If Saddam's hanging is televised, will you watch?

[patricia92243]

Poll question: If Saddam's hanging is televised, will you watch?

[zanne]

1. I couldn't watch that.

I'd never sleep again.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

31. Watching a live death is bad enough when it's accidental. But an execution?

No way in hell I'd watch such a thing. Even Hitler's or Pol Pot's.

[Little Star]

2. Absolutely not!

[Arkansas Granny]

3. Absolutely not. To me, watching it would be like participating in it.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

4. I'd probably watch it ...

... but it won't be televised, at least not "live". Maybe on Al Jazeera TV, but I don't get that channel.

But it shouldn't happen. He should be restored to the Iraqi presidency. He was deposed and captured as part of an illegal and ill-planned war, carried out by the last three presidents. Not a nice guy, but he was never "gunning" for the U.S. All he did was annex Kuwait, small loss to the world.

Regards.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Looks like * got his ultimate execution, surpassing the death

sentences he handed out in Texas. I expect him to Tivo and record this event.

[AzDar]

26. I suspect he's going to use the footage for 'special' purposes...that involve Astroglide.

:puke:

[yasmina27]

6. No way

I don't believe in the death penalty. While the actions of a person may be reprehensible and beyond comprehension of normal persons, 2 wrongs never make a right.

I believe that hard prison time in a place like Super-Max prison is appropriate for monsters like Saddam. Hard-core criminals should be made to work off the costs of their incarceration within the limits of their abilities. IOW, don't force a 70+ yo prisoner like saddam to chop rocks in a quarry - that would be inappropriate for a person of his age.

Sorry, execution is the easy way out.

[GOPFighter]

7. No, but if it is televised I'll make a bet...

...that the ratings will be very high in the Bible Belt.

[patricia92243]

16. I would be curious to the answers to this same poll in FR. I wish somebody with posting rights over

there would make a poll EXACTLY like this one - no frills- and let us know what the results are. I'm not sure that a poll can even be done at FR, but I would be extremely curious to know what they would say.

[GOPFighter]

36. Good idea

I think the votes would be at least 80% yes

[Why Syzygy]

8. Not just no

but HELL NO! What a barbaric world in which we live. The 21st century. Who would have guessed.

[King Coal]

9. I would if I could, just out of morbid curiosity.

[Why Syzygy]

15. can't you just watch an old western?

I have to turn my head even then. Next you'll be wanting a seat in the Saudi court watching the beheadings. Then maybe next the lions tearing up the 'christians'. Then small babies being wrenched from their mother's arms. Where does it end? The blood lust?
Get a grip now.

[King Coal]

27. LOL! Thanks for the laugh.

:hi:

[Eurobabe]

10. No. But maybe Bush should get free ringside tickets?

That way he can give Saddam the old thumbs down and send his feet through the floor.

Being that * IS dictator and all.

[madrchsod]

11. the location of the hanging will not be announced

the only announcement will be that he is dead. where he will be buried will be really interesting or he will be cremated.

[derby378]

14. Doesn't matter...

Someone will probably sneak in a videocamera and sell the footage to one of "those" websites.

[sandnsea]

12. Televised??

Is there some news article on this, some real possibility???

[NoPasaran]

13. No

Get back to me when it's Rush Limbaugh's turn.

[shadowknows69]

17. Saddam never personally fucked with me or my country

I wish I could tell you who I would watch swinging. With popcorn and beer.

[Why Syzygy]

19. side seat

and this might take awhile. Pack a 24 pack.

[dave_p]

18. No

It's disgusting.

Not just because this is an act of politically-motivated murder rather than the outcome of any legitimate judicial process.

Not just because for all his crimes, Saddam's rule kept far worse terrors in check.

Not just because those responsible will have far more blood on their hands than he has.

It's just sick. I wouldn't watch if it was Bush, Blair, Hitler, Pol Pot and Bono all rolled into one.

Anyone who gets off on this sort of thing needs to give serious thought to their own humanity, and I don't give a damn where on the political spectrum they claim to come from.

[patricia92243]

23. Exactly my thoughts on the subject.

[aaronbees]

55. Well said...

I agree 100 percent.

[MorningGlow]

20. No, that would be sick

And I've had enough of the bread-and-circuses appeal-to-the-lowest-common-denominator fiasco of the trial already. Manufactured targeting continues to the ultimate conclusion? No thanks.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

21. we need another choice.

Will we be able to avoid it, even if we try?

Remember just how MSM went nuts on

OJ
Johnbenetramsey
missing besotted bimbettes in Aruba
the missing fiance
missing stupid winter mountain climbers without sufficient brains, food or gear


It is not so much a question of not wanting to see it as being able to avoid it when the media goes nuts over his swinging corpse.
(I can imagine it now: Whoopee, success, peace will now break out in Iraq! Yippee! Rah, George bush is our leader with resolve! Praise be King W)

pardon me while I go make like a bulimic anorexic.

[chknltl]

22. No.. I am against the DP anyway.

I would even argue against seeing the shrub hung...I would favor seeing both dictators placed in gitmo for life though. (mmm... I wonder if they still serve rice piloff?)

[MamaBear]

24. Murder of the Week. Execution of the Week. The Death Hour.

Watch Network. "Knock that f***ing Disney right off the air."

Something new and wonderful in Reality TV. :sarcasm:

[Ian David]

25. I might watch the pre-game show if they have a good band playing

Do you think "The Right Brothers" will perform, or maybe Kid Rock?

[we can do it]

28. No Way In Hell -

[slackmaster]

29. Depends

Is there something better on a the same time?

[progressivebydesign]

30. No. That's a totally disgusting thought. n/t

[flamin lib]

32. Nope, seen 'nough dead people already. nt

[Taverner]

33. To be honest I think the US should watch

And I hope its horrific, gory and gives people nightmares.

People need to see what real death looks like, not the cartoon deaths of Rambo movies or 24, but the real thing.

Then we might think differently of the DP.

[AlienAvatar]

34. no eom

[Beaverhausen]

35. No

This is barbaric and beyond sick.

THIS is what we are over there fighting for? wonderful.

[nadinbrzezinski]

37. In the US you are kidding me right?

Com'on we don't even show the mangled bodies of troops, it is too graphic, doncha know?

[WI_DEM]

38. It won't be.

[Xenotime]

39. Just another * sanctioned murder.

[L A Woman]

40. I can't imagine something like that being televised HERE...

in Iraq, maybe, since apparently they never believe anyone is dead until they see the evidence. And maybe they need that closure.

But we don't.

Ick. No thanks.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

41. Murder is murder no matter whose doing it. Saddam, if anyone,

deserves it, but as a Christian, nope it's still murder.

[edbermac]

42. No, but I'd watch Bin Laden's execution.

After all, HE was the one responsible for 9/11.

[KamaAina]

43. I might try to stream the video on my computer, but...

...it'd probably hang. :evilgrin:

:sarcasm:

The very notion makes me urgently want to :puke:

[blues90]

44. No way

I have seen enough of the results of murder to last me 10 lifetimes . I don't feel there is a thing to gain from hanging him .

They pulled him out in front of the tv to show them digging around his mouth and now people actually desire to see him hang , this is some sick stuff .

[The Gunslinger]

45. Not only will I not watch

But it would be likely that I never will watch TV again.
I will not be a part of something that takes Civilizaton back 500+ years. Whats next public stonings again.

[G Hawes]

46. No.

While I will not purport to tell Iraqis how to run their justice system, I am opposed to the death penalty and would never voluntarily watch an execution at any time for any reason.

[Bullwinkle925]

47. Saddam - No. Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld's hangings? - Maybe.

Not a wonderful way to feel - but I'm honest and I'll admit it.

[SunDrop23]

48. I love all the hubaloo...while the REAL cause of 9/11 runs free.

Yee ha.
Getting the wrong guy only cost a billion dollars and 3000 dead American troops.

[cut.your.crap]

50. Trillion?

I think you mean Trillion, not Billion dollars...

[SunDrop23]

53. Yes, sorry about that. Trillion with a "T"

[cut.your.crap]

49. When you struggle

Things like this really don't matter. Whether Saddam lives or dies does not make one bit of impact in my life. I've been struggling financially most of my life, and that always seems to over ride most other things.
I think that's the sad part of this war. Most of us are so distracted by financial pressures, we really aren't paying attention. I drive a school bus. It actually is 40 hours a week for me, but the hourly wages aren't very good, about $12 per hour with no benefits, no sick days, no vacation, part time in the summer... I've been doing this two years. Prior to that, I was a truck driver for a bit more than 12 years. The local job I really enjoyed was lost in March 2003.
I don't know what happened. Business was bad. The place I worked for over 10 years had 15 trucks at this local depot. I used to haul a lot of food and candy and get home every night. One day I'm told I'd be losing two runs, and only be offered work 4 days a week. I found it hard to believe that John Q. Public was buying less food and candy. Within two months, several trucks were put up for sale and my job was eliminated altogether.
What I had to settle for, meant over an hour commute. This new company had routes that often put you 10+ hours away from home. The per diem for meals and lodging was $30. That doesn't even cover a night in a Motel 6. I'd sleep in my truck. This truck wasn't equipped with a sleeping compartment. You can shower most days, because most truck stops give a free shower to anyone who buys 50 gallons of diesel. After a while, you get so tired, you have no problem sleeping in the truck. If I knew I was going to sleep on the road 3-4 nights, I generally splurged on the 2nd or 3rd night for a cheap motel room. It is against the law to park idling. Winter gets cold. I quit that job in November 2003, unwilling to freeze in the sleeping bag in my truck, but plenty of truckers do just that every night. I spent 10 months working retail for about $7.50 an hour until I got my present job in August 2004. When you live a hard life, these other things have so little meaning. One of our bus drivers was seriously wounded in Iraq last summer. He is a National Guardsman. I felt very bad for him and have visited him. It is doubtful he will drive a bus ever again. Lots of people at work didn't know him because of the high turnover of personnel. Others simply don't care because their own lives are a mess. Mine is a mess, but I like the guy and feel obligated to show concern for my friend.
Realize this, most working people don't care about Saddam. A few would get their kicks seeing him killed, because they can channel all their hate and personal disappointments into him, but they are a minority.
I will end here because this is becoming a long story now.

[patricia92243]

58. Welcome to DU. I hope 2007 brings brighter days to you and yours. :)

[Why Syzygy]

60. Welcome

but did it ever turn a light bulb on for ya that you might not be in such dire financial situations IF the peerless leader was someone benevolent? Someone who actually cared about you and your co-workers? IOW . you are talking to the HAND. THEY DON"T GIVE A DAMN.

Now do you? Else why would you show up on DU? :hi: Welcome.

No progressive gets their 'kicks' seeing someone killed. Progressive 101. There are other ways to work around 'hate'. It starts with 'Peace'.

[aikoaiko]

51. absolutely. nt

[daleo]

52. I doubt it will be televised

But it may show up on the internet in a short time. Then that may become news, which will allow the news shows to televise it under the umbrella of "news about the news". Then, it may be tough to avoid.

[MrSlayer]

54. Of course.

They'll never show it live on TV though but if they did I'd watch it. I've seen far worse shit than a simple hanging.

[NYC Liberal]

56. .

The same way we made up the death penalty. We made them both up, Sanctity of life and the death penalty. Aren't we versatile? And you know, in this country, now there are alot of people who want to expand the death penalty to include drug dealers. This is really stupid. Drug dealers aren't afraid to die. They're already killing each other every day on the streets by the hundreds. Drive-bys, gang shootings, they're not afraid to die. Death penalty doesn't mean anything unless you use it on people who are afraid to die. Like... the bankers who launder the drug money. The bankers, who launder, the drug money. Forget the dealers, you want to slow down that drug traffic, you got to start executing a few of these fucking bankers. White, middle class Republican bankers.

And I'm not talking about soft, American executions, like lethal injection. I'm talking about fucking crucifixion folks! Let's bring back crucifixions. A form of capital punishment the Christians and Jews of America can really appreciate. And I'd go a little further, I'd crucify people upside-down. Like Saint Peter, feet up, head down. And naked. I'd have naked upside-down crucifixions on TV once a week at halftime on the Monday Night Football game! Halftime! Monday Night! The Monday Night Crucifixions! You'd have people tuning in, don't even care about Football! Wouldn't you like to hear Dan Dierdorf explain why the nails have to go in at a certain angle? And I'll guarantee you one thing. You start execut- you start nailing one white banker per week to a big wooden cross, you're going to see that drug traffic begin to slow down pretty fucking quick. Pretty fucking quick- you won't even be able to buy drugs in schools and prisons anymore!

Now, I don't care about capital punishment one way or another 'cuz I know it dosn't do anything. It doesn't do anything, 'cept maybe satisfy a kind of Biblical need for revenge. You know, if you read The Bible, you see that it's full of retrebution and revenge. So really, capital punishment is kind of a religious ritual. It's a purification right. It's a modern sacrament. And as long as that's true, I say, let's liven it up a little! I honestly believe that if you make the death penalty a little more entertaining and learn to market it correctly, you just might be able to raise enough money to balance the stupid fucking budget!! Balance the stupid fucking budget!!

And don't forget, the polls show the American people want capital punishment, and they want a balanced budget. And I think even in a fake democracy, people ought to get what they want once in a while. Just to feed this illusion that they're really in charge. Let's use capital punishment the same way we use sports and television in this country, to distract people and take their minds off how bad they're being fucked by the upper one percent. Now, unfortunately, unfortunately Monday Night Football doesn't last long enough. What we really need is year-round capital punishment on TV every night with sponsors. Gotta have sponsors. I'm sure as long as we're killing people Marlboro Cigarettes and Dow Chemical would be proud to participate! Proud to participate! Balance the stupid fucking budget!!

And- and let me say this to you my interesting judaeo-christian friends. Not only- not only do I recommend crucifixions, I'd be in favor of bringing back beheadings!! Huh? Beheadings on TV, slow-motion, instant replay? And maybe you could let the heads roll down a little hill. And fall into one of five numbered holes. Let the people at home gamble on which hole the head is going to fall into. And you do it in a stadium so the mob can gamble on it too. Raise a little more money. And if you want to expand the violence a little longer to sell a few more commercials, instead of using an axe, you do the beheadings with a hand saw! Hey, don't bail out on me now, God damnit! The blood is already on our hands, all we're talking about is a matter of degree. You want something a little more delicate, we'll do the beheadings with an olive fork. That would be nice. And it would take a good God damn long time. There's a lot of good things we could be doing.

When's the last time we burned someone at the stake? It's been too long! Here's another form of capital punishment, comes out of a nice, rich, religious tradition. Burning people at the stake. Sponsor: Britchford Charcoal. And you put it on TV on Sunday mornings. The Sunday Morning Evangelical Send Us An Offering Praise Jesus Human Bonfire! You don't think that would get big ratings? In this sick fucking country?! Shit you'd have people skipping church to wstch this stuff! And you take the money they send in and the offerings and you use it to balance the budget.

What about boiling people in oil? Boy those were the days weren't they? You get the oil going real good, you know, a nice high rolling boil. And then slowly, at the end of a rope, you lower the perpatrator headfirst into the boiling oil. Huh? You talk about fun shit! And just to encourage citizen participation, you let the mob in the stadium control the speed of the rope. Good, clean, wholesome family entertainment. The kids'll love it. The kids'll love it. And at the same time they're enjoying themselves, we're teaching then a nice, Christian moral lesson. Boiling people in oil. Sponsor: Crisco! And maybe, maybe instead of boiling all these guys every now and then you could french-fry a couple of them, you know. French-fried felons. Dip a guy in egg batter, just for a goof, you know? Kind of a Tempura thing, huh? Jeffrey Dahmer neverthought of this shit did he?! Jeffrey Dahmer, eat you heart out!! Which is an interesting thought, in and of itself!

Alright, enough nostalgia, what about some modern forms of capital punishment. How about we throw a guy off the World Trade Center and whoever he lands on wins the Publisher's Clearing House? OK something a little more sophisticated, you dip a guy in brown gravy and lock him in a small room with a wolverine who's high on angel dust. There's one guy's not going to be fucking with to many kids at the bus stop for a while. Here's something really nice you could do. You shoot a guy out of a high-speed catapult... right into a brick wall!! Trouble is, it would be over too quick. No good for TV, you know? You'd have to do a whole bunch of guys right in a row. Rapid-fire capital punishment. Fifteen catapults, while you're shooting off one, you're loading up the others. 'Course every now and then you would have to stop to clean off the wall. Cleanliness... right next to Godliness. Alright hi-tech. I sense some of yous are waiting for hi-tech. I got it. You take a small, tactical nuclear weapon... and stick it up a guy's ass! A thermo-nuclear suppository! Preparation H-Bomb! You talk about fallout, huh? Woah! Or, you take the bomb and you stick it just inside that little hole on the end of a guy's dick. Yeah, a bomb, in a dick! When it goes off, the guy wouldn't know whether he was cumming or going!! Ah! Get outta here!! I gotcha! Hey... listen... I got alot of good ideas. Balance the stupid fucking budget.

~George Carlin

[Why Syzygy]

64. lol lol lol

Almost busted a rib listening to that. George. What a guy.

So succinct. Yet so original. Yet so damn true.

[fortyfeetunder]

57. Saddam dead buys us nothing but..

...the repercussions from his loyalists seeking retribution should an execution take place.

Scares me to no end....

[Raksha]

59. Absolutely not! n/t

[Bluebear]

61. Certainly not! nt

[RoyGBiv]

62. Absolutely ...

And I will record it, and I will pass it around to everyone I possibly can, and I will hover over their remote controls so they can't turn off the screen, and I will refuse to allow them to turn away.

Executions should all be televised. They should all be very public spectacles. Then we might invoke the revulsion people have a natural tendency to feel at watching a fellow human being be killed.

And while I'm at it, the war should be televised, without censorship. Every dead body, every displaced limb, every drop of blood should be broadcast 24/7 into every person's home, and you should no be able to change the channel without knowing you will at some point be exposed to the death and the vile, ruthless bloodlust on display for all to see.

Willful ignorance should not be an option for such horrors.

[SeattleGirl]

63. No fucking way. I do not support the death penalty at all.

And while Saddam is a nasty fucker, I cannot and will not make an exception for him. An eye for an eye doesn't cut it with me, so watching his hanging would be something I would find reprehensible, to say the least.

[Eugene]

65. Absolutely not.

The hanging will be done in secret and announced afterwards. I would not watch it if I could.
I am against the death penalty. More important, Saddam's execution is victor's justice and
a huge blunder. It serves no constructive purpose.

[BigBearJohn]

66. No, but I can think of someone else's I'd be HAPPY to watch WITH POPCORN IN HAND!@\!!!