Here's a story for your "Wait, conservative Christians said what? " files. Back in October, we mentioned the case of Scott Pannetti, a Texas inmate who is severely schizophrenic and believes he had to kill his in-laws as part of his ongoing battle against Satan. Texas authorities believe he has been faking mental illness -- not just at the time of the 1992 murders, but all his life, apparently. The case is a typical Texas fuck-tussle of injustice, complete with a "mental health evaluation" by a state-paid psychiatrist who never used a single psychiatric test to assess Panetti before determining that he was definitely faking. Go read Stephanie Mencimer's
Plus, think how many not-even-the-nuttiest of wingnuts declare that Obama is Satan. They really want to hold out this olive branch for their constituents.
killing [Panetti] would &ldquo;undermine the public&rsquo;s <strike>faith in</strike> <u>delusions about</u> a fair and moral justice system.&rdquo;
Wasn&#039;t Texas the state where evidence came out that exonerated a man on death row and the prosecutors agreed that the man was innocent, and yet the state was going to go ahead and execute him anyway? (Because process, I think.)
We have a winner! If they start accepting the idea that maybe this talking to God or Satan stuff is really mental illness, it could put a dent in the religion grifting biz
You know, I was thinking a similar thing. I wonder if they would be so sympathetic to a schizophrenic who, say, killed his Christian parents because he was following the will of Satan. My guess is, not so much.
That holds the popcorn in his mouth, so you can tell when he&#039;s done.
Plus, think how many not-even-the-nuttiest of wingnuts declare that Obama is Satan. They really want to hold out this olive branch for their constituents.
I am perplexed by conservatives who want to limit government power support the death penalty which gives government the ultimate power over people.
The death penalty is still thing? I thought Stand Your Ground eliminated it. Just let someone else do the killing and call it legal,
What makes you think he&#039;s not in Congress today?
killing [Panetti] would &ldquo;undermine the public&rsquo;s <strike>faith in</strike> <u>delusions about</u> a fair and moral justice system.&rdquo;
FIFY
Wasn&#039;t Texas the state where evidence came out that exonerated a man on death row and the prosecutors agreed that the man was innocent, and yet the state was going to go ahead and execute him anyway? (Because process, I think.)
Texas: &quot;Oh hell, we have to execute someone anyway, so it might as well be him.&quot;
Trouble is, mental illness just seems so doggone subjective. Skin color, on the other hand ....
&quot;Among conservatives there is much debate about the effectiveness and the morality of the death penalty.&quot;
huh? You mean debate like &quot;should we fry &#039;em in the chair or convene some kinda Most Dangerous Game type shit?&quot;
I Think Texas once executed a convict whose defense lawyer had slept through most of the trial, so I don&#039;t hold out much hope in this case.
DING! DING! DING!
We have a winner! If they start accepting the idea that maybe this talking to God or Satan stuff is really mental illness, it could put a dent in the religion grifting biz
You know, I was thinking a similar thing. I wonder if they would be so sympathetic to a schizophrenic who, say, killed his Christian parents because he was following the will of Satan. My guess is, not so much.
Jesus was against the death penalty. Especially towards the end.
<i>&quot;...undermine the public&rsquo;s faith in a fair and moral justice system.&quot;</i>
A <i>what</i> and a </i>what</i> justice system?!?
They&#039;ve come a ways from &quot;try &#039;em and fry &#039;em&quot;