Anyone surprised? GOP wants Death Penalty vote this session

[Debi]

State GOP renews call for death penalty

Republicans in the Iowa Senate said today they plan to introduce a bill reinstating the death penalty, but only for people convicted of kidnapping, sexually assaulting and murdering children.

"I think by the Senate Democrats not allowing us to have that debate and that discussion, they've de facto given us a death penalty and it's a death penalty for minor children," Sen. Larry McKibben, a Marshalltown Republican told reporters today at the Iowa Capitol.

This year, Democrats in the evenly divided Senate blocked debate of a bill that would have brought capital punishment back to Iowa for those found guilty of the same combination of crimes.

"There aren't the votes to pass it and the governor would veto it," said Senate Democrat Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs. "We will not debate the death penalty in the Iowa Senate this year. That's not the decision of the Senate Democrats. That's Mike Gronstal not allowing it."

<snip>

http://www.dmregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051130/NEWS10/51130004/1001

[Broke Dad]

1. Larry McKibben is one of the most pompous vile pigs . . .

Boswell called McKibben "Fibbin McKibben." It fit him so well that it stuck in Des Moines. McKibben is an arrogant pompous fat short rich little vile pig, and those are his good qualities. Even other Republicans in the Legislature cannot take his smug attitude. He used to be chair of the Senate Ways & Means Committee, (tax writing or tax cut committee) until Iverson decided that McKibben was too much and named Mark Zieman as the Republican co-chair.

McKibben has been steadfastly against more money for law enforcement, highway patrol, crime lab, youth programs, etc. But now he wants to make us safe from criminals??? Typical blowhard Republican. Ignore the real problems until they decide to grandstand on phony solutions.

For once Gronstal is not willing to trade principle for campaign contributions. Not that executioners have a PAC.

I want the Catholic bishops to upbraid Republican Catholic politicians who support the death penalty as hard as they spank Democrat Catholic politicians who are pro-choice.

If I had just one Christmas wish it would be that citizens of Iowa could know the true motives of politicians when they propose this kind of grandstanding legislation. If citizens could know the hearts of politicians like McKibben, then they would see how corrupt and cynical these pigs really are and deal with them accordingly.

[Debi]

2. I applaud your post

Mostly about the pro-death penalty Catholics! As a Catholic who almost has to sit outside and look through the stained glass windows at mass it drives me nuts to watch the 'Holier than thou' crowd parade around.

(Although I do believe there are some sick pieces of crap that do deserve to die a slow and painful death, I also believe that Iowa has many more issues that need to be dealt with before any changes in THAT particular law be addressed).

I wonder how many republican Catholics serve in the Iowa Legislature....anyone want to do the research?

[rurallib]

5. Fallen away catholics one of the largest groups in America

I always tell people I didn't leave the Church, it left me. What i was taught in parochial school never quite jibed with reality when I grew up. Hence, not wanting to continue a hypocracy, I just sort of quit.

[Debi]

7. I'm still raising my son Catholic

Guess that makes me the hypocrite! I love the tradition and solidness of the mass and MOST of the Church's teachings. Just can't correlate the 'love of God' with the condemnation of the Church.

I figure when he's an adult he can choose to stay or he can leave. Or he'll be like me and do something (divorce and re-marriage) that'll just piss em off and make em not like him anymore!

[rurallib]

12. Having had the judgment of my family rain down on me

for years, I make no judgments on others religious values so long as they do not try to tell me how to run my life or try to impose their values on me via laws or regulations. In short, like most 'Muricans, I just want to worship or not as I decide without anyone bothering me.

[Debi]

15. You mean the whole judge not lest you be judged? That's soooo UnPatriotic

:rofl:

That's why I enjoy the Iowa Forum so much, we seem to do a pretty good job at accepting each other (I won't say perfect, cuz I'm certainly not) but we've got quite a cross-section right in our own little world here and we do okay. IMO

[IA_Seth]

3. Death Penalty

I am really not all that opposed to this legislation...I wouldn't even limit it to minor-aged victims. If anyone is found guilty of all three counts in a kidnap, sex-crime, murder..I think they deserve the death penalty.

I do take issue with the timing. This seems like a pre-cursor to what we will deal with next year, as the Republicans parade about their "great ideas" instead of working to boost Iowa's ecomony, grow real jobs, and invest in alternative energies.

[haroldgiowa]

4. Ask your priest.

We need to put this in our pocket to save. It is an excellent point about the Catholic faith and giving communion to someone who publicly supports the death penalty. The republicans run around as if they own Christianity, when we all know Jesus would be a democrat if he were with us today.

Maybe you should ask our priest how the church can give communion to someone who supports the death penalty and keeps it from someone who is pro-choice. I can't think of many locals in the Catholic church who are Republicans. I am going to send out some emails as feelers.

[rurallib]

6. Guess what the wedge issue will be next election?

That is the only purpose for this. I really liked what Gronstal said last year: Repukes had 12 years to ram a death penalty through when they were in complete control and they didn't do it. Talk about political.
This way they can flaunt there "tough" stance and ignore the real issues of medicaid, education, jobs aand health care.
And you can bet that slime Nussle will be beating this one to death so the press will not report his role in bankrupting America.
Just my opinion. Not like Repukes have ever done anything like this before.

[Debi]

8. Nussle wants to track sex offenders by GPS

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2005/11/30/news/politics/dd4e5415a7aebe0d862570c9004643e7.txt

Which will cost the state several millions of dollars each year...wonder how we tax payers will come up with that money?

[rurallib]

9. Gee, my rep, Kaufmann said the other day

that he wanted to get Iowa teacher pay back to the middle of the pack (from 43 down to 24). Based on what I could find that would cost @$150 mil. Gee those regressives sure like to talk and spend money they don't have.
Maybe Nussle can sell some Iowa Bonds to China?

[Debi]

10. damn tax and spend republicans n/t

[rurallib]

11. Borrow and spend. He is dead set against taxes, or so his owners

at Iowans for Tax Relief tell him. I got him and a clown named Jim Hahn as rep and senator. Totally worthless.

[Debi]

14. Money's gotta come from somewhere

We don't have a surplus, he'll either have to raise taxes or cut spending in other areas...gee, wonder what he'll do?!

[haroldgiowa]

16. What he will do?

He will do for us what GW has done for the US. Declare war on some small eastern state, like maybe Vermont for threatening our good old Iowa freedoms and way of life.

[Debi]

17. And monopolizing the maple syrup industry n/t

[haroldgiowa]

18. Threatens our corn syrup business.

[Hobarticus]

13. GOPs waved the bloody shirt of 9/11...now it's a kid's bloody shirt

These scumbags know no shame.

[rurallib]

19. Just nothing like the politics of fear and race.

As politics goes to the gutter, guess who'll be leading the way.