Majority of Obama states now have no death penalty or moratorium

[they don't love you like i love you]

Interesting. So a pretty mainstream position now. Woohoo, go progressivism!

[Ban my account ffs!]

I never would've seen this coming in 2005.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

An excellent demonstration of the fact that a majority of a subgroup is often a minority of the whole group.  The death penalty states are still a majority in both states and electoral votes.

[Lief 🗽]

I wonder if the new Republican legislature in WV will try to re-instate the death penalty there.

[Likely Voter]

An excellent demonstration of the fact that a majority of a subgroup is often a minority of the whole group.  The death penalty states are still a majority in both states and electoral votes.

While the death penalty is on the books in the majority of states, there are only a handful of states that are regularly executing people, notably TX, OK, and FL. Those three states account for 2/3s of the executions in the last 2 years.

[windjammer]

I wonder if the new Republican legislature in WV will try to re-instate the death penalty there.

Likely...

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Ironic, given Obama's own strong support for death penalty.

[they don't love you like i love you]

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/05/03/us/flawed-oklahoma-execution-deeply-troubling-obama-says.html?referrer=

[Tender Branson]

California abolishing it would really send a signal, but instead it remains a big pussy.

[Antonio the Sixth]

California abolishing it would really send a signal, but instead it remains a big pussy.

A proposition to abolish it came very close to passing in 2012. Hopefully they can give it another try in 2016.

[they don't love you like i love you]

Also despite the map, California is under a moratorium now as well.

[Beet]

Ironic, given Obama's own strong support for death penalty.

Would it be possible for an anti-death penalty candidate to win a national election, or would they be Kitty Dukakised again?

[Antonio the Sixth]

Ironic, given Obama's own strong support for death penalty.

Almost as strong as his opposition to SSM in 2008...

[Tender Branson]

Ironic, given Obama's own strong support for death penalty.

Almost as strong as his opposition to SSM in 2008...

Well, he has ca. 2 years left to stop being a pussy on the death penalty and become a good liberal (and not a fake one, by announcing support for abolition after his term ends).

[DemPGH]

With SSM all but decided as an issue, I hope this issue is next for leftists. The difference, though, is that it will have to be attacked legislatively, but hey, slow and steady does it.

WV is still a surprise, but I would not be surprised to see it reinstated there, although I don't imagine that WV is crime-ridden. It may not be a pressing issue, I don't know.

[Rockefeller GOP]

Ironic, given Obama's own strong support for death penalty.

Almost as strong as his opposition to SSM in 2008...

So shall we just speculate on what all of his political views actually are?  Haha, I expect the board to now give Romney a complete pass for being "against gay marriage" and "pro-life," considering he's almost certainly not, personally.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Ironic, given Obama's own strong support for death penalty.

Almost as strong as his opposition to SSM in 2008...

So shall we just speculate on what all of his political views actually are?  Haha, I expect the board to now give Romney a complete pass for being "against gay marriage" and "pro-life," considering he's almost certainly not, personally.

I've never said I'm fine with Obama disguising his views. I agree with DemPHG that he should grow a pair and come out against death penalty, as his opposition could help shift the public debate on the issue. I was simply reacting to the post that made it sound like Obama was personally deeply supportive of death penalty, something I highly doubt.

[TDAS04]

Encouraging trend.

[Lief 🗽]

American progressives have more important things to focus on than abolishing the death penalty.

[Ban my account ffs!]

American progressives have more important things to focus on than abolishing the death penalty.

Like abolishing the birth penalty! Pro lyfe!

[King]

American progressives have more important things to focus on than abolishing the death penalty.

Yes. Dying on the cross over lame issues like this is why the GOP remains such a strong force among poor whites.

[TJ in Oregon]

It would be wonderful if this was the next issue progressives aggressively push. I'd greatly prefer it over euthanasia, which seems to me to be the more likely direction.

[Ebowed]

American progressives have more important things to focus on than abolishing the death penalty.

It should be a de facto policy for any state when it is in firmly Democratic control - a scenario we owe many recent gains to.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Ridiculous that California still has it. And the "live free or die state" seems to include the state arranging for you to die.

[Vosem]

Horrible, but hopefully if states like Michigan, West Virginia, and Wisconsin restore the death penalty we can end the Obama Administration with it being more common, population-wise, than it was at the start.