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If Life Sentence is Worse than Death Penalty, Why do Tookie's Fans Seek it for Him? [Vanity]
governsleastgovernsbest

Posted on 11/27/2005 5:22:21 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest

It is fashionable among death-penalty opponents to claim that life in prison without the possibility of parole amounts to worse punishment than the death penalty.

For example, Bill Kurtis, host of A&E's "Investigative Reports" who has written a book advocating abolition of the death penalty, asserts that:

"Life without parole is bad. Worse than [executing] somebody."

If death-penalty opponents truly believe this, then why would the supporters of Tookie Williams be so avidly advocating the commutation of his death sentence to life without parole? It's hard to believe they wish to inflict harsher punishment on Williams.

Isn't this proof that, despite their protestations, opponents of the death penalty recognize that it remains the supreme sanction?


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: California; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: criminaljustice; deathpenalty; lifewithoutparole; tookiewilliams
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1 posted on 11/27/2005 5:22:23 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Because the next step will be to demand he be freed.


2 posted on 11/27/2005 5:28:32 AM PST by KateatRFM
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Liberals and Democrats: The supporters of abortion and euthanasia. Your headline captures it perfectly. The "Death" Party. Being alive=a fate worse than death.


3 posted on 11/27/2005 5:29:28 AM PST by Alia
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Once they get the death penalty overturned, they will start pressing the Courts to find life without parole to be cruel and unusual punishment. The NYT has already started "editorializing" this view in several news stories.


4 posted on 11/27/2005 5:29:39 AM PST by writmeister
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

I totally agree. It might not be the life he wanted, but I'm sure he has made the best of a bad situation and has created a life for himself in prison that satisfies many of his wants, needs and desires and likely allows him to maintain his "business" outside. Why is he still breathing?


5 posted on 11/27/2005 5:31:11 AM PST by GBA (I believe Congressman Weldon! MSM do your job.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

I think it is nice that the Leftist's will award him the Peace Prize.

CA should wait to see if he wins it then excute him.

That will show how much we care about that stupid, worthless, meaningless prize.

Didn't Yassar Arafat win it before too?


6 posted on 11/27/2005 5:32:45 AM PST by stockpirate (John Kerry & FBI files ==> http://www.freerepublic.com/~stockpirate/)
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To: All

On a related note, Fox & Friends Weekend just completed a segment trying to answer the question as to why there have been so many prison escapes recently.

The guest was a female federal prison consultant.

Her solution? Don't put so many people in prison. As is so typical, she wrung her hands over the number of 'non-violent' people in prison. Does she really want to release a flood of drug dealers back into society? Does she really believe they are 'non-violent'?

Hosts Julian Phillips and Alisyn Camerota were totally on board. They heartily agreed that "Martha Stewart is not a threat to society", etc. If I heard correctly, Julian said he was a big Martha fan.


7 posted on 11/27/2005 5:33:49 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show since 2002 so you don't have to.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

A side note. In preparing this thread, I did an internet search for death penalty opponents who assert that life without parole is actually worse than death.

That's how I came across Kurtis' statement. However, you'll note that I used a parenthetical in the quote in which I inserted [executing]. Kurtis actually used the word, speaking of the death penalty, "killing." In other words, he wants to strip the death penalty of any cover of legitimacy.


8 posted on 11/27/2005 5:36:46 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show since 2002 so you don't have to.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Yes.


9 posted on 11/27/2005 5:44:29 AM PST by Ninian Dryhope
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To: Ninian Dryhope

Can't quite follow what the 'yes' refers to.


10 posted on 11/27/2005 5:48:33 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show since 2002 so you don't have to.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Because Tookie is running the Crips gang from prison and his minions will try and get him out of jail..


11 posted on 11/27/2005 5:56:33 AM PST by sheik yerbouty ( Make America and the world a jihad free zone!)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Isn't this proof that, despite their protestations, opponents of the death penalty recognize that it remains the supreme sanction?


12 posted on 11/27/2005 5:59:44 AM PST by Ninian Dryhope
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To: KateatRFM

He'll need to be freed so he can have a good cry on a Barbara Walters special. Seriously, once he's on a life sentence, his mutant supporters will start yapping that he should be freed.


13 posted on 11/27/2005 6:03:40 AM PST by Sociopathocracy (Real martinis do not contain vodka, fruit juice or umbrellas.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
As is so typical, she wrung her hands over the number of 'non-violent' people in prison.

Like the Enron boys? She's probably want them to get death.

What qualifies one to be a prison consultant?

14 posted on 11/27/2005 6:06:15 AM PST by Sociopathocracy (Real martinis do not contain vodka, fruit juice or umbrellas.)
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To: GBA
I totally agree. It might not be the life he wanted, but I'm sure he has made the best of a bad situation and has created a life for himself in prison that satisfies many of his wants, needs and desires and likely allows him to maintain his "business" outside. Why is he still breathing?

Good question.

This is one area where O'Rielly makes some sense. We should go deep into Alaska and create a prison for the lifers from all 50 states. In order for them to survive, they have to grow their own food. Escape? Not likely, but if you do either the cold, the bears or the 'skeeters will get you. No Posse needed....

15 posted on 11/27/2005 6:07:15 AM PST by Thermalseeker
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To: Ninian Dryhope

Thanks for the clarification - I see we're on the same page.


16 posted on 11/27/2005 6:08:00 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show since 2002 so you don't have to.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
The only reason that this murderer and his ilk (like Mumia sp?) have such a leftist following is their ability to influence others. As soon as they pay the ultimate price, their ongiong influence ends.

In the meantime, they are able to write their drivel and perform on their closed circuit circuses to indoctrinate others to their cause.

If they were semi-literate petty criminals the Mike Farrells of the world wouldn't waste their time.

17 posted on 11/27/2005 6:15:52 AM PST by par4 (If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Beware anytime Hollywood celebrities select a pet cause.

Where is Ted Danson 15 years after his "expertise" warned of the oceans' demise in 10 years.

Norman Mailer helped a convicted murderer get out of jail because he had a way with words.

That guy killed again....for no apparent reason...... and is back in the slammer.

Where are all the Hollywood elite who threatened to move to France if Bush won the presidency in 2000?

Why is Johnny Depp disgusted with France?

18 posted on 11/27/2005 6:17:29 AM PST by CROSSHIGHWAYMAN (m)
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To: Sociopathocracy
What qualifies one to be a prison consultant?

Membership in the ACLU? ;-)

19 posted on 11/27/2005 6:19:00 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show since 2002 so you don't have to.)
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To: stockpirate
Didn't Yassar Arafat win it before too?

And Jimmy Carter.

Maybe before he croaks, Fidel Castro will get a token prize.

20 posted on 11/27/2005 6:21:00 AM PST by CROSSHIGHWAYMAN (m)
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