del.icio.us tags 02.25.07

End the Death Penalty — Maryland's new governor, Martin O'Malley is a rock star in so many ways. His efforts to eliminate the death penalty in the state — and replace it with life without parole — make him a hero in my eyes. On Wednesday, he outlined his reasons for opposing the death penalty on the op-ed pages of The Washington Post.

Show Off Your Decorating Talent — Mashable posted on Tuesday that HGTV has launched a new social network that allows amateur interior decorators to brag and get feedback on their rooms, Rate My Room. 5,500 people are lovin' Jim's kitchen. What do you think?

Plan(ned) Parenthood — I just ended my cell plan with Verizon last weekend and now I come across this new plan from Planned Parenthood via Freakonomics (although it's frustrating that they don't provide a direct link to the plan!) Check out the comments on the post because it looks like the anti-choice folks are pretty adept at the social media as advocacy tool, getting their folks out to spread their word. The plan comes courtesy of Working Assets and they have a special offer through to the end of March. BuzzFeed considers the conversation about the plan buzzworthy.

Plug in for Cash — I'm with Cory at Boing Boing. Avoid the Dallas/Forth Worth airport if you can. Apparently they're pretty hard up for cash because they're charging you to plug in your laptop between flights. For frequent travelers, the Air Power Wiki lets you know where to find (free) outlets in airports. Check it out before your next trip. (There's a bad link to the wiki in the Boing Boing post.)

Dooce Does Her Part — In addition to the fact that she makes me laugh, I love Heather Armstrong at Dooce because she is making her own special contribution to eradicating stigma about mental illness. She'll make you wish you never laughed at a Britney Spears joke after you read her post on the topic this Thursday.

Dooce was the one that pointed me in the direction of this Craig Ferguson monologue in which he too says, "Leave her alone."
167,000 views on YouTube can't be wrong.

humilty

It does not matter who it is, nor what they have done.

The death penalty is wrong.

This is not a time for celebration, nor smugness.

It is a time for humility.

life

Moussaoui will not be put to death. Sanity prevailed.

my hometown paper

The Washington Post is feeling pretty good this morning after winning four Pulitzer Prizes yesterday -- one more than The New York Times (which means, I guess, that I can stop acting so damn apologetic that I actually LIKE my hometown paper).

The Post should also feel good about the front page feature on women who have lost their limbs in the war in Iraq. In addition to addressing the impact that being an amputee has on women in a society that puts such great value in physical appearance, the article confronts the lack of public discourse about the issue of the female casualties of this war (370 wounded, 34 killed). Liberals, says the article, are keeping their mouths shut because they don't want to "jeopardize support for women serving in combat roles" and conservatives simply don't want to bring attention to anything that reminds people that soldiers are being wounded and killed. Read it if you have the time.

You should always make time for Dana Milbank, who covers former Senator Mike Gravel's announcement yesterday that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for President. Gravel isn't shy about the fact that he knows he will not win, but that he's thrown his hat in the ring in order to draw attention to his two pet issues: national ballot initiatives (boo) and a federal sales tax (boo). According to Milbank,

"It's surprisingly cheap to exploit the media's presidential obsession: Gravel spent about $1,500 to rent a room and microphone at the National Press Club and to get U.S. Newswire to send out his press release. His grandkids drew up some campaign posters. And he had a glamour photo done with the requisite pose of the open-collared candidate viewing a distant horizon (although in this case the studio lights are reflected in the candidate's eyes)."

I admire the conviction, but his pet issues bite, so I'm moving on.

I'm pretty bummed to hear the news that former Illinois Governor George Ryan has been convicted in his corruption case (fraud, racketeering, tax violations, generally unethical behavior). I know close to nothing about the case and I'm not suggesting that he isn't truly guilty. Instead, the issue is that I'm a fan of Ryan's for his decision in 2003 to commute the death sentences of all of his state's death row prisoners. (There was a great documentary about the decision called Deadline. Just checked -- it's available on Netflix.) I had the chance to see Ryan speak about his decision soon after leaving office and, conviction or not, I think he is a great man.

There's an article about efforts by Zacarias Moussaoui's defense team to save his life and generate some sympathy from the jury by portraying him as a troubled young man. Forget troubled, it appears as if he is schizophrenic (as are numerous members of his immediate family). I have enough problems with the idea of someone being put to death for something he was PLANNING to do, but I'm particularly uncomfortable with the dismissiveness with which we as a society respond to mental illness. While Moussaoui is a unique situation (the scapegoat for a national tragedy), how can we so bluntly discuss putting someone to death for being mentally ill? The crimes that they commit are no less heinous and they should, particularly if they are a danger to society, be secured, but why isn't more time spent trying to address the illness that has led them to the point where they can do the things that they do? The guy in Oklahoma who killed his 10-year-old neighbor and who had plans to eat her? HELLO, it doesn't take a medical degree to pick up on the fact that this guy was sick, but he actually made it clear that he IS mentally ill through posts to his blog about the things that his mind was telling him to do. And now prosecutors in that case are already discussing the death penalty. While we're busy acting righteous about ridding the world of evil, we're allowing these people to commit their crimes every time we allow them to go untreated.

Thank G-d for conservatives who enable me to avoid leaving you on a low note. How's this for a chuckle? At yesterday's White House Easter Egg Roll, parents had to make their way past protestors who warned them that their kids were going to get a cold as punishment for mixing and mingling with the gay and lesbian parents -- and their children -- who had also come to the event. Considering the fact that it was raining yesterday and kids are little germ buckets, that's pretty much like saying, "If you attend this event, the sun is going to come up tomorrow."

Time to take a shower.

too much to bear

Anti-death penalty advocates have been waiting for the outcome of recent DNA tests to determine if Roger Coleman, who was executed in 1992, was indeed guilty of murdering and raping his sister-in-law. Many were hoping that the tests would indicate that he was innocent, knowing that if they did, it would serve as a strong catalyst for abolishing the death penalty.

I understand the tactic, but I was relieved to read this morning that the tests prove he was guilty. PR strategies aside, the thought of knowing the state (which means us, folks) killed an innocent man would simply be too much to bear.

no reverence

Tonight, I sat in the bar with Alyson and watched the "developing news" coverage of the fact that -- four hours from now -- Tookie Williams will be executed.

The mere thought of that horrifies me. What goes through your head when you know the hour and minute in which you die? Studs Terkel once described described death as the only thing that we all have in common about which we collectively know nothing. Do you try to imagine what awaits you or is it about acknowledging the fact that you will merely cease to exist? Fear, regret, anger, sadness, lonelines -- what do you do with all of that? Do you watch the clock? Do you pray to your G-d?

I had this fantasy that Governor Schwarzennegger was going to tap into his vast experience as an action hero and save Tookie at the last minute. Remember that scene in The Player -- the film within the film -- in which Bruce Willis saves Julia Roberts from the gas chamber after the pellets have already been dropped, carrying her down the hall in his arms? "What took you so long?", she says with a sly smile as the credits begin to roll.

Maybe Arnold would storm in at the last minute and carried Tookie away, tossing him over his shoulder as he dropped one of his famous one liners?

Did Maria do anything to contribute to Arnold's thinking? To try to get him to do the right thing? Did she whisper sweet nothings, threaten to deny sex, remind him that he was not G-d? If she didn't, Jack and Bobby are rolling in their graves -- more rotations than the day she married Arnold and the day she stood on stage with him as he did his acceptance speech as the new governor of California.

guilty as charged

So, last night I read an article that said that a federal appeals court had agreed to hear an appeal from Mumia Abu-Jamal. Abu-Jamal has been in prison now for 23 years after having been convicted for killing a Philadelphia cop. Four years ago, his death sentence was overturned by a federal judge, while refusing to overturn his conviction. Because both sides appealed the ruling, Abu-Jamal has remained on death row.

In the late 90's, every stupid progressive (and, I guess, a few smart ones as well) were wearing Free Mumia t-shirts. I remember developing an odd level of hostility toward these folks. It wasn't entirely about their support of Abu-Jamal, but the sense, in general, that they were inclined to get behind issues that were "cool" without knowing jack sh*t about the issue. Things were easily explained in black and white arguments. And, in Abu-Jamal's case, this was literal. As far as those smelly liberals thought, a black man had been wrongly convicted of killing a white cop and was being forced to pay with his life.

But the real rub for me was not whether or not Abu-Jamal was wrongly convicted and, because I am against the death penalty in all situations, it was certainly not that I thought his death sentence should be upheld. It was those damn smelly liberals. Here they were, shouting up a storm about Mumia when there were countless (actually, they can be counted, I just don't know the number) other black man being held on death row. Why didn't they matter? Did it have ANYTHING to do with the fact that Mumia was the kind of black man that appealed to white liberal college students? With his long braids and eloquent "damn the man" reports from prison, aired on NPR, wasn't he the perfect hero? The kind of black man that hippie girls like to bring home at Thanksgiving to scare the crap out of their dads and show them how far from the nest they have flown?

Okay. Fast forward to, um, a few days ago and my post about Tookie Williams. Am I guilty of the same thing? No, because I am only advocating that his life be saved and I feel that way about all people on death row? Yeah, but why am I not writing about them on my blog?

Free Mumia?

governor?

If the clemency meeting between Tookie Williams' lawyers and Governor Schwarzenegger was this afternoon, why hasn't there been any news?

I hope that the delay is a good sign. Maybe the governor needs to sleep on it?

Do the right thing, Arnold.

sunday sunday

Hey, folks, I have been traveling since Thursday, so my apologies for being out of touch. Spending some quiet time in the hotel room this morning before heading out to see a friend. I really should be spending time on work but, hell, it's Sunday (still have to work) and I haven't had the chance to stay on top of what's going on in the world around me in a little too long.

E.J. Dionne had a great piece in Friday's Post about Virginia Governor Mark Warner's decision to grant clemency to Robin M. Lovitt, who was scheduled to die last week. As far as Dionne's concerned, changes in public opinion made Warner's decision politically shrewd, but brave nevertheless.

And this morning's REALLY big news story? Brad's going to adopt Angelina's kiddies.

"Mommy, Daddy, you're so hot."

do the right thing

Tune into MTV today for their World AIDS Day programming: honest information for young people about how to keep themselves healthy and alive. G-d bless the little f*ckers.

I really do love Dana Milbank. Once again he does not disappoint with his piece about the Supreme Court. Yesterday, the Court heard Ayotte vs. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England and the crazies came out to argue their case to the media. But that's an old story. Milbank's tales about the justices themselves (the Three Stooges times three) are what keep me engaged. Should we laugh or cry?

The California Supreme Court has refused to put a stop to the execution of former Crips leader Tookie Williams. He still has two chances to be spared, prior to his scheduled murder by the state on December 13. Either a federal court or Governor Schwarzenegger could do the right thing.

G-d bless you, Mark Warner

Something to remember in 2008.

this morning's paper

Read the A2 article in The Washington Post about the abortion case that will come before the Supreme Court next week. Ayotte vs. Planned Parenthood looks at the issue of parental notification, with Planned Parenthood arguing that the New Hampshire state law that requires parental notification, even in situations where giving birth would threaten the health (but not the life) of the minor is unconstitutional. Supporters of the legislation argue that "emergency health abortions" are too rare "to warrant invalidating the whole statute". This line of argument, if successful, could be far-reaching because it would make it difficult for abortion rights activists to focus on specific regulations to defeat legislation.

While you're at it, check out the article about the scheduled execution of Tookie Williams, co-founder of the Crips. (Check out the bit about how the name of the gang came about. Mildly amusing in a pathetic sort of way.) I have no tolerance for the death penalty no matter what the situation is, but the arguments against the execution are just too good to be ignored -- even if you are a sadistic bastard living in the Dark Ages. Tookie says he's innocent, but even if the state of California doesn't want to give him a new trial, they need to keep him alive and let him do his work: educating young people with anti-gang writings. Schwarzenegger (who was Christmas shopping in Georgetown yesterday) has a meeting with Tookie's lawyers on December 8 to talk about the possibility of commuting his sentence to life in prison. Do the right thing, Arnold. If you want to learn more, check out the Save Tookie web site.

this morning's paper

The Post didn't give it much space or attention, but I'd say it's a big deal if only because perhaps a few lives may be saved.

Texas Governor Rick Perry (R -- this is Texas, after all) just signed in a law giving juries the option of sentencing murderers to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Previously, the only choices they had were to sentence someone to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 40 years or to death. Folks who couldn't fathom the idea of a murderer eventually going free opted for the latter.

pickled peppers

The New York Times has an interesting article about the growing alliance between evangelical Christians and Catholics, centered on a mutual belief in the value of human life.

(As a Jew, I don't give a toss about human life. I am much more fond of squirrels. Yeah. I like squirrels. Especially the kind with really fuzzy tails. I mean, if the Jews don't, who's going to stand up for the squirrels?)

In case you are under the impression that this is something that's been going on for a while now, the article points out that, historically, Catholics and evangelicals have been at odds with each other. As recently as 1960, when John F. Kennedy was running for President, Protestant pastors took to their pulpits (to pick a pack of pickled peppers) to warn their flock about the danger of electing a Catholic President. (Despite their efforts, Kennedy went on to be the first -- and only -- Catholic elected to the White House.)

Anyway, the article points out that a big distinction between Catholics and evangelicals -- which I pointed out the other day -- is that Catholics extend their "pro-life" stance to include an opposition to the death penalty.

Definitely worth reading.

(Jake must have been busy today at work. He didn't send me the article. I had to find it all by myself.)

missed the target

Okay, Jake, who might eventually kill me for making our conversations public like this, got back to me, in part to comment on my speed, but also to tell me that I didn't really get his question.

He said . . .

Anyway, I'm rethinking my question because, though correct (Jake will make both a fine manager and father someday. His affirmation skills are quite adept.), your answer didn't address a tougher question. That is, "SHOULD the religious groups package these things together?" or, more pointedly, "should those who advocate a "culture of life" face the fact that these two issues are linked? I find it odd that Death Penalty supporters who are pro-life haven't imploded and that death penalty opponents who are pro choice haven't exploded. I mean, there has got to be some cognitive dissonance there! The justifications, as I hear them, are, from the first group "criminals are alive and deserving of death while fetuses are alive and not deserving of death," while the second group says "criminals are alive and shouldn't be killed while fetuses aren't alive and therefore cannot be killed." I think both groups need to do some self examination.

Based on my experience with Roman Catholics (I went to Catholic high school and participated in a Catholic peace and justice group -- although I am Jewish), I think that they are the most consistent -- anti-death penalty and anti-abortion. So, they don't fit into either group that Jake presents. I do, however, and so I guess I should try to figure out why the hell that is.

Why am I opposed to the death penalty?

1) I think that the criminal justice system in the United States is unjust and that socioeconomic status and race play too significant a role in determining guilt and innocence and punishment to allow for something as extreme as allowing the state to claim that they know the "truth" and have the right to kill someone for their crimes.

2) There have been too many stories of innocence proven years after the fact.

3) As a sappy liberal, I believe that society contributes to the creation of criminals and so we should not be given license to sweep our "failures" into the trash, but should do what we can to remedy our errors.

4) I do not believe in an eye for an eye or tit for tat or whatever you want to call it. I think that the best way to exist in this world is to live according to principles of love, forgiveness and generosity and to believe that those who do not share these values will live a life that is less fulfilling and rewarding than your own.

5) It is wrong. According to my G-d and to my heart (the same thing in my book). Wrong.

Okay, so how does all that jive with my pro-choice views? To begin with, I am not entirely in sync with Jake's statement that "criminals are alive and shouldn't be killed while fetuses aren't alive and therefore cannot be killed."

I'd like to say that it is as neat and clean for me as that. I do believe that fetuses are alive and, most importantly, they are an embodiment of potential. So, yes, we are killing them. (Sorry, I think that.) So, I'm fu*ked, aren't I?

Let me try to pathetically rationalize.

1) Race and socioeconomics. If abortion is made illegal, it will continue nevertheless, but safe abortions will be more readily available to those who are privileged. More poor women will be forced to have children that they do not want and are not in the position to raise or will have unsafe procedures that put their lives at risk. The chasms between the classes will deepen. For those of you who would argue that low income women can put their unwanted children up for adoption, I want to ask them a) who will cover their prenatal care so that these babies are born with the tools to flourish and b) how will they support themselves during the later period of the pregnancy? These are not women with maternity leave policies.

2) Gender. In addition to race and socioeconomics, the mere fact that only women can get pregnant makes it a problem to force women to birth babies that they do not want when men are able to walk away from the situation and take on limited moral and financial responsibility or none at all.

Society needs to address these disparities (obviously, they can't make men have babies, but they can initiate policies that hold them accountable) before I can begin to change my mind.

Weak. Weak. I think I'm going to explode, Jake.

a package deal

Jake sent me an article this morning from The New York Times about how Roman Catholic bishops are stepping up efforts to fight the death penalty in the U.S., in response to what they see is a growing public sentiment against the practice.

The article came with a question: "Do you think abortion will get packaged with the death penalty by religious groups and both will end up restricted?" asked Jake.

Here's what I said to him.

I don't know . . . I mean, this whole Terry Schiavo nightmare has been turned into a right to life/anti-abortion versus lefties who want to starve people to death and kill their babies fiasco. But the real political weight as far as those in the religious community may not be able to dismantle the strong death penalty rhetoric of the very same folks and their political leaders. I mean, Tom DeLay has been one of the more vocal members of Congress as far as the Schiavo case, but he's from Texas and they like to kill kids and 'tards down there when they commit crimes.

I can see a backroom conversation in which Catholic leaders say that they will work in concert with evangelicals on the abortion issue if they show the same support for coming out against the death penalty, but I don't a deal like that flying.

But what the hell do I know?

You realize, of course, that you can't ask me a question like this and not expect to see it on my blog two minutes later?

It has been nine minutes. I'm slacking, folks. For those of you who I know are reading this, what do you think?