Flamenco Ted...

A little wake up. A large number, the majority of death penalty appeals are pro bono. Think for a moment, dear fellow, Where would some guy or gal on death row get the cash to pay a lawyer. I worked for a small firm which did a lot of civil rights pro bono, and in these days of de-funding of civil rights work the firm went out business. Now, some on the right who beleive in a market place of rights, will chear at this. However, in light of the number of post humus aquitals of people exicuted, and in light of the number of peole who decades on death row, were proved innocent, it behoves those same folks to ask, is it really a good idea to watch civil rights lawyer go bankrupt.
Well, in fact, most innocent folks on death row are either a minority or poor or both, so many who lead the party of the right can't emagine needing a lawyer, having no money, and being on trial for your life.
I noticed how the same folks who beat up on the lawyers ( Rush Limbow... ) suddunly find a lawyer's number when they screw up or are accused of one thing or another. Rush became a big fourth amendment advocate for a short period, when HIS drug dealing was uncovered by a search which he felt was unfair.
So, beat up on the lawyers, they'll still love you when you need them, pay them or not. The same folks who rail at lawyers getting rich ( HA! ) say nothing, often about the insurence industry and the pharmaceutical industry who drive up the cost of medical help until this nation ( USA ) speaks of rationing medical care, while turning Doctors and Lawyers against each other, because most folks need to sue their docotors to pay for their treatment...
What has this to do with Tookie's death? Well, these days, the right has declared war on the justice system, both civil and criminal justice. Funny thing about rights... you don't miss them until their gone. Stand up for folks like Tookie, and in the end, you might be standing up for yourself, maybe not on death row, but in some hospital ward when the doctor's administration, with their insurence company accountant, shakes their head and tells you, sorry mate... we can't afford to save your life.
Yeah, blame the lawyer then...
lor