Staying off topic just a bit longer...

One thing you didn't care to know about me is that I am somewhat of a political junkie and follow certain political blogs closely. In full disclosure, I lean to the left of center. This is probably due to growing up in a union household in the Northeast.

One of my regular reads is Andrew Sullivan. Even though he is conservative, I admire him for being able to keep a clear head and doesn't attempt to link every thing the current administration does to the conservative cause in general. If Bush screws up, he calls it that way. I did find this one post peculiar though.

Although he doesn't explicitly say it, I assume the theme of his post is to highlight that Iran is a barbaric regime. It's a theme he returns to frequently.

My point is not to argue whether Iran is a barbaric regime. I agree that it is. But I'm willing to bet $100 that if someone polled self identified conservatives with the following question, "Are you in favor of the death penalty extending to those convicted of kidnapping or rape?", that over 80% of conservatives polled would be in favor.

How can you be in favor of the death penalty in the US, but then criticize the death penalty in Iran? Is it the fact that the execution was by hanging? in public?

I haven't read Andrew Sullivan enough to know his stance on the death penalty (perhaps he is against it), but I do know that conservatives strongly believe that it is OK for the government to take another person's life if they commit a crime. Once you decide that is OK, the question of how it is done, where it takes place, and what crimes are appropriate is all just a slippery slope in my opinion.

http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/2224950/20511168