Just Kidding

The mayor of Graz, Austria blinks first.

VIENNA, Austria - The mayor of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Austrian hometown on Tuesday begged the California governor to reconsider his decision to cut ties to the city after locals assailed him for his death penalty stance.

Siegfried Nagl, mayor of the southern city of Graz, said he wrote Schwarzenegger pleading with him not to return a ring of honor bestowed on him by officials in his birthplace in 1999 and reassuring him that most residents still admire him. [SNIP]

[Arnold's] demands effectively pre-empted a drive launched by opponents in Austria who already were gathering signatures on a petition calling for the 15,300-seat arena in Graz, about 120 miles south of Vienna, to be renamed.

The petition drive began last week amid a furor triggered by the execution in California of Stanley Tookie Williams. Capital punishment is illegal in Europe, where many people consider it barbaric. They are now waiting to see how Schwarzenegger deals with the scheduled Jan. 17 execution of a 75-year-old inmate.

The backpedaling is swift, no? But you know and I know that money often speaks louder than principle. Arnold kept his principles. Graz officials, not so much.

Comments

[tully]

I wonder how quick the noisy politicians will be contacted by merchants involved in the tourism industry....

[brian]

HA!
If only more of our politicians had this kind of backbone. Wait until their tourist income shrinks to the size of Harry Reids' calf muscle. I bet their concern for "Tookie" is all but forgotten now. Arnold is a great American!

[Billy]

A couple of points to raise I'm afraid.
First, there is no show of backpedalling, unless you got it from somewhere else. I can't see even a suggestion that the mayor begging him to reconsider was one of those who was aginst Arnie. I imagine (and can't find anything to contradict this view)that the people who asked for the removal of his name etc. are happy with the outcome. They got the severance they wanted, and given that it was based on an issue which carries so much ideological weight, they are unlikely to be swayed by the loss of links to an old movie star (can't bring myself to call him an actor).

Secondly. Brian, do you really think that tourists go to Graz to see a stadium with his name on? Would you go to the trouble of travelling to another country to see a stadium, just because it has someone's name on it? This won't affect their tourist dollars one tiny, little bit.

And one more thing. Speaking as a European, I can tell you that the general attitude to this issue is not one of feeling sorry for Tookie, but of objecting to countries who kill their own citizens. We see that as barbaric and backward.

[Michael]

Billy

Thank you for clearing that up

[birdwoman]

Good points, Billy. Very well written rebuttal.

We disagree on the point of capital punishment, though.

(*)>

[Maggie45]

I'm thinking that the people who started this were looking forward to weeks, if not months, of publicity out of this. Arnold took the wind right out of their sails. Good for him.

[beautifulatrocities]

Not that the citizens of Austria have any say in whether their country implements the death penalty or not. Those sophisticated Euros!

[Toren]

So, Billy, what do you think about the suggestion by the antis to name the stadium after Tookie instead of Arnold?
If I may quote: "Those sophisticated Euros!"

[sk]

"Speaking as a European, I can tell you that the general attitude to this issue is not one of feeling sorry for Tookie, but of objecting to countries who kill their own citizens. We see that as barbaric and backward."

Anyone who disobeys the law by murdering a fellow citizen throws away their own citizenship, their rights, and their humanity. Which is why many of us refer to them as "goblins" rather than humans or criminals.

[Skinner]

Why didnt any of youre "Highly
Civilized " Europeans appoint
some designated "goblins "
To get Hitler in tune to the Euro-mode 50 years ago when it mattered as much as it does now.
I got it The barbaric americs and allies can fight youre war again but we dont kill anyone we catch them and tatoo a big globlin
carcature on their forearms That'll teach-em

[Skinner]

Euff I levenz ot za smalst details Afrenz we totoos za golbins en za foreawmenz en der terrorinzkers, mach snell, en der campenz for de nic shwers mit der teethin oofins un za vunderbol oxercizin mit der grafen chuvelz.

[Casey Tompkins]

Actually, all the ultra-sophisticated Euros let their grandparents die of heatstroke while they ignore ethnic cleansing in the Balkans, or random acts of anti-semitic terrorism.

In fact, the truly civilized Euros carp about the evil which is Israel while sending money to Hezbolla, or terrorist groups in Iraq so they can kill American and Brit servicemen. This assauges their (barely developed) concience while third-generation Euro-born Muslim teens riot because they're third-class citizens.

Finally we have the German leaders of kultur who equate "life without parole" (instead of our nasssty death penalty) to "twenty years with time off for good behavior" for terrorists who torture, then murder American servicemen.

[Mike in Colorado]

Ah yes, those sophisticated Europeans. The same ones who killed millions just 50 years ago; the same ones who let more millions die in Africa in the present without lifting a finger. Those same people who won't spend much more than a dime on defense, yet will again expect the "barbarians" from the US to come and pull their sorry asses out of the fire when it threatens to consume them. They have no stomach and no backbone; no muscle and no guts. Just mouth and hot air.

[pst314]

"Speaking as a European, I can tell you that the general attitude to this issue is not one of feeling sorry for Tookie, but of objecting to countries who kill their own citizens. We see that as barbaric and backward."

In point of fact, a large fraction of Europeans who are okay with the death penalty. Not that you'd ever find that out by reading the words of Europe's journalists and academics and political elites.

As for "barbaric and backward", well, that pretty much sums up my attitude toward Europe's fellatory attitude toward Arab-Muslim tyrants and terrorists.

[teacat]

"Speaking as a European, I can tell you that the general attitude to this issue is not one of feeling sorry for Tookie, but of objecting to countries who kill their own citizens. We see that as barbaric and backward."

Some of us object to citizens killing their fellow citizens and find THAT activity barbaric and backward. Encouraging his followers to do likewise was callous amd inhumane. No one of that mindset is going to read his "book". The unrepentant Stanley Williams will not get another chance to kill another human being, even a fellow inmate this time. The Governor upheld the law.

Pity his victims.

A practice isn't "barbaric" simply because an opponent so labels it. To my mind, a legal execution, carried out clinically under the rule of law, including an appeals process that stretches for decades, is not barbaric.

Further, murder is barbaric. I care little for anyone so bloodless and detached that they will not countenance the propriety of execution for the most heinous verminous criminals. It's fine to stand on principle and if it makes you feel superior, so be it. I want a society that cares enough about me to provide protection, and failing that, to exact retribution.

Finally, given the tendencies of European governments over the past, oh, length of recorded history to abuse their subjects I consider it reasonable that Europeans would not want capital punishment on the table. What I do not consider reasonable is many Europeans' childlike faith in their government's incorruptability and reliabilty in meeting their daily needs. Nor do I find it reasonable for Europeans to lecture us on our shortcomings.

But then I don't ask alcoholics and junkies for advice on clean living, either.

[Skinner]

If our country Enacted the death penalty with expediency.
..... I have every faith
that it would be only to those
that have overwhelming ,evidence
of guilt, and confessions, against them , We have so much scrutiny now That ,the likelyhood
of Mistakes is zilch. Look how long it takes for admiited killers to fry and how many escape , what they deserve.
I have no doubts that the death
penalty Is a major detterent But ,I dont care so much eccept for the fact that JUSTICE IS SERVED. I would be the first one to test this theory By executing every killer on death row { thats been sitting there for 7 to 30 years} , On the gravy train. Execute them.... then replace the next generation of murderous perverts etc. and put them in there old cells . Leave the writings on the wall and Let them Know They're next over and over CULLS NEED TO BE CULLED
and ...especially more room is needed for child molestors who are let out early and repeat
to find theyre final resting place . I also think more room should be made for the parole people and social workers who let these SCUM OUT This wont stop until accountabillity is prosecuted

[Skinner]

I just had to add comments to my last comment First off
I know that some states Have policeman and good ole boy, asshole detectives with less integerty than GOD gave a carp
but They are on there way OUT
With 911 this shit in our, NEW FUTURE, will not FLY . These bastards will have to Relearn or dissappear to Wallmart { always capitolise wallmart] . The point
Is Its gotta get better and quicker Otherwise we have Half our society in prison for traffic infractions. and the rest of our soceity ..... Brocken down in these fractions . 1/4 legal americans that provide an actuall
service 1/2 government employees
who push papers ,harrass the
actual workers, produce nothing,
enable illeagals. 1/4 Newly arrived illeagals who take jobs
that are supposedly unwanted but needed for the leagals to pay the ever increasing taxes needed for the gov workers to keep free loading, get free health ins. { the legals cant get] , bring in tons of meth for El Presidente FOX the most corrupt bastard in Mex. so far. DO I have a war against Illeagal MEXICANS ?
REMEMBER THE ALAMO

P.S. for all you asholes wanting to call me a racist My mother was born In zaragosa MEX and naturalized legally HELL THEY EVEN MADE HER LEARN ENGLISH

[pst314]

According to this column over 70 percent of Austrians supported Schwarzenegger removing his name from the stadium, and that one "human rights" group, the Association of Christianity and Social Democracy, proposed that the stadium be named after Williams.

So there you have it: Europe's elites continue to dishonestly portray themselves as the voice of the people, doing what they can to keep dissenting opinions out of the news and especially out of politics, while they go on with the important business of demonizing America for having more sense than they ever had or ever will have.

Oh and by the way Billy, don't bother to recommend life imprisonment as a practical alternative. Germany's recent release to Lebanon of a terrorist murderer reminds us once again just how useful that policy is. (Ever since the Achille Lauro hijacking Europe's craven lack of principles or intelligence has been obvious.) Perhaps instead of building giant paper-mache floats depicting Uncle Same performing various sexual acts, you should instead have them depict the European left's fellatory attitude towards Arab fascists and thugs.

[pst314]

Oops missed a sentence:

Do I repeat myself? Well, yes: European progressives seem to be so subtle and nuanced that you have to beat them over the head to get them to understand anything. And considering how they continue to treat Middle Eastern thugs, well, even a bombing seems to be insufficient.