I'll tell you why Schwarzenegger won't commute Tookie

[bluestateguy]

His right wing base is mad at him: he failed in the special elections, he's pro-choice and he appointed a Gray Davis Democrat as his chief of staff. Commuting Tookie would be the last straw.

Then there are people like us on the left. We have all been denouncing him since the say he was inaugurated and we have a great deal of personal dislike for the man. Do any of you really think that any of that would change if he commuted Tookie? If he commuted Tookie would people of our political persuasion suddenly shower Schwarzenegger with praise and pledge to support his re-election in 2006? Would the criticisms of him stop?

Be honest.

I sense that Schwarzenegger knows this and that the decision had already been made.

[Silverhair]

1. Why didn't Democratic governors grant clemency?

He has been on death row over twenty years. Democratic governors have turned him down too.

This is beyond partisanship.

BTW - The last DP clemency in CA was granted by Ronald Reagan.

I also agree with you analysis. You are corrrect.

[bluestateguy]

3. It's the "soft on crime" bug

Democrats constantly have to prove that they are not hug-a-thugs. Republicans have more leeway to grant clemency because they already have tough on crime credentials. I would say that was the case with Schwarzenegger, but his political capital is so low that he would only hurt his political standing even further by granting clemency.

[MADem]

2. Well, I think there is more to it than that

If he does not commute, he is toast. If he does commute, he is toast. At least that is how you are framing it. If that is the case, and surely he has to be politically astute enough to realize that, then whatever decision he makes will either come from the facts he feels are important in his review of the case, or his general feeling with regard to the death penalty.

I can't say I have a clue as to which way he will go; I really do not have a sense as to what goes on inside his rather curious head.

[AlCzervik]

4. i think the only thing would make him commute would be if he

decided he's not running again, i know, i know he said he was but it wasn't an official announcement.

[BlueManDude]

5. I don't think he's ever had any intention of commuting the sentence

He's keeping himself in the news and will be praised by the right and FauxNews when he declines to commute.

[melody]

6. I think it could go either way

Just on a very clinical level, he could get a boost with either decision, but not
enough to help his sagging ass. God forbid he actually do something because its
the right thing to do and not for what is politically expedient.

[Wind Dancer]

7. It's hard to know how he will decide on this case.

"God forbid he actually do something because its the right thing to do and not for what is politically expedient."

So true! Can you imagine that happening this day in age?

[JanusAscending]

8. Don't forget everyone................

He has to go to bed with his wife every night. She's a Kennedy through and through! I wonder how she feels about this whole thing? "Ahnold" could be spending many nights on the couch if you get my drift!!