America recently had its 1,000 execution since the reinstatement of the death penalty. I came across this
article the death penalty and want to discuss what it means poltically.
The article discusses the growing doubts the public has with the death penalty. Here are some of the numbers:
-Death penalty sentences handed down by juries has dropped to their lowest in three decades
-the number of inmates executed last year was the lowest sine 1996, and the SCOTUS has in the last three years, not once, but twice limited who can be executed.
Polling data:
-66% of Americans support the death penalty, according to Gallup, down from 80% over a decade ago(1994). When given the choice of life in prison, the nubmer drops to just 50%.
-In Harris county Texas, the county which executes the mot inmates, support for the DP was 60%, down from 68% in 1999. Again, the number dropped significantly when the option of life in prison was given(to 53%).
Statewide advances against the Death Penalty:
-In Illinois, the former GOP governor commuted all the death row inmates sentences to life in prison.
-Wisconsin is trying to pass a law which stresses better and more creful judicial procedures.
- New York didnt renew their death penalty law, and California and North Carolina(incidentally where the 1,000th execution happened) both have commission to study the death penalty.
Ok, so all this kind of brings me to the point of this diary. What kind of political effect do you think the death penalty will have in 2008? In 2004, the effect seemed like it was zero, despite the fact that John Kerry was the first major party candidates since Michale Dukakis to be anti-death penalty(there were no 'Kitty Dukakis' type questions, least none that I rememeber). I ask this, ebcause one of the potential nominees Russ Feingold(who I, like so many on this site, love and would be proud to have him as president) is against the death penalty. He has in fact called for a moratorium on it, I believe. Do you think that will have an effect on more moderate-conservative voters? We are still a pro-death penalty county, but it doesnt seem an issue that arises as much passion as it once did. The biggest example is probably this year's governor's race in Virginia. Jerry Kilgore's "swift-boat" issue was the death penalty, becaue Tim Kaine, a Catholic, was personally opposed to the measure, but said he would not interfere with state law. While a majority of Virginians support the death penalty, a very small number rated it their top issue in the race(I believe education and transportation were 1-2). So the ads backfired, and Kaine won. What are your thoughts??