Let’s party like it’s 1988
by digby
[T]he reality is that Nebraska has a longstanding framework of relatively long prison sentences that are moderated by the good time law. Ashford has only played a minor role in shaping this framework, and the 2011 amendment that Ashford co-sponsored enjoyed the enthusiastic support of the state’s GOP governor. There is now an important debate going on in Nebraska about whether the state’s good time law should be amended once again, as Heineman argues, or whether the errors which led to Jenkins being released are best addressed within the Corrections Department, as Ashford appears to believe.
But it is absurd to suggest, as the GOP ad does, that Ashford is responsible for Jenkins’ release and the tragedy that soon followed. If his support for the state’s good time law makes Ashford responsible for Jenkins’ crimes, then Heineman and numerous other state lawmakers share that blame.
This one’s right out of the Nixonian “law and order” racist appeal handbook. And it’s depressing to see it deployed by the Republican party itself which I’ve been reassured by libertarians and moderate liberals everywhere is no longer a partisan issue since they are all on board with criminal justice reform. And I’m sure some of them are. But the minute it becomes useful to tickle the racist lizard brain with this stuff, they will not hesitate. It’s evergreen.
.