A Not-So-Lethal Injection and Trump on Tour Had the Heartland Talking

Politics can have a polarizing effect. In a country allegedly now made up mostly of independents, one event has brought out the best and the worst of the dominant two-party system: an execution in Tennessee – or, rather, the lack thereof. Meanwhile, both sides of the aisle have seemingly come together on the Cornell University rape allegations and issued a word of warning: Stay out of the Heartland, boys, you might be too stupid for those gals. Finally, President Trump trotted around with mini MAGA rallies trying to generate good feelings for GOP candidates late in the game. Well, he was also fiddling around with changing the names of things because that’s important, too.  

The Undeserved Last Word

The head of Tennessee's prison system is resigning after the failed execution of Christa Pike, which now enables social media warriors to weigh in on the not quite final breaths of the now comatose murderer. In KC, MO, Ross Barringer went the lighthearted route, writing: “It might take two resignations and still not work.”

Christa complained about her arms burning as she was strapped to the execution gurney. That anyone is concerned about that is alarming enough – but to add to that the idea that she should be freed? Well, that may warrant a trip to the loony bin.

In all this worry about the killer's feelings and well-being, where's the concern for the victim, Colleen Slemmer, and her mother, who has waited three decades to completely lay to rest her child?

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Let’s remind you of what crime landed Christa on death row: As the medical examiner reported, Colleen Slemmer had so many slash wounds across her back, arms, stomach, chest, throat, and face that individually cataloging all of them was not technically possible. A six-inch gash effectively slit her throat, a pentagram was carved into her chest, and she had the defensive wounds of a fighter. All wounds were inflicted antemortem until the asphalt. Cause of death was blunt force trauma to her head from a piece of asphalt - repeatedly.

Jim Herring in South Carolina was helpful, advising: “Nobody ever ‘botched’ a firing squad.”

Caitlin Crawford in Missouri might have the best summation of the situation at hand: “Now bless some of y’all’s hearts, because telling Colleen Slemmer’s mama to ‘find peace’ might be one of the dumbest things I’ve read all week. Because Colleen’s skull was kept as evidence in the case against Christa Pike.” Caitlin continued:

“Her mama later fought to get it back so she could cremate it and finally put ALL of her daughter together. And she was basically told: not until the appeals are done. So, while some of y’all are sitting on Facebook acting like grief is a casserole you can just stick in the fridge and be done with, this woman has spent DECADES waiting to fully bring her child home.”

Cornell University

Cornell University is back in the news with information recently released about the complaint of rape against multiple students of the Chi Phi fraternity. The now infamous Jane Doe claims she was assaulted by seven frat members. At first glance, most folks From the Back Forty would say hang 'em. But now there's new information.

The story seemed to get a bit wobbly a few days ago when a passage of unseen text messages between the alleged victim (known only as Jane Doe) and one of the men she’s accusing of rape was released by CBS News. Give the newshounds credit – this is brand new meat for tenderizing.

Jane Doe and one of the accused students allegedly had a dialogue after the incident. Jane Doe texted: “none of the sexual stuff was illegal,” and she claimed she would like a repeat performance. Miss Doe doubled down: “You’re right it’ll get better and u think everyone’s jealous of us.. but also like everyone needs to grow up cause sexuality and sex and [REDACTED] is changing and stuff like this is going to become more common.. i’m also really open minded tho. i luv u king,, also tell anyone who gives u [REDACTED] that i’ll actually beat them up that don’t want the smoke i promise.” 

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Dang. She’s a feisty victim. So feisty, in fact, that her lawsuit claims she attempted to leave the University but that Cornell refused to give her back tuition and forced her to even stay for another (Spring) semester. Then she dropped out.

Scott Ramler, of Andrews, North Carolina, said: “She was drunk when she arrived, continued to drink and do drugs, and in her statement said it was all consensual. You cannot revoke consent years after the fact.”

Are you sure? Because the #MeToo movement sure seemed to make that a legit thing a few years back. And there should be a word of warning from the ladies in the heartland who push around a 1200-pound farm animal and buck hay with the best of men: You boys are too stupid to fall for that kind of behavior. It has blowback, or as a young law student might know, consequences.

Trump Stumps and Stomps and Ponders Name Changes

The GOP waited a good bit to throw a lot of money at statewide candidates for one reason: Wait and see if it’s necessary. It seems that it is. Republicans have increased their candidate dole-out in Ohio, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Iowa, and Alaska. But not New America (Formerly known as New Mexico)? The Land of Enchantment has gone almost full commie. Conversely, the Democratic funders are also in each of the aforementioned states, but in embarrassingly tiny amounts. And Kamala Harris may hurt more than help her party’s candidates – which is why so many of them reject her offers of support.

But will it matter if everyone seems ready to lay down on one color or the other? Maybe. Kevin Bailey, in Stanfield, OR (northeastern rural), basically said voters don’t even know who is running or what the candidate stands for. “The midterms are not about a specific person but of a set of principles and ideology. It's not simply do you approve of everything President Trump has done, but which direction do you want America to go?”

Monty Henson weighed in from the Lone Star State: “For me, it comes down to communist or Republican. I’m voting Republican.”

The real bellwether for 2028 will be if independents are terrified enough of the socialist army to step up and save the Trump candidates one more time in November. Trump might do better for the GOP if he stopped fooling around and ended a war. Any war.

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Editor's Note: From the Back Forty is Liberty Nation's longest running and most popular weekly column.