Melissa Lucio still awaits real justice from Texas
Plus, Gohmert's Chief of Staff Connie Hair mentioned in Jan. 6 probe
If you have a thirst to see death, you can go online and find any number of videos showing people getting executed.
I do not recommend this (seriously) but depictions of all manner of executions are readily available, including lethal injection, hanging, firing squad, electrocution, stoning, beheading, and likely others can be found.
You may believe some forms of execution are more “humane” than others, but the results are the same. The truth is, we can never know which way is worst for the person being executed, or if there is any difference at all.
The old saying is that “minor surgery” is that which is done on someone else. If it is you, it isn’t “minor.” I suspect the same is true with any sort of execution being “humane.”
Some of those we are killing under the guise of law have no doubt committed some of the most heinous crimes ever. So, we kill them, ostensibly to make society safer but really — and you know this — it’s for revenge.
As Holly Near sang, “Why do we kill people who are killing people to show that killing people is wrong? What a foolish notion.”
Indeed.
Which brings up the sad case of Melissa Lucio who was scheduled to be executed Wednesday but whose life was spared, at least temporarily, by a state district court judge.
The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles was set to decide whether to recommend to Gov. Greg Abbott if Lucio should die by lethal injection for the death of her two-year-old child but hours before that decision, the court ruled instead.
That was the best outcome because a court is at least one step removed from the politics of an upcoming gubernatorial race. Presumably, the judge ruled on the facts, not on whether his decision would be a problem at election time.
It probably did not matter to the end result that more than 100 legislators — of both parties — believed new evidence should be heard, but there was that kind of bi-partisan concern about this case.
Abbott might have done the right thing if given the opportunity but now that is one less thing to worry about. He’s probably happier about the court’s move than anyone outside the family.
Lucio was convicted of pushing her daughter down the stairs, but she has maintained all along that the girl slipped and fell. It seems unlikely that Lucio, who has 14 children, would have done this but there was always enough evidence to at least cause a reasonable doubt. Now there is more.
Lucio has been in prison for nearly 20 years. At the very least she should get a new trial but the prosecutor has the option of simply dropping the charges and giving her back her life. Time will tell if that happens.
Texas has the shame of being the most active death penalty state in the nation — though there are plenty of people in East Texas who would point to that statistic with pride.
If capital punishment worked as a deterrent, as its supporters say, Texas would have the lowest murder rate in the nation — by far. This is just blood lust. If you have that problem, go find a video and quit killing people.
It will be forever unknown how many innocent people have been executed in the name of law and order, but a few have been saved from that ultimate mistake and Melissa Lucio is now apparently one.
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CONNIE HAIR IS U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert’s chief of staff and her name has been mentioned more than once in connection with the attempted insurrection on Jan. 6, ,2021 in Washington, D.C.
The latest was news that Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, cited election conspiracy theories that her friend Hair had suggested in an email to Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows.
Yes, it is confusing. Hair, though, has long been on the right edge of American politics and it is no surprise that she believes the election was stolen, though every single bit of actual evidence points to the falsity of that contention.
Hair is a major player and it is almost certain that she will move in as chief of staff for another ultra right-wing representative or senator. Even if not, she’s sure to continue to be immersed in politics.
How Hair got into politics is an interesting question. She began her career hoping to make a name for herself in the movies. According to IMDB.com, she has four movie credits, with the last one being an adaptation of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel, “Crime and Punishment.” In 2002. She also had a small part in “Death Wish 4” with Charles Bronson.
Gohmert has denied any involvement in the Jan. 6 action numerous times but I’ve never heard him deny that Hair played a part. He could always plausibly say that he had no idea his chief of staff was up to any shenanigans.
We won’t have Gohmert to kick around anymore in 2023 but we still best keep a watch on Hair, she’s not elected and there are apparently few limits to what she will do.
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