Conservative view: Tennessee death penalty needs comprehensive review

Davis Turner in a guest column at The Tennessean:

  • Davis Turner is a lifelong Republican, Nashville attorney, and surviving family member of a murder victim.

As a conservative, I believe in fiscal responsibility and limited government. And, as a surviving family member of a murder victim, I know firsthand the trauma of losing a loved one to homicide. My brother was murdered in Nashville in 2009.

My conservative values and personal experience are the very reasons that I also have serious concerns about Tennessee’s death penalty.

I’m skeptical of a government program that is more expensive to taxpayers than the alternatives, risks executing the innocent, and has the power over the life and death of its citizens.

Studies show taxpayers spend approximately $2 million more per case to pursue the death penalty than life without parole. Tennesseans have spent millions to carry out 12 executions since 1960 while 55% of Tennessee’s death sentences were overturned on appeal because of issues like ineffective assistance of counsel, prosecutor misconduct, and innocence.

Some suggest limiting appeals to speed up the process to make it less expensive and less protracted. However, mounting evidence demonstrates that Tennessee’s death penalty continues to be unfairly and arbitrarily applied.

Good, well-reasoned, rational article. That it comes from a Conservative/Republican is wildy encouraging.

Sunday 5th of January 2020

“You don’t go from 2-4 to the playoffs without believing” How the once 2-4 Titans did a complete 180 to secure their second postseason berth since 2008

Source: paullandry.micro.blog

Pro Tip: It’s not a violation of your religious freedoms…

PRO TIP: It’s not a violation of your religious freedoms (or, religious “rights” if you prefer) to be expected to do your job.

If your job entails conducting same-sex marriages, or issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, etc., etc., etc., then that’s the job. And, if your personal beliefs are such that you just can’t do the job, then get another job.

As I’ve said before, “I really don’t think anyone wants to think of a world where the ER doctor needs to know your views on, say, infant baptism, before she treats you!”

Tuesday 31st of December 2019

PRO TIP: For the very best vodka martini/gibson—oh, who’m I kidding here… for the very best Belvedere Vodka martini/gibson, you have to shake ‘til you feel you’ve done it enough, then shake some more—this is most easily accomplished with an INSULATED shaker. #Martini #Gibson

Source: paullandry.micro.blog

Tuesday 31st of December 2019

Happy New Year, y’all 🍸. #Martini #Gibson #GibsonMartini #NewYear #NewYearsEve

Source: paullandry.micro.blog

Monday 30th of December 2019

I really — REALLY — miss the iTunes progress bar.

Source: paullandry.micro.blog

That doesn’t sound very wise to me…

Wise Man #1: Ahem!

Mandy (Brian’s mother): Oh! [falls over in chair] Who are you?

Wise Man #1: We are three wise men.

Mandy: What?

Wise Man #1: We are three wise men.

Mandy: Well, what are you doing creeping around a cow shed at two o’clock in the morning? That doesn’t sound very wise to me.

Wise Man #3: We are astrologers.

Wise Man #1: We have come from the East.

Mandy: Is this some kind of joke?

Wise Man #2: We wish to praise the infant.

Wise Man #1: We must pay homage to him.

Mandy: Homage?! You’re all drunk! It’s disgusting! Out! Come on, out!

Wise Man #1: no!

Mandy: Bursting in here with tales about Oriental fortune-tellers! Come on, out!

Wise Man #2: No, no, we must see him.

Mandy: Go and praise someone else’s brat! Go on!

Wise Man #1: We were led by a star!

Mandy: Led by a bottle more like! Go on, out!

Wise Man #1: We must see him. We have brought presents!

Mandy: Out!

Wise Man #1: Gold, frankincense, myrrh!

Mandy: Well, why didn’t you say? He’s over there. Sorry the place is a bit of a mess. Well, what is myrrh anyway?

Wise Man #3: It is a valuable balm.

Mandy: A balm?! What are you giving him a balm for? It might bite him!

Wise Man #3: What?

Mandy: That’s a dangerous animal! Quick, throw it in the trough!

Wise Man #1: No it isn’t.

Mandy: Yes, it is. It’s a great big–

Wise Man #3: No, no, no, it is an ointment.

Mandy: Well, there is an animal called a balm… or did I dream it? So you’re astrologers, are you? Well, what is he then?

Wise Man #2: Hmm?

Mandy: What star-sign is he?

Wise Man #2: [stammers] uh, Capricorn.

Mandy: Oh, Capricorn, eh? What are they like?

Wise Man #2: Well, he is the son of God. Our Messiah.

Wise Man #1: King of the Jews!

Mandy: And that’s Capricorn, is it?

Wise Man #2: No, no, no, that’s just him.

Mandy: Oh! I was gonna say, otherwise there’d be a lot of them.

Wise Man #1: By what name are you calling him?

Mandy: Uh, Brian.

Wise Men: [in unison] We worship you, oh, Brian, who are Lord over us all. Praise unto you, Brian, and to the Lord, our Father. Amen.

Mandy: Do you do a lot of this, then?

Wise Man #2: What?

Mandy: This praising.

Wise Man #2: No, no. No, no.

Mandy: Oh, well, um, if you’re dropping by again, do pop in. [chuckles] And thanks a lot for the gold and frankincense, uh, but don’t worry too much about the myrrh next time, all right? [takes the gifts] Thank you. Goodbye.

Mandy: [to Brian] Well, weren’t they nice? Hmm. Out of their bloody minds, but still, look at that!

— Life of Brian (1979), Opening Scene.

Monday 23rd of December 2019

Happy Festivus, everyone!

Source: paullandry.micro.blog

Titans Lose to Saints; Find Selves in Win-and-In Going into Week 17

Jim Wyatt at TitansOnline.com:

Yes, for the third year in a row the Titans head into Week 17 with a chance to punch their playoff ticket. In 2017, the Titans beat the Jaguars to advance to the playoffs. In 2018, the Titans lost to the Colts.

When your team has been a middle-of-the-road team for over a decade–except for the few years when we were bottom-of-the-barrel–you get excited when your team is still in the Playoff Picture going into Week 17! Nice job, Titans!

Sunday 22nd of December 2019

“The N.F.L. looks remarkably spry at 100 years old.” Beautiful. Violent. American. How the N.F.L. Conquered the Country

Source: paullandry.micro.blog