Never Ryan? Never McCain?

By Scott Galindez, Reader Supported News

23 October 16

 

sssssst … Hey, Trump supporters, the Never Trumpers have abandoned you. They are doing everything they can to stop your guy. I just have to ask, why should you remain loyal to them? Let’s face it, they have ruined any chance your guy had to become president. Why don’t you send them a message? Don’t vote in the down-ballot races, and let them pay a price for their decision.

Okay, you’re right: I have no sympathy for Donald Trump and I think he ruined his own campaign. I don’t believe he believes any of his populist message. I think he is using your anger and desire for change. He says what he knows you want to hear. If you really want change and want to reform our politics, then throw the bums out! Here is a list of just the GOP members of Congress who are not voting a straight party line.

Paul Ryan said he will no longer have Trump’s back. So don’t have his back. Don’t vote for him.

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said she will write Jeb Bush’s name in on the ballot in November. So you should write in someone else’s name in her Congressional race.

Charlie Dent, a moderate Republican who represents southeastern Pennsylvania, said he doesn’t intend to vote for Trump or Clinton. “I’m not planning to vote for either of the two major-party nominees.” Vote third party in his race too.

Adam Kinzinger, who criticized Ted Cruz for not endorsing Trump at the convention in Cleveland, is now saying he can’t vote for Trump. You shouldn’t vote for Kinzinger either.

Mike Coffman said, “For the good of the country, and to give the Republicans a chance of defeating Hillary Clinton, Mr. Trump should step aside.” Give him his walking papers.

Bob Dold said, “Whether it be Mr. Trump’s comments about women, his comments about Muslims, his comments about Latinos, for me it was very personal his comments about POWs.... I want to make [sure] that I’m clear about this, I’m not going to support Hillary Clinton either. I would write someone in.” Well, so should you in his Congressional race.

Scott Rigell said that he will vote for Libertarian Gary Johnson. Is there a libertarian running against him?

Dave Reichert said that, after the release of a video in which Trump boasts about sexually assaulting women, “Donald Trump has lost my vote.” Has Reichert lost yours?

Reid Ribble said in December that he would not back Trump if he became the nominee. In June, he said Trump was “likely to be a racist.” Now, along with Rep. Scott Rigell and a slew of operatives, he has signed a letter asking the RNC to withdraw resources from the Trump campaign and concentrate on holding Congress. Withhold your vote from Ribble.

Jason Chaffetz said, “I’m out. I can no longer in good conscience endorse this person for president. It is some of the most abhorrent and offensive comments that you can possibly imagine.” Does he have your vote?

Barbara Comstock said, “I cannot in good conscience vote for Donald Trump.” Can you vote for her?

Martha Roby said, “Donald Trump's behavior makes him unacceptable as a candidate for president and I won't vote for him.” Is she acceptable to you?

Joe Heck called on Trump to step down.

Cresent Hardy said he will no longer support Trump.

Mia Love said, “His behavior and bravado have reached a new low. I cannot vote for him. For the good of the party, he should step aside.”

Will Hurd said, “I never endorsed Trump and I cannot in good conscience support or vote for a man who degrades women, insults minorities, and has no clear path to keep our country safe.”

Steve Knight said, “While I’ve never before endorsed a Presidential candidate, I’ve felt compelled to strongly condemn many of Mr. Trump’s previous outrageous remarks. And after serious consideration, I have decided that I cannot support either candidate for President.”

John Katko said, “I am certainly not going to vote for him.”

Kay Granger called on him to withdraw in the wake of a video in which he boasts about sexually assaulting women.

Rodney Davis has called on Trump to step down in favor of Mike Pence. “I am rescinding my support for Donald Trump and asking to have my name removed from his agriculture advisory committee.”

Ann Wagner said, “As a strong and vocal advocate for victims of sex trafficking and assault, I must be true to those survivors and myself and condemn the predatory and reprehensible comments of Donald Trump,”

Tom Rooney will not vote for Trump in the wake of a video in which Trump boasted about sexually assaulting women. Rooney will also not vote for Clinton. Rooney was one of the earliest members of Congress to back Trump. “I’m a Republican and he’s our nominee. All these people who are saying they’re not going to support who the Republican primary electorate has chosen need to re-evaluate why they’re part of this team. The people have spoken and you have to respect that.” I guess Rooney quit the team.

Erik Paulsen called a video in which Trump boasted about sexually assaulting women “disgusting and offensive,” adding, “I will not be voting for him.”

Frank LoBiondo said he will vote for Mike Pence instead of Donald Trump. “I cannot support and will not vote for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton to be president of the United States.”

Jamie Herrera Beutler said she will write in Speaker Paul Ryan for president.

Those are just the members of the House of Representatives who will not be supporting the GOP nominee. Of course they are showing that they are sane. They are making the right choice. No person of morals should vote for Donald Trump.

But ...

If they are not supporting the party nominee, then you don’t have to vote a straight ticket either. I dare you: vote against any Republican who isn’t voting for your guy.

Imagine if all of these incumbents lost their seat because they abandoned Donald Trump. What a powerful message that would send … (wink)

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Scott Galindez attended Syracuse University, where he first became politically active. The writings of El Salvador's slain archbishop Oscar Romero and the on-campus South Africa divestment movement converted him from a Reagan supporter to an activist for Peace and Justice. Over the years he has been influenced by the likes of Philip Berrigan, William Thomas, Mitch Snyder, Don White, Lisa Fithian, and Paul Wellstone. Scott met Marc Ash while organizing counterinaugural events after George W. Bush's first stolen election. Scott will be spending a year covering the presidential election from Iowa.

Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader Supported News.

I Spent 28 Years on Death Row for a Crime I Didn't Commit

By Anthony Ray Hinton, Guardian UK

23 October 16

 

Every night, I go outside and look up to the stars and the moon because for years, I could not see them

was 29 and mowing the lawn at my mother’s house in Birmingham, Alabama, on a hot day in July 1985 when I looked up and saw two police officers. When my mom saw the handcuffs, she screamed. They asked me whether I owned a firearm, and I said no. They asked if my mother owned one, and I said yes. I asked the detective 50 times why I was being arrested. Eventually, he told me I was being arrested for a robbery. I told him, “You have the wrong man.” He said, “I don’t care whether you did it or not. You will be convicted.”

At the station, it became clear I’d been at work when the robbery occurred. The detective verified this with my supervisor, but then told me they were going to charge me with two counts of first-degree murder from two other robberies. They said my mother’s gun was the same kind as the one used at the crime scene, and that I matched the description of the man they were looking for. That was enough for them to pursue charges.

When I met my appointed lawyer, I told him I was innocent. He said, “All of y’all always say you didn’t do something.” I might have seen him three times in the two years I waited for trial. The only evidence linking me to the crime was the testimony of a ballistics expert who said the bullets from the murder weapon could be a match to my mother’s gun. They found me guilty and on 17 December 1986 I went to death row.

On death row, the day starts at 2.45am. At 10am they bring lunch. Dinner was at 2pm. And that was it. They don’t care about actual mealtimes: they say they have to get through everyone, so they start early. The cell was 5ft x 7ft. You spend about 24 hours in there.

For three years I didn’t say a word to another human. I had to watch 54 men walk past to be executed. My cell was 30ft from the chamber and I could smell the burning flesh. There were 22 who took their own life. Going into my fourth year, I heard the man in the cell next to me crying. He told me his mother had died. I said, “Well, now you have someone in heaven to argue your case.” The next morning, it was as though a light had come on: my sense of humour was back.

I let my mind travel. I visited the Queen; I married Halle Berry. My mind went everywhere, and at night I’d come back and check on my body.

Without lawyer Bryan Stevenson and the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), I wouldn’t be where I am now. I wrote to him after seeing him on TV one day while being walked back to my cell. I got to meet him in 1995 and finally had someone to fight for me.

He hired a ballistics expert and when we got the news that the bullets didn’t match, we went to the attorney general. They refused to take an hour to re-examine the case because it would be a “waste of taxpayers’ money”, and I sat on death row for another 16 years.

EJI kept pushing for a retrial and eventually, on 3 April 2015, the State of Alabama dropped all charges. I was released that same day. I couldn’t take it in: when you’ve been locked up for nearly 30 years, nothing is the same. It was like walking out on to another planet at the age of 58. Someone had to introduce me to the internet. My mother had died, but I was fortunate to have a best friend who let me move in and who supported me.

In jail, you spend all your time thinking of the things you’re going to eat, only to get out and discover you want nothing. I bought a king-size bed – after sleeping in the foetal position for years, I dreamed of stretching out. I’ve been out of prison for a year and half now, and I have yet to stretch out.

Every night, I go outside and look up at the stars and moon, because for years I could not see either. I walk in the rain, because I didn’t feel rain for years. Now, I am determined to go wherever I am asked to help end the death penalty. I am so thankful that I get to travel with Lifelines and EJI, and share my story.

I’ve never had an apology, but I forgave those involved in my conviction long before I left prison. I didn’t forgive them so they can sleep well at night. I did it so I can.

As told to Fran Singh