Althouse: "And what defense attorneys and prosecutors actually will be doing is fighting the penalty phase ahead of time — using every opportunity to push on the jury their own views of who Tsarnaev was."

March 4, 2015

"And what defense attorneys and prosecutors actually will be doing is fighting the penalty phase ahead of time — using every opportunity to push on the jury their own views of who Tsarnaev was."

"For the defense, that’s a likeable innocent kid who was led astray, and deserves to live. For the prosecution, that’s a cold-blooded, murderous jihadi who should be put to death."

19 comments:

Jane the Actuary said...: Here is my current pet peeve: the use of the term "radicalized" in the passive voice. "Jihadi John was radicalized by . . .", well, someone else.

It makes it all too easy to portray these Islamist fighters' actions as somehow out of their control.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/janetheactuary/2015/03/can-we-stop-using-the-word-radicalize-in-the-passive-voice.html; 3/4/15, 7:03 AM
Rusty said...: Um. I'm going with option two.; 3/4/15, 7:04 AM
Curious George said...: Hey Tsarnaev, you little fuck, it's "Virgin Time!"; 3/4/15, 7:54 AM
Bryan C said...: Poor little lambs who have lost their way
Baa, baa, baa
Little black sheep who have gone astray
Baa, baa, baa

Likeable innocents off on a spree
Doomed from here to eternity
Jury, have mercy on such as he
Baa, baa, baaaaa; 3/4/15, 8:15 AM
chickelit said...: I'm surprised that MA still has the death penalty. I am also dismayed that we will have to revisit his being anointed with erotic sympathy. Those people out there are susceptible to that.; 3/4/15, 8:16 AM
chickelit said...: Jane the Actuary said...
Here is my current pet peeve: the use of the term "radicalized" in the passive voice. "Jihadi John was radicalized by . . .", well, someone else.

Excellent point, Jane. Brava!; 3/4/15, 8:18 AM
Brando said...: There should be some sort of punishment just for that haircut.; 3/4/15, 8:22 AM
Sebastian said...: "Led astray" by -- what was it again?; 3/4/15, 8:38 AM
Big Mike said...: People buried deep in the US prison system can't be exalted as martyrs.

On the other hand, people who are still alive can be pardoned by flakey politicians (e.g., the way that the man who attempted to assassinate Truman was pardoned by Carter).

Give the kid his virgins.; 3/4/15, 8:41 AM
Mick said...: Tsaranov brothers were patsies. When there is one lie the whole thing is a lie. Why did the FBI initially issue a question as to who they were when they already knew who they were? (they had to admit it to Tsaranov's mother-- look it up). the best effort was made to kill them, but the younger one lived, and is being railroaded.
Why was Blackrock there? why were there "drills" in the immediate area? Why did they ill an associate of the Tsaranovs when he was already in FBI custody?; 3/4/15, 8:53 AM
Michael K said...: "the younger one lived, and is being railroaded."

Jihadi Mick speaks up.; 3/4/15, 9:20 AM
Jane the Actuary said...: Speaking of the death penalty, the report the other day was that prosecutors are seeking it against the Chapel Hill shooter, who has already confessed to the crime.

Seems almost unsporting. Does the man really have any sort of defense? A troubled childhood, perhaps? Ordinarily he could plea bargain to at least save his hide, but there's not much leverage when he's already confessed, is there?

Seems he'd almost have a better chance if it was a "hate crime" -- "I was radicalized and unwillingly brought to this state by so-and-so on the internet."; 3/4/15, 9:38 AM
jr565 said...: Darth Vader used to be cute Annikin Skywalker,mor Ani as his friends like to call him. But he was led astray by the dark side of the force. He then went on to destroy the Jedi temple. And kill all the Jedi kids not to mention any others who got in his way, once down that road he can't come back. Even if he was led astray by the evil emperor he was still acting as Darth Vader.
of course in the Jedi universe you can redeem yourself by lpkilling the emperor to protect your son. All then is forgiven. Including destroying whole planets. Because your protected your own son.
And whn you are redeemed you get tocome back in spirit form as your younger self before you were evil.

This won't happane to tsarnaev though as he doesn't posses the mitochloriduans in his blood and hasn't trianed as a Jedi.

Roundabout way of saying, he may have been led astray, but so what? He let himself be led astray. He deserves whateve punishment comes his way.; 3/4/15, 9:54 AM
jr565 said...: One mans being led astray is another mans being lead on course. For him his beign led astray was in fact him finding his authentic self. Let's respect his choices as a man. And then execute him for his actions.

I'm ok by the way if the execution involves a suicide vest and if we direct him in the direction of some ISIS members. (It would require him to travel overseas of course). There's no reason why his death can't be a teachable moment for others also led astray.; 3/4/15, 10:01 AM
SGT Ted said...: SO, the defense is claiming he isn't responsible for his actions due to other peoples words.

Yea, that'll work.; 3/4/15, 10:23 AM
mccullough said...: The guy ran over his brother with a car and left him to die.

That's who he is. Nothing redeemable about that.; 3/4/15, 10:28 AM
Jason said...: The poor darling.; 3/4/15, 11:05 AM
Jason said...: Looks like Barney Frank and friends think he's cute. Would have made a fine little rent boy.; 3/4/15, 11:06 AM
Mark Caplan said...: The new word for intentionally carrying out a cold-blooded, heinous crime is "mistake." Maybe Dzhokhar did make a mistake. But who can stand up and honestly aver he never made a mistake?; 3/4/15, 11:28 AM