I’m a fan of Andrea Peyser and I’ve been meaning to write a column about why I think the Michael Jackson trial isn’t merely tabloid trash but an important story. So I’m sypmathetic to Peyser’s overall take. But I think this column — linked on Drudge — is simply insufficiant. It closes with the line: ” He is not Peter Pan. He is a full-grown freak. And he must pay.” I agree with the sentiment entirely, but the column doesn’t demonstrate the important part of the conclusion — that he must “pay.” It supports the conclusion that he’s a freak, but a picture could have done that almost as easily. The guy is on trial for what probably amounts to his life. I think I can say without fear of contradiction that Michael Jackson is ill-equipped to spend 20 years in prison. And that would be true if here weren’t an alleged child molester. I think he’s guilty and must pay, but even in op-eds you’ve got to support conclusions like that.