Lorain/Elyria, OH
Dying Manson follower considered for release
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Susan Atkins’ doctors and officials at the women’s prison in
He said doctors have given her three months to live.
“Why should we continue to incarcerate her at this point in life?” Whitehouse said. “She can’t sit up in bed. … She literally can’t snap her fingers. She can put sentences together three or four times a day, but that’s the extent of it.”
Atkins, two other women and Manson were convicted of the 1969 cult killings of seven people, including pregnant actress Sharon Tate. Atkins has been imprisoned for 37 years, longer than any other female in state history.
The request for compassionate leave has generated a small storm of opposition, leading to a packed hearing before the state parole board. Atkins, in a hospital near the
In a letter to the parole board, Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley said the nature of Atkins’ crimes should rule out any release. He noted that after Atkins stabbed Tate, she tasted her blood and used it to write the word “Pig” on the victim’s door.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Suzan Hubbard, the state’s director of adult prisons, also recommended against Atkins’ release.
“They have to stay in, have to serve their time,” Schwarzenegger said Tuesday during an unrelated news conference. Even if Atkins is dying, the governor said, “Those kinds of crimes are just so unbelievable, that I am not for compassionate release in that case.”
Atkins, Manson and two other cult members, Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten maintained their innocence throughout the trial. Once convicted, the women confessed to the killings during the penalty phase.
On the stand, Atkins recounted her role in stabbing Tate, who pleaded for the life of her unborn baby.
“She kept begging and pleading and begging and pleading and I got sick of listening to it, so I stabbed her,” Atkins said during her testimony.
She claimed she was on LSD at the time, but did not apologize until a parole hearing years later.
Atkins, 60, has been denied parole 11 times, most recently in 2005. If the parole board decides Atkins should be released, her original sentencing court in
Corrections Department spokeswoman Terry Thornton says Atkins’ medical treatment has cost state taxpayers more than $1.4 million since March.
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if she can’t sit up and can’t doing anything then why let her loose. let her die in prison. she had no consideration for the people she killed…
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$1.4 million!!!…..heck a bullet only cost a quarter
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Tate begged for her child’s life, pleading that the group abduct Tate and let her give birth before murdering her. Atkins testified that she replied to Tate, “Look, bi7ch, I have no mercy for you. You’re going to die and you’d better get used to it.” Atkins and Watson then stabbed her to death. - Karma is a bi7ch!
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I’m sure that most of that 1.4 million was for painkillers given to her during her ordeal. Discontinue that medication and save some money. Let her die without them.
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How does the fact that she has cancer change anything? She was sentenced to life in prison. That means she is sentenced to stay in prison until the day she dies. The fact that she may die sooner than later really is irrelevant.
Also, Ms. Atkins has been shown compassion by the State of California for over 4 decades. She has the chance to wake up every day since she committed murder in the 1960s. She even married while in prison. Her victims never got that chance.
Considering what she did, it seems she has been treated more than fairly. Letting her out of prison even for a day would be a huge injustice and would reopen wounds for the many family members and friends who have suffered for so long.
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Johnboy…
Here’s a quote from you from a very recent post:
“It’s really a sad statement when you folks can revel in the fact that someone died of cancer, no matter who they are.”
With special emphasis on “no matter who they are”.
Yet, you would deny this person pain medication while she dies of cancer? Read your posts regarding Tony Snow again John and ask yourself: does my compassion end at party lines?
Which way is it John?
Oh, I get it now, compassion for REPUBLICANS and to hell with everyone else.
All the Manson murderers should have been executed which is my opinion, let me make that clear.
Yeah, yeah, I know Tony Snow didn’t murder anyone, but John says “no matter who they are”.
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Request for release denied after a 90 minute hearing. Seems fair to me.
Hey Raven, I’m a little confused by your comments. Do you think Tony Snow deserved to die? I ask because you are calling people here hypocrites, yet you seem to contradict yourself even more than the posters you attack.
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Royal…
I’m commenting on Johns postings.
It doesn’t matter what “I” think about him in this context. So where is the contradiction please?
Am I sad that Snow died?
NO
Am I sad for his kids and wife?
YES
Would I be sad when Atkins dies?
NO
I see no hypocracy there…no contradiction.
Besides Royal, I know your feelings about Tony Snow, and our opinions do not agree. Karma, gotta love it.
Nice try though…..
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Raven, Here’s the way it is! I do have compassion for people with cancer. This B_____ is not a human but a cold heartless killer who should suffer the same pain and more than her victims. It has nothing to do with Republicans or Democrats. Would I feel sad if you died?? I won’t print what I would feel, but would definitely feel sorry for your family. Does my compassion end at party lines.? No it doesn’t, but then again, I’m not real sure of the party affiliation of Susan Atkins. Are you sure she’s a Democrat?
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Responding to Raven: “So where is the contradiction please?”
1. On Tony Snow’s death “he deserved nothing better.” At first I thought you were being sarcastic and your attempt at humor fell a little flat — from your response here, I guess you were being serious.
2. The contradiction: First you say: “We’re not reveling in Tony Snowjobs death,” but then you immediately contradict yourself by saying “any victory is sweet” in reference to his death. Sounds like a contradiction to me.
3. It gets better. Then you backpeddle when I asked you if you seriously believe Mr. Snow deserved to die: “It doesn’t matter what ‘I’ think about him in this context.” Well, it mattered enough for you slam a man in his obituary and call his death a “sweet victory.” Now “it doesn’t matter.” Yea.
I don’t even particularly like or care about Tony Snow, but those were some pretty vicious statements you made. That’s the only reason I even posted a response. It is a fact that the guy had nothing to do with the Iraq War (he was a press secretary for about a year in 2006 and then he resigned). Your statements just show how stupid and thoughtless you are.
Then, when someone calls you out for being a jerk (and he was absolutely right), you call him a hypocrite. Please, you’re the hypocrite.
Then you say “nice try though” as if you’ve outsmarted me. Comical.
Since you believe in Karma, maybe you should be more careful with your words.
I’ll let you have the last word here.
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Look you two…you both got called on your own statements.
John you said I should have compassion for someone no matter who they are…practice what you preach.
I have compassion for neither Snow or Atkins Flush, so where’s the contradiction?
My only reference to reveling was in the case of Limbaughs or Coulters deaths…then I’ll revel.
I can sit back and say “i’m glad the jerk is gone” in reference to Snow all I want to, that surely doesn’t make it reveling. You may wanna look up the definition of the word.
Snow himself was a hypocrite.
His first day on the job he had to explain his use of the term tar-baby. He never apologized for it either. At least McCain apologized when he used it.
Here’s what Snow said about his then future boss(Bush):
“No president has looked this impotent this long when it comes to defending presidential powers and prerogatives.†[9/30/05]
“George Bush has become something of an embarrassment.” [11/11/05]
Yet he took the job supporting and speaking for an impotent, embarrassing leader. Not standing up for his beliefs and being a hypocrite.
Jerk or not, it makes me sick to see the mouthpiece of this “regime” smile while talking about Iraq, and that 2500 soldiers deaths are “just a number”.
Just so you’re clear in your understanding Flush…I’m glad he’s dead…I’m glad she’s dying.
Any questions?
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No questions. I just want to clarify my statement. I wouldn’t be glad if you were dead. I said I would be sorry for your family. I should have said what I really thought at the time. I already feel sorry for your family because they are saddled with you. This is the end of this topic for me with you. NEVERMORE.
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Do people really get happy when people they don’t even personally know die? I’m in favor of letting Atkins die in prison…let her rot…I had cancer and I know how it feels…I didn’t kill anyone though either. If you’re sentenced, you’re sentenced. These exceptions for this or that, bologna. But, seriously, what type of person gets “satisfaction” from somebody dying…Sort of morbid to me…IMO
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Her, like Ted Kennedy, I hope suffer terribly for a long while. Tony Snow I must admit I don’t know too much about except for what his job was, but any politician’s passing is a good thing indeed.
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Yeah, but writing it in their obit? I haven’t been on here in a couple weeks so I missed that, but I think writing bad things about somebody (besides maybe Hitler) in somebody’s obit is pretty tacky. Sorry Raven, I’m not a Democrat but I can usually agree with many things you say, but an obituary???
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Let the beotch deal with it! Life in prison is LIFE in prison.
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