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Perry: Death Penalty's Working Fine!
Zachary Roth | October 21, 2009, 10:01AM
Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX)
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A little thing like being shown to have probably executed an innocent man isn't going to get in the way of continuing to put people to death, if Texas governor Rick Perry has anything to do with it.
Said Perry yesterday:
Our process works, and I don't see anything out there that would merit calling for a moratorium on the Texas death penalty. It's fair and appropriate, and we will continue with it.
Perry was responding to Mark White, who as governor in the '80s was a staunch death penalty supporter, but said last week that it may be time to do away with it to ensure that the state did not execute an innocent person.
White, in turn, was speaking in the context of a fast-growing controversy over Perry's handling of a state panel that's probing a flawed arson investigation which may well have led to the execution of an innocent man.
Perry, a Republican, signed off on the 2004 execution of Cameron Todd Willingham, despite of flaws in the investigation. Perry now has failed to reappoint several members of the panel that's looking into the case, triggering allegations that he is trying to stymie the inquiry.
Perry's top opponent for the 2010 GOP gubernatorial nomination, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, has seized on the issue to slam Perry. But not for likely executing an innocent man, then trying to obstruct an investigation into the matter. No, the problem, said Hutchison in a recent statement, is that Perry might have undermined support for the death penalty:
The only thing Rick Perry's actions have accomplished is giving liberals an argument to discredit the death penalty. We should never do anything to create a cloud of controversy over it with actions that look like a cover-up.
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mans_best_friend
October 21, 2009 10:03 AM
Honestly, I'm surprised they still bother with trials down there.
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ricky
October 21, 2009 10:34 AM in reply to mans_best_friend
Unfortunately, not every perpetrator we detain down her has out of state plates, son.
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carwinrpc
October 21, 2009 10:41 AM in reply to mans_best_friend
Why would you call that a "trial"? The purpose of a trial is supposed to be to get at the truth; in Texas, the point is to get a conviction and an execution. It's a particularly vicious form of theatre meant to reassure the knuckle-draggers that the government is keeping people(particularly poor people and people of color)in order.
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dougom
October 21, 2009 3:44 PM in reply to mans_best_friend
I know it's easy and fun, but please don't lump all Texans in the same category as Governor GoodHair (h/t Molly Ivins). Plenty of us are Democrats, believe it or not, and some people have predicted that Texas could actually flip blue within two more election cycles.
In any event, look at Perry in this picture. Puffy-faced; wrinkling; bags under the eyes. Maybe this issue--in which he is clearly in the wrong, and may even have broken the law--is actually getting to him. One can only hope. I certainly can't wait to vote against this dweeb in the next election. (Maybe next time, it'll be Kinky Friedman: "Friedman for Governor: How Hard Can It Be?")
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lousgirl84
October 21, 2009 4:43 PM in reply to dougom
Two more election cycles? Gee can't wait.
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JohnAH
October 21, 2009 10:10 AM
"Our process works". I didn't know they had a process beyond going from accusation straight to execution in Texas. This cover-up is disgusting and fixing this should be in conservatives best interest because as Hutchison said, Perry is only giving fuel to anti-death penalty supporters.
If Texas wants to continue their execution happy society they need to address this cover-up and admit that their review process is non-existent and needs to be fixed. A factually innocent Texan was murdered by the state and the state ignored all evidence that could have saved this man's life.
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mcrose68
October 21, 2009 1:09 PM in reply to JohnAH
Oh, be fair. They have a process.
In that process they fire anyone who fails rubber stamp a conviction and execution.
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tpmreader
October 21, 2009 1:45 PM in reply to JohnAH
Your sentence, 'A factually innocent Texan was murdered by the state and the state ignored all evidence that could have saved this man's life.'
And as is consistent and/or supported by our US Supreme Court and/or our complete US Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches of our US Government, today and for the recent past decades!!
On a stand alone prospective and issue, the enactment of the death penalty is against and opposite of all respectful reasonable interpretation of Democratic and Religious Law!! It is opposite and/or against all forms of Democracy with proper and forthright respect and regard for God, Man and Country and our Declaration towards Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness for all.
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jweb271
October 21, 2009 10:36 AM
And here, in a nutshell, is why I am happy to no longer be a Texan. Kay and Rick are quite the pair. I am only sorry that they will both be retired by the time that the Hispanic population is in the majority and steers Texas into some common freaking sense.
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oskieoskie
October 21, 2009 12:22 PM in reply to jweb271
Compounding the political tragedy is the fact that there is no (real) Democrat standing up to run for governor this go-round, so we will be stuck with either KBH or Goodhair.
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lcdrrek
October 21, 2009 12:43 PM in reply to oskieoskie
I agree with you regarding the choices we have for Governor. So what do we do? Vote for Kinky? Vote in Repub primary for KBH? I am at a loss. There must be someone in this state who can garner some support in the Dem primary.
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lousgirl84
October 21, 2009 1:54 PM in reply to lcdrrek
Why not vote for Kinky. He is definitely better than those two
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jweb271
October 21, 2009 4:23 PM in reply to lcdrrek
Kinky, in a heartbeat.
Kay has had every opportunity in her career to run as a moderate (or to actually become one) and she has returned, time and again, to the same old hard-right, liberal-bashing playbook. She could've been a lot of things in Washington, and she chose to be one of the guys. What a waste.
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lcdrrek
October 21, 2009 10:42 AM
Cain’t u yankees leeve us ‘lone down hear in TEXAS?
We’s havin a hurd time, the Cowboys suck, the librul meedia is bein mean to Gov. Goodhair, we’s had a drout (God don’ liek us).
If God hadn’t been in favur o the deaf penalty, why’d he invent potassiem cloride and lectric chairs?
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Obama1st
October 21, 2009 10:53 AM
This guy is one sick puppy who will have a battle with karma his next go around! shame on him and Texas for killing people for the love of politics!
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GTFOOH
October 21, 2009 11:27 AM
Be nice if the Governor could prove how nicely it runs, by taking it around the block once!
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Nowukkers
October 21, 2009 11:28 AM
Rick Perry: the Basil Fawlty of state government - Look, I'm trying to be governor here. If it wasn't for all these damn laws getting in the way, I'd be able to kill a few more of these laggards.
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The Decider
October 21, 2009 11:31 AM
No innocent man was executed. Even if that fire that killed that man's daughters was accidental, he should have been executed for not properly maintaining his electrical system. He got himself a jury trial.
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rusticitas
October 21, 2009 11:44 AM
Is it me or does Gov. Perry look like a "Sith lord" from Star Wars? Creepy...
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x49/suzette74/SithLord.jpg
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commie atheist
October 21, 2009 11:55 AM
That has got to be the single most disgusting comment I've ever heard.
From a Republican.
Today.
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lousgirl84
October 21, 2009 1:55 PM in reply to commie atheist
I think Kay Bailey Hutchison also said that a few weeks ago when this issue arose.
They are all the same.
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johnmccsf
October 21, 2009 11:59 AM
Kay Bailey's nearly fork done.
Damn do-gooder liberals ..that'll learn em not to Mess with Texas durin a Republican primary
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mindfulofpastdisasters
October 21, 2009 12:13 PM
Killing Innocent People is just so.....so.......American Political Leadership. Unfortunately the county's reflection is observed in it's leaders, and that's one ugly mother you got there, people.
In response to the Decider, shouldn't he (G W Bush) therefore be executed for failing to maintain safety equipment for US Marines in Iraq? Or refusing to govern responsibly? Should Cheney be imprisoned for fathering an politically irresponsible daughter? (Of course they should....)
The Death Penalty is as American as Apple Pie and General Motors (or should that be Lieutenant Colonel now?) and seems to be as gleefully consumed in the Man's Man's world of political testosterone. Rick Perry - crazy name, crazy guy!
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margaret
October 21, 2009 12:28 PM
Help me out here, people. I'm starting to dislike everyone in this state. Pease reassure me that not everyone in Texas is crazy and dangerous.
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commie atheist
October 21, 2009 5:19 PM in reply to margaret
I've been to Austin, which is a great place with really nice, progressive people. As far as the rest of the state goes, I'm sure that there are pockets here and there where the non-insane still hold sway. But based on recent history, and what has crawled out of Texas and polluted the rest of the nation - DeLay, Bush, Perry, Rove, et al - I'm not sure you're altogether wrong.
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cheesenstein
October 21, 2009 12:34 PM
New license plate idea: Texas — we even execute the mentally retarded!
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buck
October 21, 2009 3:17 PM in reply to cheesenstein
Texas--you are what you kill
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Willow
October 21, 2009 12:35 PM
Governor Goodhair looks sort of like death in that picture. Which makes sense.
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yellowdogD
October 21, 2009 12:56 PM
Dick Armey.
Phil Gramm.
Tom Delay.
George Bush.
Then you've got Louie Gohmert, Cornyn, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, et al.
Need I say more?
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buck
October 21, 2009 3:18 PM in reply to yellowdogD
Oh, c'mon! They've got not'in' on South Carolina!
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Marietz
October 21, 2009 1:04 PM
Seriously, is it the water? Do people in Texas keep voting for these nut cases because of the water?
What's wrong with you folks down there? You grow 'em big, but they're never complete humans. There's always one part missing. The brain.
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lousgirl84
October 21, 2009 1:56 PM in reply to Marietz
Be careful what you say about Texans. There is a poster here named ericami who will eviserate you for saying that.
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lousgirl84
October 21, 2009 1:57 PM in reply to lousgirl84
I meant eviscerate - hope the spelling police will forgive me
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cole_dranx
October 21, 2009 2:44 PM in reply to Marietz
I've found that calling people brainless is an effective way to get them to change their minds. Well done!
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ricky
October 21, 2009 2:57 PM in reply to cole_dranx
To put an end to all this Texas bashing, yes, Marietz. Yes.
It is the water. If we had more of it we would drown these scurry less criminals and well as electrocute and inject em.
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Rockridge
October 21, 2009 3:53 PM in reply to Marietz
Leave us not forget the great Molly Ivins; Jim Hightower; Kinky himself; various liberal mayors of Houston; Lyndon Johnson (yes I know but still); Mr. Sam Rayburn; The Texas Monthly.
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CranialRectalLoopback
October 21, 2009 1:18 PM
Works great. You sentence them to death, and they die. Of course, THE PROCESS, sucks, but there in lies the wiggle room. Funny how "Christians" love to play God.
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ricky
October 21, 2009 3:00 PM in reply to CranialRectalLoopback
Of course if you'd rather they play the Devil....
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Gregg6
October 21, 2009 3:35 PM
Nothing is as sweet as the smell of dying meat
In the chamber.
Nothing could be finer than to see the last timer
In the chamber.
Nothing can be done once the trial has been won
In the chamber.
Nothing is more wrong, then to sing a killing song
In the chamber.
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gastrognome
October 21, 2009 3:49 PM
is there anything more unconstitutional than taking away an innocent man's life? Why aren't the conservatives joining the liberals in calling for justice?
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