A quick Friday story of why you just have to love the state of Oregon.
The governor of Oregon, seen here clearly not executing anyone.
Meet Governor John Kitzhaber. Governor, everyone. Everyone, the Governor. Now, Kitzhaber is a doctor with serious moral issues with the death penalty, which is still legal in Oregon (it’s been outlawed twice and made legal twice).
When he was governor last time, he saw through the execution of two prisoners – both of whom waived all appeals, and the only two executed since Oregon reinstated the death penalty in 1984 – because he felt it was his obligation as an elected official. Now, though, he has declared a moratorium on executions while he is governor. Not a pardon, or anything, but clemency while he is governor, on the grounds that the system is “compromised and inequitable.”
Now meet Gary Haugen. Not too close, though. Haugen is a convicted double-murderer, and one of a handful of people on Oregon’s death row. He has rejected the governor’s clemency and filed a court appeal demanding he be executed.
I’m serious.
Haugen says he wants to be executed in order to protest the criminal justice system. The courts have ruled that Haugen has the right to reject the governor’s clemency and insist on his execution.
So… the governor has appealed it. He’s going to court to appeal Haugen’s appeal to reject his clemency.
I don’t care how you feel about the death penalty – you have to love the whole thing a little bit.
The Byronic Man 
September 14, 2012 at 3:18 am
Okay, so this lets me know the electorate in Oregon, to vote this guy in, has similar problems with making good choices as my current state.
September 14, 2012 at 6:28 am
Yeah, we’re a hugely divided state with some questionable decisions. Actually, though, as far as Kitzhaber, he’s done some impressive things. He’s ornery and has called Oregon “ungovernable,” but he can be a crusader for education and medicine.
September 14, 2012 at 4:06 am
Now that’s a story…dam!
September 14, 2012 at 6:37 am
Isn’t it great? I’m hopeful that there are protestors in the state capitol over both sides.
September 14, 2012 at 4:42 am
Ummm wow…?! Yeah, that about sums it up.
September 14, 2012 at 6:38 am
That’s what we’re shooting for over here. Oregon and New Jersey have a lot in common, and a lot that’s opposite. They have J-Woww, we’re going for “Oh, wow…”
September 14, 2012 at 5:14 am
I feel like the best way to show my (staggering) approval of this post is to ‘like’ and ‘unlike’ it a few times, but I don’t want to concern you. You have more important things to worry about over there.
September 14, 2012 at 6:36 am
Yeah, like what to put on my signs for my protest of the appeal of the rejection of the appeal.
September 14, 2012 at 5:24 am
Like Patrick Stewart…(or was it Neal Patrick Harris?) once said “Give me the death penalty, or give me death!”
September 14, 2012 at 6:35 am
Wouldn’t that be great if Patrick Henry had accidentally said that? Then looked at the ground for a second, brow furrowed. “No… wait… not that… damn…”
September 14, 2012 at 10:52 am
I think maybe we’ve just had it wrong all these years.
September 14, 2012 at 5:45 am
And I wonder how much money this debate is going to cost the state? Down economy? pshaw… A governor’s job is clearly to shove his moral philosophy down the people’s throat. Damn the cost! (“This is war, Peacock!”)
September 14, 2012 at 6:34 am
Actually, ironically, by putting a moratorium on the death penalty the state’s saving a chunk of change. More protests and appeals for everyone!
September 14, 2012 at 2:05 pm
Haha – good to know! Who doesn’t like protests and appeals?
September 14, 2012 at 6:10 am
Wait, I got lost somewhere around the appeal of the appeal. What are we fighting for again? Free S’mores? Ok, I’m in. Let’s do this. I’ll bring the marshmallows.
September 14, 2012 at 6:33 am
I only wish there was some way for “Yakety Sax” to be playing as you read the post.
September 15, 2012 at 10:08 pm
Benny who?
September 14, 2012 at 6:13 am
September 14, 2012 at 6:32 am
Exactly.
September 14, 2012 at 6:38 am
I started to write a tongue-in-cheek comment about slippery slopes and precedents and stuff, but then I realized you can’t see my tongue in my cheek. It’s a problem sometimes.
September 14, 2012 at 3:44 pm
Totally going off of what you’re saying: I’ve never understood that phrase, “tongue in cheek.” I’ve never seen anyone actually DO that, you couldn’t talk if you did… what am I missing?
September 14, 2012 at 3:53 pm
I’ve wondered the same exact thing (no, really). This is why I was transfixed by Elizabeth Warren’s speech at the Democratic Convention. I kept thinking, “Sarcasm? Is that sarcasm? Or just an adorable mannerism.” Rhetorical devices fascinate me. What were we talking about?
September 16, 2012 at 4:39 am
Two comments on this one:
First, does the US Constitution have a clause or an amendment which defends the right of a person to request their own execution?
Second, B-Man is right; you couldn’t talk. The phrase “tongue in cheek” indicates an action taken to prevent from laughing out loud at a ridiculous statement, position or opinion. Refer to the following:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tongue-in-cheek
September 16, 2012 at 5:29 am
The aforementioned-unwritten tongue-in-cheek comment was something along the lines of The Kevorkian Amendment.
Seriously.
I couldn’t have said that if my tongue were in my cheek. 😉
September 14, 2012 at 7:36 am
I love Oregon.
September 14, 2012 at 3:44 pm
How can you not?
September 14, 2012 at 7:42 am
Put that murderer out of OUR misery.
September 14, 2012 at 8:27 am
It’s all kind of like a double negative. Or reverse psychology. Or Battle Ship… One of those.
September 15, 2012 at 2:38 am
Yahtzee!
September 14, 2012 at 8:54 am
I can’t wait for the appeal of the appeal of the appeal of the clemency.
September 14, 2012 at 8:59 am
I would love to know the backstory! My guess is he was wrongfully accused and his life is ruined anyway…just a guess…
September 14, 2012 at 10:17 am
I’m confused…..
September 14, 2012 at 11:29 am
My head hurts. Holy wow.
September 14, 2012 at 11:50 am
Say what?!?
September 14, 2012 at 6:29 pm
I love your Gov! He is pretty awesome actually. That he would actually fight someone who wants to be put to death, is that somehow a double negative?
September 14, 2012 at 6:52 pm
Wow.
Just. I don’t know, this situation reminds me of reading Lolita, because it makes me feel sympathetic towards a terrible person. My emotions are confused.
But my brain is delighted.
September 14, 2012 at 10:22 pm
How litigious can you get? Everyone has rights, but you also have to follow the dictates of duly elected leaders. If you don’t agree with the laws of the state you are in – why not ask for a transfer to a state where execution is allowed, like Texas, instead of causing all this uproar & confusion? This is just an attention grab!
September 15, 2012 at 2:41 am
It does specifically say that he’s requesting the death penalty in protest of the criminal justice system, so it would be natural that he wants to make as big a deal out of this as possible.
September 15, 2012 at 6:58 am
True – it’s reasonable to suspect this “protest” is not entirely motivated by a desire for social justice. But then, if you can’t trust a death-row prisoner, who can you trust?
September 16, 2012 at 6:57 pm
Couldn’t they just force them to watch The Life of David Gale together? Then say “hey guys, point made, movie…already made.” Then remind the convict he’s not being executed for fun, but because he earned it. And tell the Gov to stop his bellyachin’ and get on with it?
September 15, 2012 at 6:59 am
Texas would have him half-executed before he got off the bus.
September 16, 2012 at 10:08 am
Life is pretty complicated. So too, apparently is death. Especially in Oregon.
September 16, 2012 at 6:50 pm
Oh political theater. Love/hate/love/hate/loathe. I say we widen the parameters for execution drastically.
September 17, 2012 at 3:08 am
Could we not just compromise here and replace Gary Haugen’s death penalty with an invitation to Avril Lavigne and Chad Kroeger upcoming wedding?
September 17, 2012 at 11:23 pm
No offense to Avril Lavigne and Chad Kroeger, but would such an invitation constitute “a fate worse than death” or simply “cruel and unusual punishment”?
September 18, 2012 at 4:38 am
Only if the happy couple also play the role of wedding singers.
September 17, 2012 at 10:36 pm
You Guys make it so complicated why cant you just tie people to a tree and throw stones till he is gone,,