[defenderSD]

My hunch is that Arnold will decide for one of these two options:

1) Deny clemency for Tookie after a long statement where he discusses all the circumstances and previous limited use of clemency and then says it's not the role of the governor to overrule the courts and the decisions of juries, or

2) He can't cope with the idea of deciding to let a man die and decides to do what Gov. Rion did in IL and grants clemency to everyone on death row. This would be a sweeping grand gesture to try to be the "people's governor," justified by a statement that there are too many uncertainties and possible errors in the evidence and the witness testimony in all of these death penalty cases. This would only happen if Arnold doesn't really care that much if he wins his reelection campaign, because this decision would surely hurt his reelection bid.

He'll probably choose option 1 with great reluctance.

[Semper Paratus]

do what Gov. Rion did in IL and grants clemency to everyone on death row

I do not like the unconditional clemency privileges granted the President and Governors. Saw what Clinton and Rion did with it. It's a vestige of the monarchy.

[StAnDeliver]

Good analysis, SD. I concur.