As is typical of any crime, lack of punishment = lack of deterent.

Why can't we start now?

>>>The situation now is no different than it was then.
>>>
>>>Stop raging about Bush. Rage about the problem, and then perhaps we can get something done about it.
>>
>>Thanks for proving my point, which was "they'll pull up an example of the other side having done something similar 40 years ago.".
>
>Perhaps you misunderstand me. Or I you. I'm not pulling up examples to justify what is going on. I'm doing it to demonstrate that the system is the same as it ever was. We (America collectively) still haven't found a way to solve it. I'm deeply disappointed in the GOP because of these issues, but it isn't going to make me switch to voting Dim any time soon.
>
>>If you feel it's the same as it ever was, it's your feeling and you're entitled to it. My overall feeling is that it's the same, just immensely more so. They only try to paint it as just the same.
>
>Fair enough. My opinion, though, shouldn't be used to tar everyone that supports Bush.
>
>>Also, the other side of handling the cases: what happens to the perpetrators? The proponents of death penalty as a deterrent somehow fail to impose any harsh penalty on their own delinquents.
>
>Uhh...I think you are linking two unrelated things.
>
>Personally, I would queue up to pull the trigger on Mssrs. Custer and Battle. However, what they did, compared to the others you mention, is IMHO much more severe, and warrants much more serious punishment. (And I would argue about DeLay - didn't like him, but I'm not sure he's guilty of anything really severe).