Polly Klaas' legacy looms large. (Must read for all Dean supporters)

[jamesinca]

Polly Klaas' legacy looms large
Her kidnapping led to new laws, changed lives

Pamela J. Podger, Chronicle Staff Writer Sunday, September 28, 2003

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Mention the name Polly Klaas, the 12-year-old Petaluma girl kidnapped and killed by ex-convict Richard Allen Davis 10 years ago this Wednesday, and the memories spill out -- vivid and searing. Her life, snuffed out at a tender age, still shapes the lives of others.

Her best friend, Annette Schott, now 22, works with troubled kids, hoping to prevent the anger seething inside these children from creating another Davis. Her third-grade teacher, Peggy Dunn Heil, asks any struggling student to sit in Polly's old chair, knowing her spirit lingers there.

The brazen crime jostled awake this sleepy poultry town, galvanized volunteers for 65 painful days and spawned prevention measures to keep children safer, as well as California's Three Strikes law, providing harsh penalties for three-time offenders.

<SNIP>

Given the dedication and compassion of all who touched her case, Polly became Petaluma's child. She was the child who loved the clarinet, costumes and cinnamon toast. Yet she was also the child who never wore a prom dress, drove a car or experienced college.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/09/28/POLLY.TMP

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The GOP pundits and talking heads are specifically using this case to say Dean is flip flopping, waffling, not presidential material because of his capital punishment stance.

If you don't remember, Richard Allen Davis talked about doing this before he was paroled. He then went thru with this and went back to prison very happy with his success. Richard Davis is one sick bastard and the GOP is exploiting it like Willie Horton. Please read the entire article. Mostly hug your children and have a moment of silence for Polly on Wednesday.

[AndyTiedye]

1. For People Like Richard Allen Davis, We Have Men in White Coats

He belongs in a secure facility in the mental health system.

[jiacinto]

11. No he should be executed and/or thrown in jail forever

This man deserves the worst kind of torture. He is toxic waste :nuke:

I frankly think that he should executed on the spot. That monster should not live in a free society.

[thebigidea]

2. this is completely disturbing...

"Her third-grade teacher, Peggy Dunn Heil, asks any struggling student to sit in Polly's old chair, knowing her spirit lingers there."

that's more than a little creepy.

[soup]

6. Waaay Beyond

Nine year old, doesn't do homework, has problems with math -

Teacher says sit in the chair of a kidnapped and brutally murdered former student because her spirit lingers there?

That's just Nuts.

Whatever else the article covers, it's really hard to get beyond that one sentence.

[Mairead]

Gee, tug them heartstrings

No mention, of course, of all the other kids who will never wear a prom dress, drive a car, or experience college because of decisions taken by the ruling class in our name.

No mention of the root cause of all these human tragedies.

[DemNoir]

3. Has anyone noticed..

That LBN is becoming a listing of GOP talking points. And linking this to Dean? Gimmie a break!

Plus its hardly LBN material in any case.

[Gore1FL]

4. Considering the GOPs Alabama plan

in which 5000 prisoners will be released because of lack of funds, this and Willy Horton are miniscule.

[PATRICK]

5. Good point

Especially since Ashcroft is eager to fill the prisons to overflowing with people who are not killers, leading to further breakdown in society and the justice system. Plus removing all incentive for plea bargaining will mean a certain chunk will walk free.

[hey2370]

7. WTF???!!

This story says nothing about Davis being released from a Vermont prison while Dean was Governor.

So WTF does this have to do with Dean?

I am sure that there are rational reasons for supporting a candidate besides Dean for the Dem ticket that could prove a more fruitful source of ideas for future posts.

[jamesinca]

10. This has nothing to do with VT

WHat they are exploiting was the Dean stance on capital punishment. He was against, now he is for. They brought this case up in particular. He was being asked if he felt like Richard Allen Davis should be set free again. If he said yes, there is your Willie Horton comparison, if he said no then he was flip flopping. This is what they are doing to Howard Dean, and the other front runners will be getting this also until the primaries are done. Be ready for it people, it is coming and it not even primary season yet. Get your self ready to work against this type of RW propaganda. Have your facts straight, fight the lies with truth. Don't let this type of stuff ruin our candidates.

[He loved Big Brother]

13. The truth is...

Most Repukes don't have the ability to flip-flop on this issue because they cannot comprehend all sides. KILL KILL KILL and they're happy...I am not sure where I personally stand when it comes to the DP, but as far as my country goes, I'd prefer if we let go of the "eye for an eye" M.O. that other civilized nations gave up long ago, and would hope any and all of the Dem candidates do the same. The DP was one of my top issues when deciding who to vote for in 2000...back when this issue (along with the environment and the drug war) was still a priority, and wasn't buried under a pile of snafu rubbish that (surprise) our elected Democratic officials helped usher into quite nicely. Great job guys.

[trapper914]

8. This sounds like an indictment of the California Parole System...

...rather than an indictment of those who are against the death penalty.

[AndyTiedye]

9. Rove Got His Talking Points Mixed Up

This one was meant to be used against Davis, not Dean.
He's got his fingers in so many campains,
he must have dropped it in the wrong folder.

[jiacinto]

12. What does this have to do with Gov Dean?

I heard him say that he supported the death penalty in cases like Polly Klaas's.