The American Spectator : 234 Dead

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234 Dead

By Aaron Goldstein on 9.13.11 @ 6:07AM

Before you criticize Rick Perry for his death penalty stance, take a look at some of the folks he put to death.

I thought Texas governor Rick Perry handled himself with repose and restraint when he answered Brian Williams' loaded question about the death penalty during last week's GOP presidential debate at the Reagan Library. Williams asked:

Governor Perry, a question about Texas. Your state has executed 234 death row inmates, more than any other governor in modern times. Have you struggled to sleep at night with the idea that any one of them, those (sic) might have been innocent?

Some were appalled that the audience erupted in applause when they heard that Texas had executed 234 people during Perry's tenure. Glenn Greenwald at Salon called the applause "creepy and disgusting." Speaking of creepy and disgusting, it is worth noting that Greenwald's piece has a picture of Governor Perry beside one of Osama bin Laden. Greenwald possesses all the subtlety of a ball-peen hammer.

When Williams asked Perry what he made of "the mention that the execution of 234 people just drew applause," the governor began his reply by simply stating, "Americans understand justice." Yet I suspect that Brian Williams' concept of justice is quite different from that of a majority of Americans. Williams leaves one with the impression that these 234 people were upstanding citizens who found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. No. These 234 people committed the most heinous crimes imaginable. Let's take a look at but a few of the people who have been executed in Texas over the past year or so.

On June 15, 2010, the state of Texas executed David Powell for the 1978 murder of police officer Ralph Ablanedo. Powell shot Ablanedo at least four times with an AK-47. The execution of Powell brought relief to Ablanedo's family, who had been waiting more than three decades for justice to be served.

On October 21, 2010, the state of Texas executed Larry Wooten for the 1996 murder of 80-year old Grady Alexander and his 86-year-old wife Bessie. Wooten stabbed the elderly couple and slit their throats, nearly beheading them. Wooten also beat Mrs. Alexander with a pistol with such force that the grip and portions of the trigger mechanism broke off. To add insult to injury, Wooten then robbed the Alexanders of over $500 in cash.

On February 22, 2011, the state of Texas executed Timothy Wayne Adams for the 2002 murder of his 19-month old son, whom he twice shot in the chest. Adams' attorneys maintained that the shooting was brought about by "an emotional crisis" when he learned his wife was going to leave him. As if killing a defenseless child is a natural response to an emotional crisis.

On July 7, 2011, the state of Texas executed Humberto Leal Garcia, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, for the 1994 abduction, rape, and murder of a 16-year old girl named Adria Saveda. Garcia sexually assaulted Saveda with a piece of lumber and then crushed her skull with a 35-pound piece of asphalt. When Saveda's body was found, the piece of lumber was still protruding from her genitalia. You would think that someone like Garcia wouldn't inspire much sympathy. But you would be wrong.

Because authorities in Texas did not inform Garcia of his rights to contact the Mexican consulate when he was in custody, his case and that of other Mexican nationals was championed by the UN International Court of Justice, which in 2004 ruled that the United States had violated the Vienna Convention and ordered it to review all death row convictions of Mexican nationals. Yet Garcia did not disclose that he was a Mexican national at the time of his arrest nor was the issue raised by his attorneys either prior to or during his trial.

Nevertheless, President Obama saw fit to petition the Supreme Court to block Garcia's execution on the basis of the 2004 ICJ decision. The White House made the case that if Garcia was executed then it would do "irreparable harm" to Americans' interests and that Americans detained abroad would be denied due process. Does anyone honestly think Iran would refrain from detaining American hikers because the U.S. didn't execute Garcia? It should be noted that former president George W. Bush and former secretary of state Colin Powell also agreed that Garcia's execution should be stayed. Writing in the American Thinker, Monte Kuligowski begs to differ:

For all the "irreparable harm" against America's interests envisioned by the global-minded elitists of the world, it should be noted that Garcia was afforded full constitutional protections before, during, and after trial.

Though he was executed for his heinous and unspeakable acts, Garcia enjoyed all the constitutional rights of U.S. citizens, including the assistance of legal counsel and trial by jury.

When it was just about to be all said and done, Garcia confessed to his crime moments before his execution, stating, "I am sorry for the victim's family for what I had did. May they forgive me." His final words were "Viva Mexico. Viva Mexico."

President Obama used his prestige to stand up for a murderer and rapist of a child. Governor Perry and the authorities in Texas, by contrast, stood up for Adria Saveda and her family.

While Brian Williams and liberal elites might have trouble sleeping at night because the Lone Star state sees fit to execute rapists and murderers, the good people of Texas sleep soundly.

About the Author

Aaron Goldstein writes from Boston, Massachusetts.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (75) | Leave a comment

Mike Hawk| 9.13.11 @ 6:38AM

Rick Perry did not put anybody to death. Furthermore, and unlike most other states, in the Texas legal system the process is pretty much in the control of a commission and not the Governor.

John Navratil| 9.13.11 @ 7:05AM

Mike Hawk,

In Texas the governor doesn't even sign the death warrant, that is down by the judge. The Governor does have the power to stay the execution as do the courts.

Williams' question should have asked, "You refused to inject yourself into death penalty cases when you could havc, how do you sleep?"

Mike Hunt| 9.13.11 @ 10:52AM

That question is as dumb as the one Brian Williams asked.

John Navratil| 9.13.11 @ 12:18PM

Mike Hunt,

Just a dumb, but not a loaded don't you think? Williams was trying to inject a comment. Does Perry still beat his wife?

Mike Hunt| 9.13.11 @ 4:08PM

Probably not,but he did buy her white dresses and aprons so that she is the same colour as the other kitchen appliances.

John Navratil| 9.13.11 @ 6:14PM

Mike Hunt,

Do you have a point to make?

Mike Bergsma| 9.13.11 @ 1:44PM

The Texas Governor can delay and execution but not stop it.

John Navratil| 9.13.11 @ 1:57PM

Mike Bergsma,

True as you say. The Governor has the authority, on his own, to grant a 30 day reprieve. He can, upon recommendation of the Pardons and Parole board, grant clemency, and pardons. But the recommendation is required.

My use of 'stay' may have implied a permanent reprieve. A 'stay' is always, as far as I know, temporary.

Angus MaCaupy| 9.13.11 @ 1:49PM

All good additions to the point. Thanks gents. I wanted to be brief but to the point.

Alan Brooks| 9.13.11 @ 2:34PM

You want the punishment to fit the crime?
The cop who vivtimized Amadou Diallo should have been tortured with a broken broomstick.

Alan Brooks| 9.13.11 @ 2:39PM

Or was in Abner Louima? at any rate, bad cops should be hurt-- BAD.

Alan Brooks| 9.13.11 @ 2:41PM

Pennell,
the cop who tortured Louisma with a broomstick only got 30 years.
He should have got 130 years.

Timothy L. Pennell| 9.14.11 @ 6:16AM

You sound jealous. He should have given YOU the broomstick. You might have taken him to Dinner and a Show, afterwards.

pickwick| 9.13.11 @ 2:42PM

heh heh, he said Mike Hawk. He's so clever.

Timothy L. Pennell| 9.13.11 @ 6:38AM

Why would anyone on the LEFT, wanna punish a Murderer? They LOVE Murderers. Just ask anyone of them (especially in Hollywood) about MUMIA . The SCUM who put a bullet in the skull of a defenseless Police Officer, in Philadelphia, as he lie Wounded, on the sidewalk. Ask any member of the Black Caucus.
They love CHE. They wear his image on their shirts. They have Flags on their walls with his image on them. Recall the newspaper photo of Barack HUSSEIN Obama, greeting a supporter of his, as she sat below her Che Guevara Flag, in that Obama For President Campaign Office.
They worship Lenin and Stalin and Marx. They pray at the Alter of Mao. They sing the praises of Ho Chi Min, Pol Pot, and Fidel Castro.
Why would they want Murderers Executed, when they CHAMPION the Brutal Executions of Millions of Unborn Babies, every year? Millions of lives extinguished, before their time. And they shed not one tear.
"It's my right!", they exclaim.
Contrast that to the reaction of the JUSTIFIED EXECUTION of a one man Infanticide: Tiller the Killer. You would have thought that the POPE had been shot. I see no difference between TILLER and MENGELE.
So, it shouldn't surprise anyone that they have a soft spot, when it comes to people who take the lives of others.
After all.......There would be no LEFT, if not for Murder.
It's what they do.
It's what they've always done.

Doctor Right| 9.13.11 @ 7:23AM

Dang, I wish I'd written that!

Mike D.| 9.13.11 @ 8:12AM

Kill a murderer and the socialists lose a vote. Simple as that.

fmm| 9.13.11 @ 9:45AM

and unborn babies don't vote

Moe Blotz| 9.13.11 @ 10:50AM

Dr. of Democracy divulged an interesting statistic on his radio show a while back that the majority of abortions are contracted by loony lefties. Something like 40,000,000 Democrat votes lost to infanticide.

Alan Brooks| 9.13.11 @ 5:23PM

"Something like 40,000,000 Democrat votes lost to infanticide."

So you like abortion after all, Moe.

Helen Hope Foritt| 9.13.11 @ 11:34PM

I believe it was P.J. O'Rourke who explained it best:

"Incidentally, there's a balanced position that all of America's presidential candidates could take on the controversial abortion issue. If they want votes they shouldn't campaign to make abortion illegal or legal. They should campaign to make it retroactive. If a kid reaches 25 and he or she is still jobless, feckless, and sitting around Starbucks acting like a--no offense--European, then whack."

And with every "whack" the Democrats lose another voter.

Kilgore Trout| 9.14.11 @ 1:08PM

To paraphrase Dirty Harry Calahan, "Abortion is OK as long as the RIGHT people get aborted".
Just so.

Dan Martin| 9.13.11 @ 9:26AM

Well, the Obama administration won't lift a finger to help Lawrence Russell Brewer, scheduled to depart on September 21st, 2011. In fact, they'd probably want Dick Cheney to torture him prior to execution. Sadly, it takes a brutal criminal like Brewer to force liberals to confront reality.

Bill| 9.13.11 @ 11:04AM

There must be some REASON why Brewer and his pals disliked James Byrd. "Why, oh why, did they hate him?"

Stan Baggett| 9.13.11 @ 2:45PM

Preach on, Brother!

Ammo Guy| 9.14.11 @ 9:25AM

I could be wrong, but I won't be surprised if President Obama pardons Mumia in January 2013 as retribution for our stupid actions in November 2012...I'm just saying.

albert constantine jr.| 9.14.11 @ 9:44PM

Mumia is a prisoner of the state of Pa., and therefore not subject to a presidential pardon.

Darin| 9.13.11 @ 7:09AM

Best answer is to turn the question around. Highlight the worst of the worst offenders and ask why such a person should be allowed to live on the taxpayers dime. Ask them to justify continued life for such a monster. And ask them if they would also support keeping people like Hitler, Stalin, and Pol Pot alive.

Brian Mc| 9.13.11 @ 7:39AM

With the influx of dramas out of Hollywood recently of wrongly-accused going to their death, usually at the hands of corrupt conservatives frothing at the mouth, it's no wonder that these questions are always raised by liberals. Their subjective gullibility gets the best of them. I suppose it's their way of exonerating themselves of the murder of the innocents going on daily, in which they shrug and mumble something about choice. Several years ago, my sister sent me a photo of the shuttle disaster supposedly taken from space, the craft in flames. I shrugged at the hoax and wondered, "And she has a Masters in Education?"
We, on the other hand, will do our homework and chase our objectivity towards its conclusion in 2012 with our fingers crossed.

POST american| 9.13.11 @ 8:27AM

-----Luciferian branding, a la Bush Jr's tenure.

Meanwhile, TREASON which is traditionally
regarded as the highest crime there is ------goes
entirely unprosecuted, indeed, unmentioned,
in this, the 40th year of the Globalist RED China
set up, sellout and TREASON OP.

--Throw in their EUGENICS agenda, and
the GMO saturation of the food supply and the
biosphere, along with the FUKISHIMA
world DEPOP OP cover-up ----and what ever's
sitting on death row, in terms of pure evil,
is looking downright second rate.

Bill| 9.13.11 @ 11:14AM

What is their eugenics agenda? What is the plan?

Mike Hawk| 9.13.11 @ 1:51PM

Go back to your room, your keeper is looking for you.

MOS was 71331| 9.13.11 @ 3:35PM

As usual, POST american, I can't tell what you're trying to say about the 234 dead article.

What TREASON is going unprosecuted? What is "their EUGENICS agenda"? What group do you consider has this agenda? What is this "DEPOP OP" that's being covered up? If I understood these things, I might agree they (whoever they are) are evil.

Mike D.| 9.13.11 @ 8:38PM

Don't pay much attention to Post american, he's wandering around in some mental institution on meds and once in a while he gets into the ward nurses computer station.

Dan Mathewson| 9.13.11 @ 4:40PM

POST american is like Paul Krugman. Post outrageous comments, but doesn't back them up in debate.

MOS was 71331| 9.13.11 @ 5:31PM

If I could understand POST a's comments, I might agree that they're outrageous. The only adjective I can apply to them is unintelligible.

henry| 9.13.11 @ 10:39AM

Every execution sends three messages:
1: the government is on the side of the good guys
2: there is such a thing as retribution
3: the database of scumbags has jus tbeen reduced by one

russel| 9.13.11 @ 10:51AM

Most irritating are these " gotcha " questions . The Bachman question about her husband . What do they have to do with being president of the entire country ? . Now , Zero butts in wherever he see fit , but he's scarcely presidential . We want to know how they'd deal with a regime capable of killing millions of innocent Americans , not heinous felons who belong in Hades .

Bill| 9.13.11 @ 11:07AM

Currently, I see discussion in the circles I move in, where the right-wing contestants for President are being characterized as "plastic," moon-faced, vacant-eyed automatons.

I would agree that they don't seem to have a heck of a lot of charisma, but I don't seem any of them as plastic.

Bill| 9.13.11 @ 11:08AM

But as I think back to the 1980 presidential campaign, I don't recall that Ronald Reagan was particularly charismatic before he was elected. I remember him being VERY charismatic after he became President, though.

PaulyD| 9.13.11 @ 11:09AM

When we get to the eventual Presidential debates, I wonder if Brian Williams will ask this question of Barack Obama:

"President Obama, in the three years you've been in office, you've conducted more Predator drone strikes against targets in Afghanistan and Pakistan than your predecessor. Do you struggle to sleep at night with the idea that any one of those targets may have been innocent civilians?"

Aaron Goldstein| 9.13.11 @ 11:30AM

Good one.

John Navratil| 9.13.11 @ 12:30PM

PaulyD,

Excellent! I'll hold my breath to see that one actually asked. Where is Cindy Sheehan? Where is Code Pink? No double-standard here... move along!

Darin| 9.13.11 @ 12:59PM

They're still out there, but the media gives them zero coverage. Idiots will always be idiots. The media will only cover it if it can be used to hurt Republicans.

Mike D.| 9.13.11 @ 4:29PM

Cindy Sheehan, LOL. Useful idiot first class with oak leaf clusters.

Bill| 9.13.11 @ 11:12AM

Come to think, the Republican nominee for President could act like an automaton and still come off OK next to any Democrat nominee, since their Looney Tunes conduct has been apparent for some time and will remain so for some time to come.

Smirking Weasel| 9.13.11 @ 11:32AM

Drunk 'n AWOL Bush and Colon Polyp also
pimped for mercy for that filthy wetbacker.
May we hope that those two are accorded the
loathing and disgust that the Obozo is(deservedly)
given by this website, on any and all subjects,
ffom now on?
We'll believe it when we see it.

Smirking Weasel| 9.16.11 @ 9:28PM

I'm retarded.

Richard| 9.13.11 @ 12:14PM

The immorality lies in not killing those who murdered thereby forcing the victim's loved ones to see that their tormentor lives while their dear ones he killed are dead. Liberals as usual have it completely backward.

KyMouse| 9.13.11 @ 12:27PM

Murderers overpower their victims and deprive them of the right to use deadly force to defend themselves. As I see it, the state justly uses that deadly force later, acting in place of the victim, to execute the murderer.

For example, a man overpowers a child and kills her. She was not strong enough to use deadly force to stop him, and he delights in knowing that he will live to kill again. The state, however, uses against him the deadly force that the child would have used.

That way, a potential killer knows that the death he inflicts on a victim he overpowers will become his own death.

Justice.

If you don't want to have deadly force used against you, don't use deadly force against anyone else.

John Navratil| 9.13.11 @ 12:32PM

KyMouse,

How simpistic! No nuance of thought! How correct! You will never make a good liberal :)

KyMouse| 9.13.11 @ 12:52PM

Thanks, Mr. N! Right back at ya.

In my own state, there are about three dozen folks on death row; one may read about what they did at www.lexingtonprosecutor.com/death_row. They include Ralph Baze, who shot two law enforcement officers three times in the back (each), and then shot one of them in the back of the head as he tried to crawl away.

Another is Keith Woodall, who abducted 16-year-old Sarah Hansen after she rented a movie at a convenience store. He raped her, slashed her throat, and dumped her corpse in an icy lake.

By the way, Kentucky doesn't execute people simply for murder; there must also be an aggravating felony such as armed robbery, arson, rape or kidnapping (among other crimes). And the appeals process can go on for decades -- a much better deal than the victims got.

John Navratil| 9.13.11 @ 1:47PM

KyMouse,

Texas is the same. One of the guys who dragged James Byrd to death got life for being a State witness. Those who get the needle have to be particularly evil to get it.

KyMouse| 9.13.11 @ 2:48PM

Great state, Texas, Mr. N. I'm proud to have relatives out Midland way.

Jamie| 9.15.11 @ 1:27PM

That's why the Obama feds came and took away all Kentucky's lethal injection meds a while back. Me, I'd just as soon go back to firing squad. We have a lot of good shots in the state who would happily volunteer; both my brothers want the front of the line.

Jamie| 9.15.11 @ 1:36PM

BTW, my views of the death penalty were shaped by the murder of Barbara Heilman, who was a neighbor and the aunt of two school friends. Parramore Sanborne bore her a grudge after her husband fired him for drinking while operating farm equipment. He laid in wait for Mrs. Heilman and kidnapped her out of her driveway. Drove her out to an untravelled area next to a railroad. Her hair was in curlers; he tore all the curlers out, hair attached, then raped and sodomized her before murdering her. She was a nice lady, I remember.

He got caught when he got drunk (no surprise) and bragged about it to his friends.

I still remember getting on the bus and wondering where her nephews, who sat in front of me, were; and I remember the shock when other kids on the bus filled me in, using horrified whispers. It was the quietest bus ride I ever took.

This happened in 1983, when I was still in high school - I do not understand why the monster is still on death row instead of in a small box underground.

Darin| 9.13.11 @ 1:01PM

Why do I support the execution of criminals who have caused pain and destruction? I'll answer as soon as you answer this. Why do you support the execution of innocent unborn who have not hurt anyone?

W| 9.13.11 @ 2:09PM

Bernie Goldberg suggested the following question for Obama, or any Dem:

Approximately forty million unborn babies have been aborted (or killed) since Roe v. Wade. Since you support Roe v. Wade, do you have any problesm sleeping, given the loss of over forty million lives.

MOS was 71331| 9.13.11 @ 3:41PM

If only we could ask such a question. Only on a Fox network moderated debate might such a question be asked.

I don't care whether the question is a surprise to the "debaters" or given to them in advance. As far as I'm concerned, a prepared answer is just as valid as one given off the cuff.

Dave| 9.13.11 @ 2:12PM

I have said it many times before; The day all the liberals of the world fall over dead is the last day we have most of the problems we have in the world.

Mrs. Vito| 9.13.11 @ 2:28PM

I guess this means that Gov. Perry won't get the votes of the future criminal segment of the population...(lol)

shipley130| 9.13.11 @ 2:44PM

Most people that has been caught committing a crime while illegally in the USA should thank their lucky stars that they have the American justice system for their use. What a joke to call the Mexico embassy. That Kabuki theater is only for trying to wiggle out of the crime, not because a criminal thinks there is a problem with the protection they are receiving from the American justice system.

no name| 9.13.11 @ 3:09PM

Don't care for Perry, had too damm many texans in the white house already. But, there should be more executions in this country. For example a life sentence should be a death sentence. Why should the taxpayers have to shell out $50,000 or more per year to keep a murderer in prison? Who is that a sentence on? No wonder the country is going broke. If the criminal is 35 years old and sentenced to life, that means it will cost the taxpayers one million, sevenhundred fifty thousnad dollars to imprison him untill life expectancy of 75 years of age. conservatively. To whom has the sentence been imposed upon? the taxpayers thats who! If the convicts age and sentence adds up to more than normal life expectancy, then the death sentence should apply and I don't mean in 30, 20 or 10 years, two years max is more than enough time for appeals. HANG'EM HIGH!!!

Dave| 9.13.11 @ 3:42PM

LOL... Typical response from a non-Texan.

MOS was 71331| 9.13.11 @ 3:53PM

I agree with much of your argument, but I wouldn't be happy with a seventy-five year-old sentenced to a year or two in prison for, say, a DUI being executed as a result of your formula. For crimes of violence, fine. Perhaps your kill / keep breakpoint should be based on the sentence being at least five years longer than the convicted criminal's remaining life expectancy.

MOS was 71331| 9.13.11 @ 5:43PM

There's a "remaining life expectancy" table at http://www.ssa.gov/oact/STATS/table4c6.html .

According to this table, at age 89 you can expect to live another 5.06 years and at age 90 you can expect to live another 4.69 years. ("Expect" in the table means a fifty-fifty chance.) If you're in prison, your chances are probably a bit lower.

DaveS| 9.13.11 @ 9:37PM

Many live to near median age. Sorry, Brian, and sorry, bishop: it's needed.

Leroi| 9.13.11 @ 10:36PM

How can Brian Williams sleep at night after demonstrating day in and day out that he is a leftwing, partisan, biased, ignorant thug?

POST American| 9.13.11 @ 11:02PM

--------------------BOTTOM LINE----------------------

"You have to understand, war has been
declared on you ---a long time ago."
-ALAN WATT
(essential online coverage)

From the infamous Club of Rome to
the UN's 'Agenda 21' which is now hiding
behind the terms 'Smart Living/ Future' etc.
--the state agenda is to bring down nations,
introduce centralization and standardization
(ie cuiltlural annihilation) via debt,
convert to an authoritarian 'regionalism',
populations to be concentrated in crumbling
urban areas and 'habitats' ----steady dehuman ization via weaponized air, food and water
-----and a TOTALLY degraded, POST Christian
'culture' of pornography, wampum and TOTAL
surveillance.

MOS was 71331| 9.13.11 @ 11:47PM

What are you trying to say, POST A? I can't make heads or tails of your 11:02 pm post.

Nite| 9.13.11 @ 11:19PM

Cases on death row goes through DNA testing, and several appeals. These are heinous crimes. What about justice for the families of those whose lives were snuffed out in particular brutal fashions? In TX if you commit a heinous crime, you can expect to be brought to Justice. So no, Governor Perry is doing his job and should not have trouble sleeping at night. I wouldn't.

D Roamer| 9.14.11 @ 12:00AM

Those that support the murder of the unborn, have no argument when opposing the death penalty of a murderer sentenced to death.

Here in California we have about 600 waiting to be put to death. We have passed a law for the death sentence, but ACLU and others bring forth appeals and the judges hear appeals that drag on for years.

One would argue that keeping these murderers waiting and waiting might be cruel and unusual punishment. Just a thought.

Long Ben| 9.14.11 @ 12:45AM

Huzzah ! & the Lord Bless Texas

Marc Jeric| 9.15.11 @ 3:06PM

We must stop the deliberate confusion introduced by our communists when they say that an advanced society dos not kill human beings. Those monstrous killers ARE NOT HUMAN BEINGS! They are akin to deadly viruses and microbes and should be eliminated within days of their crimes - not after 20-30 years of communist lawyers' appeals.