High court says execute Crips founder (Stanley "Tookie" Williams)

AP - San Diego Union Tribune ^ | Oct 11, 2005 | David Kravets

[albee]

"Now some folks wait and some folks pray,
For Jesus to rise up again.
But none of them folks in their holy cloaks,
Ever took Tookie on as a friend.
For pity's a crime and it ain't worth a dime,
To a person who is really in need,
Just treat him the same as you would your good name,
Next time that your heart starts to bleed."

With apologies to John Prine who used many of these phrases in his song, "Billy The Bum".

[albee]

"Our entire justice system is a sick joke. Best advice I can give anybody: do everything you humanly can to avoid any contact with it."

I agree with you!

And the best way to avoid contact with our Justice System is to NOT COMMIT ANY CRIMES!

I guess Tookie never learned that.

[Black Tooth]

The White House did fine. Tookie has worked to redeem himself and he has repaid some of his crime with good works and it is right to recognize that, especially by a Christian president.

Bush sends this guy an award and letter, and you say he did fine? Oh boy. This brutal criminal murders people in cold blood, but now has redeemed himself?

See yea!

[ThanhPhero]

He did fine be recognizing the good deed. Now it's time to carry out sentence.That reinforces the actual meaning of forgiveness. Because the left believes there is no afterlife, to them forgiveness means to treat the perp suddenly as if there were no crime/sin and no punishment is due- just turn him loose and maybe make him a professor.

[ReignOfError]

I've seen hardened criminals who turned around and spent the rest of their lives atoning for their past. I've also seen killers who tell lawyers and parole boards what they wanted to hear. I can't claim a foolproof method to tell one from the other. Rehabilitation isn't the rule, but it does happen.

Bottom line: If Tookie really has come into the light, if he really has turned around, then after he's executed he can meet his maker with a clear conscience. Federal and state judges can't grant redemption; only one Judge can. And He can't be fooled.

[jaguaretype]

Green light for you Tookie!

[goldstategop]

People may change in prison but they still have to pay for their crime. Stanley Williams needs to be executed for murdering people. The fact he wrote books does not expiate his crime.

("Denny Crane: Gun Control? For Communists. She's a liberal. Can't hunt.")

[Imnotalib]

Except for the one about 'no doubt whatsoever', I don't buy your conditions, however, despite having supported the death penalty for most of my life, I now object to it for several other reasons.
One, there have been too many (it doesn't take very many to be TOO many) people on death row found to be innocent when modern testing was used, and too many times, it was found that the cops were in a hurry to solve and crime and didn't care how they did it.
Two, it isn't sure enough or fast enough to be a deterrent. Potential criminals figure they aren't going to be caught, if they are, they won't be convicted, and if they are, they won't be sentenced to death, and if they are, it'll take 20+ years.

[Buffettfan]

Oh another Mumia? Fry the prick!

[Teacher317]

I'm glad that he did something humane and noteworthy while in prison, and for that we can be grateful.

However, for what he did in 1979, he was sentenced to death. That hasn't changed. There is no "extra credit" program available to raise that grade.

[sport]

Reference your post # 26:

I wonder how many letters were sent to the families of the innocent people he murdered.

Probably all they wanted was to be able to earn a living and live their lives.

My sympathy is with them, they demonstrate the outstanding character of America, not some murdering convict.

I don't care what the President says.

[jackieaxe]

Whole lotta good "redemption" did Carla Faye Tucker.

Death Row inmates are not in prison for redemption, not to write children's books and not to run for the Nobel prize, but to await execution. This "guy" got another 25 years more than his 4 innocent victims he shot in cold blood. The fact that the racism word is being thrown around makes me want to throw up. Racism is when Rosa Parks was required to give up her seat to a white man. It's not being put to death because you killed 4 people in cold blood and you happen to be black.

[EDINVA]

well said !!!

[Marshall1]

I encourage you to e-mail the Govenator regarding your opposition of clemency to this cold-blooded murderer.

[CFC__VRWC]

He has repented for his gang activities and changed his behavior I give him props for that.

According to the officials at San Quentin, he's still heavily involved with gang activities from his cell on Death Row. I don't think he's changed a bit - he's just figured out how to scam the limousine liberals into supporting his "cause" (not that there's anything hard about scamming that crowd).

[Balding_Eagle]

The present adversarial system of justice would have to be scrapped in favor of an inquisitorial system in which the common incentive for all parties involved would be to arrive at the truth and facts of the matter.

And how long would that take?

25 years?

50 years?

100 years?

And in the meantime you'd stop executions?

Seesh, why can't you be more honest and dipense with the first two objections?

[null and void]

Yeah. I just heard about the continuing gang connection.

Toast

Tookie

[saleman]

I too am against the death penalty for many reasons. One being it's ineffective deterrent. Another being, if I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, that someone had killed a family member, with no provocation, just for money or a thrill, then I would kill them myself. Without remorse.

[Marshall1]

Wesley Clark is looking for a book deal. He is antiquated and hanging on his last toe-nail. Seriously, this guy needs a moltov cocktail just to wake up in the morning. Why do we even acknowledge these freaks?

[Melas]

As Ben Franklin said, "It is better that a hundred guilty men go free than that one innocent man be condemned."

That's not Franklin, that's Blackstone, and it's actually, "It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer."