The death penalty has been in the news a lot lately due to the highly publicized execution of Stanley Tookie Williams. He was, as all of you probably by now know, denied clemency by the governor of California (yes, we all know who that is, but I still can't bring myself to say it), and executed last night. The actual execution was apparently long and drawn out, which must have been horrible.

It is however in regards to clemency that I would like to turn my attention today.

Now I am sure that the governor looked at all of the facts, carefully considering them, and came to a compassionate, thoughtful solution when it came to weather or not to execute Stanley Tookie Williams. Clemency is a big deal, and I am perfectly willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. I am sure that the governor is so confident in his decision, that he wouldn't mind doing one little thing for me.

Flip the switch personally.

Or give the injection. Whatever. The point is, let the man who makes this decision, the man in whose previously woman groping hands such immutable powers of life and death rest, let him drive his multimillion dollar hide down to the site, and carry out the final act himself. Make the Governor put the straps on, put in the needle, and press the final button. This should be a law. You want capital punishment? You think taking a man's life is a just and reasonable punishment? Fine. Do whatever you want, but make the governor do the killing. Make him personally go down, walk through the mob of protestors, and do the dirty work on site. I am willing to bet that once a few blue suits deny the clemency IN PERSON, and have to watch a few of these “evil people” die FIRST HAND, that a whole new brand of compassion erupts in the Death Penalty debate.