Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 07/09/09
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We have new information on the investigation into Michael Jackson's death. Will it become a criminal investigation? Maybe even homicide? We also have stunning new details on Jackson's suspected drug addiction.
Want to know what else we're covering tonight? Read EVENING BUZZ
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Gary Tuchman on the border...Great story (everything he does is great)...Think we should have more involvement with this region...Drug cartels are running wild down there and Mex Gov has run their anti-drug offensive, but it's still like the Mob down there...needs to get fixed from top to bottom...Calderon has taken steps but needs to do more and US should be more interested in this... instead of other less important "national security" issues...
woah, Erin Brokovich? She is great! What a power woman! Thanks for giving her a platform!
Aren't Mexican citizens aloud to bear arms?
I find it hard to believe that Tijuana, the ENTIRE city of Tijuana, would be considered dangerous (population around 1.5 mil). I wish Gary could be more specific. Surely there are areas which are minimally affected, if at all, with regards to the drug wars.
The FDA is making the money. They don't care about curing people. Samples are given to Dr.s all the time. It is only to drive UP addiction. This makes drugs LEGAL. The FDA is not trying to CURE. us. That would cause them to LOOOOOSE money. Michael was in that loop. Enablers, believe me he is not the only entertainer the FDA has intentionally harmed through prescription drugs for financial gain.
@Devna: Thanks for blogging with us tonight. I was wondering since MJ had Lupus and it's an autoimmune disease, is there a possibility that rather than some type of Diprivan addiction, he was instead just getting IV treatments for his disease? I know a lot of autoimmune diseases have IV treatments to help with pain and weakness. The treatments are expensive as heck and can be administered in the hospital, in an infusion center, or at home (administered by a nurse).
Polygamist against drug cartels – now that's a story that should make the news.
Becoming addicted to painkillers can happen to anyone! Don't be judgmental of ppl who are addicted, it's not their fault, really.
Corruption and fear of the cartel....that is why they don't do anything.
"You gotta stand for something or you'll fall for anything." country song lyrics.
Evil doesn't just go away.
Great story Polygamist Sect vs. cartels thanks for presenting real issues
I think the polygamists are good 'soldiers' for the US. In the sense that it's no great loss if they get killed while fending off the cartel.
Crime and violence, consequences of drugs, reduces economic growth in the region, diverts resources from the government, corrupting the institutions of the police and the courts of law, and take many lives. That is so bad!
Makes you wonder who's more wrong. The polygamists or the drug pushers? I'd like to know more about the Mexican gun controls that prevent the polygamists from taking up arms to protect themselves.
@ Devna: Another beach staycation weekend for us. I am off tommorrow!
News anchors never seem to ask the questions that I want to know the answers to when i watch a story. On the polygamists in Mexico, how do
US Citizens manage to legally live in Mexico and keep US citizenship.
You can't just "move" to Mexico indefinitely.
They want to live there since they cannot practice thier lifestyle in the USA so they have to live in fear in a dangerous place and it is a choice. You don't get the same protection in Mexico. The authorities there cannot stop the viiolence or control the drug cartel so why do they think they can stop them?
So much heartache and disturbing news. Honestly, I sometimes wonder how you guys all stay sane in such an insane world when you report it daily.
Peace
The family must not be blamed they tried to stop MJ and he was in charge of his own life .
Addiction treatment centers are filled with innocent people like Jackson who went in for surgery and came out as addicts.
We need to look at the doctors who love the money and attention that rich addicts give them!
Mr. Jackson is giving us the microscope to look at these parasites.
As an RN, I think it is a great opportunity to educate about lupus and vertiligo.
@ Michelle D. – I don't think an addict is capable of making those decisions for themselves. The drug becomes their reason for living, nothing else exists.
Unfortunately, until there are people making millions through the drug trade, to fight it will be extremely difficult.
This industry (the cartels) that generates profits of billions of dollars is strong and there is no interest in tackling it.
More media on the Mexican cartel.
More police.
proactive in stopping them somehow.
It is sad that in todays world we have doctors that are more concerned about making money on a famous person then solving all the problems we have in this world. Shame on you.You know who you are.
It is sad that MJ death is a motive 4 focusing on such a life destroying disease which afflict so many common folks...
great shows, the last few weeks.
How does MJ owe a drug store over $100,000.00 ? I have to
pay when I pick up a drug. Same as the doctors, did he pay in
cash or insurance ?
Scary stuff for those of us under a doctors care and taking a narcotic
I my have to live in pain.
lois
obama is doing just fine. how come nobody is chatting about how much mr bush spent . did obama spend over 87 trillion in the last 8yrs , no . and how can here just start to spread all over this cash all over the map. american s are famous for spending , i feel for you all . you scream for obama yet the man is trying to set up medical for you all. why should you have to spend 1300 to have your tooth frozen then another 2000 to have it yanked out , whats wrong with you people start screaming and demanding a change and stop chantting usa is number one. number one at ripping you all off. obama is trying to change it all but its next to impossible when you have bush giving million s and millions and millions to the senior s and then oh the medical thing is fixed no here upped the drugs for the seniors and thats that and your still having to call your insurance company to ask if you can go to a doctor what a joke.
These Mexican drug cartels are out of control!
@Lori – Monday's show will compile the major portions of AC's interview with President Obama... fresh off the plane! 🙂
Is anyone taking a staycation this weekend?
Even if Michael did have lupus, that is NO excuse for these "doctors" ignoring the obvious and choosing greed over the ethical oath they swore to. God Bless Michael and his chlldren. If something good, very, very significantly good can come from all of this chaos, that would make Michael very happy.
I believe Dr. Klein has a lot of hidden secrets. He seemed so dishonest last night on Larry King. What does he mean when he says that he will protect the children? I smell a dead rat somewhere in his story and it smells foul.
Wondering why Michael didn't ask for help?
Hi Devna,
Welcome to AC360°. We are very proud of you.
I find it amazing that the police had all this information on his drug abuse at the time of his trail and still allowed him to have his children in his home - where were Children and Family Services in this whole scenerio? Certainly the police had the obligation to inform them - interesting twist?
So, Erica, who is paying the costs for the first family to vacation through France, England, Russia, Italy ,and finally Africa? I hope not the cash strapped tax-payers! Maybe AC can ask the Obamas if they paid back the 80,000 for date night in NYC. I thought we were in an economic slump.
Hi, Carole Knapp Johnson here. Once again massive talent, public adoration, unlimited money and drug addiction go hand in hand. Humans need to know who they are and not what the media makes them into. It is called alienation and it is lonely. I am glad he at least had a mother who was still alive and knew who he was as a person.
Blaming MJ's family is unreasonable. Families can't cure other family members of addiction any more than they can cure them of cancer or diabetes.
If MJ's death was a result of illegal drug use it was essentially suicide. Assisted suicide perhaps thanks to unscrupulous doctors, but it was HIS CHOICE. No one forced him. Stop making excuses for irresponsible behavior.
I can not imagine taking 30 pills at a time. I couldn't keep all that down.
Did Lupus cause MIcheal to start taking drugs ?Does it cause liver damage or kidney damage ?
@Carolyn – There is a possibility that the Michael Jackson death will become a homicide (instead of an accidental death.)
@ BettyAnn - I agree, the only person who could help Michael, was Michael. Afraid he's going to be just another in a long list of the rich and famous who have abused drugs and paid for it with their life.
From the start I was skeptical about the doctor that was supposedly with him. How hard is it to go outside to get the address. This was Michael Jackson's home, I am certain there were other people in the house that could have called the paramedics.
No one can help you if you can't help yourself .Micheal didn't want help or to hear what they were trying to say .
MJ's kids probably never saw any of this. He cared enough to make sure of that. They had a great nanny, who did a great job with them. They were insulated from it all. I would say they were far from the average kids of an addict. They had meals, clean clothes, etc., and did not have to fend for themselves.
Whatever Michael's problems were, it's obvious, they were loved and cared for.
Everyone knows b4 prescribing or taking these meds how addictive they can be, so for docs to continue to prescribe them, esp. in other people's names, is completely criminal. Also it is ridiculous how all these friends like Brando and the doc Klein are acting like they didn't notice anything.
I was devastated when I heard of the death of Michael Jackson, I love him. I'm bothered by the different stories told through magazines and media. One magazine said, he fell in the living room in front of his son and then his bodyguard and doctor carried him to room. That's not the same story the doctor told. The nurse, is supposed to be a mandated reporter by law. I felt that her stories changed as well. If she heard him through the phone sounding drugged up, I felt she should have called for help right away, rather than saying he needed to go to the doctor, then crying about it days later. I have so much to say about all of this. It's sad. God bless the family and kids.
Hi Erica, glad you are anchoring for AC tonight!
Thank you to the people sharing stories about being in pain that requires the intake of drugs. I guess unless we are in such a situation ourselves, we can't really judge the person doing it.