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Don't blame Gov. Ritter for others cowardice
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It turns out there’s really no hurry to repeal the death penalty in Colorado. And why should there be? It’s not like to the people affected by the delay are going anywhere. They’ve got decades before their appeals run out.
Four Democrats joined a unanimous Republican caucus to defeat the bill on the last day of the 2009 legislative session.
But it’s not about the two men on death row, and whether or not their lives will be spared. They may not even care at this point. It’s about doing what’s right. It’s about committing to a set of ideals that elevate humanity for the greater good. It’s about Democrat’s voting as a political bloc!
The last day of school always has some fireworks, and this year was no different. It featured a passionate debate over the resurrected HB 1274. Senate president Peter Groff, on his last day in Denver before joining President Obama’s cabinet in Washington D.C., gave an impromptu speech encouraging all Senators to ignore their reelection campaigns and pass the bill because it’s the right thing to do. Eloquent and fiery as it may have been, it was ineffective in the end.
Better luck next year Sen. Carroll, better luck next year…
I cannot believe Senate Democrats would betray their party and vote with the enemy on such a contentious issue. I can only imagine what consequences they will face. Public shame? Editorial exposé’s calling them legislative Benedict Arnolds? If not mainstream criticism, then at least bloggers will no doubt encourage the masses to flood their email boxes and phone lines with angry messages? Nope. Nothing.
The debate going on in the blogosphere focuses solely on Gov. Ritter’s perceived leadership problem. Granted, his indecisiveness on the issue was definitely a factor in the bill not passing, but putting the blame squarely on him is completely unfair. It’s taking the easy way out. The comments left on ColoradoPols were almost unanimous in blaming Ritter for not strong arming members of Congress into voting for the bill. But these people are merely aiming for the biggest target because it’s the easiest to hit.
It’s not Ritter’s responsibility to lead the charge on every single ballot issue that passes through the Congress. He’s the Governor, not a pundit spewing opinion to all that will listen.
Not one article or comment listed the names of the Senators that voted against the bill. Shouldn’t these people be held accountable for being on the wrong side of a moral issue? After all, these are the people we elected to actually vote on issues, not the Governor. Where are their explanations!?!?
Gov. Ritter doesn’t need to explain his decision not to support the bill publicly. He never voted on it. And I can actually understand his apprehension on speaking out on the issue. I actually think he might be torn between what is right and wrong in this instance. By all accounts the man is a thoughtful, introspective person not accustomed to speaking his opinion on issues. And this issue hit especially close to home.
He was the District Attorney people! He’s seen the worst of the worst. He’s prosecuted perpetrators of the most heinous crimes committed against mankind. Frankly, with his life experience, I wouldn’t blame him for privately supporting the death penalty. Just like I wouldn’t blame someone in a war zone for having an “eye for an eye” mentality.
I don’t think it’s an enlightened mentality, but who am I to judge the personal views of those whose shoes I’ve never walked in?
Senators don't have the luxury of voting with their personal conscience, that's why they all want to become Governor someday, so they can.
