The blood-thirsty right

I commented in my rant about the Tea Party Republican debate about the audience's thirst for blood revenge in their applauding Rick Perry for presiding over 234 executions as governor and boasting about not losing sleep over the possibility that an innocent man might be killed by the state.

Now, here in Georgia, we are about to do just that, quite possibly. And our own Board of Pardons and Paroles has rejected the latest plea for clemency for Troy Davis.

This case has attracted world wide attention: Pope Benedict, Jimmy Carter, the NAACP leadership, and Amnesty International, as well as countless citizens and celebrities (600,000 signed a petition) pleaded for not carrying out the death penalty in a case that has so many questions about the man's guilt.

Today, William Sessions, former FBI Director under Reagen, Bush I, and Clinton, wrote an editorial calling for stopping the execution, scheduled for tomorrow, referring to the "pervasive, persistent doubts" because of multiple witness recantations, lack of physical evidence, and allegations of police coercion.

Even the U.S. Supreme Court last year ordered the judge to hold a hearing on the appeal -- but that judge decided that it was not sufficient for serious doubt to be cast on Davis' original guilty verdict; no, instead, Davis had to prove his innocence. And the judge decided that he had not presented proof of innocence. So a new trial was denied.

When did the American justice system change from having to prove guilt to the accused having to prove his innocence? This is a travesty. Even if you support the death penalty -- and I vehemently oppose it in every case, regardless of the guilt and the crime -- this is unconscionable.

The last chance appeal was to the Board of Pardons and Paroles. They have spoken, and their answer is no. Can the governor intervene at this point? I think so, but does Nathan Deal have it in him to go against the thirst for blood and vengeance in his political base?

Ralph