Cindy Anthony-She Dumped Oprah!

Cindy Anthony claims that in a text message she sent to WKMG reporter Jessica D’Onofrio, she claims that she is the one whom dumped Oprah Winfrey not the other way around. Cindy Anthony says to her something to this effect:  oh BTW (means by the way) I cancelled Oprah b/c (means because) of Integrity. hmmmmmmm……Really?

Oprah’s people say that based on the fact that Cindy and George Anthony made an appearance and participated in an in-depth interview on CBS’s Early Show, and other programs they decided not to move forward with the interview at this time. Oprah’s people were asked by D’Ononfrio if this was true and her staff told her that there would not be any further comments at this time.

Well whoever called it off- I don’t care. I am happy that Oprah’s stage will not be graced by the likes of these two. I would welcome their comments and an interview long after the case has been tried and the sentencing done. I think that at this time they have nothing to share or add. I think that this is about money, period! 

I know that this writer was out on e-mail, twitter, and Oprah’s direct web-site trying to get people to ask Oprah to dump the show. I think there was enough of a public outcry about this, and Oprah is just too good! Period.

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

Mary Caliendo

Oprah Dumps the Anthony’s

I thought that it was very extraordinary that Oprah put the families of the Columbine High School shootings before her and that of her show. And the planned show was put on the back burner. The families were recognized by Oprah and her staff, and that was very nice.

On the the scheduled appearance of Cindy and George Anthony, I personally joined in on a blogging, e-mail, and twitter campaign to ask Oprah to reconsider, and not to proceed with the  Cindy and George Anthony interview in late May. I think that Oprah is a class act and I personally felt that at this time, it was not prudent to go on with this interview. It is not that I don’t want to hear what they may have to say, it’s just that perhaps this should be done after the trial is over.

I am sure that Oprah’s interview would not impede the criminal proceedings taking place in the court room. (the actual trial has not taken place yet; just pre-trial motions, etc.) But the possible tainting of the jury is a possibility. There can’t be too many people out there, that have not heard of Casey Anthony or of Caylee Anthony; so it does not matter where in Florida the actual trial takes place. But I do think that Oprah has an extremely huge fan/watch base; and that many televisions would be tuned in to listen to Cindy and George Anthony spew things about building a foundation in Caylee’s honor. Or on the thoughts that Casey is innocent. Or how about more thoughts on can anyone find the fictitious Zanaida Gonzalez?

I would never discount, however, Oprah’s ability to draw out good answers for great questions. I would never discount Oprah’s ability to “out” the liar in Cindy; and implore the humble in George. But it is a show and May is sweeps. So in honor of her, and her wonderful support staff, I request all of my readers watch intensely her shows in May. Let’s show Oprah that her good ratings come from classy shows and a host that is beyond reproach. Let Cindy and George go into to a realm where currently they belong; Springer! 

Now their(Cindy and George) outlook and interview could be very different after the entire trial is over, and the sentencing done. Perhaps Oprah can interview then. *Thank you Oprah for all of your integrity. Please give a call over to the CBS Early Show; because the Anthony’s are now booked there. Maybe you could clue them in!*

And a big P.S. to anyone else listening, Caylee was never a missing person. Caylee was a child that was murdered at the hands of what looks like her mother. Her own flesh and blood; perhaps Cindy and George could donate the boat to those that spent lots of man-hours, sweat, and tears actually  looking and believing that  someone “took” Caylee and continued to donate /devote their own time to it. And then they can open a center for those families who have had a loved one commit murder and change their lives forever. They could call it the Grief and Guilt Center. Unfortunately and with great sadnessCindy and George are not the only family that have been touched in this way! They really should extend an olive branch to others; it would be much more healthy for them.

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

Mary Caliendo

Baez Talks

Jose Baez said on Monday, that Casey was fully aware that she will likely face the death penalty. I hope that he advised his client from the beginning that this could be a very big possibility. Baez also mentioned something to the effect of, that Casey is also aware of the “forces” out there to get her. What? does he mean “evil forces? The prosecution is out to get her; legally. Anyway Jose Baez claims that he does not want to change anything and that he will continue to keep doing what he is doing.

Baez is not certified to head a counsel on a death penalty charge. We will see who he brings in to sit on the team. Perhaps, Mr. Terry Lenamon as before. Baez continued on and will soon be questioning Orange County Sheriff Deputy Phillip Graves and a corrections officer Tammy Tinser, he is looking for a loop-hole in someones story just to create doubt in the minds of the jury.

On May 7th, Baez will be back in court trying to block the video taped reaction to the findings of the skeletal remains of Caylee. Baez and team would love to have that tiny morsel sealed so that a jury would never see it. Apparently it is Caylee having a dramatic reaction that resembles more like a panic/anxiety attack which would be unlikely to go for an insanity defense as anxiety attacks are about yourself only and not that of the show of loss for ones child.

In other news: The Anthony’s (George and Cindy) apparently are being booked/or have booked a show with Oprah in early May! If you feel that being interviewed by Oprah would add something to the world, do nothing and say nothing and just choose to watch. But if you are opposed please by all means go to www.oprah.com and complain!  Leave a nice message and let Oprah know that while we all love her so much, the Anthony’s leave something to be desired and let her know that you will not watch and that it is her engaging and thought provoking stories and caring heart are why she is #1!  She is very classy and to put them on is crushing! Let her know, perhaps they will reconsider!

Until tomorrow!

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

Mary Caliendo

Death Penalty for Ice Cold Casey

Well, in a stunning release just late yesterday, prosecutors in the Casey Anthony murder case put the death penalty back on the table. Prosecutors stating “aggravating circumstance” as part of the reason for the new movement in the case. I think that all along the prosecution team had enough for the murder 1 charge. In the state of Florida and around the United States it is considered extra heinous if one kills a child that is under the age of twelve. And going along with that would also be a premeditated determination. In other words if the adult plotted and planned for the murder to take place; would also be considered a circumstance which is considered aggravating.

To this writer, the October date for this case cannot get here soon enough. The ice princess Casey with the ice cold heart, could cop a plea and help save her own life. Jose Baez in most states in the United States does not have enough experience again for this kind of case. All will wonder whom he will bring to the table to aid in the fight to save Casey’s lowly life. Will we see the reemergence of Terry Lenamon? Or will the Jose Beaz bring a different gun in?

Ice princess Casey has her days numbered; if she chooses to remain quiet and not cop to a plea, she will have the choice of a needle and the electric chair. Florida still has an active electric chair!  Perhaps her parents can get through to her, I think not only would the pleas hasten the length of the trial, it may be easier for all involved. It is hard to know that any one state would have a woman on death row. Especially one that is still so young. What a terrible life Casey has led. Her life involved cheating, stealing, lieing,drinking, drugging, passing herself around, and finally murder! Not too productive a citizen. The little life of her child Caylee was cut down in a way too short time and in a manner that no one should ever have realized.

I cannot help but to think that, that little baby trusted her mommy and she probably(I hope) smiled at her mommy before she did the deed. I am hoping little Caylee did not know what was coming. It would be awful to think that the child “woke up” inside the trunk, or that she “woke up” and was inside the bags already! I hope and pray that it did not go down that way.  I think that Casey probably loved her, but her mind became so twisted and couldn’t see past the fact that she would be “tied down” only for a short while. These little children grow up, they are not little forever. Life for Casey could only have gotten easier. Look her parents obviously loved and took care of Caylee all the time. Too bad Casey went down the wrong path. She made many of the wrong choices in life; perhaps she can make one great good one by choosing to accept a plea and let us all breathe a sigh of relief. She can rot in jail and we can know exactly why she did what she did.

Next chapter in the story is the Cindy and George Anthony road-show, the rumor is that  Oprah will be hosting the pair in early May. I’m going to the web-page to complain- we do not think that they deserve a platform as high as the one we place on the Oprah show!

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

Mary Caliendo

Robin Givens Speaksout on Domestic Violence

Today on the Oprah show; along with a couple of  self-professed domestic violence abusers, Oprah’s show was dedicated to finding out what it is that makes a man hit a woman and what it takes to change that type of behavior.

The men on the show described their abuse, and why they say  it happened.  The underlying theme running through it were the witnessing of abuse growing up. However, not all the abuse was the same. Some abuse was just verbal-type, but mostly it was physical altercation. The laying on of hands. The hands that professed love will also choke you; in one man’s case. They do overall feel that it is most likley learned behavior and that the cycle of abuse can be broken. They did say that they did have “anger-type” behavior while in several public places such as: road rage, cashiers and clerks for example. So perhaps the anger/rage goes hand in hand.

Robin Givens came on the show and is now one of the current spokeswomen for The National Domestic Violence Hot line. The hot line will serve all those who call in to seek council. Robin continued to say that she agrees with Oprah  that once a man hits you he will hit you again. All abuse is unacceptable. And she felt scared for the women that were married to guests on the show. As Robin stated that they have much work to do and she fears for them.

Kevin Powell was also on the show, a former abuser who had his temper witnessed on Big Brother, has changed his life around.  He is trying to get the word out that men need to have council ongoing not just a couple of sessions and be done with it. He thinks that the church is a great resource for deep worship but Powell feels that the abuser still need on going psych/council and truly own the fact that they had done what they had done.

Once again, it had to mentioned on the show that Chris Brown allegedly battered Rihanna. While Robin chimed in and said we saw the pictures, it doesn’t matter if she saw something on Brown’s Blackberry, no one at anytime should be hit. It is better to just walk away.

There are better and different ways to solve any problems.

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

Mary Caliendo

Oprah/Tyra Banks On Domestic Violence!

Oprah has Tyra Banks on the Oprah show talking about domestic violence. Tyra said that Rihanna grew up in a violent upbringing.  Tyra had interviewed Rihanna when her hit song “Under My Umbrella” broke. And Tyra also had a separate interview with Chris Brown long before Rihanna and Chris were an “item”. Chris Brown said that he watched domestic violence growing up on the Tyrashow. He was forthcoming and said that he would look at women much different than all that he had witnessed. He also said he witnessed this kind of behavior from the age of 7 until 13 years old.

Tyra said as she looked back at this interview that she did, she couldn’t believe that he was repeating this behavior. She did not want to believe it! Tyra and Oprah believe that this is a teaching moment. They both believe that Chris Brown and Rihanna have everything      they need at their disposal to proceed with getting the help that they will need.

Oprah told one young teen in the audience that the reason that she went back to him in her opinion is that Rihanna does not respect herself enough and went back to him because she does not think she is worthy enough of a man that won’t hit her! The teen in the audience thinks that it was self-defense and that it was okay that Chris Brown did this to her!!! It seems like teens think that it is okay for men to hit women-like she deserved it! Wow!

Tyra explained that she was in a relationship that was overtly abusive and it took a couple of times to leave, but that she finally faced herself in the mirror and asked herself  why she was in this relationship. She was trying to convey to the girls in the audience that abuse is abuse and that it will continue to escalate.

Oprah’s show listed the warning signs of the escalation of the abuse. Abusers will mask their intentions to rest of the outside world, and even turn on the charm in front of others, to effectively make the person that is being abused look like they are crazy in front of everyone. Abusers are manipulators.

Oprah highlighted a girl from Charlotte North Carolina who just last week was murdered by her boyfriend. And her girlfriends were on the show via skype or satellite. They expressed disappointment in Rihanna for going back to Chris Brown.  They also look at her as she is a role model. But Tyra chimed in and told the audience that she is just like any woman/girl anywhere. She is stuck in a cycle of abuse.

Tyra and Oprah are trying to get the word out that abuse of any form is not acceptable! Control, yelling, telling you what to do, making you dress a certain way, and even keep ing you away from your family are all forms of abuse not to mention these are also warning signs that you are with an abuser.

I say thank you Oprah, thank you Tyra for trying to change the thought process of these girls who think that it is okay to be abused! It is not acceptable in any form. I’m sure that all of those who have lost children to abuse/domestic violence are happy you have done this show. The overwhelming loss created by an abuser will change their lives forever.

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

Mary Caliendo

Oprah Visits Walter Reed Hospital

Earlier today I watched  the Oprah Winfreyshow, and was completely touched. Oprah was also completely touched as she broke into tears in the end!  As Oprah held up her arms in a small prayer  if you will, she said to the effect, We lift you up. Kudos to you Oprah and your staff for a very loving and touching show!

As we were taken into the hospital we saw strong, brave and even very young wounded men and women. My heart was heavy as Oprah went around and shook hands of each patient that was there as the therapy sessions were going on. Physical therapy for those who have lost limbs; one who only stood for the first time as the show was being taped!  Each were asked how they felt, and would they go back. Each who had served and each who had lost limbs all said they would go back in a heart beat!

It showed me strength beyond physical, it meant strength in God, themselves, and their families. It showed me bravery beyond just fighting behind a gun. Her show has opened my eyes and I, as Oprah did, want to say Thank You too! 

Thank you to all those men and women who have given so very much. Thank you to all of those who have fought for our freedom. Thank you to those of you men and women in Iran and Afghanistan, for you will help my children and my grandchildren to live in a free country.

Everything that these men and women have done for all of us is so special. We all should be thanking them if we can. Go to www.oprah.com and post a thank you or see if there is something you can do.

And finally thank you Oprah for doing the show, it was an important show and lets hope that even if for one minute you had taken their pain away. You have made it better because you care. Thank you.

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

Mary Caliendo