Rachel Maddow interviews Allen Ault, former warden at prison where Troy Davis was executed

[shireen]

From her blog:
http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/09/22/7904558-tonight-a-prison-warden-on-execution

Tonight: A prison warden on execution
By Laura Conaway - Thu Sep 22, 2011 4:19 PM EDT

Allen Ault used to run the Georgia Diagnostic and Classifications Prison, where Troy Davis was executed yesterday. Mr. Ault joined with a half-dozen other wardens in pleading that the state not kill Mr. Davis, and that if they did, that they excuse any staffers who had doubts about his innocence.

Mr. Ault joined us by phone last night in our joint special coverage at 11 p.m. He told us:

When you're in the death chamber ordering an execution, and even if in your mind, if you're a man of conscience, actually believe somebody is guilty, it's still a very premeditated murder. I mean, it's scripted and rehearsed. It's about as premeditated as any killing that you can do. And then when there is doubt, either way it exacts a heavy toll on those who are charged by the state to execute somebody.

Individual death penalty cases are often debated in terms of justice -- whether the convicted person actually innocent, or whether the punishment fits the crime. But the larger question is about the state claiming the right to kill for criminal offenses. Mr. Ault joins us live tonight for an interview about the death penalty from his perspective. We'll see you at 9 Eastern.

[Parker CA]

1. Looking very much forward to this interview. I thought last night when listening to Rachel briefly

speak with Mr. Ault that she would work on getting him on her show.

Incredibly compelling man.

[shireen]

3. i thought so too ...

as she said, he had so much despair in his voice.

[Parker CA]

4. It was by far the most defeated and somber an interview I think I've ever heard. Should be

one of Maddow's best.

[EFerrari]

2. He gives amazing interview. If you haven't heard him

try to listen.

[unblock]

5. nice to see my preferred framing here: it's all about the gov't "right" to kill its subjects.

too much focus on the person they're killing, not enough focus on the wisdom of letting governments kill their subjects -- based on rules and systems and decisions of their own creation.