I love animals.  I have 2 rescue Australian Cattle Dogs, and 4 cats who were strays.  I've done animal rescue work and I am involved with the local no-kill shelter.

I've also always been a passionate opponent of the death penalty.  To me it is something that defines the US as not having made it to the ranks of civilized nations.  It is wrong in so many ways I can't begin here to enumerate them.  Our party was hijacked some years back by pro DP ideology, and except for John Kerry, every single candidate in recent years has run on a platform endorsing it.

This was on MSNBC today.  It is a statement by Justice Stevens, a vehement DP opponent of the DP, about the difference in the euthanasia of Eight Belles at the Derby and what happens to a condemned prisoner.