The last California governor to grant clemency was Ronald Reagan in 1967. That may be a good sign, since Arnold no doubt would like to be further cast in Reagan's image.

More than 50,000 people have signed Tookie's petition. The Governor is listening. If you haven't signed it yet, please go here and add your name.

The founder of the Crips has been on death row for 24 years. While in jail, he became an anti-gang activist, wrote children's books and was nominated by a member of the Swiss Parliament for the Nobel Prize. If clemency is granted, he would remain in prison for the rest of his life, where he could continue his good works. He just wouldn't be killed.

Here is a fact sheet on Tookie's case (pdf). Mother Jones has this 2001 interview with Tookie.

Our voice is going to get louder and more frequent as Tookie's execution date gets closer. There are now more than 50,000 signatures on this petiton. Please add your voice and tell Governor Schwarzenegger to choose life.

Update: The Washington Post has an article today setting out arguments raised by Tookie's supporters and detractors for and against clemency.

The main argument against clemency seems to be retribution -- an eye for an eye -- a principle that (as Ghandi taught us) leaves the whole world blind.