Murderers and Words *UPDATED*

Another One Bites the Dust
Jose Ernesto Medellin, the convicted murderer and rapist of two teenage girls, Elizabeth Pena and Jennifer Ertman, was executed late August 5th by lethal injection in the death chamber at Huntsville State Prison in Texas.

Texas Governor, Rick Perry was quoted as saying: "It's not my job to judge, it is not my job to forgive." He said, "That's the Lord's job. The Lord can forgive and the Lord can judge." My job as the governor of Texas is to arrange the meeting between Medellin and Jesus." Well said Governor Perry...and well done Texas!!!

Words
I've come to understand that the two most overused/misused words in the English language are: "Always" and "Never." No one is ALWAYS right and no one is NEVER wrong.

Update: A correct use of the word "never": That scumbag Medellin will NEVER hurt another person.

If I Were President

I've been at my parent's home in the Florida panhandle for the last week, so I've been somewhat out of pocket. However, several things have caught my attention since my return that I feel compelled to address. Please note, I am NOT looking for anyone's approval/disapproval or for an argument...so if you happen to read this and disagree, don't waste your time trying to "convert me." I won't respond.

Philadelphia Police Brutality
There is a very simple lesson here, boys and girls: If you stand on the street corner and shoot at people, then run from the police, DO NOT...I repeat...DO NOT be surprised or even think about crying when they catch you, drag your sorry behind out of the car and proceed to BEAT THE DOG OUTA YOU!!!

Ethnic Pride
I've heard Barack Obama speak about his "African American" heritage. What I'm trying to figure out is: If his Father was black and his mother (whom I don't believe we've ever seen) was white, how come the "African American Pride gene" was more dominant than the "White American Pride gene?" Just asking.

Lethal Injection/Death Penalty
Back in April, the Supreme Court "upheld Kentucky’s method of execution by lethal injection, rejecting the claim that officials there administered a common sequence of three drugs in a manner that posed an unconstitutional risk that a condemned inmate would suffer acute yet undetectable pain." (Source) As of January/February 2008, there are 3,263 inmates on Death Row in American Prisons (Source). (Just for sake of comparison, the town I grew up in boasted a population of just a little over 3000.) California, Florida and Texas lead the pack with 669, 388, and 370 respectively. I say we start lining 'em up and free up a little real estate.

FINALLY...If I Were President
If I were President of the United States, and had the power (the President really doesn't have the power to DO much of anyhing) I would implement the following policies (in no particular order of importance). This is by no means an exhaustive list; just a start.

• Congressmen, Senators, etc (State and Federal levels) would be required to have actually held a REAL JOB before they could "serve." Sorry Ted Kennedy and Barack Obama. Being a lawyer doesn't count, either.
• Lawmakers would not have their own "health care system." They would be required to find group insurance just like the rest of us.
• Leftover monies raised for campaigns would be donated to the Red Cross (or similar organization) once a lawmaker left office. You don't get to keep it!
• Prisons would become prisons. Make it so no one would ever want to go there. No cable, weight room, etc. We would bring back the "chain gangs" and they would be put to work ACTUALLY DOING the jobs we pay many government workers to do while they lean on a shovel or other work implement.
• Fair Tax (Website) IMMEDIATELY. IRS---out of business.
• Zero tolerance for gangs/gang activity.
• Twenty plus years for appeal of death sentences are GONE. Trial--guilty verdict--one year (max) to review--next day: your last meal and your last breath.
• No more fighting wars /police actions like a bunch of girls. Go in--kick butt--and take names! It's done. We're too STINKIN' NICE!!!
• Lawmakers cannot serve for life. TERM LIMITS--max 2.
• School teachers would be paid a decent wage for being GOOD TEACHERS. Get rid of the dead wood, I don't care how long you've been "in the system."
• Voter identification in all 50 states...IN ENGLISH. You can't read? I don't want you voting on how things are done.

That's enough for now. I may be back.

Another Sleaze Bag Works the System

This is James Harvey Callahan. He is a cold-blooded murderer.

Callahan was sentenced to death for the 1982 murder of Jacksonville State University student Rebecca Suzanne Howell, who was abducted from a coin laundry in Jacksonville and raped before being strangled and dumped in a creek. He has been on death row longer than his victim lived on this earth. Now that's justice, eh?

The sleaze-bag got a stay of execution from the Supreme Court today...more than Rebecca Howell got. The bleeding hearts will claim victory and shout for joy, meanwhile Suzanne Howell's family will spend another year without her...courtesy of James Harvey Callahan. I bet he had a bad childhood...that makes it all better.

Justice

In light of a recent post and subsequent conversations, it's funny to me how people that are against the death penalty suddenly change their tune when someone they love becomes a murder victim. I guess their family deserves more justice than yours or mine.

Cruel and Unusual

On Monday, the Supreme Court will take under consideration whether the death penalty is "cruel and unusual" punishment. In light of slugs/people like Darlanne Toussaint, I say the death penalty is NOT cruel.

The case coming before the Court revolves around one Ralph Baze who took it upon himself to open fire on two Kentucky law enforcement officers who had come to his residence in January 1992. They were attempting to serve a warrant for Baze's arrest--Baze was already a fugitive from the law. Baze was hiding in some brush near his home. When his wife diverted the officer's attention, Baze used an assault-type rifle to ambush the two police officers. Each officer was shot three times in the back. One officer was executed with a shot to the back of his head as he tried to crawl away. (Source)

What is cruel is allowing scumbags like Baze to draw one more breath. As far as unusual, yes, the death penalty is "unusual" in that it is not something that happens everyday. Too bad. As of January 1, 2007 there were 3350 death row inmates in United States prisons. Instead of being labeled "cruel and unusual," executions should be "quick and OFTEN." We can start with Ralph Baze and Darlanne Toussaint.

Weekly Wrap Up / Friday Photos

What a Pile of...
What do the two pictures above have in common? They're both a pile of...well, you know. The "pile" on the right is one Cardrico Lajuan Nash who was arrested this past week for leaving his four children--ages 3 months to 7 years-- in his car...parked outside a local topless bar...at 1AM...in near freezing temperatures (35 degrees according to the Tulsa World)!

Nash had picked up three of his children earlier in the evening after having not seen them in a year according to Tulsa Police Captn Rick Helberg. The mother of two of the children was working at another Tulsa strip club; the mother of the other two children was at home. Nash has been booked into the Tulsa jail on four felony counts of child endangerment. He already has felony convictions for "failing to provde for a child, false impersonation and possesion of a firearm while under Department of Corrections supervision." He is also facing a Jan 23 jury trial on a felony drug-trafficking charge. Bail was set at $25,000. (Source: Tulsa World)

Several observations re: this story--

• This guy ain't up for the "Father or Citizen of the Year" award!
• There are two VERY STUPID women out there who should have kept their clothes on around this idiot.
• When you haven't seen your children in a year, your first thought after picking them up should never be--"I think I'll drop by Suds-N-Jugs and leave the kids in the car!
• Cardrico Nash is my choice for the 2007 Support the Death Penalty Poster Child.

Microwave Instructions
I was heating up my lunch today, reading the all important instructions when I noticed the last sentence: "...remove product from microwave. WARNING: container is hot!" Of course it is! Isn't that WHY I put it in the microwave in the first place?...so it would get "HOT!" I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

Road Trip
Loaded up the fam last week and went to Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO for their "Old Time Christmas" celebration. They claim to have over 4 million lights--I lost count around 956, 228. They whole town is decorated for Christmas and there are several stores/areas that have been revamped especially for the holidays. Our favorite places are still the glass blowers shop, the candy shop and the woodcarvers.

We had Thanksgiving dinner at one of the restaurants in the park and then spent the evening just walking around, looking at the lights and enjoying the fragrances and sounds of Christmas. We returned the next day so the boys could ride the roller coasters, etc. while Dana and I did some shopping...and EATING! (The photos directly below and the one above are from the SDC website. Click on the thumbnails for larger view)

  

Friday Photos

flickr: Friday Photo Group

Remembering Brandon

Today is my cousin Brandon's birthday. We were born only 3 weeks apart. We did a lot of things togther growning up; shared similar senses of humor, etc. He would have been 49 years old today...would have been expect for the fact that 30 years ago, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Brandon and some friends had gone to the lake for a day of boating, skiing, etc.Toward the middle of the day, they pulled into a dock to use the restroom. While Brandon and friends had been on the water, another group of friends were having their own kind fun at the lake, driving through the various camping areas, vandalizing the property by, among other things, shooting a rifle at pretty much anything that didn't move. While Brandon was in the restroom, the three drove through the dock area, stopped at the restroom and fired six rounds into the building...Brandon was hit five times. Staggering out of the restroom, he fell and died as the group drove off.

After some time, investigators determined the identities of the "vandals" (aka "killers") and arrested them on charges of manslaughter. It was later determined during the investigation that only one person was the shooter. The other two plea-bargained in exchange for their testimonies against the shooter. The shooter--whose father just happened to be an attorney--was able to get the evidence and testimonies thrown out on a technicality. He also claimed his son suffered from mental illness. None of the three vandals served a single day.

Brandon would have been 49 years old today. Happy Birthday, Brandon. I miss you.

Rope Burn?

When they were preparing to hang Saddam Hussein, I noticed they placed a black cloth around his neck before slipping on the noose. Were they really that concerned about him getting rope burns?

I read somewhere they also use the little alcohol wipe on inmates before executing them by lethal injection.

Hang 'Em High

Considering the following "Saddam Timeline:"

• 12/13/03 - Captured by US forces.
• 10/19/05 - Trial for crimes against humanity begins
• 11/05/06 - Sentenced to death
• 12/26/06 - Appeals court upholds death sentence
• 12/30/06 - Execution

From time of capture to time of execution was just over three years. Compared to the judicial system in the USA, that's lightning fast! I wonder what the chances are of having the Iraqi officials take over the prison system here and doing a little "house-cleaning?!"

There are 168 inmates awaiting rulings on appeals to their death sentences in the state of Oklahoma. Eight are awaiting retrial or new sentencing hearings. One of those inmates is a sleazebag named Corey Hamilton (pictured right). The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals recently set a Jan. 9 execution date for 37-year-old Tulsa County killer. Hamilton was convicted of the Aug 17, 1992 killings of four individuals, each of whom were shot in the back of the head at point-blank range, during a robbery of the restaurant where they worked. The four men stole $2100 before killing the employees.

Co-defendant, Donnie Eugene Daniels testified against Hamilton, naming him as the sole gunman. Daniels recieved five life sentences for his part in the robbery/murders. Another co-defendant, Hamilton's brother, received four no-parole life sentences and one-life sentence; the fourth defendant in the case is serving four life sentences. Corey Hamilton is in the fifth stage of appeals.

Before I make my point / finish my rant, I'd like you to "meet" Hamilton's victims:

Joseph Gooch was an only child; he was 17 when a bullet to the head cut short his life. Gooch was a junior at Edison High School who liked working on cars, was second-chair trumpet in the band. He had hoped to join the U.S. Air Force and become an aerospace engineer. It was his third day at the restaurant.

Ted Kindley graduated from Rogers High School and was attending Tulsa Junior College. He took a second job to pay for college, but was given a raise at Lee's so he could quit the second job. He was 19 when he died.

Sendy Lara was 27 and a young mother who left behind three children: Amanda, 6; Gilbert Jr., 3; and Miranda, 18 months. She was not scheduled to work that evening- the restaurant called her in.

Stephen Lee Williams' mother, Janice Ramsey wonders what her 24-year-old son would have been like had he not been shot that night.

None of these people were given an "appeal"; instead they were herded into the restaurant's freezer, and shot execution style. No second chance. No nothing! And now I hear that poor little Corey Hamilton is claiming "cruel and unusual punishment" should the execution by lethal injection be carried out. Hamilton's attorneys asked the court to delay the execution, contending Oklahoma's injection procedure creates a severe and unnecessary risk of failure and conscious physical suffering. FOR CRYIN' OUT LOUD! He murdered four people in cold blood-- didn't ask them if THEY thought it was cruel or might cause "physical suffering!!!!" (Note: I have never experienced it, but I have to imagine that being shot in the head with a gun at close range would cause PHYSICAL SUFFERING!)

Personally, I don't give a hoot about Hamilton's (or any of the other convicted killers on Oklahoma's death row) Eighth Amendment rights. It's been too long! Hang him. Inject him. Put him in front of a firing squad OR all of the aforementioned. This appeals mess where a murderer sits around for years crying about their "rights" is ridiculous (in Hamilton's case 14 years)!

Where's the number for that Iraqi "hanging squad?"

(Biographical sketches of victims and details of Corey Hamilton's crime take from various articles in the Tulsa World)

Oh, yeah...Happy New Year.