Leading Off (07/07/08)
1. Lester Leroy Bower, Jr., on death row for more than 20 years, has had his scheduled July 22 execution postponed. A judge is considering whether or not to examine DNA evidence that may prove his innocence in the murders of four people in a hangar in Sherman. The original case against him, it seems, was largely, if not wholly, circumstantial. Bower is philosophical about his chances. “I told my wife I put in my time and my last words will be: ‘I’m out of here. Adios, people.’” (Mine, if you were wondering: “Avenge me.”)
2. The definition of a slow news day headline: “Mother Nature turns up the heat on North Texas.” Looks like Rudy Bush was the last one in the DMN newsroom to say, “Not it!” In related news, Dave Levinthal just gave a fist bump to a jovial Inuit fella on Baffin Island.
3. I wanna say something. I’m gonna put it out there; if you like it, you can take it, if you don’t, send it right back: I hope these kids get to stay in America, and I don’t really care that they came here illegally.
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I don’t care that the kids got here illegally, but lets do something crazy and at least try to make citizens out of them
Zac, while we’re at it, let’s get all of those people out of jail and prison there just for marijuana.
The DMN article mentions it but does not elaborate on the reception in Washington. Kay Hutchison’s office could not have been more welcoming, listening to the issues and greeting these outstanding students. John Cornyn’s office would not even let them in the office waiting area and the staff was ugly to them and the people who were with them. Says a lot about Cornyn.
In my opinion, it says a lot about Kay Bailey Hutchison.
Yes, Gary, that’s exactly what I meant. Glad you were able to read between the lines.
Sorry, Zac, I thought you were raging against injustice at large. I didn’t realize you were trying to emphasize applying favoritism to illegals.
If two illegal Latina students had the same GPA would you pick the one with the biggest boobs, or would you have them ply you with competing essays to have you choose which you would recommend favoring with private citizenship legislation and which you would dismiss?
Or would your selection process venture into even darker areas? The stakes are pretty high for all illegals. Some would probably do whatever you asked.
Sorry, Gary. It’s hard to judge tone on comments. I retract my sarcasm.
1. I’m as Conservative as they come, but I’m asking myself why, in this day and age of technology, the courts aren’t requiring every resident of death row to undergo a DNA review if applicable. It makes no sense to imprison an innocent person if that person’s innocence or guilt is easily proven.
I agree, Dallasite. I think there should be an independent review board that gets one more pass at the file – including retesting any DNA – before an execution date is set. It doesn’t even have to be every case – but when you consider how sophisticated DNA testing has gotten even in just the past 5 years, I would think that any case older than that should be up for some kind of review.
Thanks for the nice comment about what Kay Hutchinson showed, Really. The situation in her office showed compassion, interest, willingness to listen to citizen constituents, common courtesy and an open mind. I agree with your assessment.
I guess “Big John” Cornyn was too busy riding horses and trimming the fringe on his suede jacket to give a few minutes of time to the people he represents.
Call me un-American, poo poo my lack of compassion, but if these kids were so intent on staying and so hooked on the American dream, and so intelligent and gifted, why didn’t they make a beeline towards taking the steps to become legals a priority?
No compassion! They knew they were wrong, didn’t fix it and now they’re caught. Boo Hoo! Is anyone gonna take up my cause because my tags are expired and have been since July 2006?
I thought not, my fault, I have to pay the consequences to the tune of paying a ticket from a friendly Dallas Constable with freakin’ hawk eyes!
I will, Tobie. Let’s go to Washington and get an audience with John Cornyn. You can ride shotgun, but I have control of the radio and tunes. If you fall asleep, I’ll staple you to the headrest.