September 27, 1998
Column 19
The last time I wrote I talked about the execution of Tom and
how they were executing a man who had evidence to prove he was
innocent. Well, it didn't seem to matter, because they executed
Tom anyway. Evidently they didn't think the fact that he was
probably innocent was grounds to stop the execution and the only
thing that is important is that the law was followed. If you go
by that logic, then what the courts are saying is that you can
execute innocent people, as long as the state follows the law.
One of the things about this that pissed me off was the fact that
the state had evidence for 15 years, that could have proved Tom
was innocent, but they hid the evidence from Tom's lawyers, for
all that time. Then, when the lawyers found out about this
evidence, they tried to get a new trial so a jury could look at
the evidence and decide if Tom was innocent or not. Well, the
Attorney General and the Governor both said that this was just a
tactic by Tom's lawyers to stall for time. I was amazed that they
would have the nerve to tell a lie like that. But I guess they
couldn't very well say, "Yes, they hid evidence, for 15
years, that could have freed Tom". Too bad that a
Prosecutor can decide what evidence can be examined. I guess it
is no surprise they would hide evidence that might lose a
conviction. Too bad that cost Tom his life.
It must be another election year. I keep hearing (on these television ads) how strongly this candidate or that candidate supports the Death Penalty and who has a better political record of supporting the Death Penalty. Seems odd when it is normal, or even required that a person running for political office has to boast about how they support killing people. Too bad they don't put as much energy into the real issues like education and things of that nature.
Since I am on the topic of politics, I will make a few
comments about this Clinton and Lewinski scandal. It seems this
is the only important thing going on in America at the moment (or
so you would think by watching our TV news or reading our
newspapers). The fact that our economy is about to take a big hit
(from the problems in Asia and Russia) isn't as important as
where Clinton has been sticking his cigar. I am struck by some of
the ironies in this whole sordid affair. I was talking to Ed (who
owns this web site) about how the news media has ignored a very
important factor in all of this with the Starr/Clinton situation.
One of the big things with the Clinton Presidency is that they
(he and Gore) have been fighting the tobacco companies and the
tobacco companies have taken a big hit since Clinton took office.
Well, what the so called "legitimate news media",
haven't been telling the public is that Kenneth Starr was a big
tobacco attorney for years, and he is still getting paid from the
tobacco companies. I find it very odd that the media hasn't
brought this to the publics attention lately. They did mention it
right at the start of Starr's investigation of Whitewater (does
anyone remember Whitewater?) but they haven't mentioned it again,
after the start of the investigation. Seems to me that it is an
important fact for the public to be aware of.
Another thing about this situation with Clinton and the Starr
report and all that has happened since it came out (and don't get
me wrong, I am not a fan of Clinton at all, but I figure he is
better then the alternatives). I lost any respect for Clinton
when he was still a Governor in Arkansas and used executions as a
way to further his political career. One of the ironies about
Clinton is, getting in front of the American people and
confessing he did wrong and begging for the people's forgiveness
and asking God to forgive him for his sins and all that other
crap. Well, it seems to me, when prisoners on Arkansas Death Row
were being executed, they asked for forgiveness and compassion
and understanding from Clinton. In other words, all the things
that Clinton is asking the American people for now. He didn't
have a whole lot of forgiveness in his heart then, so I am
curious why he thinks he deserves to be treated any differently.
Besides, the American people are not the forgiving type. They
make a lot of noise about forgiveness, but when you get right
down to it, there isn't a lot of compassion there (we talk about
compassion better than anyone else in the world, but it is only
talk).
What I found very interesting about the Starr report and the
way all of this has been handled was what the substance (if you
can say a report about sex has substance) of the report
contained. One of the popular tactics of Prosecutors is, when
they are dealing with a defendant that they think the jury may be
sympathetic to, is to try and embarrass and humiliate and degrade
the defendant and to make him seem less human in the eyes of the
jury. It seems that a lot of this report by Starr is designed to
do just that. The Conservatives know that Clinton is a popular
President and they would have trouble getting the support of the
American people against Clinton. So by humiliating Clinton and
embarrassing Clinton they are able to dehumanize him and to move
peoples focus away from the important things and to focus on the
nonsense (in this report) that is salacious and demeaning, but
not illegal. I thought it was interesting to see them use this
tactic on Clinton. I guess it just goes to show how organized
they are in furthering their agenda. It isn't about justice, but
rather about humiliation and embarrassing the President to the
point where people don't support him and the Republicans can be
there to reap the rewards. It reminds me of the sleazy guy who
tells his friend's girlfriend: "your boyfriend is
cheating on you", then he will offer his shoulder for
comfort and for her to cry on, then he will try to weasel his way
in there. Not a very good analogy, but hopefully you know the
type that I'm talking about.
I think that is enough about the Clinton scandal. I'm sick of
it and I'm sure you are too. I just hope that the Conservatives
get what is coming to them for what they did to the country in
the process of playing politics and trying to manipulate the
American people. The sad thing is, I think America is starting to
buy into it. Well, for a country that elected Reagan for two
terms you don't expect the brightest bunch of people and it seems
that they are proving it once again.
I think I will go ahead and end this one here. I hope this
wasn't too boring for you and that there was something of
interest for you. If not . . . oh well. I hope to be back to talk
with you soon.
Later,
Dean