Posted on 12/08/2005 10:22:34 AM PST by SmithL
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger should not grant clemency to death row inmate Stanley Tookie Williams.
Nor should he deny it.
The governor should shelve the clemency hearing scheduled for today. He should call a press conference instead. He should say that in listening to the debate, he has come to understand that the challenge before him is not to parse the singular circumstances of one man's life. It is to tackle the much larger and more relevant issue that has been pushed to the surface by the Tookie Williams case: the public's conflicted feelings and growing questions about the death penalty itself.
Then Schwarzenegger should announce a moratorium on all executions in California, following in the footsteps of another law-and-order Republican governor, former Gov. George Ryan of Illinois.
This not only is the thoughtful, prudent course of action, given what we know now about flaws in the judicial system, but it has the added advantage of turning a radioactive situation for Schwarzenegger into a defining moment. He can stake his claim as a bold, courageous leader without, in actuality, taking much of a political risk: Most Californians favor a moratorium.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Why not just deny Tookie food and water? The courts ruled that starvation was not a cruel way to die. Starvation is natural. How much violence did Terri S. cause?
Arnold should publically release the crime scene photos from Tookie's trial and let the public decide whether or not to execute a POS that would commit such crimes.
Airhead Joan Must be related to George Ryan.
Pursuant to California law, lethal injection is the method of execution. The special guest at the party, however, has the right to choose the gas chamber.
From a columnist in the city that just passed a handgun ban.....no thanks. The San Francisco Chronicle should change it's name to The Bay City Criminal Advocate. Or better yet, let's parole all of those on death row into the residence and custody of Ms. Ryan.
Idiot.
The law says that we have Capital Punishment in California... Don't like it? Then qualify a ballot initiative and put the question on the ballot for the next election... until then, the law is the law.
hey, now there's an idea!!!! charge admission to his death, and send the money to the familie's that were wronged!!!
I have already said this, over and over again.....welcome to free republic
That's such a cute suggestion ms ryan. are you getting high fives from the hippies in the newsroom? count your paychecks. fluff up your resume. you are a dying breed.
"the public's conflicted feelings and growing questions about the death penalty itself"
Someone tell "MIZ" Ryan that we put the damn thing on the ballot back in 1974, voted it in, and then kicked out the California Supreme Court chief who never met a convicted murderer she didn't like.
The public's not "conflicted" about the death penalty in California, you ignorant twit -- they just don't agree with you. Here's $5 - buy yourself a clue.
Uh, Ryan the RINO was indicted, not what I would call a "law and order" Republican.
Maybe Ryan would have more success getting THUGS to suspend all murders/rapes and other crimes of violence INSTEAD.
Probably not. Until then, Ryan...STFU and let em fry.
Fry him, needle him, hang him, whatever it takes to put us out of his misery!
I say SPEED 'EM UP!
Well, how about death by suspension [and not necessarily by the neck, either]?
We should suspend Tookie. Unfortunately, we use legal injection in this State.
" the public's conflicted feelings and growing questions about the death penalty itself."
The only question I have about the death penalty is why does it take so long to carry out?
my latest bumpersticker:Tuck Fookie
Then Schwarzenegger should announce a moratorium on all executions in California, following in the footsteps of another law-and-order Republican governor, former Gov. George Ryan of Illinois.
Gov. Ryan did the right thing because it was very clear that the justice system in IL was broken (50% of those on death row could be exonerated by DNA evidence). Nothing has been shown to be this bad in CA. And Tookie is a monster.
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