On Epstein:

[conuly]

I'm just going to reply to you all at once rather than individually.

I try not to assume conspiracies, but given that this is one of the more probable sorts of conspiracies and that a great many of my more rational, level-headed friends think that it could've happened, I will concede that it's possible this was less a suicide and more a "...suicide". If nothing else, the fact that he was evidently taken off suicide watch is concerning. Of course he was still at risk! He was still in jail and likely to rot there, wasn't he? Nothing had changed, right?

However, I will reserve judgment until more information is forthcoming.

Comments

[archangelbeth]

the fact that he was evidently taken off suicide watch is concerning.

Yeah, that's where I make the eyebrow emoji.

[adrian_turtle]

Yes, it's concerning. Yes, there are powerful people who find it convenient that the man is dead. (On the other hand, there's no longer any need for search warrants.)

But I'm not concerned that he was taken off intensive suicide watch, more than 2 weeks after attempting suicide. Intensive suicide watch is AWFUL. It's something they do for a few days to get a person past a crisis. (Most suicide attempts are impulsive. If the person has a few days to calm down or start treatment or just move out of the worst part of the depressive cycle, they won't be actively suicidal.)

Intensive suicide watch has a lot of features that look like torture. The person doesn't have any privacy, not even to use the toilet. Their sleep is always interrupted, they don't get proper blankets, they're always under bright lights. It's ok to do awful things to a person in a medical crisis--chemotherapy and ICU can seem like torture. But it's a problem to keep somebody under serious suicide watch forever. Ethical hospitals plan to step it down after the patient has stopped being suicidal for a while.

I wouldn't be all that surprised if a smart man, known to be super-manipulative, managed to talk his way out of a horribly uncomfortable situation that is designed to be short-term.

[dewline]

Whether it was suicide or homicide, someone still screwed up big-time. That has to be answered for.

[jessie_c]

And of course Il Douche is spreading the rumour that Hillary had him killed because he's awful that way.

[conuly]

If Hillary is killing her enemies, she's not starting with Epstein.

[jessie_c]

But his cult will swallow that one like it's a tasty treat.

[conuly]

How about, idk, Donald fucking Trump as candidate numero uno for the death squad? He's an old man, and he doesn't exactly treat his body like a temple. He could die in his sleep and nobody would question it!

[conuly]

Alternatively: Ken Starr and/or Monica Lewinsky. I mean, if I were Hilary Clinton and apparently both willing and able to solve my problems with murder, I'd take some time for personal vendettas. Wouldn't you?

[poliphilo]

Starr and Lewinsky are no longer any kind of threat. They've done their worst. But Epstein might well have had information that would have hurt the Clintons.

But Bill and Hillary are simply the most famous of the many people who used to pal around with Epstein. The list of those who might have had reason for wanting him gone is as long as your arm.

[movingfinger]

Keep in mind that he usually accuses others of things he is doing himself, like a little kid saying the dog did it.

[siderea]

...excellent point.

[brokenallbroken]

Yeah, what's that thing teachers always say? If you're pointing one finger at someone else that's four fingers pointing back at yourself? The projection is strong with him.

[conuly]

Teachers say that because they resent having to actually deal with children.

[brokenallbroken]

I suspect most things teachers say (or said to me, at least) are because they resent having to deal with children.

[jessie_c]

Always. Every accusation he makes is actually a confession. If only the Democrats could make that connection...

[chanter1944]

Il Douche? I like that one! The name, not the named. Sounds like a mob boss with no concept of honor among thieves, meets a... well, you know.

[thewayne]

I used Cheeto Benito for a long time to label him, now I just use Our Glorious Leader. I also like Dolt 45.

[thewayne]

Yesterday morning I was in Lord of the Rings Online while nebulizing, since I can't do much else while holding a nebulizer up, and on world chat someone posted "So, how about that alleged Epstein suicide?"

My brain immediately went OMG, time to turn off world chat for the morning.

Occam's Razor apparently is something you shave with for most folk.

[rhoda_rants]

The fact that the timing sucks doesn't make it any less likely for me. Holding back any more feelings "until more information is forthcoming" seems like the safest bet otherwise. "Safest" for me meaning "I will scream at so many people I ordinarily respect if I let this out." So. *shrug*