Maddow Claims Perry ‘Put to Death’ Killers in TX

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Ah, this would explain the blood on his hands.

Rachel Maddow continues her yeoman’s work as propagandist for Democrats, dishonestly attributing power over sentencing in Texas murder cases to Gov. Rick Perry instead of with juries where it actually resides. (video after page break)

Here’s Maddow on her MSNBC show Tuesday night, all but accusing Perry of single-handedly dispatching death-row inmates —

Texas is killing two more of its prisoners this week, including one that was killed already today. Thirty-one-year-old Steven Michael Woods Jr. was killed at 6:22 p.m. local time in Huntsville tonight. That’s the 235th person Rick Perry has put to death in his time as Texas governor, more than any other governor in modern US history.

Not only does Perry lack the authority to execute by decree as suggested by Maddow, he cannot grant clemency without approval from the state’s Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Woods was convicted for murdering two people — in May 2001, more than a decade ago. In the spirit of giving credit where credit is due, Maddow did refrain from describing the case as a rush to judgment, so there’s that.

As Perry stated in the tea party debate, Texas has an appellate process after convictions for murder. What Perry did not mention is that this process is automatic. That’s why it routinely takes a decade or longer for convicted murderers to be put to death, even in law-and-order bastions such Texas.

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Uh, no Rachel. The only area in which a Governor becomes involved in cases of capital punishment is in considering whether or not to issue a temporary stay of execution or even a pardon. A Governor should only rarely overthrow court decisions with respect for the justice system, and only with very good legal reasons why (partisan political views is not based on legal reasoning,) he is interfering with a court’s decision. Otherwise, he risks violating the separation of powers, showing disdain for the state’s justice branch, and putting his own political career in jeopardy should he make the wrong decision in commuting punishment, resulting in placing others in jeopardy. There is usually no legal requirement for a state’s Governor to review all death penalty cases, nor any other court case.

Should evidence come to light after a trial, that questions the due process, or whether a fair trial was provided, or DNA evidence shows that a prisoner is innocent of the crime for which they were found guilty and sentenced, THAT is when a Governor should consider taking action.

in most countries, there are no appeals…Smile America, how many on death row in Ca.? OH! Ever figure up the bill that we pay for this garbage to remain on earth?