Schwarzenegger Doesn't Blink

from SFGate, the website of the San Francisco Chronicle:

"Without an apology and atonement for these senseless and brutal killings, there can be no redemption,'' the governor wrote. "In this case, the one thing that would be the clearest indication of complete remorse and full redemption is the one thing Williams will not do.''

There is something almost Catholic in Governor Schwarzenegger's written decision. Without admission of guilt and antonement, there is no absolution of sin, no reconciliation with God.

The governor nailed precisely what bothered me most about the whole circus concerning "Tookie" Williams' clemency. Mr. Williams never accepted personal responsibility for the killings of the four victims. Never apologized to the families. Even if he were innocent--and I don't believe he was--Mr. Williams could have apologized for allowing his shotgun out of his possession and supervision to be used in those crimes.

It took about 13 minutes for Mr. Williams to die, from the time the IVs were started. Terri Schiavo took 13 days. And she didn't kill anybody.