TUESDAY ILLINOIS POISED TO ABOLISH STATE’S DEATH PENALTY
Go Illinois!
Reuters has the story. Here’s a clip:
Illinois was poised to become the first state since 2009 to abolish the death penalty after the state Senate approved the ban on Tuesday and sent it to Democratic Governor Pat Quinn for his signature.
The Senate vote came after House approval late last week. The Senate vote was 32-25.
Illinois has not executed anyone for more than a decade after former Republican Gov. George Ryan imposed a moratorium on the death penalty in January 2000 following a series of revelations that people had been sent to Death Row who were later found to be innocent.
“We’ve had 20 innocent people on Death Row,” said Jeremy Schroeder, executive director of the Illinois Coalition Against the Death Penalty. “It’s time to be done with the moratorium and do the right thing.”
State Sen. Kwame Raoul, the measure’s sponsor, said that too many mistakes had been made in Illinois that sent innocent people to death row.
“We have an historic opportunity … to join the civilized world and end this practice of risking putting to death innocent people,” Raoul said before the vote.
FYI: The bill just passed would take the money saved from the Capital Litigation Trust Fund (which will no longer be needed), and re-allocate the $$$ to a fund for murder victims’ services and law enforcement.
OKAY, THIS IS UNBELIEVABLY CREEPY
This cheery ad is on the web page of the Palmetto State Armory.
Palmetto State Armory would like to honor our esteemed congressman Joe Wilson with the release of our new “You Lie” AR-15 lower receiver.
(For those unfamiliar with armaments, an AR-15 is the automatic rifle that is akin to an M-16, and the “lower receiver’ is the “gun” part of this particular gun.)
UPDATE: The above link to the ad no longer works. Obviously, it has been taken down.
Evidently Congressman Wilson was tickled by the matter since he is shown cradling the AR-15 named in his honor.
ASSANGE LAWYERS WORRIED ABOUT “ILLEGAL RENDITION” AND THE DEATH PENALTY
The NY Times has the story:
Lawyers for Julian Assange, the founder of the WikiLeaks antisecrecy group, said on Tuesday that they would oppose his extradition to Sweden because he might subsequently face “illegal rendition” to the United States, risking imprisonment at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, or even the death penalty.
They made the assertion in defense documents released after Mr. Assange made a brief appearance in a British high-security court for a largely procedural hearing concerning his resistance to demands for his extradition to Sweden, where he has been accused of sexual misconduct….
LATE TUESDAY UPDATES
LA COUNTY DEPUTY SHOT BY SUSPECT
The LA Times has the story:
A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy was shot in the face Tuesday night in East Los Angeles after he and his training officer were attacked by a reputed gang member on parole, authorities said.
The suspected gunman was fatally shot by the training officer after a struggle ensued, authorities said.
Deputy Mohamed Ahmed, 27, was taken to a local hospital and may lose sight in one eye, said a source familiar with the incident. The Sheriff’s Department initially reported that the deputy had been shot in the cheek.
Ahmed did not appear to have suffered any brain damage and was listed in critical condition. He joined the department in April 2007.
As we hope for the health of Gabrielle Giffords, we also hope for LA County Sheriff’s Deputy Mohamed Ahmed.
Am I correct in assuming that Congressman Wilson’s namesake is a surveying instrument ?
Democrats don’t get why there is a gap:
Do you think it is ever justified for citizens to take violent action against the government, or is it never justified?
Republican 28% yes, 64% no
Democrat 11% yes, 81% no
Indepdent 11% yes, 81% no
Patrick Henry
Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined.
Virginia’s U.S. Constitution ratification convention (June 5, 1788), reported in Elliot, Debates of the Several State Conventions 3:45.
Where and when did freedom exist when the power of the sword and purse were given up from the people?
Virginia’s U.S. Constitution ratification convention
(June 9, 1788), Elliot, Debates of the Several State Conventions, 3:169
Thomas Jefferson
The Constitution of most of our states (and of the United States) assert that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves;… that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed and that they are entitled to freedom of person, freedom of religion, freedom of property, and freedom of press.
Letter to Major John Cartwright (June 5 1824).
George Mason
When the resolution of enslaving America was formed in Great Britain, the British Parliament was advised by an artful man, who was governor of Pennsylvania, to disarm the people; that it was the best and most effectual way to enslave them; but that they should not do it openly, but weaken them, and let them sink gradually.
James Madison
In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions.
Federalist No. 51 (February 8, 1788).
You know when you’re quoting Jefferson, you’re in trouble.
Julian Assange should not worry about being sent to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Obama said he will be closing the Guantánamo hotel for terrorists, remember?
Bob Wright weighs in and makes the point about Beck’s lunacy, “Death Panel” rhetoric, etc.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/11/before-hatred-comes-fear/?hp
Bob Wright is correct, some people do work themselves into a hysterical frenzy over political discussions. The non-stop posts about death panels, Sarah Palin and Glen Bleck on this blog has convinced me………………………………………
Sarah Palin and Glen Beck have the power to drive people nuts.
Sarah Palin proved today, with her insane claims about “blood libel” (a term I’m convinced she doesn’t have even a minimal comprehension of what it’s meant in the context of anti-semitic propaganda) she’s a bigger crybaby than John Boehner…
I thought somebody in the GOP had balls, but apparently not.
Urban-Dicationary
“Although the details have changed over the last millenium, the blood libel retains core elements of sadistic fantasy, psychological projection, and crass opportunism.”
Palin’s inability to rise above narcissism and fake victim-hood-
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2011/01/sarah_palins_missed_opportunit.html
“sadistic fantasy, psychological projection, and crass opportunism”
The essence of hysterical, payday-driven, utterly irresponsible and dishonest Beck, Limbaugh, Palin “conservatism.”
Palin’s self-serving incoherence:
Her use of the term blood libel to categorize the attacks against her and other conservatives was the chatter of the social networks in which she communicates. The term—a slur alluding to the idea that Jews feed on the blood of Christians—was, at the very least, a bad word choice. It did not convey her meaning clearly. She confused or alienated anyone she was trying to convince. And if it was meant to address only her base of core supporters, then it was an act of ill-timed agitation.
Palin effectively quoted Ronald Reagan arguing that the criminal alone is responsible for the crime. “Acts of monstrous criminality stand on their own. They begin and end with the criminals who commit them,” she said. Good. Then she went on to say that “journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence they purport to condemn.” Bad. You can’t argue that words don’t create criminals and then argue in the next breath that, actually, yes, they might. – John Dickerson, Slate
“a slur alluding to the idea that Jews feed on the blood of Christians”
Yes, we all know what it meant 800 years ago, but that is NOT the current use or meaning. Blood Libel was obviously carefully chosen and effective, since Liberals along with Loughner now seem worried about the meaning of words. It was clearly meant to rebuke some as the most crass of opportunists’
Palin’s self-serving incoherence:
http://www.facebook.com/notes/sarah-palin/americas-enduring-strength/487510653434
It is best to actually read what she said in context.
“Just days before she was shot, Congresswoman Giffords read the First Amendment on the floor of the House. It was a beautiful moment and more than simply “symbolic,” as some claim, to have the Constitution read by our Congress. I am confident she knew that reading our sacred charter of liberty was more than just “symbolic.” But less than a week after Congresswoman Giffords reaffirmed our protected freedoms, another member of Congress announced that he would propose a law that would criminalize speech he found offensive.
It is in the hour when our values are challenged that we must remain resolved to protect those values. Recall how the events of 9-11 challenged our values and we had to fight the tendency to trade our freedoms for perceived security. And so it is today.”
Forget reading Palin’s speech. Much better to watch her say the whole thing, watch her body language, her tone of voice, the whole nine yards. It communicates a great deal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb0VW8vnMhQ
Pokey – keep struggling with this. I am starting to feel bad for you. The comment on the GOP’s belief in violent acts against the government (we’re talking about OUR government in the minds of most folks asked, obviously) was one of the most inept attempts at rationalizing the crazy I’ve ever seen.
“Since I’m not able to do it in person…”
You’re not able to do it in your fucking dreams, junior.
Sorry – that last is on the wrong thread – meant for the blowhard fool on the last thread ranting about “shoving it up my a…” Sorry stuff that just goes to prove the point of how pathological these fake “conservatives” happen to be.
LOL, you’re not tough Reg, quit pretending. It would be easy and don’t think you get to arm yourself, we’ve been through that right?
Aren’t you embarrassed to make your punk noises – especially when you can’t back up your lie ?
No wonder you made constant references to your “playground” when strutting your stuff…on the internet. You’ve never left.
You’re a childish, weak old man trying to flash his balls to passerbys…pathetic.
Incidentally, your concept of “guilty until you prove yourself innocent, because I say so” fits into everything I’ve said about rotten cops, which everyone with half a brain – especially if you’ve ever lived in major cities – knows is a problem.
If you can find a quote that reflects what you claimed about me, more power to you. But I remember the incident itself and your quote doesn’t even remotely reflect my feelings at the time, and I have no recollection of ever writing or saying anything such as you claimed. I can’t imagine that I ever did. I have a vague recollection of the exchanges but have no idea when they took place or in what context. I do remember that weeks – or perhaps months later – you accused me of wanting to run the guy down and kill him with my car, which isn’t true but is closer to some semblance of what I actually did by following him in my car (which I did because, as I said, I had a hunch the gun wasn’t real.) Why would you hyperbolize – and perhaps I said something about my anger in the moment that justified that response – my following the robber in my car, if in fact I had said I wanted to take a cops gun and shoot him ? It doesn’t make any sense. And your references to this in the first place, many mooons later in this context, are just a measure of what a perverse little prick you are and always have been on this blog, running on empty and lashing out wildly and venomously at liberals who don’t buy your steady stream of ego-driven bullshit. But, hey, it’s all MY fault, because I’m not even a little bit impressed with dishonest posers such as yourself.
One thing I’ll say about your bringing “personally shoviing it up my ass” into this forum – I didn’t always win fights when I was young and stupid enough to let myself get drawn into them. (I’m medium height and gave up football after one year because I didn’t have the size or skills.) But nobody ever messed with me who didn’t walk away hurting enough to know not to make idle threats or bully me again. You don’t have to win every fight to make the guy who picked it realize he made a mistake. This talk – “shove it up your ass in person” – in this context is extreme idiocy and an example of the crazy talk that’s being questioned, but I’m countering your infantile bluster with a truth I learned about bullies and punks a long time ago. Their bloated self-image only really works on people they imagine easy targets. That’s why they mostly make the kind of loud but terminally childish noises we’re hearing from you, and assume others are some combination of scared or impressed. Sorry, junior. Wrong guy.
Here’s a little something to help you with your search, assuming you’re as obsessed with not just admitting you might have had it wrong and are intent on “sticking it up my ass?:
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&&sa=X&ei=JTcvTYP5IoqCsQP-pKX3CA&sqi=2&ved=0CBIQBSgA&q=%22witness+la%22+reg+robber+cop+gun&spell=1&fp=83f87efc6f926f13
I’m back at work and don’t have time for any more of this garbage…
Reg, did you ever attend El Camino Community College, in the late ’80s? There was a guy there named Reggie Barksdale, very smart politically. Used to give speeches about nepotism in southern california’s law enforcement agencies, how he believed that’s where a lot of the racist behavior by police down here stemmed from (especially in those days, my goodness…). Really good guy. Last I heard of him he was doing some ACLU work in the bay area (I work occasionally with the ACLU down here). You wouldn’t be him by any chance? Anyhow, if not, you make some great points. Keep up the good work.
I haven’t had time to monitor, but the name calling between reg and SureFire have gone well off the rails. Both of you, dial it back, please. I’m in Irvine teaching today and I have no time or interest in deleting.
I don’t care who started it. You’re both well over the line now. Please put it back on a civil track. Thank you.
I have no idea what you’re getting at Reg as you always post as if you need to impress yourself with your own words.
Remember this little gem?
“Absolutely have no idea who “Rocky” is – you delusional, weak, self-pitying little sonofabitch.”
That’s you talking to me from long ago, it didn’t matter to me then and your self absorbed rap doesn’t matter to me now. It’s all talk, you’re all talk and I’ve never seen a bit of solid substance to you, don’t like it too bad. What I’ve posted to you stands and is accurate, I’d say trust me but I know you don’t and that’s fine.
As for finding that post 1) Going to try but even if I don’t what I said you said stands 2) quit crying, it’s getting old you playing the victim every day when you’ve attacked more people on the two message boards I’ve seen than even Rob, you have no standing to bitch about anyone else.
I’m not obsessed with you in any way, just count all your posts to see whose out on that limb, you have major O.C.
By the way, I don’t recall anything about saying you running the guy down with your car, I remember you wishing the cop would have given you his gun so you could take care of matters. You just said.. “and I have no recollection of ever writing or saying anything such as you claimed. I can’t imagine that I ever did.”
You sound a little less sure than what you’ve written up to this point.
Just my own personal observations.
I’ve never been a bully Reg and like it or not I was the answer to them before I was a cop and since I was one, just how it is. I’m not going to apologize for it and when some big mouth jumps back here and starts throwing out his insults from the get go, which is you S.O.P. guys like me answer up. I’m not here to win your approval, it doesn’t matter.
Of course with you all cops are felons trained to lie on the stand, plant evidence, beat handcuffed prisoners and so on. When I said shove it upo your ass it was terminology used in debates before you and I and will go on after, you act like you’re all upset and insulted but I think everything about you is an act so really, your temper tantrum is silly and child like.
Ok I’m done.
Sounds like from your post on the other thread where you mention “dick wagging and small members” in the same sentence you’re handling the “up your ass” stuff on your own Reg.
I think the comment eater ate my longer reply to the old man who….works? Hope it’s found.