as in Texas and in California, where the singer died in Murray’s care. Murray has denied all wrongdoing in Jackson’s death. He was trained in cardiology, although he was not board-certified in cardiology. And by the time he was treating Jackson, he had let his board certification in internal medicine lapse. Did Jackson need a heart doctor? No. Jackson, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner, had no history of heart problems.
He (Michael) needed a pain specialist, someone with specific training in treating patients with a variety of options. Typically that means a board-certified anesthesiologist who specializes in pain medicine. The American Board of Medical Specialties recognizes one board for pain medicine credentialing: the American Board of Anesthesiologists. Murray, needless to say, did not have pain medicine credentials.
You can almost hear the prosecutor’s questions to Murray, should he take the stand.
Prosecutor: Where did you go through your residency in anesthesiology?
Murray: Nowhere.
Prosecutor: But you were administering an anesthetic, correct?
Murray: Correct.
Prosecutor: You say you were trying to help Jackson sleep because he was in pain. When did you take your fellowship in pain medicine?
Murray: Could you repeat the question?
Prosecutor: That’s OK. How about this one. How many patients did you treat for chronic pain conditions before you agreed to treat Mr. Jackson?
Murray: Well, I would have to go back to my files …
Without training or board certification in anesthesia or pain medicine, Murray started giving Jackson heavy doses of anesthetics, anxiety pills and sleep aids, any one of which could have killed him.
To recap: Murray
Was NOT board certified in cardiology
Had let his internal medicine certification LAPSE
Was NOT board certified in pain management
I wanted to hit "pause" on a few items to underscore the importance of doing regular background checks on doctors when you are writing about them. Here is what we know so far about Murray and why:
1. He (Murray) is licensed in California, Nevada and Texas, but he hasn't done anything in any of those states to catch licensing officials' attention. Harriet Ryan and Kimi Yoshino at the Los Angeles Times checked all three places for this story. A good first pass for checking licenses nationally is Nexis. If you don't have a Nexis account, check the Association of State Medical Boards' DocFinder. They have a one-stop search that covers most of the small states, Texas and Florida. For the rest of the states, you have to check them individually, but there are links on that page.
2. Murray does not appear to be a board certified cardiologist. Very few stories have pointed this out. You can find this out by checking with the American Board of Medical Specialties. They make you sign up for a login, and you are limited to a certain number of searches each month, but the membership is free. I'm guessing that little hurdle is what makes this the place that so few people check when they are writing stories about doctors. The board doesn't cover every specialty, but it does cover the main ones. Another good place to check is the American Board of Internal Medicine. Here you'll find that Murray had been certified in internal medicine through the end of 2008 but let his certification lapse. Cardiologists are first certified in internal medicine, then in cardiovascular disease, then in any sub-specialty.
3. His business is in trouble. Beth Harris and Michael R. Blood at the AP summed his financial troubles up nicely. "Records reveal years of financial troubles for Murray - a 1989 graduate of Meharry Medical College in Nashville - who practices medicine in California, Nevada and Texas. Murray's Nevada medical practice, Global Cardiovascular Associates, was slapped with more than $400,000 in court judgments: $228,000 to Citicorp Vendor Finance Inc. in November 2007, $71,000 to an education loan company in June 2008 and $135,000 to a leasing company last September." These figures most likely come from a search of a court records database, like Nexis or Merlin, or by
individually searching the courts in the counties in each state where he has a practice. The key here was that the reporters (or their research librarians) didn't just search for Murray's name. They searched for the names of his medical practice and other businesses.
4. He's in debt. "He faces at least two other pending cases," the AP writes. "Clark County, Nev., court records show Murray was hit last December with a nearly $3,700 judgment for failure to pay child support in a San Diego case, and had his wages garnished the same month for almost $1,500 in a court judgment won by a credit card company. Another credit card claim for more than $1,100 filed in April remains open." Nexis and Merlin often just give you the minimum. If you want details, you want to see the actual court filings. Now, it might be fun to fly to Vegas, but you probably don't have the travel budget. Clark County does a better than average job providing details online. A search turned up five closed cases involving Murray, including the ones listed above, and one reopened one. Don't forget to check the criminal cases. Murray didn't have any in Nevada, but it's always worth looking.
5. He has trouble staying current. "He owes $940 in fines and penalties for driving with an expired license plate and no proof of insurance in 2000." This can be found in a separate search of Clark County traffic violations. Isn't it interesting that a physician who ends up being Michael Jackson's go-to guy was only able to pay $85 on a $1,025 traffic citation, and it took him three years just to pay that!
6. If that wasn't evidence enough that he doesn't have the best timing, consider that just four days after Jackson was found dead, he started demanding money: $300,000 of a contract that, by his math, looks to have been worth more than $1.5 million.
7. Unlike almost any doctor on the planet, he doesn't appear to use a cell phone. Anthony McCartney at the Associated Press reported that Murray waited nearly half an hour to call 911 because he couldn't find a phone in Jackson's house. (17)
It also seems that Dr. Conrad Murray, the man at the center of the investigation into Michael Jackson’s death, could lose his Las Vegas, Nevada, 5,268-square-foot home in the exclusive Red Rock Country Club to foreclosure, according to the Associated Press. The report indicates that Murray “racked up a debt of more than $100,000 plus penalties since his last $15,000 payment in January” and could forfeit the two-story residence to the lender as soon as Nov. 2009. (18)
And this brings us full circle to Thomas Barrack, the man we started this list with and whose Colony Capital, Investors II, L.P. owns Red Rock Country Club where Murray’s yet to be foreclosed house is….wonder if Murray lost his house? (19)
