While I am for the death penalty, I think the evidence must be much more substantial than what the prosecutors had. If you’re going to execute someone, you’d better have much more than “reasonable doubt.”
Sounds like a quote from Ed Meese – before he was indicted…My only qualm with the death penalty is when you get it wrong. Of course there are crimes that more than merit it, but it’s also wrong to kill the wrong person just to have someone to kill.
Why are libbies in such a hurry to set murderers free just because they are black? There is exactly ZERO question as to Mumia’s guilt. He killed a cop in broad daylight on a busy Philly street, but it seems the entire liberal Hollywood community is ready to set him free.
While we are at it, let’s also remember this guy was convicted 20 years ago. Why. all of a sudden, is there all this uproar about “insufficient evidence”. As for the witnesses now recanting their testimonies, I haven’t heard any of them say they perjured themselves. There is a difference in admitting to having lied on the stand and saying that they could not identify him now. I couldn’t identify anyone I saw 20 years ago. The man was convicted well beyond a reasonable doubt, has had many appeals, and still his conviction stands. He was as guilty as could be, so get over it.
Interesting moral dilemma that Western societies condemn individual killers but largely support the right of the State to kill, either as punishment or acting through its military forces. One also muses on how many of those who dictate or support death penalties profess themselves to be religious, which, in our particular society, most frequently involves Christianity, in which the Ten Commandments specifically preclude killing. Hypocrisy often appears to be the norm in so many adherents of that religion, but I suppose it depends on whether one chooses to be instructed by the Christians’ Old Testament with its vengeful deity or by the New with its god of forgiveness and mercy.
said "I also worry about it potentially being used by the gov’t to kill who it deems necessary to get rid of.That was the rationale to abolish the death penalty in South Africa after its 1st free elections in 1994. The previous government executed quite a few political prisoners. The new government vowed not to re-instate it. Even now, despite popular support because of SA’s incredibly high crime rate, it will not. I support that stance.
But what then is capital punishment but the most premeditated of murders, to which no criminal’s deed, however calculated it may be, can be compared? For there to be equivalence, the death penalty would have to punish a criminal who had warned his victim of the date at which he would inflict a horrible death on him and who, from that moment onward, had confined him at his mercy for months. Such a monster is not encountered in private life. -Albert Camus, writer, philosopher, Nobel laureate (1913-1960)
after witnesses said he smirked while shooting the cop to death, i somehow think the appellate court got the idea this turd needed to die. i agree. not a reasonable doubt anywhere. and the gov’t doesn’t waste time on a courtroom if it wants you out of the way, Hotey.
Interesting the “interpretation” of the supposed disclosures in court. Odd how one of the two who didn’t change their “witness” statements, was also a suspect. No physical evidence linking him to the crime that stood the test of “reasonable and prudent man” judging that evidence. SCOTUS by the way reviews PROCESS, not “guilt or innocence” in these cases. There is also a difference between poor jury review causing a person to be locked up, versus killed. NO capital case should resolve on less than total, unimpeachable FACTS and evidence. Such wasn’t the case here.
Civilized people do not set murderers free, as it tears the basic fabric of society. Obviously, liberals have a way to go before they reach civilization.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1540632/Convicted-murderers-who-were-set-free-to-kill.html
A friend at Ft. Benning was arrested for an armed robbery that occurred across the river in Alabama. He was IN LOS ANGELES, attending his mother’s funeral at the time of the robbery!! He was “positively identified” by witnesses as the robber! Oh, he was identified as black. Fortunately for him, another friend was a personal friend of George Wallace. A phone call got him out, but only after he’d been badly beaten in an effort to get him to “confess”.
Civilized people don’t execute people if there is even a remote possibility of their innocence. Which, isn’t it odd, how often these cases arise in the “bible belt”?? Must be all that “do unto others” stuff.
@Everyone Please don’t feed the racial troll. The system has failed some people due to incompetence from the bench or counsel. If it was from the bench those judges should be impeached. If it was counsel it brings to light our flawed public defendants who at times are fresh from law school or are constitutionally inept.
I have served my country, paid my taxes, never been arrested or had any legal troubles bigger than a speeding ticket. I’ve been a good husband and father, worked nearly every day of my life since I was 14 and recently bought a hybrid.
.
If there’s any justice in the world, I’ll become a millionaire very soon…
Each side lives in their own utopian fantasy, but sees only the fantasy on the other side. “If you don’t accept my ideals at their most extreme, I accuse you of calling for their polar opposite.” It’s BoSh no matter who says it, and I admit I’ve said it myself from time to time.
No murder weapon, no D.N.A. and 7 members of the jury, reverse their decision.Claiming they were threaten.At the very least the case could have been redone.Even now after Davis had been executed, but we wouldn’t want to waste the tax payers money.Would we?
Of course, there are a number of countries where the Death Penalty is off the books in peacetime but available in exceptional circumstances such as wartime. Even so, Rudolph Hess was kept in Spandau for more than 40 years until his death from natural causes.
FYI, most of those Democrats who lynched “dem uppity” black folks in the 50’s switched to the GOP in the 60’s… But I don’t consider voting Republican to be a hangin’ offense; I don’t approve of executing the mentally incompetent.
How did I skip over the Nazis? I cited Hess, and I mentioned that wartime atrocities are regularly treated differently that other criminal actions. Even so, I don’t endorse the execution of ANYBODY, even (for instance) Mengele, when there is the option of life imprisonment. Execution breeds martyrs.
As for the switch of the Southern masses from voting Democrat to Republican following the Civil Rights era, it’s well-documented. Anecdotal evidence of Dixiecrats who held their seats does nothing to disprove the trend. Google Nixon’s “Southern Strategy.” Wallace never won the Democratic nomination for president, and in 1968 he stood for the American Independent Party.
And once again the evil overlords are eliminating fact-filled anti-socialism posts. Can’t have the facts getting the way of socialist dogma, now can we?
I don’t have a problem with my country going to war. Mob violence and certain states’ legal establishments, and most acts of vengeance…seem often to be crude acts of self-righteous folks whose concept of justice is too self-referential for fairness…for ‘Truth’ we humans rely on PROOF and the testimony of reasonably reliable witnesses…in matters of life and death, shouldn’t our standards be higher than for religion?
perceptor3 over 12 years ago
While I am for the death penalty, I think the evidence must be much more substantial than what the prosecutors had. If you’re going to execute someone, you’d better have much more than “reasonable doubt.”
meetinthemiddle over 12 years ago
Sounds like a quote from Ed Meese – before he was indicted…My only qualm with the death penalty is when you get it wrong. Of course there are crimes that more than merit it, but it’s also wrong to kill the wrong person just to have someone to kill.
BlueRaven over 12 years ago
Cases like this are why the death penalty is a bad idea. You can set a wrongly convicted person free. You can’t bring them back to life.
And another thing. Why are so many who won’t trust the government to help people live so willing to trust it to decide who has to be killed?
grayhares01 over 12 years ago
Why are libbies in such a hurry to set murderers free just because they are black? There is exactly ZERO question as to Mumia’s guilt. He killed a cop in broad daylight on a busy Philly street, but it seems the entire liberal Hollywood community is ready to set him free.
hotdogger over 12 years ago
While we are at it, let’s also remember this guy was convicted 20 years ago. Why. all of a sudden, is there all this uproar about “insufficient evidence”. As for the witnesses now recanting their testimonies, I haven’t heard any of them say they perjured themselves. There is a difference in admitting to having lied on the stand and saying that they could not identify him now. I couldn’t identify anyone I saw 20 years ago. The man was convicted well beyond a reasonable doubt, has had many appeals, and still his conviction stands. He was as guilty as could be, so get over it.
Pequod over 12 years ago
Thou shall not kill.
Riff Gibson Premium Member over 12 years ago
Talk about your “death panels” …. yo, Tea Party!
cwsprague over 12 years ago
Meantime, OJ continues to search for the “real killers”….
lonecat over 12 years ago
I’m very happy to live in a country that doesn’t have the death penalty.
hippogriff over 12 years ago
“I will not hold for the penalty of death until you show to me that man is incapable of error.” Thomas Jeffferson
JudeDog over 12 years ago
Interesting moral dilemma that Western societies condemn individual killers but largely support the right of the State to kill, either as punishment or acting through its military forces. One also muses on how many of those who dictate or support death penalties profess themselves to be religious, which, in our particular society, most frequently involves Christianity, in which the Ten Commandments specifically preclude killing. Hypocrisy often appears to be the norm in so many adherents of that religion, but I suppose it depends on whether one chooses to be instructed by the Christians’ Old Testament with its vengeful deity or by the New with its god of forgiveness and mercy.
OmqR-IV.0 over 12 years ago
said "I also worry about it potentially being used by the gov’t to kill who it deems necessary to get rid of.That was the rationale to abolish the death penalty in South Africa after its 1st free elections in 1994. The previous government executed quite a few political prisoners. The new government vowed not to re-instate it. Even now, despite popular support because of SA’s incredibly high crime rate, it will not. I support that stance.
Concretionist over 12 years ago
But what then is capital punishment but the most premeditated of murders, to which no criminal’s deed, however calculated it may be, can be compared? For there to be equivalence, the death penalty would have to punish a criminal who had warned his victim of the date at which he would inflict a horrible death on him and who, from that moment onward, had confined him at his mercy for months. Such a monster is not encountered in private life. -Albert Camus, writer, philosopher, Nobel laureate (1913-1960)
pirate227 over 12 years ago
Pat get’s to the heart of the issue once again.
phlegmatic over 12 years ago
@hotdogger
Read the recantations at www.dailykos.com .
dfowensby over 12 years ago
after witnesses said he smirked while shooting the cop to death, i somehow think the appellate court got the idea this turd needed to die. i agree. not a reasonable doubt anywhere. and the gov’t doesn’t waste time on a courtroom if it wants you out of the way, Hotey.
Dtroutma over 12 years ago
Interesting the “interpretation” of the supposed disclosures in court. Odd how one of the two who didn’t change their “witness” statements, was also a suspect. No physical evidence linking him to the crime that stood the test of “reasonable and prudent man” judging that evidence. SCOTUS by the way reviews PROCESS, not “guilt or innocence” in these cases. There is also a difference between poor jury review causing a person to be locked up, versus killed. NO capital case should resolve on less than total, unimpeachable FACTS and evidence. Such wasn’t the case here.
grayhares01 over 12 years ago
Civilized people do not set murderers free, as it tears the basic fabric of society. Obviously, liberals have a way to go before they reach civilization.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1540632/Convicted-murderers-who-were-set-free-to-kill.html
Dtroutma over 12 years ago
A friend at Ft. Benning was arrested for an armed robbery that occurred across the river in Alabama. He was IN LOS ANGELES, attending his mother’s funeral at the time of the robbery!! He was “positively identified” by witnesses as the robber! Oh, he was identified as black. Fortunately for him, another friend was a personal friend of George Wallace. A phone call got him out, but only after he’d been badly beaten in an effort to get him to “confess”.
Civilized people don’t execute people if there is even a remote possibility of their innocence. Which, isn’t it odd, how often these cases arise in the “bible belt”?? Must be all that “do unto others” stuff.
d_legendary1 over 12 years ago
@Everyone Please don’t feed the racial troll. The system has failed some people due to incompetence from the bench or counsel. If it was from the bench those judges should be impeached. If it was counsel it brings to light our flawed public defendants who at times are fresh from law school or are constitutionally inept.
ray32648 over 12 years ago
@hotdoggerWhy do you assume these questions weren’t raised 20 years ago? Are you as ignorant of the case as you sound?
Pearl Deans Premium Member over 12 years ago
As long as it’s OK to kill the guilty, the innocent will be killed also. The government should never have the power to execute anyone, period.
fritzoid Premium Member over 12 years ago
Jesus and Barabbas. One was innocent, one was guilty. One was executed, one was freed. The difference? Popular demand.
grayhares01 over 12 years ago
So do I.
.
I have served my country, paid my taxes, never been arrested or had any legal troubles bigger than a speeding ticket. I’ve been a good husband and father, worked nearly every day of my life since I was 14 and recently bought a hybrid.
.
If there’s any justice in the world, I’ll become a millionaire very soon…
Libertarian1 over 12 years ago
http://nyp.st/njMgum
fritzoid Premium Member over 12 years ago
Each side lives in their own utopian fantasy, but sees only the fantasy on the other side. “If you don’t accept my ideals at their most extreme, I accuse you of calling for their polar opposite.” It’s BoSh no matter who says it, and I admit I’ve said it myself from time to time.
grayhares01 over 12 years ago
So, in your mind, if one hates liberal socialism he must, by definition, be a neo-con? In your world it’s either black or white, with no 3rd choice?
.
I pity you, and anyone you come in contact with…
willamp over 12 years ago
fritzoid Premium Member over 12 years ago
Simple. You wouldn’t.
Of course, there are a number of countries where the Death Penalty is off the books in peacetime but available in exceptional circumstances such as wartime. Even so, Rudolph Hess was kept in Spandau for more than 40 years until his death from natural causes.
FYI, most of those Democrats who lynched “dem uppity” black folks in the 50’s switched to the GOP in the 60’s… But I don’t consider voting Republican to be a hangin’ offense; I don’t approve of executing the mentally incompetent.
fritzoid Premium Member over 12 years ago
How did I skip over the Nazis? I cited Hess, and I mentioned that wartime atrocities are regularly treated differently that other criminal actions. Even so, I don’t endorse the execution of ANYBODY, even (for instance) Mengele, when there is the option of life imprisonment. Execution breeds martyrs.
As for the switch of the Southern masses from voting Democrat to Republican following the Civil Rights era, it’s well-documented. Anecdotal evidence of Dixiecrats who held their seats does nothing to disprove the trend. Google Nixon’s “Southern Strategy.” Wallace never won the Democratic nomination for president, and in 1968 he stood for the American Independent Party.
grayhares01 over 12 years ago
And once again the evil overlords are eliminating fact-filled anti-socialism posts. Can’t have the facts getting the way of socialist dogma, now can we?
tigre1 over 12 years ago
I don’t have a problem with my country going to war. Mob violence and certain states’ legal establishments, and most acts of vengeance…seem often to be crude acts of self-righteous folks whose concept of justice is too self-referential for fairness…for ‘Truth’ we humans rely on PROOF and the testimony of reasonably reliable witnesses…in matters of life and death, shouldn’t our standards be higher than for religion?