Drew Peterson Wants New Venue

Well no news was good news…..but alas Peterson’s lawyer Joel Brodsky filed a motion to seek a venue change. Brodsky stated that he feels his client cannot get a fair trial in Will County, IL.

In Brodsky’s motion it stated media coverage was so widespread, and that it was extreme and inflammatory thus causing the tainting of prospective jurors to be impartial!

As if…Mr. Brodsky, I don’t know if you have heard but CNN carried coverage of the Drew Peterson arrest, as well as exhumation of Ms Kathleen Savio’s body! The only way that Brodsky and Peterson could get a jury that has never seen or heard of the character Drew Peterson or that of his case, they would have to have to seek a jury from another planet!

The change of venue was expected. And this is often a strategy used in many high-profile cases, or cases where the suspect is an outlandish character who cannot stay out of the media spotlight, and whom goads the media to continue to put him on the air! Peterson and Brodsky brought even more notoriety to their own case, and I think it would be a laughable situation if the judge says no on his later August 14, 2009 court date!

Good luck Brodsky/Peterson camp Drew Peterson will fairly get what he has coming to him!

Just my thoughts, just my opinions, and always in a conversationalTone.

Mary Caliendo

Domestic Violence Shelter Closed?!!!

Today I learned the news that a women’s shelter in Aurora, IL has now officially closed its doors!  Why? Because the state of Illinois is in a terrible state!   It can’t pay its bills! Seriously folks as of Wednesday this shelter that is the final resting place of those women, most of them with children in tow, who are crying out for help!

For those women who finally bring themselves to an actual shelter for help, it will no longer be available. Women that have of recent  came for assistance have not only been turned away, they were sent to either one or two neighboring states!

On Wednesday a reporter named Margaret Ramirez did a piece on this very shelter for the Chicago Tribune Newspaper, and in it she reported that as late as Wednesday the shelter turned away three women and five children! That is three women and five children too many! She also stated that Kristin Good, a prevention educator, that the shelter helped four hundred women and children last year. They not only provided advice and counseling, they gave them a home! She said they also fielded more than 18,000 calls to the federally funded hot line.

This agency can continue to run the hot line, but the shelter for those unfortunate women will no longer be able to continue. The Mutual Ground Center is non-profit social service agency that will assist those that are victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

I ask you Governor Quinn how can you let this happen? I know that you are facing a grudge match with those legislative leaders who have approved to reduce the availability of funds. I am not sure I want to raise everyones’ taxes to do this, but I know that I have a hard time sleeping if I think that an abused and/or raped woman with the babes in tow are out there!

I think you and the State of Illinois owe these people some kind of respect after all they have been abused once and now the state goes ahead and abuses them again! It is so wrong in so many ways! Have a heart legislative leaders, why won’t you cut the fat from the top of the heap and help out all of those who really, really need it? We’d be a great state if it was known that we take care of our own and try to end the cycle of abuse!  Showing those little ones that it is not ok to treat women this way might save us money as a state in the end when less services are needed!

Mutual ground needs to be on mutual ground!

Just my thoughts, just my opinions, and always in a conversationalTone.

Mary Caliendo

Drew Peterson Stifle!

Good ole` Drew Peterson is at it again!   Blah Blah Blah all over the place! He’s has been in prison in Will County for as little as three weeks now. His attorney has had to answer the media as to why his client won’t shut up!  He contends that his client is all alone! Awe, isn’t that sad? He’s bored!  Brodsky went on to even say something to the effect of,  he(Peterson) misses having to be able to adequately trim his moustache and pluck his nose hairs! Okay?

He also explained that he is all alone and is pretty much in isolation, that he has no contact with anybody. That’s funny OJ said the same thing!  Little do these two realize but, that if they were out in the general crowd, I would think that the lock-up might have its own justice system. I should think Peterson and the likes of OJ should be thanking their lucky stars!  Always never forget that Drew Peterson is an ex-cop and that must very well be worth something!

The general public is sick of Drew Peterson and his PR firm. Since this moron has been in lock-up, he’s had a few interviews. For instance Matt Lauer on the Today Show, and Chicago’s Shock-jock radio show Mancow & Cassidy on WLS-AM. Lauer and Today should seek better people who matter to society as a personality to interview; until they stop I will stop watching! As for Mancow, he and his radio shows have been around for a long time and one would expect him and his cohorts to do zany stuff.

Meanwhile, back at the jail, the Will County Sheriff’s spokesperson states that this guy makes jokes, and says things that are not true! The Sheriff are annoyed by his behavior and wants to ensure the general public that Peterson is not getting any preferential treatment. He states that while Drew Peterson says things they are fiction. They have no conjugal visits, he showers alone and not with other inmates,and that other inmates are not cheering him on as he is moved about the facility. These things Peterson says are just not true! So Peterson, put a sock in it!

Whatever! In my estimation he is where he needs to be. If he wants to continue trying to be a great stand-up comedian than so be it! As long as he tells his jokes from within the barred small cell, I’m fine with that! I’m sure at this point, he is breathing a bit easier, since the bones that were just discovered could be those of several missing males in the area, not those of missing wife Stacy Peterson. But I will bet any money that he was sweating real bad there for a few minutes…It won’t be long now Drew Peterson…they’ll discover more……

Just my thoughts, just my opinions, and always in a conversationalTone.

Mary Caliendo

Peterson Case New Judge!

It was expected that Judge Gerald Kinney would appoint a new judge in the Drew Peterson case. The case will now be heard by Judge Carla Alessio Policandriotes.  Interestingly enough, she has had some dealings with Peterson/Savio in the past!  She had handled just a small bit of their 2002 divorce. She had awarded Kathleen Savio with temporary custody of their children and set up child support.

While no other financial matters had ever then been resolved any further than that before the death of Kathleen Savio, and now Drew Peterson has been charged with murder 1 in his ex-wives case. He has plead not guilty.

While Joel Brodsky stated before cameras yesterday, that there could be worse judge choices for Drew. So it looks like Brodsky will not be protesting this decision. It is in this writer’s eye, that it appears that this judge may have a great understanding of the plight of women who are victims of domestic violence. This court has a great long history of the family values it needs to have to represent not only the law and the rights; moral and ethical, of those people involved in the case. Its family court rises to that level each day. Joliet and Will County, IL should be quite proud of the fact that the county can for-see what the needs of a family unit are, what types of food,education,and cost of living for example are needed to provide for the best interests of that family unit. In other words it shows that the court  takes a  great stance for the advocating of its public.

I think that in this area, domestic violence has reared its head way too much and that Drew Peterson’s days may be numbered at this point.

Today, Judge Policandriotes will also consider the defense’s motion to have Peterson’s $20 Million dollar bail reduced. Will continue to report on the happenings in this case. Updates posted as soon as they come in.

Just my thoughts, just my opinions, and always in a conversationalTone.

Mary Caliendo

Peterson Being Arraigned Today

Drew Peterson and lawyer team led by Joel Brodsky, will come before the judge in a Will County, IL courtroom today to ask for a reduction in his bail. A simple poll was taken among watchers of local news today, and it was discovered that 90% of pollers wanted Peterson’s bail to remain high and not reduced! 

Over all this case will be confusing, as to constitutionality on the hearsay bill for one, but here in Illinois having the “get tough” attitude against domestic violence will help to make a ground breaking difference. Illinois has had a rash of domestic violence cases, that have ended in loss of life. The law makers as well as police have long had their “hands tied” at times and there is almost no way to “predict” an outcome as to the condition of the person/abusers state of mind. But efforts to change laws and make breakers of court orders for example to be held accountable, thus making it easier for the abuser to become incarcerated or to stay incarcerated. Plus with the hearsay law being admissible will aid in the prosecution of the offenders. Look at the changes in the laws for stalking that opponents said would never pass, but they did.

The cycle of abuse and death has to stop somewhere and here in Illinois, they’d like it to stop. Women sometimes need somewhere to turn, and when a women (sometimes men are abused,or same sex partners will also have abuse, but the majority are women with men as the abuser)calls out for help to police they need to be able to help her and her children. Women need to believe that they can get help. This can help women to even bring forward their case of abuse.

Many families have often said that the woman/and or children that have passed as a result of abuse, have said She told me she was scared that he was going to kill her, or if I turn up dead, it was him who did it! It’s deplorable and something needs to be done. Perhaps the hearsay bill will help in this case and into the future.

I will be following this case closely, and hopes for changes in the future to make it easier for the domestically abused to be able to have their abuser behind bars even before the threat of death has come, and for the families left behind after that has taken place to give them a platform to help convict and incarcerate that abuser.

Just my thoughts, just my opinions, and always in a conversationalTone.

Mary Caliendo

Brodsky Visits Peterson

Short and sweet, Drew Peterson’s lawyer Joel Brodsky finally came off his little vacation and visited his new found friend.He visited the 4 time loser/abuser/murderer and he  Then  tried to assure his client that he has his back. Brodsky got interviewed by several local news channels, whom reported that he said he thinks the bail is way too high. He’d like it if the bail is lowered. He stated that he did a lot of research and that there is only one other case in Will County, IL that has warranted that high of a bond. He thinks that Peterson’s case is not that heinous to warrant that high amount!

Shame, shame on lawyer Brodsky for saying something to that effect! Of course it is heinous enough! He’s hoping that once the gets lowered- he’ll be able to spring his client out. Brodsky also states that he will also be asking for a change of venue. That’s okay most lawyers often ask for change of venue so perhaps he’ll get an untainted jury. But wait Mr. Brodsky this case has been heard all over the world. So I am sure that little ol’ downstate Illinois has heard of it too! And oh wait- for the most part downstate is considered much more conservative that Joilet is! I think that Peterson won’t have a chance once the prosecution gets their hands on him!!! Much less any conservative downstate jury will basically rip him from limb to limb!

Drew Peterson with that great spiffy out-fit, your three squares per day, and all your bling, you are right where you need to be!

Just my thoughts, just my opinions, and always in a conversationalTone.

Mary Caliendo