We know now how Republican central command uses torture and rape tactics both in command of the military as well as in command of domestic forces, especially prison guards and wardens.
I hope some liberals in lower-level law enforcement careers would consider “doing some time” as prison guards to help save prisoners from rape and torture; this might include pretending to be Republicans to get the job.
Double jeapardy treason in a dagger in the heart of democracy every day in a America; I would try to take one of those jobs for awhile to fight this grave injustice but coming from a career as a network engineer who makes 3 to 4 times what a guard makes would certainly raise some red flags. Besides, I fight the fascist machine that is the Republican Party as best I can every day of my life and I know that it’s still not enough.
The NY Times article in the second link above describes how some disgusting Texas guards, whom I allege are Republican paramilitary, take part as accomplices every day as torturers and rapists.
These motherfuckers need to be taken down by any means necessary. ANY MEANS NECESSARY. They are THE enemy of the fascist Republican enemies; they are the executive branch of the Republican torture machine.
Skip to next paragraph
Associated Press
Roderick Johnson says he was kept for 18 months as a sex slave.
“Was Mr. Johnson considered a member of the Gangster Disciples?” one of Mr. Johnson’s lawyers asked the witness, whose name was withheld by the court because his testimony could subject him to retaliation.
“No,” said the witness, a soft-spoken, perfectly bald and quite imposing black man in a prison uniform and shackles.
“What was he considered?” asked the lawyer, Jeffrey Monks.
“Property,” came the reply.
That meant, the witness continued, that gang members could rape Mr. Johnson at will. They could, he said, also rent him out for sex, and they did, daily. A purchased rape, the witness said, cost $3 to $7. Mr. Johnson says the abuse went on for 18 months.
Mr. Johnson, who was in Allred for probation violations after a burglary conviction, has sued seven prison officials there for violating the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. The officials, the suit says, failed to protect him and took sadistic pleasure in his victimization. Mr. Johnson was released in 2003.
Powerful. Texas is a moral abyss when it comes to judicial proceedings, defendants’ rights, etc.
Then there’s the commercialization of prisons which drives up demand for more prisoners, hence more crimes net longer prison sentences, particularly non-violent crimes.
Shockingly, even some liberals I know — if they dislike what someone has done — wish that person a long prison sentence. Martha Stewart was one of those people who smoe liberals thought got off too easy. I thought it was stupid to put her in prison at all. I think prison should be a system of last resort, only for those who are a true danger to other people.
Coming from you, that means a lot; I really respect the detail of your research and the approach you take with your facts. I have learned a lot from good writers here and at Dkos.
This topic sets me into a rage… I thanks God I have blogs to vent. Now, I don’t feel the need to respond at work (corporate America) when repubs start running at the mouth. (I’m pretty sure I lost a job due to this once in conjuction with downsizing; the boss was a rabid repub and of course liberals got cut first… anyhow, so it’s good I have an outlet).
Thanks again for the reply.
It’s always been this way in the Texas prison system, from long before the time when a Republican could even have been elected dogcatcher in this state. In fact, the sad truth is that it used to be a whole lot worse than it is now.
Mr. Johnson filed this suit against the TDCJ while he was still in custody. I can remember a time when that would have been prevented, as you say, by any means necessary.
It’s sickening to see how the TDCJ is brazening this out, as if no one had ever heard of such an awful thing happening, when we’ve all heard of this and much more forever.
“These motherfuckers need to be taken down by any means necessary. ANY MEANS NECESSARY.”
That’s not the kind of thing I like to read on liberal blogs – or any blog for that matter.
I can respect that but parsing of words when you are dealing torturers and rapists disturbs me. I’m sure that the Nazi opposition wished that they had advocated “any means necessary” prior to the Nazi’s taking absolute control and initiating genocide. And believe me, I KNOW, living in the South, that they are absolutely capable of genocide… oh wait, they already have that WELL underway with the Holy Drug Inquisition and its resulting prison bind torture and rape.
Nevermind.