Texas & The Death Penalty

Jeffrey Lee Wood is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection tonight in Texas. I am an opponent of the death penalty not only because it does nothing to prevent serious crime, but also because it goes against my basic principles regarding life in general. Other than self-defense or in a time of war, taking the life of another human being is abhorrent.

The case of Jeffrey Lee Wood is one that simply amazes me. If you click on the title you'll be taken to the Washington Post website where you can read their article on this. Briefly, this is what happened:

He was sitting in the car outside of the store where they had arranged with the clerk to pull off a fake robbery - then all 3 would split the proceeds. Something went wrong and his partner shot the clerk in the head.

"Since the case began, lawyers and family members have argued that Wood was mentally unfit for trial. They say he has a severe learning disability, is easily coaxed into doing what he is told and is delusional. Wood signed a statement confessing to the crime."

Other than saving the citizens of Texas the expense of keeping him locked up for the rest of his life, I fail to understand what his execution will achieve. As a punitive action it goes too far, and as for setting an example for other criminals, it's impact is nil.

I find it mind-boggling that someone can oppose the death penalty, yet state with a straight face that abortion is a matter of choice, not murder. When asked when life began last Sunday, Senator McCain answered "at conception" - a viewpoint held by approximately 70% of all Americans. Senator Obama on the other hand, said that the answer to the question was "above my pay grade." Quite the dodge for someone who is supposedly going to lead us to great change.

In Psalm 139 God says 'I formed you in your mother's womb and before you were born I planned every day of your life'. Many Christians take the bible as the literal word of God, thus most Christians believe that life begins at the moment of conception. I tend to view the Old Testament as allegorical, not as the spoken word of God. Either way, it is clear that most Christians are not in favor of abortion, but there are a fair number of these same Christians that also support the death penalty.

Regardless of whether or not your pro-life and pro-death penalty, or pro-abortion and anti-death penalty, the incongruity of the positions defies logic in my eyes.

In a previous posting on abortion I suggested this: If the mother, after viewing the fetus clearly in the womb with the technology we now have available to do that, decides that she still wants to abort the fetus, then her "choice" can be honored. With all the judging we do of others on this earth, I suggested that Christians leave their judgements at the door step once the decision has been made by the mother, and concentrate on helping the woman who has had to make this difficult decision. Let God make the final decision on the morality of aborting the child, suppress your own judgements, and just help a fellow human being who will experience doubt, guilt and a myriad of other emotions.

While discussing the death penalty with my son, he asked, "If somebody killed me, wouldn't you want them killed too?" I told him yes, I would want that person killed, but that would be a visceral reaction on my part. After time and thought, my principles would prevail and I would not endorse the death penalty for the murderer. He couldn't understand how I could feel that way about his murderer. All I could tell him is that life has taught me may things: it can stop in a heartbeat; to retain anger and a desire for revenge hurts you, not the guilty party; forgiveness is the key to a happy heart, and the less judging you do here on the earth, the better you'll be judged when it's time for the final judgement.

With all of the other problems facing our world, a story like that of Jeffrey Lee Woods is seldom national news that draws the attention of the American public. That is unfortunate, but I believe that someday this country will come to the realization that killing someone as a punitive measure is strictly Old Testament - "an eye for an eye" - and it has no place in the evolution of mankind.

It would be nice if the world viewed war in the same fashion, but I don't know if that day will ever come.

Senator Harkin Demeans McCain & Military

“It’s one thing to have been drafted and served, but another thing when you come from generations of military people and that’s just how you’re steeped, how you’ve learned, how you’ve grown up.”

“I think he’s trapped in that. Everything is looked at from his life experiences, from always having been in the military, and I think that can be pretty dangerous.”

Senator Tom Harkin on Senator John McCain

In case you were unaware, Senator Harkin also served in the military. During his run for the Democrat Presidential nomination in 2004, he was forced to admit that he did not fly combat air patrols or photo reconnaissance as he said he had. He ferried damaged planes between Japan and the Philippines and then did test flights on them after they were repaired. I guess it's a good thing he wasn't in Bosnia with Hillary during all that sniper fire.

Democrat strategists will have a difficult enough time convincing the American people that Senator Obama has any concept of geo-politics without Senator Harkin's foolish observations. Since Senator Obama says he's ready to sit right down and negotiate with terrorists just as soon as he's sworn in, and immediately start withdrawing troops from Iraq, I hope he asks Senator Harkins to be his running mate.

I guess thinking that politics should be set aside for Memorial Day was foolish on my part, but thankfully the vast majority of us aren't consumed by political aspirations.

Senator Harkin should apologize for his slander. If he fails to do so, it will only help Senator McCain, and the results in November could very well place Senator Obama alongside George McGovern and Michael Dukakis inside "The Hall of Hapless Wanna-Be's" where liberal Democrats reign supreme.

Senator Harkin - you should be ashamed of yourself.

The Clinton Comeback & Limbaugh Lunacy

Kudos to Hillary Clinton for her dramatic wins in Texas and Ohio. Why the pundits ever count her out is beyond me. After two years of seeking the office, eight years in the office, a successful senatorial campaign - why would anyone ever doubt the Clinton Machine? The expertise of their machinations is only a piece of the picture, as Senator Obama's lack of experience will continue to plague him throughout this battle for the nomination.

If more fellow conservatives start to come down with Limbaugh Lunacy, then the Democrats would be foolish not to nominate her.

Rush may say that he wants you to vote for Hillary because she's more conservative than Senator McCain. That's absolute rubbish of course, but he couldn't tell you the real reason why he wants you to vote for Hillary, but I will.

You see, if Hillary is elected, he's counting on at least four years of accomplishing nothing, even with Democrat majorities in both houses. He's counting on the same kind of hatred that has been hurled at President Bush for the past eight years to rise again into the "Hatred of all things Clinton" that we endured in the 90's. I'm not talking about their policies or actions, I'm talking about the mindless hatred that many people still feel for Bill, but even more so for Hillary. The depth of the haters knowledge is the shallow end of the pool in most cases, regardless of who it is you hate.

If John McCain is elected President, then Rush's greatest fears come true. A Republican who is willing to work together with the opposition for the betterment of the country. Rush would much rather have gridlock than have the door of true bi-partisanship unlocked.

I disagree with Senator McCain on a number of issues, but I respect him as a man, and I would trust him to do what he thinks is right, even if I don't always agree. Leadership does not require that one to be a politician; it only requires honor, honesty and dignity.

What's In A Name?

Was radio talk show host Bill Cunningham using Senator Obama's middle name as a not so subtle hint regarding his Muslim background? He says he always uses a person's full name. Then, after Senator McCain apologizes for his remarks, he turns around and goes on TV to announce that he's backing Senator Clinton.

No one can know for certain what Mr. Cunningham's intentions were, but I'm going to go out on a limb and make a judgement - he knew exactly what he was doing. It was bigotry, pure and simple. I realize that many on the right are concerned about the influence of Islam in Senator Obama's life: Does allegiance to Allah come before the United States? How many John Kennedy (Catholicism), Mitt Romney (Mormon) speeches will it take before they realize that his religion does not come before the country? It is ridiculous to even suggest, because if he did try it, he'd be impeached in a flash, just as any President should be who tries to make any religion the "state religion".

I would normally say that using a candidates full name should never be a reason for an apology - it's your name, if you don't like it change it. But in this case, especially when you view the video of his rant, there can be little doubt about the bitter seeds he was trying to sow.

Now I'm not all that fond of my middle name either: Len

I never made any effort to make it known because the thought of being called "Ben-Len" in grade school was about like being called "Ben Franklin" all the time - it was annoying. Nicknames can be even worse. My father's nickname for me: Pooty. Where he ever came up with that I'll never know, but if he wanted to see a six year old in paroxysms of rage, all he had to do was call me that. Of course, once my three brothers and two sisters realized how much it jerked my chain, I eventually became inured to the endless teasing. I guess it was just too close to "Poopy" for my tastes.

So what's in a name? It's all in how you say it.

Who's Your Choice for McCain's Veep?

I took another poll the other day, and one of the questions was, "Who would you select as John McCain's running mate?" There was a list of about 20 people, some I knew, some I didn't, but one name jumped off the page at me: Condi Rice.

It's almost too easy to pick her. A highly intelligent, well spoken black female who may even draw away votes from Obama simply because of her gender and skin color. That's a sad commentary on how some of us vote I think, but it exists and to deny it is to deny the reality of politics in this country.

If you think things like that aren't taken in to consideration, you don't know politics very well.

That is only a fraction of the overall consideration however. From everything I've seen of Ms. Rice, she is tough when she needs to be and is not afraid of mixing it up with the big boys. With the expertise that she's gained as Secretary of State, she would be able to fill the role of Vice-President as a true asset, not just a figurehead for ceremonies. John McCain's age and health do not present a problem as far as I'm concerned, but one never knows when the bell tolls for thee. Having a younger VP with talent and leadership ability is also part of the equation.

It would also be interesting to see the manner in which the mainstream media treats her. Do you think the NY Times would do a hatchet piece on her like they did on McCain earlier this week? William Randolph Hearst had nothing on Mr. Sulzberger when it comes to yellow journalism, but I don't think they'd be quite as hasty to print innuendo and supposition about Condolezza Rice.

So who's your choice? What do they bring to the table?

Feel free to share your opinions.

It Comes As No Surprise

I listened to Senator Obama give his stump speech in Madison, WI - at least as much as it took to settle the issue: He would be a much bigger mistake than Hillary.

"Change our mindset": We shouldn't have gone to Iraq, we need to get out, we need to stop living in fear...Translation: Let's just play nice with the bullies and I just know we'll become the bestest of friends. I stopped living in fear within a few days after 9-11, and especially after my first flight after that date. If this man becomes President, I'd be ready to start fearing again - fearing what his election whould do to the morale of our Armed Forces, and fearing what his election would mean to our status as the world's sole super power. National health care at the cost of a strong military is slow suicide and application for entry into the ranks of has-been world leaders.

Health care is an issue that must be addressed, but not at the expense of a strong military.

"Bush's tax cuts for the rich": Apparently the fact that the economy could have easily tanked after 9-11, but didn't due in large part to those tax cuts, fails to register. Tax cuts equal more revenue - you don't have to have a doctorate in economics to comprehend that simple fact.

In addition to not listening to lobbyist from Exxon-Mobile and elsewhere, he's going to change things in Washington. When he's had all the bureaucrats rounded up and replaced with illegal aliens let me know - then I'll be convinced that change is on the way. I hate to disparage illegal aliens by saying they could do the job of a bureaucrat; they contribute more to our economy by just doing what they do.

So as the title indicated, no big surprise to anyone. My only hope is that John McCain's more liberal approach to immigration, national health care, and global warming will have appeal with the middle-of-the-roaders.