Saddam Hussein was found guilty, and has been sentenced to hang, and I couldn't think of a better punishment.  Yet I plan to vote no on the death penalty question tomorrow.  So how do I reconcile those two beliefs?  First I have to remind myself that on a basic theoretical level, I do believe in the death penalty:

And on a gut level, I firmly believe that some crimes are so heinous, and some people are so evil, that the only appropriate punishment for their crimes is death.

My problem with the death penalty comes from the fact that I don't think its possible to tailor the law in such a way as to prevent innocent people from being killed.  So do I think there is any possibility that Saddam Hussein is innocent of the crimes to which he is accused?  If there is a chance he is innocent... then there is also a chance that I might actually sleep with Jennifer Aniston.  And she's yet to return any of my letters, emails, phone calls, or thanked me for any of the numerous presents I've sent her.  And of course that restraining order has also put a damper on our relationship.  But I'm still hopeful.

It's easy to put mass murderers to death when you know they're guilty.  It's all the other cases where you aren't sure that make it difficult.