Well, a whole mess of my formative years has gone down the terlet.
Son of a *&^%$#@! Don't forget tonight's the last night of diaries this week because of leading a retreat at the Indianapolis Zen Center; {insert best Governator voice here} I'll be back Monday night!
Allow me to add a little SPARK to your life. :) Golly, back in more "civilized" days, people would just break out the smelling salts or splash a little water - not any more! Even if this place wasn't on my "Won't travel there even if my life depends on it!" list, I would so SO be in trouble if I ever went. Gracious, and I thought my Dad's a pack rat; he's got nothin' on these folk. If some people were upset by portraying Mohammad in a cartoon, what are they going to make of THIS artistic expression?! Finally, do squid prefer Marvin Gaye or Barry White for that "special moment"? ;D
On with The Rachel Maddow Show!
"Breaking News" - Well, just guess what it concerns. SCOTUS is reviewing the Troy Davis case. 7 of the 9 witnesses have recanted their testimony. 3 of the jurors at the time said they'd change their decision if they knew then what they know now. I read on teh Twitter that Troy Davis still might be strapped to a gurney during all this $hit. That can't possibly be true, can it? Wouldn't THAT be grounds for cruel & unusual?! Pete Williams gets the first crack on this developing story. The simple question is whether SCOTUS will grant a stay or not. There is no time limit for SCOTUS to make their decision. Georgia is waiting to hear what SCOTUS says. Pete's expecting a decision tonight. SCOTUS has to go through all of 4 pages of material from each side of this case to determine if they are going to stay the execution. Can you just imagine having THIS duty as a SCOTUS clerk?! Ugh... Georgia could've gone ahead & proceeded with the execution. A whole lot of people, police, and family members on both sides are outside the jail where Troy Davis is. Dalia Lithwick follows up Pete Williams. Troy Davis asked for & was denied a polygraph test today. No new evidence can really be brought to SCOTUS at this point; Troy Davis' lawyers just want more time to gather information for another appeal. Tonight was the 4th scheduled execution date for Mr. Davis. 5 of the SCOTUS justices need to grant a stay. Ugh, I hate to think about Troy Davis' fate in some of those "justices" hands. Thanh Truong is in Jackson, GA outside of where Troy Davis is being held. 100 Georgia riot police are there, too. Oh boy, this could get ugly no matter what gets decided.
"...and all the ones who will come after me." - TX executed the man convicted of dragging James Byrd behind a truck. That's #236 for Governor Secession. James Byrd's family didn't want anyone executed for what happened. Governor Secession wanted his snuff film; family wishes be damned. Another family in Mississippi doesn't want an execution for the hate crime/murder perpetuated upon their family. A wide array of folk across political spectrums have come out against Troy Davis' execution. A group of retired prison officials - including where Troy Davis is - wrote on behalf of Troy Davis. Wow, that was a hell of a letter. Families of victims can & should get a say in a death penalty decision, but they don't get to decide. Benjamin Jealous is president of the NAACP & is outside the facility where Troy Davis is. He's spent time with Troy Davis' family; they were prepared for either outcome tonight. The victim's family wants Troy Davis executed because they feel he received a fair trial. Mr. Jealous wants Savannah, GA to re - open the case, but citizens there are scared to come forward. Mr. Jealous has spent time with Troy Davis, too. Media has been barred from talking to Troy Davis.
Frank Rich is in studio to talk the Troy Davis case. A big chunk of the nation & the world are gripped by this case, and a lot of people are thinking about the death penalty who possibly didn't give it too much thought before - well, that & the cheering of it in Simi Valley. Conservatives are trying to explain they feel defensive about supporting the death penalty; however, they don't like abortion! Me thinks they wouldn't cheer someone on stage bragging about how many abortions a doctor performed!! Mr. Rich is impressed by the wardens' letter. Governor Secession doesn't like government, but he's fine with the legal process involving death penalty cases all over the country & in his state.
EJ Dionne gets Troy Davis duty next. Again, the majority of SCOTUS justices must agree to an execution stay. Depending on what they decide, the death penalty in connection to SCOTUS might become a big issue again. The advent of DNA evidence plus evidence of innocent people dying has also charged up the issue. Rachel is really REALLY bothered by the cheering in Simi Valley a couple weeks ago; thinking feeling moral people should be bothered regardless of your personal opinion on the issue.