Should Treason be punishable by death?

[coloradodem2005]

What someone said in another post about the punishment for treason makes me wonder. What do you think?

[mike_c]

1. nothing should be punishable by death....

eom

[Jersey Ginny]

6. Maybe a lifetime of daily waterboarding?

It would be like surfing fun at the beach but just in prison. 3 good meals also!

[jillan]

7. I hate to say this..but I agree

I don't want death, just a life sentence

[TahitiNut]

11. Agreed.

If the Bushoilinis have their way, treason may be an honorable act -- like treason against the Third Reich.

[tuvor]

2. What does ann coulter say?

After all, she wrote the book.

[evlbstrd]

3. Should it? It is.

Especially when it's committed by a high government official. Normally, I'm anti-death penalty, but the Plame leak caused many deaths and unknown damage to national security.

[wli]

4. I'm the one who said it.

I actually don't believe it should be punished by death in most cases, but in the case of usurpers behind which e.g. rebellions rally, it's one of the only effective ways to suppress their false claims to legitimate leadership, so it's necessary to keep it as an option to maintain the integrity of the state. This is actually true of no other crime, not even murder, war crimes, or crimes against humanity.

[UTUSN]

5. Well----------DUH --------Yeah, Treason's Got WINGNUT Written All OVER It

[Cha]

8. I think a life imprisonment

in the dungeon to let them reflect on their treason would be a just punishment.

If Fitzgerald busts rove for the CIA agent outting..it won't be his only crime of treason. What about, along with the whole bushgang, lying to the American people about going to war on another country?

Isn't that treason?

[IChing]

9. DEATH is too permanent in this life, I would rather have them have

a long, long life in prison.

[Minstrel Boy]

10. In this climate, any dissenter who says Yes

is fucking nuts.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. Remember, to some RW politicians, a lot of us are "traitors".

Not to mention a whole raft of beer swillin' rednecks who'd just love put ropes around our necks to a chorus of "God Bless Amurka".

[unrepuke]

13. I think a free lifetime vacation on a secure tropical island,

with great food, such as, oh...let's say chicken 3 times a week, accompanied by all their friends, no newspapers or phones to bother with, no pesky lawyer types around, no media meddlers, better living conditions than most 3rd world countries, and maybe an exercise hour every day outdoors, with armed protective services.

...and partay, :party: partay on!


On the other hand - if one of those types has sent 150 or so people to their death, well, we know he's not opposed to that option.

[longship]

14. Nothing should be punishable by death.

nt

[The Mafia Squirrel]

16. This is a little off topic here

but I disagree that nothing should be punishable by death. Partly because I'm an atheist and I don't think there's a greater retribution waiting, some crimes are just too heinous to forgive. I live in Idaho and it's big news here about those two poor little kids who watched a convicted sex offender kill 3 of their family members and then disappear with them into the woods for six weeks. One of those children never made it back alive. The man responsible deserves to die, to have a final, unwavering day hanging over his head in capital "J" Judgement. Other crimes stand out as well, John Wayne Gacy, Richard Ramirez, those at Nuremburg, etc. I don't think Rove reaches the appropriate level but I would consider those who authorized the sale and use of chemical weapons to a man who used them on his own people or who gave the green light to Death Squads in Nicaragua and El Salvador. Death is a high price and one not to meted out carelessly, but there are times when it does need to be paid.

[Rich Hunt]

17. well...

That man in Idaho hasn't been tried yet, so...

I guess I'm against the death penalty, but I have doubts when it comes to treason. I guess the only reason I'd be opposed to it would be that there is always the possibility of being wrong.

[The Mafia Squirrel]

19. there is always the possibility of being wrong.

as far as this is concerned, I agree completely, we should get away from the notion in our justice system that if you can't pay your way out or worse, are innocent and unable to count on legal counsel to prove it then you are out of luck and who know how many more times likely to face execution. Crimes of passion shouldn't be capital cases, people make horrific mistakes when heated and should pay but many are capable of remorse. But there are some crimes that are calculated, cold-blooded and brutal, where guilt is concrete and undeniable, either by DNA, confession, eye witnesses, preferably a combination. In those cases and for certain crimes, I think the death penalty is justified.

As far as the man in Idaho, Duncan, there is a case of VERY little doubt that he didn't commit four counts of murder, two counts of kidnapping and child molestation. I'm not advocating stringing him up lynch mob style, but try him, let the facts come out. If he is found guilty, beyond the shadow of a doubt, then let the punishment fit the crime.

[Dragonfli]

15. It already Is, Under Certain Circumstances

That being said, I just can't support killing as a means of retribution.
Deserved yes, correct answer, no.
IMHO.

Besides, sometimes living in shame and without freedom (maybe even under the threat of rape) could end up providing more actual punishment in the END.
edited to say "pun intended!"

[col_klink]

18. "Should" is a big word

The U.S. constitution does allow the death penalty for treason, but also makes treason a very difficult crime to prosecute. The framers of the constitution were quite aware of how the charge had been used by European monarchs to silence politcal dissent. They wished to avoid that here and it a charge difficult to prove. Since 1788, I think there have only been something 40 treason trials, most of which did not stick.