In a fit of temporary sanity, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has issued a stay of execution for Scott Panetti, the severely mentally ill murderer whose execution was supposed to have been prevented by a 2007 Supreme Court decision holding that states cannot execute people who are so mentally ill that they are "unaware of the punishment they’re about to suffer and why they are to suffer it." It was a pretty good ruling, except that Texas turned right around and determined, possibly by examining chicken entrails and signs in the night sky, that Panetti was actually perfectly sane, and that he'd faked his entire history of mental illness (first diagnosed in 1978) in an attempt to escape capital punishment for the 1992 murders of his in-laws.
WHERE ARE THE GODDAMN KITTENS???? Don't you inhuman overlords at the Wonkette chat cave think we deserve some goddamn kittens now? <taps foot, looks at watch> Waiting. . . . . .
The Mother Jones article makes a great point. At the time of Panetti's trial Texas had no option for life without parole. A number of the jurors choose the death penalty just to keep him off the streets. Think about that, Texas had two choices for murder 15-20 years with good behavior or death. Texas was further stacking the deck towards death by dangling the fear that the accused would be back out and killing.
I'm sure Big Chief Pretty Hair Perry will take his frustration out on Twitter and remind everyone that Texas can succeed and that we in Austin are the blueberry in his bowl of tomato soup.
I outsource a lot of my work to Texas. I like the third-world pricing: you get a lot of evil for your money.
That really should go on the license plates. Quick, before Arizona does it!
Imported.
awww, poor Ricky doesn't get to have his own Tucker Carlson interview where he could mock the executed prisoner
Kinky Friedman
Sounds like a good situation to apply professional courtesy to a fellow nutjob.
"We're all mad here" - Official Texas Motto
It must be a really sad day up at ol' Niggerhead Ranch.
WHERE ARE THE GODDAMN KITTENS???? Don't you inhuman overlords at the Wonkette chat cave think we deserve some goddamn kittens now? <taps foot, looks at watch> Waiting. . . . . .
Miss that guy. The demonrat party needs to focus on people like this, instead of being wishy washy conservatards.
The Mother Jones article makes a great point. At the time of Panetti's trial Texas had no option for life without parole. A number of the jurors choose the death penalty just to keep him off the streets. Think about that, Texas had two choices for murder 15-20 years with good behavior or death. Texas was further stacking the deck towards death by dangling the fear that the accused would be back out and killing.
I think it is considered an asset.
I'm sure Big Chief Pretty Hair Perry will take his frustration out on Twitter and remind everyone that Texas can succeed and that we in Austin are the blueberry in his bowl of tomato soup.
But he can sign his name, and that's all he needs to do to authorize an execution.
Awwww, thanks!
We like 'em weak and stupid. Crazy is a bonus, but only if it's debilitating.