The Politics of a California Mormon
by Kurt Gelespie
I first met Kurt when he called Rocky’s office to alert us to Hatch’s hypocracy for taking so much money from the drug companies. He is a walking encyclopedia, a proud Mormon, and a committed Californian. We hope he will post often.
Cliff feel free to post this anywhere if you think appropriate and/or will stir up some good debates. Cliff what are your thoughts on the death penalty?
I am strongly in favor of it. Of course I want safe guards to make sure that no one innocent is killed. The mess in Illinois is directly attributable to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley Jr. Before he was Mayor he was a tough but reckless District Attorney for Cook County. He cut corners by making deals with other inmates that they would be released early if they gave information about someone confessing to murder. That undermined the whole system
Its strange that here in Calif. Sen. Feinstein wants this rapist who tortured and murdered his victim over a 1 hour period to be put to death. The murderers Appeals Lawyer is none other than Ken Starr. (The same bastard that tried to impeach President Clinton for having oral sex with Monica Lewinski ) What a strange world we live in! Liberals will be upset with Feinstein and Clinton for wanting a sadistic murderer to be put to death while Conservatives will be mad at Starr for comparing this Country to Iran if we put this scum bag to death.
You can say that my politics are usually pro-death. I strongly believe in the death penalty, abortion, and euthanasia. However I think it’s hypocritical of liberals to be for abortion in the 7th month while they cry when serial killers like Ted Bundy are put to death.
I’ll close with some funny lines by former New York City Mayor Ed Koch:
The definition of a conservative is a liberal who has just been mugged. However the definition of a liberal is a conservative who has just been indicted. LOL.
Take care, Kurt
February 21st, 2006 at 11:16 am
Verily, Kurt may be a good guy and a proud Mormon, but Kurt is just as asleep as the rest of his conservative ilk when it comes to discussions concerning the death penalty. “I am strongly in favor of [the death penalty, but] I want safe guards to make sure that no one innocent is killed.” Just what does Kurt have in mind? We already know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the judicial system makes mistakes of very high degree - e.g., twenty plus years in the can only to be later released because of DNA analysis. Where does Kurt find authority for the death penalty? Will he point to the bible for conclusive authority to apply the death penalty? If he does, then may I point to the bible for conclusive authority on other matters? After all, there is linguistic support in the bible for just about anything!
February 21st, 2006 at 4:22 pm
Nephi I hardly fall into the category of being in the conservative ilk. Im an independent who leans left of center. My favorite national politicians are Harry Reid, John McCain and Diane Feinstein. …….My favoring the death penalty has little to do with the bible. A proponent could use the Eye for an Eye philosophy but an opponent could say Christ died on the cross to repeal Old testament laws and bring in a new era. …..Nephi my question to you is are you against the death penalty all the time when you know 100% that the accussed person is guilty? Do you think it would have been immoral to hang Hitler after World war 2? Or people like Pol Pot and Milosovic? …….Is there any legitimate reason for society to keep people like Charles Manson alive? They can try and kill other inmates or prison guards because they have nothing to lose. They also warp young impressionable first time criminals that can still be rehabilitated. …….I voted for John Kerry last time. I thought the debate where Al Sharpton and Dennis Kucinich raked him over the coals for supporting the death penalty for child murderers and drug king pins was a disgrace. Its a same that so many liberal Democrats are 1 issue voters and their Candidates must be pure and 100% against the death penalty. You are as bad as Southern Republicans that only vote for Candidates that refuse to regulate tobacco in any meaningful way. -Kurt
February 21st, 2006 at 6:09 pm
My sincere apologies to Kurt for labeling him a conservative - indeed, I can’t think of a worse association to mistakenly place upon someone. Yuk!! After reading your post a second, third and fourth time, I must admit, you don’t quite fit into any category, but I am pleased that you refer to yourself as leaning toward the left of center.
At any rate, my view is this: the death penalty is just plain wrong. Are there folks deserving of it? You bet. Will its application serve some justifiable purpose - e.g., retribution or deterent? Maybe. But do we as a “civilized” nation have the authority to kill a human being? Absolutely not. We have no vested authority from any higher power that I am aware that permits us to kill the likes of Saddam, Pol Pot or Milosevic (or W for that matter); notwithstanding, moreover, that each, including W, are worthy of some form of cruel and unusual punishment.
On this matter - i.e., the death penalty - virtually the entirety of the rest of the world has got it correct - lock them up and throw away the key, but thou shalt not kill!
I join Cliff in looking forward to your continued posts!
February 22nd, 2006 at 9:54 am
…..and the global plan to polarize this country to its extinction rolls along.