Comments on: Governor Kaine delays execution

By: vjp

vjp — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 13:37:26 +0000

Xlrq & Jane – Kaine is following the law. The court has ruled that insane people cannot be executed. Walton is insane. If Kaine allowed the execution, he would be breaking the law. Under our Constitutional Republic, our elected officials are charged with upholding the law.

Had Kaine commuted the sentence, no doubt you would have been among those howling at that.

Kaine compromised. If, by chance, Walton becomes sane, he will be executed.

By: Jack

Jack — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 12:57:54 +0000

Terry — Please read. I never said “cure.” I said, “get better.”

By: Jane Oldham

Jane Oldham — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 07:16:34 +0000

So, if he doesn’t suddenly get smarter, then his sentence is commuted? Only smart people can get the death penalty in Virginia?

Seriously, what is Kaine waiting for? Surely no new information will come to light now about Walton.

By: Terry

Terry — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 02:59:08 +0000

Kaine said “At the same time, it is within the realm of possibility – though unlikely – that Walton’s mental impairment is not permanent.”

Jack, no one said we’re going to “cure” Walton. Kaine simply said that it is POSSIBLE that Walton will get better, though unlikely.

By: Xrlq

Xrlq — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:18:29 +0000

Walton’s obviously not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but so what? The execution is there for his victims’ benefit, not his. Who cares if he’s smart enough to understand what’s happening to him or not? However high or low his IQ may be before his execution, it would be 0 afterward, any valuable life lessons the execution may have taught a more lucid Walton would be lost, anyway.

By: Jack

Jack — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 11:48:16 +0000

When you cannot answer the questrion, attack the questioner. Classic.

By: Soapbox

Soapbox — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 09:09:21 +0000

Jack might be the most closed-minded, dunce in the entire blogosphere…and that is saying a lot

By: Jack

Jack — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 02:38:14 +0000

So we’re going to have him get better, until the point he understands what’s going to happen, then we kill him? Is this supposed to be more humane or less?

By: Blacknell.net » Gov. Kaine Delays an Execution

Blacknell.net » Gov. Kaine Delays an Execution — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 01:57:29 +0000

[...] As Vivian Paige rightly notes, pro-death penalty activists will probably slam Kaine for this. I think that Kaine ought to be commended for ignoring the usual public thirst for blood and taking a solid step towards determining whether or not Walton truly is capable of understanding his punishment. I, of course, would rather see the death sentence commuted (I am against the death penalty in all matters), but I think this is a good step, both in the moral and political senses. [...]

By: MB

MB — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 00:50:43 +0000

I hope that Gov. Kaine gets the support he deserves, for this.