"Took, took, tookie, gooooooodbyyyyyyye..."
Posted on 12/10/2005 7:13:38 PM PST by NormsRevenge
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will not decide on Saturday whether to grant clemency to former Crips gang leader Stanley Tookie Williams, who is slated to be executed on Tuesday for murdering four people in 1979, his office said.
Barring clemency or last-minute court intervention, officials will administer a lethal injection to Williams at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday in the death chamber at San Quentin State Prison.
The case has generated widespread interest and fierce debate over the death penalty in the United States because Williams, 51, has written a series of books warning young people against gangs and says he has found redemption.
His supporters have said he should be spared so he can continue his anti-gang work from behind bars.
The governor's office told Reuters that Schwarzenegger would not be making a decision on Saturday and gave no indication of when he would.
Following a clemency hearing on Thursday, Schwarzenegger said the decision was a "heavy responsibility" and he was carefully studying all sides of the issue.
Granting clemency would be a risk for Schwarzenegger, weakened by a stinging loss on all his initiatives in a special election he called last month, as it could alienate his Republican party.
But it could help boost his flagging popularity in a state where Democrats are the largest party as he looks to reelection in 2006.
U.S. governors typically stay executions because of doubts over evidence in the case or fairness of the trial rather than because of redemption. Williams has said he did not commit the murders, but said he hurt many people as leader of the Crips gang in the Los Angeles area.
What should weigh heavily on the conscience of conservatives is how we, as citizens, let our society draw out the process of the execution of an ostensibly just sentence. That we, collectively, have saddled our governor with this grave decision, more than 20 years after the fact, should consume our outrage, not his decision if we judge it to be contrary to our principles.
Interesting thoughts. If Arnold announced no clemency today, unexpectedly, the police would be unprepared for the emotional response.
I disagree. I think Arnold's critics would much prefer to see Tookie executed.
The weather is going to be nicer on Thursday. He could make his announcement out on the Capitol lawn.
Just watch what happens here if Tookie doesn`t get what he deserves
The man has been CONDEMNED by a jury for four murders. There is no doubt that he committed cold blooded murder.
Where is our sense of moral outrage that demands justice swift and sure?
Execution is the harshest possible punishment and is necessary in a case like this. It will serve as an example to others that human lives are still precious to society.
Wouldn't surprise me if he lets the execution go through, and makes it plain that part of his decision is because he ain't gonna get blackmailed by a buncha thugs!
The Tookie Monster, of course, gets needled Tuesday.
Who is going to riot-a bunch of old white liberals?
South Central is mostly Mexican now and they could care less about a black con.
If anything goes down it will be INSIDE the prison system where a lot of Crips will be looking for payback.
The governor needs to look at this photo for a long time before he decides on his clemency ruling! Tooskie destroyed this human as decided by a court of law.......
Your sense of timing is dead on the money, or gurney.
Is the Governor required to specifically announce he's NOT granting clemency (if that's his decision)? Can Arnold hide behind a wall of silence until the executions goes ahead?
"Took, took, tookie, gooooooodbyyyyyyye..."
He's already a girlie man. The jury found him guilty and sentence was pronounced. Rule of law. And he should say just that.
"Schwarzenegger's decision of William's appeal for clemency should not be a litmus test of political acceptability."
Try "The straw that broke the camel's back".
You got it! Thanks!
African Americans(a select few) have already made the threat. It doesn't have to be south central. His rap buddy said grant clemency or else! His very words. Sounds like a threat to me!
BTW if you think a riot isn't possible then you are living in a dream world. Old white guys? Where the hell do you live?
A friend of mine who works in the prison system says the rumor is that if Tookie is put to death, the Crips will try to kill one guard in each prison.
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