Jack & Jill Politics

Great points, Baratunde. The prison culture in this country – what was sold to the American people as being 'tough on crime' – comes from the same sensibilities that have led our politicians to line up, with little deliberation – behind the Patriot Act, the AUMF, and most recently, FISA, and the continued shredding of our once-sacrosanct civil liberties.

Imprisoning citizens for 'victimless crimes' like drug possession has always been a way to scare 'law abiding' citizens. Rove getting away with his litany of crimes, on the other hand, is nothing new, at least in the context of the very powerful people in this country being able to avoid the long arm of the law, thanks to high powered connections to corrupt politicians. Like Bush.

Also, why can't people who served their time vote? It is nothing other than voter suppression that convicted felons automatically lose their right to vote in this country.

So was the Scooter Libby incident.

Baratunde is right… “Meanwhile, a brother in California is late to a meeting with his probation officer and goes right back to prison.” And sometimes it's a sister… and there are children who end up in the foster care system as a result… and the cycle perpetuates itself. Rove and his ilk see themselves as beholden to no law, to no governing body. That his arrogance is supported by GW and company, is indeed “very chilling” and unfortunately predictable.

It's actually done on a state-by-state basis. Some states still don't let people who have completed parole vote.

http://www.sentencingproject.org/Admin/Document…

Yes, it is voter suppression….along with the Military recruitment component of No Child Left Behind…..the occupation of Iraq, where the recruited kids die…..and the Prison system, for those who escape recruitment. It is an elaborate conspiracy to thwart democracy and ensure the continued power of the wealthy class.

Recidivism is a problem, i.e. it is considered before Civil Rights can be restored…recidivist: One who commits a second (or higher numbered) crime; a repeat offender; a habitual criminal. In 2005, the recidivism rates for released prisoners in the United States of America was 60%.

The wait can be long, and in my case it was about 11-years after release. Some findings from a 1994 report: 1) Released prisoners with the highest rearrest rates were robbers (70.2%), burglars (74.0%), larcenists (74.6%), motor vehicle thieves (78.8%), those in prison for possessing or selling stolen property (77.4%), and those in prison for possessing, using, or selling illegal weapons (70.2%). 2) The 272,111 offenders discharged in 1994 had accumulated 4.1 million arrest charges before their most recent imprisonment and another 744,000 charges within 3 years of release.

I'm sure it was designed to feed the military and don't forget McCain didn't want to allow those children any benefits to complete their education after service thereby forcing them to remain in the military. Wow.

You assume that because you're on a predominantly black blog that we don't know the definition of recidivism?

It is you doing the assuming…

Y'all, I watched Baratunde live from Netroots Nation and am really proud of how he represented, especially with the nugget about the prison industry and how brothers are going to jail for a whole lot less than that slimy SOB Rove has done. In any other country, Rove wouldn't be allowed to tell Congress to kiss his ass after being slapped with a subpeona.

I hope he gets sent to Pelican Bay State Prison, where he becomes the prison girlfriend of guys named Biscuit, LeRoy, Skillet and Hard Time.

Yes, that was a California case (my state)… although I believe there have been similar instances in other states. I share your discomfort with high school military recruiters. I think most schools get enough military exposure through ROTC; to additionally plant recruiters on site who, in California at least, do not even have to notify the office of their presence on campus, is way over the top. I worked for years as a social worker, and we were required to sign in at the office even though the schools knew us, yet a Marine recruiter can be on campus all day, without admin being aware of his/her presence. One would wish that colleges would recruit in urban high schools with the same fervor… If a kid who has been through our failing school system can be remediated to make it in the military, why not in college? I would love to see a system where local college recruiters put in the same time and effort courting students that military recruiters do–and I mean the students who are NOT in the top 10 percent… rather the ones who perceive they have no where to go but the military.

oh this is too much! Biscuit!!? LOL

hey sorry for the delay. been out at the conference all day. i just hit up karmi with a quick reply

Ignoring a subpoena from the Volksgerichtshof is not a criminal act. John “Freisler” Conyers is attempting another one of his Nazi moves, in order to impress the Dems Brownshirts base.

Rove’s lawyer says that he is immune and protected by executive privilege, so the ball is back in John “Freisler” Conyers’ Volksgerichtshof.

Ignoring a subpoena from the Volksgerichtshof is not a criminal act. John “Freisler” Conyers is attempting another one of his Nazi moves, in order to impress the Dems Brownshirts base.

Rove’s lawyer says that he is immune and protected by executive privilege, so the ball is back in John “Freisler” Conyers’ Volksgerichtshof.

Ignoring a subpoena from the Volksgerichtshof is not a criminal act. John “Freisler” Conyers is attempting another one of his Nazi moves, in order to impress the Dems Brownshirts base.

Rove’s lawyer says that he is immune and protected by executive privilege, so the ball is back in John “Freisler” Conyers’ Volksgerichtshof.