Putting political opponents in jail is another thing you like about Putin. Right, Donald?
The USS Trump is sinking. While the ship’s orchestra plays on, below deck some dark elements of the Republican Party are plotting to obstruct and derail the presumptive presidential winner. There is one tried and true strategy that works consistently in a pinch; partisan prosecution. In fact, it is not only a reaction to crisis, judging from the picture above, it has been the plan all along.
Sure, jailing your opponent is SOP for dictators and despots, but they are not democracies. Even the Chinese Communist paper The People’s Daily states that in the USA the fair election of leaders is anything but. Many people would be surprised to know that jailing your political opponent is a strategy used right here in our country, too. For a prime example, look at Alabama.
Political Prosecution: Made in the USA
One outstanding example of Made in the USA political prosecution took place in Alabama. It was used on the unbeatable former Governor, Don Siegelman, and succeeded. When victory in an election is unlikely, some elements in the GOP investigate, prosecute and jail political opponents! Apparently, the tactic is growing in boldness and popularity.
Paul Krugman tweeted during the second Presidential Debate “Let’s be clear: a candidate for president promised to put his opponent in jail if he wins. Everything else is secondary.” (Italics mine.) Krugman zeroed in on Trump’s promise to abuse the Justice Department during the debate Sunday to punish political opponents. Furthermore, he noted how central that concept is to the abuse of our Democracy.
Let’s be clear: a candidate for president promised to put his opponent in jail if he wins. Everything else is secondary.(@paulkrugman)
Friends of Siegelman believe that when it comes to the abuse of the Judiciary, Trump will make good on that promise. He will prosecute his political opponents, commercial competition and anyone whom he deems a detractor. We have several reasons to believe this.
Judge Pryor conspired to jail Siegelman
This Judge is an Old Hand at Partisan Prosecution
One clue that Trump intends to use partisan prosecution in his presidency is his Supreme Court nominee short list. On that list is 11th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge William Pryor.
William Pryor played a pivotal role in Siegelman’s political downfall. Siegelman was an Alabama progressive who had a promising political career stretching out before him. Because of Pryor and his GOP cartel, the innocent former Governor is presently in Federal Prison, no longer a political threat. One key element of the take-down featured Pryor using his office at Justice to politically assassinate his Governor.
Trump pledged that if he was president he would sic his justice department on Clinton and put her in jail. This shocked viewers and commentators. We don’t do that in this country! We are, as Adam Smith claimed “a country of laws not of men.” We have a constitution and a president, not a king or despot.
Political Prosecution in America?
Sadly, if you follow the Don Siegelman story, you will discover that we already prosecute political opponents in this country. Under the radar, there are 100s of politically motivated judicial prosecutions. This is what the Attorneys General Scandal was about! Slowly these cases are coming to light, casting doubt on the justice in the Justice Department.
But hopefully, that light would also show us ways that we can revitalize our national ideals and regain our faith in the Justice Department. Let’s stop putting innocent, non-violent people in jail.
Trump threatens Hillary during the debate stating if he were president: . . . you would be in jail.
Image:”Clinton for Prisondent”, source:Hang the Bankers
