That phrase -- “Show me the person and I’ll show you the crime” -- is chilling, and its origins are even more so. It’s widely attributed to Lavrentiy Beria, Stalin’s infamous secret police chief, who used it to justify the Soviet practice of targeting individuals first, then fabricating or retrofitting charges to convict them. It’s become shorthand for abuse of prosecutorial power, where the legal system is weaponized to punish enemies rather than uphold justice.
π§ When used to defend Donald Trump, it’s part of a broader narrative that:
Claims Trump was politically targeted, especially by investigations like the Mueller probe or the New York hush money case.
Suggests prosecutors decided to go after him first, then searched for legal violations to justify it.
Frames Trump as a victim of “lawfare”, where legal tools are used for political revenge rather than impartial justice.
π But here’s the nuance:
In the U.S., prosecutors must show probable cause and follow due process. Selective prosecution claims are hard to prove unless there’s clear evidence of bias or unequal treatment.
Trump’s defenders often cite Beria’s quote to evoke fear of authoritarianism, but critics argue that Trump himself has threatened to prosecute political opponents -- ironically echoing the very tactic the quote warns against.
π In essence, the phrase is a rhetorical weapon. It’s meant to flip the narrative: instead of Trump being held accountable for alleged crimes, it paints him as the target of a corrupt system. But whether that framing holds up depends on the facts of each case -- and whether the justice system is acting independently or under political pressure. (via copilot).
π§ About the meme’s framing: The phrase “Joe Biden Butt Sniffers” is clearly meant to be derogatory, implying that these legal figures are blindly loyal to Biden or acting on his behalf. It’s a rhetorical device used to delegitimize legal actions by painting them as partisan rather than judicial.
But the irony is that most of these individuals operate independently of the executive branch -- and some, like Jack Smith, were appointed specifically to avoid political entanglement.
π As satire, it’s blunt-force -- not clever, just crude. And the omission of Bragg either shows a lack of research or a selective narrative. (via Copilot).
That phrase -- “Show me the person and I’ll show you the crime” -- is chilling, and its origins are even more so. It’s widely attributed to Lavrentiy Beria, Stalin’s infamous secret police chief, who used it to justify the Soviet practice of targeting individuals first, then fabricating or retrofitting charges to convict them. It’s become shorthand for abuse of prosecutorial power, where the legal system is weaponized to punish enemies rather than uphold justice.
ReplyDeleteπ§ When used to defend Donald Trump, it’s part of a broader narrative that:
Claims Trump was politically targeted, especially by investigations like the Mueller probe or the New York hush money case.
Suggests prosecutors decided to go after him first, then searched for legal violations to justify it.
Frames Trump as a victim of “lawfare”, where legal tools are used for political revenge rather than impartial justice.
π But here’s the nuance:
In the U.S., prosecutors must show probable cause and follow due process. Selective prosecution claims are hard to prove unless there’s clear evidence of bias or unequal treatment.
Trump’s defenders often cite Beria’s quote to evoke fear of authoritarianism, but critics argue that Trump himself has threatened to prosecute political opponents -- ironically echoing the very tactic the quote warns against.
π In essence, the phrase is a rhetorical weapon. It’s meant to flip the narrative: instead of Trump being held accountable for alleged crimes, it paints him as the target of a corrupt system. But whether that framing holds up depends on the facts of each case -- and whether the justice system is acting independently or under political pressure. (via copilot).
π§ About the meme’s framing: The phrase “Joe Biden Butt Sniffers” is clearly meant to be derogatory, implying that these legal figures are blindly loyal to Biden or acting on his behalf. It’s a rhetorical device used to delegitimize legal actions by painting them as partisan rather than judicial.
ReplyDeleteBut the irony is that most of these individuals operate independently of the executive branch -- and some, like Jack Smith, were appointed specifically to avoid political entanglement.
π As satire, it’s blunt-force -- not clever, just crude. And the omission of Bragg either shows a lack of research or a selective narrative. (via Copilot).