68 Responses to:
A SHORT ROPE AND A LONG FALL

# 1. 8/8/12 1:23 AM by Some Guy
"8/6/12 4:24 AM - Rochester, NY Dear Bob,

WOW! What an opportunity you have to help influence the upcoming elections for the good guys and gals! This is democracy at its best."

Can you please bitch-slap people so clueless that they call what is supposed to be a republic a democracy?

Editor's Note: i'll leave that to glenn beck, who for some reason is fixated on that distinction. actually, voting in a republic is democracy at its best, if you think about it.

# 2. 8/8/12 1:34 AM by commie lib dave - w. irondequoit
BOB! that dude is never getting out of some confined setting. Yu are always so blood thirsty. The dude is delusional and crazy. Let it be. My god, yu are never satisfied w/ sentences. Yu simply want everyone to get executed. Disgusting. What do yu think Giffords wanted? I doubt she is on the same page as yu. And she was forever changed. How can yu call yurself religious.

Editor's Note: i don't. i'm going to hell, like this guy. i just think he should get there first. further, giffords is not the prime victim of this crime.

# 3. 8/8/12 2:30 AM by Cal - Rochester, NY
Bob,

What do you expect? He was a leftest whose favorite book was the COMMUNIST MANIFESTO!

# 4. 8/8/12 2:31 AM
...we were willing to applaud Gabby Giffords and show her our tears...

You're gagging me, dude.

OTOH, I agree that Loughner should have been strapped to a gurney and given a lethal injection, both for his sake and for the sake of the taxpayers. Rotting in Club Fed is a lose-lose situation. Men shouldn't be caged up like dogs. Even a Gulag is preferable to that.

# 5. 8/8/12 2:42 AM by Cal - Rochester, NY
Bob,

"-Mike Klonsky founder of “Small Schools Workshop” (leftist radical organization) is a friend of William (Bill) Ayers friend of obama who set off bombs at the U.S. Capitol in the early 70’s avoiding prison because of a technicality! – hmmm"

# 6. 8/8/12 2:46 AM
The easy way has become the American way. We need to clear out our prisons, not expand their populations. Just think about it. If we executed the worst half of the prison population, we would be executing every last one of them who should have been executed in the first place. Not one hair on one head of anyone we would eliminate would be innocent.

What are we waiting for? Drown the rats and burn the vermin.

And then justice will finally be served.

And even the whackos will think twice about perpetrating their evil deeds...

# 7. 8/8/12 2:48 AM by Fly
Perez should be flushed out of Kodak like the rat and the turd that he is.

Executive bonus for what?

# 8. 8/8/12 3:28 AM
I'm not quite sure why you are so upset about this. Wasn't he pleading guilty to life in prison?

If it did go to trial there's no quarantee he would be found quilty even with the evidence. There may have been evidence that couldn't be shown or jurors who sympathized with him-especially if they knew the death penalty was involved. They might have found some way to let him off.

There is no way the death penalty would have been on the table with the question of mental illness on the table. Heck he might have even been assigned to a mental institution due to mental illness, "find help", keep going to court and maybe not even serve a life sentence. I think of the woman from Texas who killed her family, Andrea Yates, who almost got out completely on a technicality and who I'm sure we haven't seen the end of yet.

The families who suffered silenetly (all but Representative Gifford) will not have to relive the trauma in vivid detail and will avoid the great expense and time consuming process of having to going to the court. So while this may not be the outcome you may have wanted. It is the best alternative. It looks as though the man is pleading guilty and going away for life where he can't hurt anyone again- unless some liberal judge steps in and lessens the sentence in November of course

# 9. 8/8/12 4:15 AM by Sarah
Since when is life imprisonment with mo chance of parol a "slap on the wrist"?

Editor's Note: ever since it isn't death

# 10. 8/8/12 4:45 AM by Brian
A civilized society recognizes the necessity of capital punishment.

A barbaric society protects violent criminals and releases many of them back on the streets where they commit more crimes.

# 11. 8/8/12 5:41 AM by Woody

# 12. 8/8/12 5:50 AM
you are a blood thirsty little psychopath.

Loughner's a killer and you are a coward advocating murder, but because it is carried out with laws by government employees and government funding it is good and just.

# 13. 8/8/12 6:03 AM by Some Guy - Rochester, NY
I can't see how a doped-up guy in a straight-jacket locked up in a mental ward is a threat to society.

The Second Amendment recognizes our natural right to self-defense. Nowhere does is say about killing for purely retributive purposes.

No sane fiscal conservative in this day and age can support the costs associated with pursuing the death penalty in this country. I'd want the death penalty for someone who killed my loved one, but government is about providing for our individual wants and desires if it is to be legitimate.

# 14. 8/8/12 6:19 AM by Bill - Rochester NY
If we had not "pretended he was suddenly sane" Loughner most likely would have been found innocent by reason of insanity and put in a mental institution instead of a prison. That would have been better?

# 15. 8/8/12 6:23 AM by Rick G. - Spencerport, NY
Another subliminal element to this weak decision is the message this sends to our enemies overseas - that we no longer have the backbone to punish those who wrong us. Horrific crimes will be met with kindness from now on.

Some things are unforgivable. Some things don't deserve kindness.

# 16. 8/8/12 6:29 AM by hc
Yup. Death penalty. Pure and simple.

And you look at our culture, the entertainment we have these days. Our culture thinks death is kind of cool. Kind of fascinating, really. But that's only half of the problem.

The other half of the problem is that our culture absolutely abhors pure and simple.

~xp

# 17. 8/8/12 6:32 AM by Grandma Taxpayer - Greece, NY
While I believe this monster should have received the death penalty, I don't think this man will live out his life in the prison system. Either he will kill himself or be killed by some other prisoner within a few years. Life in prison (if he survives) will save the victims, their families and taxpayers the endless death penalty appeals his lawyers would be filing.

I hope the victims and their families will be at peace with the decision that was made.

# 18. 8/8/12 7:12 AM by Volt-aire - Coudersport, Pa.
Civilized retribution can be a bad case of too much, too little, too late??? It is sort of like HOW Timothy McVeigh's execution put an end to violence; right?? And he was at one time a decorated combat veteran; who was executed by the society whom, he once put his life on the line for??? Basically; I don't know too much, but all "this eye for an eye stuff seems to make everyone blind". (Not my quote)

# 19. 8/8/12 7:23 AM by Poplar Beach
I would agree with you if the death sentence was carried out swiftly for the 100% guilty, as it should be.

But there would be appeals, after appeals and his name would be in the headlines for many years before they discovered some gene, or disease that made him do it and commuted his death sentence.

Life without parole and the end of his time in the spotlight now seems okay to me under those circumstances.

I am hoping he is put in the general population so he can be a bendoverbubba for all of the boys, and I hope he needs to use that free healthcare often!

# 20. 8/8/12 7:26 AM by tt - Rochester
While I agree that the SOB deserves a slow and painful death, I think the plea was for the families and the survivors. They clearly were consulted on this, and they don't want to deal with a long trial. This agreement is for them. That said, a guy who deserves to die gets to live. Only God can decide who deserves to die, anyway.

Regarding your comment that this is Obama's fault somehow, that's quite a stretch, however a typical comment. Obama deserves criticism for many things, but not this. Let's be realistic and not sensationalistic.

# 21. 8/8/12 7:29 AM
From what I understand they have more than their share of weirdos at NASA. If someone is standing right next to you they may send an email rather than talking to you. I did not know that the Mars deal was over a billion $ over budget. Maybe if there are more cuts they will improve on the accuracy of their projections. They need to be lean and mean. It was estimated that $20 billion would be the cost of landing men on the moon and that was overrun several fold. My business had NASA contracts and it was a joke how much they wasted and overspent to constantly try reinventing the wheel. I don't know which is worse, welfare or NASA. Privatization is already reaping huge cost benefits, but it's a sure thing that that too will turn out to be a big scam on the taxpayers. It all still goes back to your friends the politicians.

# 22. 8/8/12 7:38 AM by Boiler Bill - Greece
Instead of these whiney folks talking and now again trying to get a gun control(don't you just love the word CONTROL?)law passed through congress,why not simply bring back the death sentence? Oh my! poor insensitive me!! Let's stop cuddleling up yo these thugs,their attorneys and the touchy,feely good folks.I say that if you bring the death sentence back and give the criminal a one shot appeal within five years of the crime and then the needle follows within 6 months of appeal,that you will see a decrease in the all out murder rate in this country.And I don't want to hear the BS about it's more expensive to execute than keeping criminals in a lock down prison.Who in hell ever started that reasoning anyways?I know this will not eliminate all murders,only a fool would make such a statement,but I will bet that more than a few wanna be killers will begin to think that their life just might be worth the taking of another humans life.

# 23. 8/8/12 7:47 AM by Optimist - WayWayOut
If he ever gets out of solitary, some fellow lifer will kill him for us. Maybe someone will figure out a way to get to him in solitary. They all have plenty of time on their hands, maybe somebody will get real creative about it.

Look at it this way - he has now been sentenced to die a thousand deaths or more - every day! If I was in his shoes, killing myself would be the only way out.

# 24. 8/8/12 7:49 AM by Angela - Geneva, NY
There is a special place in hell reserved for the dingbat who first came up with the idea of the plea bargain and every prosecutor who ever agreed to it. Defense attorneys are different that is their job. The job of the prosecutor is to act in behalf of the victim and get the longest possible sentence.

It is one thing if the evidence really is weak, or the victims and witnesses really are reluctant to testify. You can't tell me that no one in that crowd was willing to testify when they have all been on TV talking about what happened. You can't say the evidence is weak because they took him down gun in hand.

No this isn't about justice this is about prosecutorial laziness pure and simple. They can get a check in the win column, get good publicity about how much money they are saving and not do any real work

# 25. 8/8/12 7:54 AM by Tom Dey - Springwater, NY
As part of his convoluted deal - he voiced confirmation that he thoughtfully and intentionally decided to kill each. And regrets that Gifford survived - "[...shouldn't have, given my proximity and accuracy.] Somehow this precludes the death penalty and assures life (as in living more decades instead of being executed). I guess only a smart lawyer or judge can explain that. Or maybe nonsense simply makes no sense. Give it a few years and we will see him providing thoughtful, philosophical interviews. And voyeurs expressing amazement on how well rehab works and what a nice guy he has become … “maybe “without possibility of parole” is too harsh….”

# 26. 8/8/12 8:19 AM by OldVietVet - Rochester, NY
Yea! But, the B. Hussein Obama regime is a happy bystander only to the ongoing mess called the "criminal justice system"-unless they are obliged to intervene where a threat of real justice is practically imminent- the guilty-gitmo "detainees" for example. Justice Scalia, appearing on Chris Wallace Fox Sun. morning news, restated the constitutional mandate, and the views of the majority when he addressed capital punishment, saying there was nothing "cruel or unusual" about it. And that the constituition must be taken for what is written there,and the concerns of those men in the 18th century, and not tinkered with for what we'd like it to be for current events(my words of what he said, not his verbatim)Scalia seems to have more brains in his head than 100 lawyers put togeather, and the criminal justice system needs a big overhall-which would include firing up 'old Sparky" for the trashcan murderers in our society-like Lauglin, or whatever the name of that particular sh*t heap.

# 27. 8/8/12 8:28 AM by tom - penfield, ny
This reminded of the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman case for some reason. What ever happened to that? It has been too quiet for too long. I guess when a society descends into anarchy and financial ruin these type of events will increase.

# 28. 8/8/12 8:36 AM by Tom Dey - Springwater, NY
Heard your NASA/Mars commentary. Got a good laugh 'cause I'm involved in such programs and rank only moon & back as extraordinary, unique American space achievement. Yet this Mars rover is complex and cool. And just might discover evidence of life over there. I still think Commie China will go to Mars...and plant a flag... "One small step for [a] man; a giant leap for China." We will congratulate them for their (extraordinary) achievement.

# 29. 8/8/12 8:42 AM by Jodi - Wayne County East
The bleeding hearts are every reason why we are currently in the disastorous social and fiscal state of the nation they have created.

# 30. 8/8/12 8:55 AM by GHF - ^%$#chester, NY
No Bob, you're wrong again. It's not about who they are, but about who we are. Teh death penalty is un abommination!! We r all beings of light!

But seriously. I think we should really pay to keep this turd alive. It's really not his fault he's a nut case ... we just need t0 ... reach ouuuut to him somehow ... perhaps in time he wull see teh errors of his ways.

Or, tomorrow say, put him up against a wall and have a few guys pump him full of lead. Then dispose of him in the nearest crematorium.

In other words, what is this person doing still breathing our air?

# 31. 8/8/12 9:12 AM by Wendy - Fairport
How is it possible to be "pro life", "anti- abortion", and support the death penalty at the same time?

Editor's Note: read the bible, it'll explain it to you. unborn children are innocent and undeserving of their fate. murderers are not innocent, and have earned their fate. dumbass.

# 32. 8/8/12 9:12 AM
If we were to encourage gun ownership, perhaps less tragedies would take place.

# 33. 8/8/12 9:18 AM by alexander - upstate ny usa
seems when the murderers that take their own life or are killed by our protectors fulfill our justice needs. while our justice "system" fails to do what its supposed to do.

# 34. 8/8/12 9:27 AM by Heather - Letchworth
States with the death penalty have higher murder rates than states without. The Death Penalty does not work as a deterrent at all.

Editor's Note: who said it did? it does, however, work as a punishment.

# 35. 8/8/12 9:27 AM
Good God, you death penalty supporters sound as crazy as Loughner himself.

# 36. 8/8/12 9:27 AM by Matt - Rochester, NY
"Thou Shall Not Kill"

Pretty clear cut in the eyes of God. Oh yeah, you just support what God says when it suits your needs? How does God punish those who kill? How does he punish those who kill the killers?

Just saying...

But for my own selfish reasons I agree---this guy should be put down. But really? You blame this on the Obama Administration? What don't you blame on him?

Editor's Note: in hebrew it's "thou shalt not murder." read exodus 20, where it says thou shalt not kill, then turn the page and read a long list of crimes for which the death penalty is decreed

# 37. 8/8/12 9:27 AM by C - Rochester
I love the liberal morons who say he's sick,he didn't know what he was doing, etc,etc. This guy should not be alive anymore. He does not belong walking the planet with the rest of us. HE'S A KILLER!!!! Nobody can cure this idiot. Keeping him in prison is a waste of taxpayers hard earned money. Bury him.

# 38. 8/8/12 9:29 AM
Guess I wasn't surprised that with your viewpoint toward the 2nd Amendment that you would completely gloss over the horror in Wisconsin where a right wing white supremacist slaughtered Seven people practicing their faith in what should have been a peaceful setting. Then again, if you had expressed outrage, you might be obligated to urge concealed carry into places of worship......as long as the congregation is comprised of white people eh? Instead you write some BS about a NY political race that you're only a quarters worth excited about. Shame on you Bob.

# 39. 8/8/12 9:33 AM by Tony - Gates
The families of the victims beg to differ with you. They are largely satisfied with the plea deal. But hey, if you think you know better than them...

# 40. 8/8/12 9:41 AM by Carol - Pittsford
Don't You just love these GOP'er who spend 1/2 their time talking about Jesus? ..and then spend the other 1/2 on how to Kill People, I don't recollect a Bible verse where Jesus was for the Death Penalty or War.. "Do Un To Others.."

# 41. 8/8/12 9:44 AM by Michael - Las Vegas
He, and his kindred spirit in Colorado, should have met the same fate as the Sikh shooter.

# 42. 8/8/12 10:22 AM
Would the families have been happier with a Not Guilty By Reason Of Mental Defect verdict? Life without parole is a tougher sentence than John Hinckley received for trying to kill Reagan. Hinckley could theoretically be released any time; Loughner cannot.

Only in your twisted mind is anything other than the death penalty considered a "slap on the wrist."

# 43. 8/8/12 10:28 AM by john - rochester
As insensitive as it sounds, victims' opinions and desires are irrelevant when trying to achieve justice. If prosecutors and judges just follow the law and ignore all else, justice can be served.

# 44. 8/8/12 10:31 AM by al - roch
Building on St Paul was Superva Kravats... they made neck ties..there for years. Then it was turned into Artist studios... still many of them there still. Also was Pike Stained Glass for years..don't know if still there

# 45. 8/8/12 10:38 AM by Scott - Henrietta, New York
I strongly believe in the death penalty as a good thing. If you are going to execute someone, do it quickly. Don't screw around for years and years.

However, as one commenter already said, if there is a question of mental illness, then the death penalty would not be appropriate.

As another commenter pointed out, the legal and court costs of attempting to carry out the death penalty for Jared Lee Loughner would far exceed the costs of warehousing him in the system for the next 60 years.

With all the motions, appeals, court appearances, the multiple attorneys, the taxpayers would be paying for, Jared's execution would cost us millions of dollars.

In addition, the cost of housing a death row inmate is 3 to 4 times more expensive than an inmate in general population.

It would be 10 to 15 years before Jared saw that needle.

If Jared is so loony tunes and so dangerous, put him in solitary confinement for the rest of his life, with no visitors, TV, or contact with other inmates.

When Jared realizes that his entire life will be lived alone in a 6 foot by 10-foot cell, then the punishment will begin.

Maybe then, HE will ask for the needle. And, I'll volunteer to give it to him.

# 46. 8/8/12 10:46 AM by Su-z
Guess I have to say I'm rather pleased with the sentence. We are spared a lengthy, expensive trial (at taxpayer expense) and hours upon hours of babbling nonsense from the talking heads on TV about this what's-his name. IF he were to go ever go to trial and IF a jury were to convict him of pre-meditated murder and IF he were given the death penalty (and not the nut house where he'd probably be out wandering around in a few years like the guy who shot Reagan), how many years would it be before he were executed? How much money would be spent on endless appeals? And the taxpayer foots the bill! And we'd have to see all the marches and protests about injustice, etc, etc, etc. This way what's-his-name goes to jail where's there are probably a few inmates eagerly awaiting his arrival and who have their own way of dealing with justice, especially when they see the face of the innocent little girl who was gunned down. And maybe this what's-his-name will find justice like that other what's-his-name who killed and ate all those little kids and ended up with his head in a toilet. I think the taxpayer got a bargain on this one.

# 47. 8/8/12 10:51 AM by Earl
On March 30, 1981, John Hinckley Jr. shot President Reagan, press secretary James Brady, police officer Thomas Delahanty, and Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy.

Although all of the victims survived, Brady endured a long recuperation period and remains paralyzed on the left side of his body.

When the case went to trial, Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity. He was confined at St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, D.C.

In 2009, a Federal judge ruled that Hinckley could have a driver's license and could leave the hospital to see his mother for a dozen visits per year, for up to ten days at a time. Hinckley was granted additional family visits in May 2011.

With this in mind, Bob, do you prefer the outcome of the Hinckley case to the outcome of the Loughner case?

# 48. 8/8/12 11:04 AM by Walt - Buford, WY
He should have gotten the death penalty. The death penalty should be reserved for particularly heinous acts and this was one!

I just hope he gets it in the end...(over and over again!).

# 49. 8/8/12 12:16 PM by William
# 26. 8/8/12 8:19 AM by OldVietVet - Rochester, NY Yea! But, the B. Hussein Obama regime is a happy bystander only to the ongoing mess called the "criminal justice system"-unless they are obliged to intervene where a threat of real justice is practically imminent- the guilty-gitmo "detainees" for example.

Hey Dickweed - get over it. He is an American just like you, no let me rephrase that, he is BETTER than you, smarter, better educated, did I mention smarter, has a career, does something with his life, oh yea, did I mention smarter???

I'm a Viet-nam vet also, so get over that too. Stop thinking just because our President has skin of a different color than yours that he isn't an AMERICAN. He is more AMERICAN than the Mormon guy that will be running against him.

I can never understand how a millionaire who wants to raise taxes on the poor and middle class to offest the tax breaks for his millionaire/billionaire friends attracts votes from anyone who isn't filthy rich. Oh, yea, it is beacuse the bastard is WHITE. Right?

# 50. 8/8/12 12:26 PM by Roy - Brigham City, UT
Life in prison, without the possibility of parole IS A DEATH SENTENCE. In both cases, life in prison or the death penalty, you remain incarcerated until you die. The only difference is how long one will be a drain on the tax payers. Personally, I'd prefer the more economically sound choice.

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