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A comment on California Gov Newsom commutes death sentences for all 548 people on death row.

Re:California Gov Newsom commutes death sentences for all 54... by xvxvx on Thursday November 05, 2026 @04:20PM (#50384603)
‘The decision to spare death row inmates is largely symbolic in a state that has not executed an inmate since 2006, though experts say it could save millions of dollars in court costs each year. Only 13 inmates have been executed since voters reinstated the death penalty in 1978.’

He’s a politician for sure. Make a big scene out of nothing.

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Re:California Gov Newsom commutes death sentences for all 54... by Jtsummers on Thursday November 05, 2026 @04:27PM (#50384689)
[delayed]
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Re:California Gov Newsom commutes death sentences for all 54... by convolvatron on Thursday November 05, 2026 @04:48PM (#50384935)
isn't repealing bad laws and practices something that we wished that more politicians did?
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Re:California Gov Newsom commutes death sentences for all 54... by SirFatty on Thursday November 05, 2026 @04:50PM (#50384956)
"It saves the state money.."

Sure it does.

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Re:California Gov Newsom commutes death sentences for all 54... by xvxvx on Thursday November 05, 2026 @04:51PM (#50384968)
If he wanted to save the state money he would execute all death row inmates immediately.
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Re:California Gov Newsom commutes death sentences for all 54... by phainopepla2 on Thursday November 05, 2026 @05:07PM (#50385172)
He doesn't have the power to do that, obviously
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Re:California Gov Newsom commutes death sentences for all 54... by claaams on Thursday November 05, 2026 @04:52PM (#50384988)
It sure does. Death row is expensive.
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Re:California Gov Newsom commutes death sentences for all 54... by zulux on Thursday November 05, 2026 @04:59PM (#50385085)
I can fix that!
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Re:California Gov Newsom commutes death sentences for all 54... by nomel on Thursday November 05, 2026 @05:11PM (#50385211)
I suspect part of the problem here is that all the lawyers involved get a steady income, if they can keep it going for as long as possible. Self preserving machines form wherever a flow of money exists.
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Re:California Gov Newsom commutes death sentences for all 54... by Sohcahtoa82 on Thursday November 05, 2026 @04:52PM (#50384986)
> and in favor of spending more money, not less.

A lot of them still aren't aware that the death penalty costs so much more because of the intense appeals process.

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Re:California Gov Newsom commutes death sentences for all 54... by crooked-v on Thursday November 05, 2026 @05:12PM (#50385218)
As can be seen with all the people in this comment section who assumed by default that executing people is cheaper.
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Re:California Gov Newsom commutes death sentences for all 54... by petsfed on Thursday November 05, 2026 @04:52PM (#50384992)
The apparent contradiction between "pro-life" and "pro-death-penalty", and "anti-spending" and "pro-expensive-appeals" has always been addressed by "tough on crime saves more lives" and "its worth it because the death penalty is a deterrent".

Accusations of hypocrisy generally only work if they're coming from inside the house. Basically, if you know that I already disagree with you on a fundamental level, you're not going to trust that I have a deep enough grasp of your position to point out a real inconsistency.

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Re:California Gov Newsom commutes death sentences for all 54... by BobaFloutist on Thursday November 05, 2026 @05:06PM (#50385165)
It permanently protects these people from ever being executed, which the moratorium doesn't.
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Re:California Gov Newsom commutes death sentences for all 54... by burkaman on Thursday November 05, 2026 @05:13PM (#50385238)
In what way is he making a scene? All he did was release a written statement, in the midst of ubiquitous coverage of a hugely significant national election. If anything he is trying to minimize publicity.
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