2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumBernie Sanders Calls for Ending the Death Penalty
A day after Hillary Rodham Clinton said she opposed abolishing the death penalty, Senator Bernie Sanders took to the Senate floor on Thursday and declared that the time is now for the United States to end capital punishment.
...I would rather have our country stand side-by-side with European democracies rather than with countries like China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and others who maintain the death penalty, Mr. Sanders said.
...I think that those of us who want to set an example who want to say that we have got to end the murders and the violence that were seeing in our country and all over the world should, in fact, be on the side of those of us who believe that we must end capital punishment in this country, Mr. Sanders said.
http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/10/29/on-senate-floor-bernie-sanders-calls-for-ending-the-death-penalty/
Tipperary
(6,930 posts)Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)While I'm personally ambivalent regarding the absolute non use of the death penalty, I would not think to campaign to keep or abolish it.
But, I guess that double standard for using an inappropriate venue is fine for many Bernie supporters, but I have absolutely no doubt that Hillary would have been crucified here on DU for using the Senate floor for her campaigning. I think there's a rule. The timing is too convenient for it not to be campaigning
LWolf
(46,179 posts)A candidate who is currently in Congress still has a job to do, and walking the talk is one big factor I look for in a candidate.
George II
(67,782 posts)....after Clinton stated her position?
Campaigning.
LWolf
(46,179 posts)on the floor of both the Senate and the House for many, many years. On the same issues he's been campaigning on, long before he ever decided to run for president. His work on the issues that have driven his political career really have nothing to do with Hillary Clinton.
I suspect you know that.
Eric J in MN
(35,619 posts)...saying things I agree with, supposedly in the wrong place. I haven't seen other DUers do that.
The Senate is a place for giving speeches. Sanders gave a speech on criminal justice reform. It wasn't just about the death penalty. He also said that marijuana should be removed from the federal list of outlawed drugs, and marijuana stores in Colorado, etc., should be able to use banks.
He announced that he's introducing legislation next week to federally legalize marijuana.
Video of Bernie Sanders speaking in the Senate on criminal justice reform (legalize marijuana, end the death penalty):
http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-calls-for-end-to-death-penalty-during-senate-speech-on-criminal-justice-reform-
icuc
(39 posts)as people are getting tired of the death penalty. Abolishing the death penalty is needed at this time, as it serves no deterrent.
If Bernie leads the way, then he's leading the discussion. It seems like Hillary is a follower and going on "I'm with Bernie too on this, so vote for me anyway, then I can shift back to the right in the general election".
Bernie has stood out to be a leader, because he presents issues that needs to be discussed only to have Clinton bring it up 10 days later. Enough is enough.
ColesCountyDem
(6,943 posts)The punishment of crime, on the state level, rests with the state. The only limitations that can be placed on the states are those imposed by the USSC, interpreting and applying the Constitution and its amendments.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)ColesCountyDem
(6,943 posts)Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)Good gravy....stop and read for a sec...it really wasn't that long of a post.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)And getting ole sparky out of storage.
It is unconscionable that we are debating the best way to murder a human being in the 21st century.
Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)With the theme, why not the guillotine?
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)What's next, prison rape?
Stay classy.
Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)You're gonna get hurt falling off that high horse
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)And considering the fact that the death penalty is inherently racist I have to question the sincerity of anyone who supports it and claims to believe that black lives matter.
Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)And stuff I actually agree with.
How ludicrous is this sub thread?
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)Obvious poster is obvious.
Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)Are of some sort of noble breed is laughable.
My mother always told me there was more than one way to state an opinion. You tend to chose poorly.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)A sincere person would have just stated whether or not they agreed with my opinion.
See post 23 for an example of how it's done.
ColesCountyDem
(6,943 posts)Capital punishment is a relic that should be consigned to mankind's rubbish heap.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)Tipperary
(6,930 posts)What other states are wanting to bring this back? I did not know of this.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)LWolf
(46,179 posts)I'm glad to see this.
L0oniX
(31,493 posts)I wouldn't call em Democrats.
ibegurpard
(16,685 posts)But with all of the people exonerated because of DNA and other evidence there is no way I'm ever going to be willing to take a chance on executing an innocent person. Better to let someone guilty go free.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)ibegurpard
(16,685 posts)Who was the Republican governor of Illinois who declared a moratorium on executions? She's more conservative than a "moderate" Republican on this one!
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)jhart3333
(332 posts)Subsequently sent to prison on corruption charges which seems to happen when people in power run afoul of the powers that be. Just sayin...
elleng
(131,292 posts)'As governor, OMalley signed legislation in 2013 making Maryland the sixth state to abolish capital punishment. A year later, he commuted the sentences of the four remaining inmates on Marylands death row. He remains a opposed to the death penalty, saying in a statement after a federal jury convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to death that the death penalty is ineffective as a deterrent.'
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2015/05/30/3663971/omalley-announcement/
He also Raised the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour.
Legalized gay marriage.
Implemented stricter gun control laws.
Gave in-state tuition to the children of immigrants.
OMalley has also called for reforming Wall Street by reinstating the 1933 Glass-Steagall Act that kept commercial banks separate from investment banks. In an op-ed in the Des Moines Register, he listed fundamental reforms he supports including replacing the leadership at banks that are repeat offenders, appointing people to government who will prosecute the banking offenders and making banks bear the full weight of financial penalties, among others.
And in the same NPR interview, OMalley called on Congress to lower the interest rate on student loans and said he opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership because it would hurt the middle class. He also more explicitly pointed out some of the differences between himself and Clinton, saying that Clinton said until very recently that marriage equality was a state right and that she is just now coming around to supporting drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants.
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2015/05/30/3663971/omalley-announcement/
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)TPP
Minumum Wage
Offshore Drilling
Same Sex Marriage
Universal Healthcare
Patriot Act
Wall Street bailout
Bombing Syria
Expanding Social Security
Reinstating Glass-Steagal
Decriminalizing marijuana
But hey, they're 93% the same!
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)Eric J in MN
(35,619 posts)..back in 1991.
Ahead of the curve on that issue.
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)3, 2, 1...
Eric J in MN
(35,619 posts)...about the death penalty during primary season, and then she'll boast about her support for the death penalty in the general election if she's the nominee and she's asked about it then.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)erronis
(15,428 posts)Somebody's interests. Whatever they are at the particular time. Whatever is expedient for the money, PACS, super-delegates. But that somebody can reserve the right to completely change its mind if it becomes obvious that the views aren't perfectly aligned with the corporate interests.
Sorry to dodge around naming names. One name that isn't part of this charade is Bernie.