Althouse: "I'm going home. I'm going home... Don't worry about me."

September 21, 2012

"I'm going home. I'm going home... Don't worry about me."

"I'll be alright. God bless, and the Texas Rangers, Texas Rangers."

The condemned man's last words.

71 comments:

God, An Original A-hole said...: YAY, DEATH!

Isn't that right, Professor?; 9/21/12, 7:29 PM
James Pawlak said...: Did he know right from wrong. That is still the best test of legal competence in criminal matters. Various jurisdictions have tried other standards and have found them inferior.; 9/21/12, 7:37 PM
Sam vfm #111 said...: What a shame that it took 12 years to do it.; 9/21/12, 7:38 PM
wyo sis said...: God knows that death is not the worst thing that can happen to a person.
Isn't that right original a-hole?; 9/21/12, 7:44 PM
God, An Original A-hole said...: @wyo sis-

...death is not the worst thing that can happen to a person...

No? Care to explain, dear sis?; 9/21/12, 7:49 PM
SteveR said...: He lived long to actually want to root for the Rangers, many have died a natural death before they even made the playoffs.; 9/21/12, 7:52 PM
bagoh20 said...: "...death is not the worst thing that can happen to a person...

No? Care to explain, dear sis?"

Living as a Rangers fan. His crime may have actually been a cry for mercy.; 9/21/12, 7:56 PM
Clyde said...: He was a confessed cold-blooded murderer. Good for Texas. And comparatively speaking, "only" twelve years is relatively swift justice. Some states have convicts languishing on death row for decades.; 9/21/12, 7:56 PM
bagoh20 said...: "I'm going Home."

Did someone actually tell him that. because that would be a pretty cruel joke. "Right this way sir, your limo is waiting. May I take you hat for you?"; 9/21/12, 7:59 PM
David said...: Harris had been fired from his job at a car wash on March 19. Though he owned a car, he borrowed a demo from a friend who worked at a car dealer. He also sought out and borrowed a gun.

He was up early the next morning:

On Monday, March 20[th], [Harris] returned to the car wash in the borrowed car at 7:15 a.m., before it opened for business. [Harris] forced the manager, Dennis Lee, assistant manager, Agustin Villaseñor, and cashier, Rhoda Wheeler, into the office. He instructed Wheeler to open the safe, which contained the cash receipts from the weekend. Wheeler complied and gave him the cash. [Harris] then forced all three victims to the floor and shot each of them in the back of the head at close range. He also slit Lee's throat.
Before [Harris] could leave, three other employees arrived for work unaware of the danger. [Harris] forced them to kneel on the floor of the lobby area and shot each of them in the back of the head from close range. One of the victims survived with permanent disabilities.

Summary language from Harris v. Thayer, in which his appeal was denied.; 9/21/12, 8:00 PM
God, An Original A-hole said...: @ David -

That's some terrible Death. Definitely the worst that could happen to those poor souls.; 9/21/12, 8:05 PM
buster said...: The deaths he caused are a terrible thing. And his own death is just as terrible a thing.; 9/21/12, 8:20 PM
Tim said...: As a S.F. Giants fan, I'll always be grateful for
the 2010 World Series Game 5: Twenty-Seven Outs.

"So good."

So true.; 9/21/12, 8:20 PM
edutcher said...: Did he know home was going to be so hot?; 9/21/12, 8:21 PM
bagoh20 said...: "The deaths he caused are a terrible thing. And his own death is just as terrible a thing.".

You know what would have been wonderful? Him going first. Or would that just be terrible too?; 9/21/12, 8:25 PM
Tim said...: The Texas Rangers don't figure in this post?

And so my comment doesn't figure in the comments?

What's up with that?

It's TOTALLY on point.

Ranger fan dies before his team wins the World Series.

That's awful for a baseball fan.; 9/21/12, 8:25 PM
Tim said...: Everything in life relates to baseball, and everything in baseball relates to life.

And vice-versa.; 9/21/12, 8:27 PM
Eric said...: Some states have convicts languishing on death row for decades.

Yeah, welcome to California, where death row is where you go to die of old age.; 9/21/12, 8:38 PM
NitneLiun said...: For this man, the last two World Series were worse than death. He received his just punishment long before the needle entered his vein.; 9/21/12, 8:46 PM
Tim said...: Ok, that's twice now.

What gives? It's beginning to piss me off.

Brewers fans, can't acknowledge the Giants winning the World Series against the Texas Rangers?

Packer fans pissed my team went into your house and broke your team?

Touchy, aren't we?

All I'm trying to say is, here's a convicted murderer, on the verge of having justice performed on him, saying something nonsensical about the Texas Rangers, who never saw his team win a World Series, while I can die have witnessed my team, the S.F. Giants, beat his team, the Texas Rangers, in the World Series.

For me, there's both a small bit of irony there, as I feared never seeing my team win the World Series, and justice, in that he died without seeing the same for his team.

And there was a link to a video to the exceptional coolness in the Arlington Ballpark, just so other Althouse readers could enjoy the pleasure.

Oh well.

You people are no fun.

I'm going to finish my Margarita now.

BTW, the perfect recipe is 7 parts Tequila (preferably a Repesado, but whatever), 4 parts Cointreau, 3 parts lime juice, salt on the rim, over ice. NO BLENDER at all.

That's for sorority girls and people like Titus.

Enjoy!; 9/21/12, 8:57 PM
Tim said...: "Yeah, welcome to California, where death row is where you go to die of old age."

So true.

We should have the judges who find every "reason" (as if there were reasons) in the world to not execute these guys provide them room and board.

That, and the convicted murderers' defense attorneys.; 9/21/12, 9:00 PM
God, An Original A-hole said...: @ Tim -

...7 parts Tequila (preferably a Repesado, but whatever)...

No, you fucking gawd-damn motherfucker, it's not fucking "whatever". What are you, a high school sophomore?

Tequila is never "whatever".

LUNAZUL. That is the Tequila you want to get. It is to tequila what Tito's is to vodka. Get it Repesado if you fucking want to... but if you "whatever" Tequila I will fucking smite you!!!

Trust me, I'm God, I fucking know these things.; 9/21/12, 9:03 PM
Anonymous said...: God, don't smite my Timmy, me and him are pals now.; 9/21/12, 9:10 PM
Sorun said...: How do we know he's referring to the baseball team?; 9/21/12, 9:13 PM
XRay said...: For once, I didn't think of baseball.

Though it was incongruous, I imagined, obviously imagined, he was speaking of the "Texas Rangers". You know, the ones who attempt to bring to justice idiots such as Harris.

BTW, idiocy has nothing to do with mentally deficient, though at times they seem conjunctive.

Your post, Professor, seemed to be seeking empathy for Harris. I have none for that asshole. He was very deliberate in his actions.; 9/21/12, 9:16 PM
Tim said...: "Tequila is never "whatever".

LUNAZUL. That is the Tequila you want to get. It is to tequila what Tito's is to vodka. Get it Repesado if you fucking want to... but if you "whatever" Tequila I will fucking smite you!!!

Trust me, I'm God, I fucking know these things."

Dude.

Chill.

Repesado is the way to go.

My "whatever" was dismissing the lesser lights with their pedestrian or show off (there's both, as you know) choices.

So keep your fire and brimstone and pillars of salt in the chiller - unless we need the salt - for now.

Lunazul? Thanks for the reco. What do you think of Siete Leguas?; 9/21/12, 9:17 PM
wyo sis said...: The god that comments on Althouse doesn't know that there is life after death?
If I understand the Bible correctly, in God's perspective (you know, the real God who understands eternity) A human's mortal life span is important, but not the end of life. How we live our mortal lives is very important because it has a lot to do with what happens in the next life.

Murder is not a great way to get a head start on the rest of your eternity. The murdered person moves on in their eternal life, but the murderer has to pay the price of taking God's laws into their own hands.
For believers it's comforting to know there is more than just this life.; 9/21/12, 9:22 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: How do we know he's referring to the baseball team?

Because the object of baseball is to go home.

Don't you remember the Carlin bit?; 9/21/12, 9:25 PM
Tim said...: One more thing: Single Malts are really my thing; other whiskeys, especially the Ryes for Manhattans - followed by Tequilas. Almost no time for Vodka, slightly more for Gin (my wife's spirit of choice) and and then Rum (especially for Dark 'n Stormies) after that.

I know enough about tequilas to go 100% blue agave, and repesado. I won't pay for Patron, and I won't buy Jose Cuervo, even if it were free. There are some good Mexican restaurants in town with Tequila flights at the bar - I'll always try those, just ot expand my tastes.

But tequila can never be any better than fifth, after the Scotch, Irish, Rye, and Bourbon whiskies.

That's just the way it is.; 9/21/12, 9:25 PM
God, An Original A-hole said...: @wyo sis-

Ever have a bad tequila? Even mixed in a Margarita, Timmmmmmmmmaaaayyy-style? It sucks balls.

And it is comforting, for most people in that situation, to know that there is more than just this tequila.; 9/21/12, 9:29 PM
Daniel Fielding said...: Good riddance to bad rubbish. That killer never amounted to anything more than rubbish. Bravo to Texas for actually carring out the richly deserved sentence.; 9/21/12, 9:29 PM
XRay said...: "The deaths he caused are a terrible thing. And his own death is just as terrible a thing."

No it was not. We did him a favor by granting him what he yearned for, as he had consciousness enough to know he was not fit for this earth. But not strength enough to go it alone.; 9/21/12, 9:33 PM
Anonymous said...: Yes Tim, rummmmmm......Mount Gay.; 9/21/12, 9:34 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Why is this newsworthy? He sounds pretty damn guilty to me.; 9/21/12, 9:36 PM
Bob Ellison said...: "I'm going home" is a common theme in song. Ervin Webb, a prisoner several decades ago, sang his version of the theme for Alan Lomax. You can listen to it here. It's a masterpiece.; 9/21/12, 9:39 PM
Synova said...: "They declined to speak with reporters afterward."

I think I could never be a reporter. Can you imagine accosting someone right after they watched the murderer of their loved one killed?

Hey Mary Lou Retton! What are you going to do now that you've won the gold medal?

Fellow I worked with who went up to Bagio to dig bodies from the rubble of an earthquake said every time they thought they found someone the vultures would come with their cameras... while everyone else did truly horrific work.

This makes me think of that.; 9/21/12, 9:43 PM
Tim said...: "Yes Tim, rummmmmm......Mount Gay."

Mount Gay?
I

I prefer this.

But that's because it's the original Rum for Dark 'n Stormies.

Otherwise, unless it's poured over a dessert like a rum cake, not my thing, yet.; 9/21/12, 9:50 PM
Bender said...: the murderer has to pay the price of taking God's laws into their own hands

That is not even the least bit possible. A murderer can NEVER pay the price. And neither can any other sinner.

That's why Jesus has paid this guy's debt for him, taking all of the pain and suffering that he caused upon Himself, taking the cosmic justice that is due him upon Himself, upon His very scourged and crucified flesh.

Was this murderer repentant at the end? Did he accept the redemption offered to him?

Then we can be assured that he is forgiven. He is forgiven even though it may scandalize so many who, when they approach the gates of heaven and see there people who had been on death row, will sniff and turn around and refuse to enter a heaven that would accept murderers and thieves and thugs and all sorts of evildoers who had died with contrition.

There is no sin that is so great that cannot be forgiven . . . except one. And that is the sin of failing to accept the forgiveness that is offered to us freely as an act of love by He who is Love.; 9/21/12, 9:51 PM
Tim said...: "It sucks balls.

I'm a normal guy.

I have no idea what sucking balls tastes like, so I don't know if this is a compliment or complaint.

I've known, over time, women who have sucked balls - I never asked - but they never seemed repulsed; some even did so, repeatedly.

But maybe that was just me.

YMMV.; 9/21/12, 9:55 PM
Tim said...: Amen, Bender. Amen.; 9/21/12, 9:56 PM
Anonymous said...: I've eaten Schweddy Balls.; 9/21/12, 10:04 PM
XRay said...: Now we've reached the surreal, and I, exercising my freedom, bow out.; 9/21/12, 10:05 PM
sakredkow said...: "Let's do it." More concise. Less limiting.; 9/21/12, 10:15 PM
Wally Kalbacken said...: Takin' out the trash.

I've been to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame
and Museum in Waco. If you are a fan of guns, saddles, knives and holsters, this is the place.; 9/21/12, 10:18 PM
wyo sis said...: So, it's confirmed the god that comments on Althouse is a genuine asshole.
Great.
Another commenter to ignore.
Thanks for having an avatar, it makes it easier to skip your stuff.; 9/21/12, 10:24 PM
God, An Original A-hole said...: @wyo sis-

And yet you have no picture!

So SAD!!!! ;-(

Get a fucking picture, bitch! God doth command you!; 9/21/12, 10:45 PM
Cedarford said...: Sometimes a good person dies before they should. Sometimes a truly evil person lives a long healthy life.
Nice we can sometimes help balance the scales.
Though a human lethal injection is nothing close to what the beasts caused others in suffering, so that part of the Grand Scale of Things is always left unbalanced......
Unless, like sometimes in the good old days, a rope breaks, then they have to rehang the asshole the next day, givin him two deaths.; 9/21/12, 10:47 PM
Howard said...: God, you are such a phony. No one who likes Tequila makes margaritas unless there is a woman involved. Tim describes the perfect date margarita. You sound like a Napa wine snob who pays way too much for a bottle of wine.

Tim: will Boch play Melky in the Playoffs? What's your handle on KNBR? You sound like Rafter-Man from Fremont. Am I right?; 9/21/12, 10:52 PM
Howard said...: Wyo Sis

Good Point. Please get an Avatar PDQ.; 9/21/12, 10:53 PM
Howard said...: I can't get wood when a mass murderer dies. It's anti-climatic. Besides, it's too arbitrary who gets the needle. Smacks of revenge and bad luck. Either ALL murder 1 convicts get the needle or none at all. Otherwise, it's affirmative action death penalty.; 9/21/12, 10:59 PM
God, An Original A-hole said...: @Howard the Anatidae -

Surely you are carrying over an inter-specie dispute from another thread. I understand you have an enormous beak, so perhaps the dispute is unavoidable..

"QUACK! QUACK!"

Oh sorry, what was that, Howard?

Henceforth I must address all non-Chordata who might be enticed by the Chinese Dinner's ramblings: The appropriate tequila is necessary even if you are making Margaritas. It is similar to the situation with Vodkas and Screwdrivers-- just use Tito's in that situation and you can't go wrong. Use fucking Mister Boston and even a desperate High School Senior will abandon you.

An off-putting tequila will put even the tequila virgin off. Don't risk it! Be prepared! Always!; 9/21/12, 11:01 PM
Anonymous said...: God don't command my friend Wyo Sis! She outed you as a Mighty Asshole.; 9/21/12, 11:03 PM
Anonymous said...: Now God messes with my buddy Howard!! Don't you have some terrorists to smite?; 9/21/12, 11:05 PM
God, An Original A-hole said...: @oola-

No, don't look elsewhere babe... Your God is right here for you!; 9/21/12, 11:08 PM
Anonymous said...: Yawn..; 9/21/12, 11:16 PM
God, An Original A-hole said...: Okay, get settled in, babe... We've got the whole night!; 9/21/12, 11:31 PM
Tim said...: "Tim: will Boch play Melky in the Playoffs? What's your handle on KNBR? You sound like Rafter-Man from Fremont. Am I right?"

Howard, No, Bochy will not play Melky in the playoffs. Chemistry was magical in '10, it seems to be working its magic since the Melk-man left - no reason to bring him back. Larry Krueger is wrong on this, Gary Radnich is right.

And, sorry, no handle on KNBR - I've never called in to a radio talk show, politics or sports - no salty balty for me! I do wonder what the back story on Ralph Barbieri is though...I sorta hated him - his complaints about Mike Singletary as HC of the 'Niners were factually dead on for his president, Obama - but Singletary actually did something before he became HC; Obama did nothing. But I just wanted his contract to expire. Oh well.

5-1 Giants, going into the bottom of the 7th.; 9/21/12, 11:44 PM
Howard said...: Forgive me Father, for I have sinned.

I'll try Tito's and Lunazul as they are not in the Napa wine train price-range.

I need to remember to google before sneering.; 9/22/12, 12:01 AM
Dante said...: "King or street sweeper, everyone Dances with the Grim Reaper" --Robert Alton Harris, last words.

Following his release he found work, married, and had a son, but in 1975 he was imprisoned for manslaughter; he was paroled in January 1978.

On July 5, 1978, Harris and his younger brother commandeered a car occupied by two 16-year-old boys, ordered them to drive to a remote area, then killed them.

If they were dead, they could not have done these things; 9/22/12, 12:10 AM
Anonymous said...: oola, his nic is not completely inaccurate. Neither god or original, but entirely asshole.

Actually, he looks like some fat elderly perv, Aqualung grown old and tubby. If I saw him sitting on a park bench, I'd certainly draw the kiddies closer.

god in his (undoubtably rich) fantasy life.; 9/22/12, 12:12 AM
Anonymous said...: "Okay, get settled in, babe... We've got the whole night!"

Christ, the addled old perv actually imagines he's attractive! As shiloh would say, lol.; 9/22/12, 12:16 AM
Howard said...: Tim:

I agree with dumping Melky, the lame website did him in. Hard to believe now they ended up with better guys in trade than the effing Dodgers. Marty Lurie had that pegged about the chemistry. Glad Vog is having a good night. He and Mad have been slumping lately. I can't believe Zito has finally turned the corner. Their hitting has been so much better, the loss of Wilson is not a disaster.

I was just jerkin your chain about being a KNBR caller. I never liked Ralph too much, but kind of miss him: Tolbert and Byrnes are too much alike.; 9/22/12, 12:20 AM
Tim said...: "I was just jerkin your chain about being a KNBR caller. I never liked Ralph too much, but kind of miss him: Tolbert and Byrnes are too much alike."

Agreed on Tolbert and Byrnes. Like them both. Together, not so much.

The better pairings might be Byrnes with Brooks at noon, and Fitzgerald with Tolbert at three.

Or vice-versa.

5-1, Giants. Magic number: 2; 9/22/12, 12:24 AM
Anonymous said...: We're talking baseball now?

Frankly, I thought the Brewers were going to get their asses kicked tonight. It's one thing to sweep the Pirates, who have sucked lately and another to play against the Nats and win - in the 9th inning.

Considering the train wreck the Brewers were for most of the season, my only hope was that they would end the season above 500. That they actually have a chance at the wild card amazes me.

I was dubious about the whole 2nd wild card thing - until my team had a shot at it. Lo, it is not such a bad idea after all!; 9/22/12, 12:33 AM
David said...: buster said...
The deaths he caused are a terrible thing. And his own death is just as terrible a thing.

It is one thing to argue that the state should not take a life. But these deaths are equally terrible? Indeed, since Harris killed five people, doesn't your equivalence require that Harris' death be five times more terrible, Buster?

I guess, though, if you can't see the distinction from the undisputed facts, an explanation is not going to convince you.; 9/22/12, 12:45 AM
Tim said...: "I was dubious about the whole 2nd wild card thing - until my team had a shot at it. Lo, it is not such a bad idea after all!"

I don't care for it - but it would be better as a three game series than a one-game "play-in" - too much riding on just one game. The Braves, I think, will likely have a six or so game edge on the second team - but could have a bad match up because of pitching rotation, whatever. Seems less than fair.

NOT that I like the Braves. Far from it.

But that's not the point.; 9/22/12, 12:45 AM
Anonymous said...: "The Braves, I think, will likely have a six or so game edge on the second team - but could have a bad match up because of pitching rotation, whatever"

You're right about that. Even a great pitcher can have a bad night - and a bad night for the pitcher dooms the entire team.

On the other hand, the baseball season is long enough already. I can see not wanting to extend it much further (although I would be happy if I could watch baseball all year long. I love football, but I love, love, love baseball - heresy for a cheesehead, I know.); 9/22/12, 1:22 AM
kentuckyliz said...: Greater love hath no man than this:
than to lay down his life for his favorite baseball team.; 9/22/12, 8:08 AM
ken in tx said...: At one time in the English speaking world, there was a sentence of being hanged until half-dead and then impaled or drawn and quartered (pulled apart by horses). This is why the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishments was put in our constitution. It is also why many sentences after that were styled as ‘hanged until dead’. It was considered a humanitarian measure.; 9/22/12, 1:24 PM
ken in tx said...: Kentuckyliz, are you showing your butt. It's a nice butt, but its not normally what we do here.; 9/22/12, 1:32 PM
MarkD said...: I'm going to not worry about him. It's the least I can do.; 9/23/12, 8:13 AM