Did you guys read the column? Morgan isn't saying that Kennedy had a hand in the decision to deny clemency. She's saying that Arnold was hurting with the GOP for selecting Kennedy, and one more disappointment might have been fatal to him. He did the right thing in regards to the Tookmeister in order to sort of make up for bringing Kennedy aboard, is her theory at least.
But, as you point out, Melanie's point is not that - but rather her assertion of the reasoning for Schwarzenegger's decision to deny clemency. Because he couldn't take another hit on his right flank.
Glad you caught that. I was too tired of responding to other posts and points to make that point as well.
I think the point is that had Susan Kennedy declined the job and Arnold picked a conservative, he might have been tempted to tilt to the left and his Hollywood buddies by sparing Tookie.
The fact that Susan Kennedy accepted the job was the final nail in Tookie's coffin. Arnold may have let Tookie take the needle any way, but the Kennedy appointment certainly sealed his fate.
Melanie is saying that Arnold felt compelled to tilt to the right on this one. I am having a little fun with the liberals by blaming it all on Kennedy. Without the fire storm on the right, who knows what he might have done?