When I began this blog in 2001, I was appalled by President Bush's headlong rush to an illegal war (we were not in fact under attack). As time wore on and Bush began his assault on the Constitution and any people bold enough to criticize, I believed that "the republic is endangered more by actions of our own government than by those of any terrorist." With the election of a high-minded, compassionate, intelligent man like Barack Obama, my fears have ceased.
"Honor them with peace, not war"
United for Peace
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Aleberto Gonzalez, as counsel to then gov. George Bush, helped along the executions of 20 % of all theUS executions in the last quarter of the20th century.
Now it looks like gonzalez is in line for a higher position -- eith Attorney General, replacing JOhn Ashcroft, or even supreme Court, says today's NY Times.
Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
Gonzales and the death penalty
Aleberto Gonzalez, as counsel to then gov. George Bush, helped along the executions of 20 % of all theUS executions in the last quarter of the20th century.
President Bush’s record on clemency when he was governor of Texas and since he took office in the White House gives serious cause for concern. Documentary evidence obtained by a journalist suggests that his decisions on whether or not to intervene in Texas executions were based on cursory and pro-prosecution information. For the first 57 cases this information was provided by the Governor’s then legal counsel, Alberto Gonzales. (8) They included the case of Terry Washington. Alberto Gonzales’ three-page memorandum to the Governor was mainly devoted to the facts of the crime, rather than to possible reasons for clemency. For example, Terry Washington’s jury never knew that he had mental retardation or a background of appalling deprivation and abuse because his trial lawyer had not presented any mitigating evidence. The clemency memo failed to mention this. (9) Governor Bush wrote his mark next to the word DENY, signed his name underneath, and Terry Washington was killed later that day.-- Amnesty International
Now it looks like gonzalez is in line for a higher position -- eith Attorney General, replacing JOhn Ashcroft, or even supreme Court, says today's NY Times.
Palema
7:05 AM
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Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
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