CSAW-
<font color=blue>I did not see the guy hounding him though, just asking him. Maybe I just missed that part.</font color=blue>
Yup. The version you saw was edited more heavily than the version I saw - course it doesn't surprise me that some media outlets would take out the part where "their guy" was pushing 'ol Buzz around before hand. Where you generally don’t trust the Government, I generally don’t trust the media.
<font color=blue>Just because someone is famous does not give him the right to attack anyone.</font color=blue>
Never said anything about celebs having "special privileges" or being "above the law” nor do I think they aren’t entitled to the same protection it offers the average citizen (I don’t subscribe to the “they deserve it” point you make.) 'Course I don't think photographers/journalists have "special rights" to harass, pester, block, stalk or otherwise prevent anyone from going about their normal routine either - they aren't "above the law" either (although a lot of them think they are.)
<font color=blue>I think Buzz should be put in jail just like any other common violent criminal. </font color=blue>
Lets see, someone gets in your face, starts yelling at you, when you turn to try and get away, he blocks your path and prevents your escape, and then corners you - he has the weight advantage, height advantage, age advantage and won't let you go. Hmmmm, where you see a "common criminal attack" on Buzz’s part, I see an old man defending himself and trying to get away from a snot-nosed arrogant jerk.
You know though, maybe you have a point. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif I'm not sure about California law, but if it happened here in Texas, based on the evidence I saw (granted, I wasn't there), seems to me that the "reporter" was already in violation of Texas Penal Code § 20.02 - Unlawful Restraint or even Texas Penal Code§ 22.01. Assault when Buzz made his move (20.02 is self explanatory while 22.01 has verbiage about "physical contact" with another person "when the person knows or should reasonably believe that the other will regard the contact as offensive or provocative.") I think it's fair to say that any "reasonable" person should have figured Buzz would find it both "offensive AND provocative." (Incidentally, the penalty increases if it is committed against an elderly individual, such as Aldrin.)
Seems to me that Buzz could use this as a valid Defense to Prosecution on the charge of Assault leveled against him – after all, he was attempting to get away from a "common criminal" as you point out. (kindof like if you shoot someone in the act of self defense - that is a valid Defense to Prosecution to criminal act of “Discharge of a Firearm within City Limits.”) Yea - perhaps we see things the same after all - put the common criminal (the jerk of a reporter) in the clink! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
<font color=blue>As far as the conspiricy theory I wouldn't be so sure this guy is a quack. I just happened on the show one day and it raises many valid points. If the pictures are real and not doctored I think he might be on to something....If you have not seen the show it is well worth watching.</font color=blue>
Yes I've seen the program. Yes, on the surface they seem like valid points, however, being "into" photography a bit, I caught some definite misleading points they made (The "average Joe" who isn't that familiar with the craft would not catch them.) Even did a bit more research after the program on some of the "issues" that seemed plausible. Suffice to say, after my exploring the various explanations, I found myself having far more faith in the "establishment" than this reporter fellow. Not sure the majority of folks who "buy into" the whole hoax theory have spent much time doing detailed research on the topic.
<font color=blue>But we all know the government would never lie to us./w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif...I believe the government. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif</font color=blue>
Well, goes to the point of "consider the source." In my book, even though the Govt. doesn't necessarily tell the public everything, I put a lot more faith in the evidence they present than a pseudo-scientific television show created for entertainment value during sweeps week.
Perhaps I shouldn’t have started this thread after all, didn’t really plan on the whole debate over if the U.S. actually went to the moon or if celebrities are entitled to more/less protection under the law. Didn't think I would feel like I needed to make a long post to reply to folks either (I'm tired of that - maybe I'll hang out on the whole "Mesquite Grubbing" thread I started instead...)
-- Oh well, at least some folks seem to get a smile out of the incident as I did. *sigh* /w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif