Tomservo

Okay, I'm a Democrat, but I cannot *believe* this bit from yesterday's debate:

"Kerry was pressed about his views on the death penalty, which he opposes except in cases of terrorism. "

What the hell is wrong with our world? That's gotta be the most ridiculous pandering to the populace I've seen in ages. Somehow, in the world of John Kerry (or his political advisors), a political or religious zealot who takes part in a conspiracy to commit murder is more *evil* than a man who rapes, tortures, and murders an entire family? Nevermind that fact- but somehow the evidence against a terrorist is immediately rock solid, but not so against a pedophile who buries a child alive after raping them?

I'm pro death penalty in cases of *obvious* guilt. Meaning, caught red-handed, in the act, confessed. Folks like the 17-year old who ran down the jogger with his SUV, then told the police he did it because he wanted to kill, then have sex with her. The way I see it, if there's NO doubt or question of guilt, an your crime is extremely heinous, you've redefined "cruel and unusual" by your acts alone.

Sure, there's always the argument "So many people have been on death row who were innocent." I don't care about those people, that's a failure of the PROCESS, not of the punishment. Fix the process, and the punishment WILL fit the crime.

Do you people really believe a terrorist deserves to die more than a rapist/murderer? A serial killer? A serial sniper? Are the votes Kerry's searching for REALLY out there, or is he just misinformed?

Stare At The Sun

Nothing else to really say, I agree w/ you totally. Bad Kerry bad.

Strange Famous

The decent opinion of mankind opposes the death penalty and so would any politician worth voting for.

But, if it is a choice between one man who has said he would execute certain criminals, and a man who when governer of Texas was actually responsible for many executions...

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sapiens

I agree. The quote is very disturbing. Do you have a link to the source?

stevie667

jeez, that has to beat even some of the infamous bushisms!
i have to agree with you about the total stupidity of it, i'm against the death sentance in all but the three dooseys (high treason, priacy on the open seas and setting fire to her majestys navel yards) and while that may be slightly askew, i do feel the need to bow down in front of kerry for his views...

Sparhawk

Is this the current British law? Whoa...

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Tomservo

Also have to say, I'll debate anyone on the death penalty, but I certainly believe you have the right to your own opinion. I should be liberal enough to be against it, but I'm not! I'll never get into office in California!

Strange Famous

You can also be executed by the captain of a ship while it is in international waters and that is excepted in British law, however, EU law forbids the death penalty, and on this issue it would take precedence - so in reality the death penalty is legally impossible in the UK. Then again, if a few police decide to kill Fred West, who is going to care or protect him? (for example)

__________________
"Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate,
for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing
hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain
without being uncovered."

The Gospel of Thomas

maximusveritas

He's obviously taking this position to avoid being hurt by dumb attacks like "Kerry doesn't think Bin Laden should face the toughest sentence possible for attacking us on 9-11."
As much as I disagree with his position, it probably is a safe one to take since most voters won't hold it against him.

JumpinJesus

I watched the debate and heard Kerry say this. I have to admit that it was a pretty transparent comment. It was pandering at its textbook best.

I am of the opinion that politicians are like frat boys at a bar, voters are like two really hot chicks that the frat boy wants to nail, and the politician is using his best pick up lines, hoping for a threesome.

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Tholo

I think that is the best description of politics ever.

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balderdash111

The irony, of course, is that terrorists are the ones least likely to care about being executed. You get fewer suicide-murderers as a percentage of the murderer population than you get suicide-bombers as a percentage of the terrorist population.

Ustwo

Can't a liberal just run as a liberal, or do they have to B.S. and lie to sneak in under the radar?

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maximusveritas

You could say the same thing about conservatives. Why does Bush have to give us that "compassionate conservative" BS? That's what politics is about, capturing as much of the middle without sacrificing your base. That's part of what Kerry is doing here.

Ustwo

I thought compassionate conservative was B.S. Saddly I was mistaken.

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Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

Tophat665

I have got to agree with that. Unfortunately, the majority of Americans feel more strongly about vengance than they do about justice. I'm OK with that (though not pleased), right up to the point where we can't correct ourselves if it turns out to be a mistake. Hence, the death penalty should be given only in cases of absolutely no doubt reasonable or otherwise. Any looser standard and innocent people get killed. Not a lot, but one is too many. I think Kerry would go with something like that, except having a nuanced conception of policy almost let Dean run away with the primaries (right up till Gephardt took one for the team and stopped him. Sad day, that, but I digress even more than usual.) So, he's standing in the boogieman du jour for "When you absolutely positively know for an iron clad fact that the world would not only be a better place without this person, but this person has and, if left alive, would continue to present a lethal threat to all around them, then I am in favor of the death penalty." That's a sound byte that would never have made the news. "Against it except for terrorists," that will make he news.

How were you mistaken? Where is the compassion? Indeed, where is the conservatism with a $500 Billion Dollar deficit? Are you sad that he is conservative and compassionate, or do you wish that he were one or the other or either? Honestly, I'm curious. What you said there doesn't make a lot of sense to me, and sometimes you surprise me with a really interesting insight.

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Set a man on fire, and he will be warm for the rest of his life.

Boo

*snip*
I really don't want this guy in charge of anything. Under this reasoning it could also be heard next week that:

"Kerry was pressed about his views on gun control, which he supports except in cases of self-defense. "

"Kerry was pressed about his views on oil production in the ANWR, which he opposes except in cases of fuel shortage. "

"Kerry was pressed about his views on education, which he opposes except in cases of stupidity. "

I hope it was just a mis-quote.

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Phaenx

If only I could make them transparent as well. Well, I can, I just don't have 9 hours to do it.

Anyways, I would have thought people would catch on to how much a phoney this guy is by now.

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saut

Kerry is just as much of a good ole boy as Bush is, plus he looks like a freaking mutant.

Sigh, I wish the Democratic party had a decent candidate .

Tophat665

AMEN!

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Set a man on fire, and he will be warm for the rest of his life.

saut

I'll vote for whoever the Democratic candidate turns out to be, even if it's Kerry - only because I think we're better off with him than Bush. I wish I was excited about the election, but I'm more apathetic about it than anything. I don't want to be forced to pick one GOB over the other. I want someone that really cares about the issues; someone who really wants what is best - not only for America, but for the entire world. Unfortunately, I don't think we'll ever really have someone like this.

<./Disillusionment>

seretogis

There are more than two political parties, you know.

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saut

Yes. But will a third party candidate ever have a chance? Doesn't seem likely to me...

Mr Scorcex

If everyone that resigned themselves to voting for a mainstream candidate, justifying that a third party candidate had no chance,actually voted for a third party candidate, I believe that they might just collect a sizable minority of the vote. Purely speculation, of course, but it seems that line comes up so often a third party candidate might just have a chance.

gibingus

gag. this is what the system gives us now, and dean's self destruct and nader's fringe profile has shown us you can't work outside the system and get in. what amazes me is that we're all sick of this crap (which is the same from both parties) but we don't get rid of it. we always end up voting for the lesser of two evils.

god, i long for a candidate with some spine.

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