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.
Then the guards should retaliate.
You are absolutely correct. This case is a no brainer. This animal should be sent to kingdom come, the sooner the better. Arnold should have acted on this immediately. A decision to let this killer off the hook will be the end of Arnie's political career. And, any idiot like the above writer, that says Arnie will gain political favor among Democrats if he grants clemency is smoking reefer. Fact is: No one, and I mean, no one gives a damn about "Tookie" except the nutcases that don't have a clue!!!
Yea and dont flash your brights at someone with thier lights off
I still don't understand why anyone who claims to be a "crip" or a "blood" isn't declared fair game and taken out with the trash.
Semper Fi
Ditto.
Of course he's decided! He just hasn't decided to let the msm in on it yet. They also have to get their Guard troops in place should chaos ensue.
He'd better do the right thing and DENY CLEMENCY.
I think he's gonna decide after Toothless Tookie is juiced.
What's taking the terminator so long to terminate this mutant's life?
"Following a clemency hearing on Thursday, Schwarzenegger said the decision was a "heavy responsibility" and he was carefully studying all sides of the issue."
I think he's a first class triple A girly-man.
The guy is too scared to make a decision. He's weak.
Thanks for posting this young man's photo.
America must know.
"he will wait until the last minute and maybe not say anything at all because he doesn't have to."
That has been my hunch all along. I don't think he's gonna decide one way or another and the mutant will be juiced.
That's exactly what we were thinking too.
"Saying "no" just gives the media and so-called activists time to drum up a riot or some nutty legal challenge."
I think you're right there. Hope this is the reason he's delaying his decision until the last minute - ie, to avoid a legal challenge at the state's appellate courts.
At any rate, it had better be "three shopping days left till Tookie gets his shots"; although I don't trust Arnie baby to make unpopular decisions. He did, after all, marry a Kennedy.
Segovia
Truthfully, I didn't expect riots or anything excessive in the violence department but the dimwits across the state are hyping so perhaps caution is warranted. You can't tell anymore. Not after Katrina or other instances where the MSM has blown things far out of proportion.
He should remain undecided until after the needle goes into Tookies arm....after that I don't care what his leftie-pinko wife talks him into.
What a script... building suspense... all eyes await...
Communists and celebs incite riot...
I'm so tired of the melodrama. Just make a decision, already.
Only 2 shopping days till Kwanzaa! Help us celebrate the death of fruit Tookie!
>>Him picking that rino judge was far worse than anything he will do with tookie or his chief of staff.
Ditto.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
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