tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836245.post111106447592514868..comments2023-11-02T07:44:14.413-05:00Comments on Progressive Advocacy: Fascinating death penalty debate on 'absolute certainty' instead of 'beyond a reasonable doubt'Dan Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07467295534995212259noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836245.post-1111249485174975572005-03-19T10:24:00.000-06:002005-03-19T10:24:00.000-06:00The "moratorium" has very, very little practical e...The "moratorium" has very, very little practical effect right now. There is no agreement by the state's attorneys to avoid seeking death. In fact, I believe there are something like six people who have been sentenced to death since George Ryan emptied Death Row.<BR/><BR/>Under Ryan, the moratorium was the implied threat that the governor would commute or delay any executions. That process is started with the attorney general, who seeks an execution date from the Supreme Court. Jim Ryan, who was then attorney general, declined to ask for any executions. He said it would be a moot point since GRyan would just delay it anyway (although that would've been pretty tough if JRyan tried to send up some heinous murderer).<BR/><BR/>But now the moratorium means next to nothing. Lisa Madigan can't ask for death for anyone, because the defendants have at least two or three more trips through the appellate process before they'd be ready. <BR/><BR/>It will be well into Madigan's and Blagojevich's second or third (if they make it that long) term before this really becomes an issue.<BR/><BR/>Blagojevich clings to the notion of this moratorium, much like he sticks to his creative ways of finding new money for schools, as a way of avoiding the really big questions that most people want answered. In this case, it's: Do you support the death penalty?<BR/><BR/>And Rod's answer is, "Yes, but I also support this meaningless moratorium."<BR/><BR/>--DCVAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836245.post-1111208708576856712005-03-18T23:05:00.000-06:002005-03-18T23:05:00.000-06:00"Absolute certainty" does not exist in the real wo..."Absolute certainty" does not exist in the real world. This standard would lead to the death penalty never being applied, or, more likely, to some lower standard being adopted de facto. "Beyond a reasonably doubt" seems pretty clear to me. It means, in your words, "the evidence must move 'beyond' that point so a juror may have some doubt in her mind, but less than a reasonable doubt".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836245.post-1111090443237471812005-03-17T14:14:00.000-06:002005-03-17T14:14:00.000-06:00The death penalty is like gun control but not at a...The death penalty is like gun control but not at all like choice. It can be a gimme'. The biggest problem is that it's a wedge and a slippery slope. <BR/><BR/>Appeal to the 'strict fathers' on this one and before you know it you are filling the jails with drug users and 3rd time shoplifters. Good progressives can keep the reasons straight but potential allies on the Democratic right get confused.<BR/><BR/>If you are not yet a politician you can have the luxury of not even believing in the death penalty for Gacy and bin Laden. If you can support it for bin Laden then it can be supported for the bigger killer Bush.<BR/><BR/>Easist and best is to take it off the table entirely.<BR/><BR/>I guess I come down on the side of opposing this bill. It's another case of Democrats not taking a principled stand but instead angling for the most that can be gotton. Short term gain, long term loss.Jeff Wegersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14189849564942186511noreply@blogger.com