NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/sun/2005/nov/03/519606498.html?oscar%20goodman

November 03, 2005

Oscar does it again!
The happiest mayor calls for cutting off the thumbs of graffiti artists on television and caning and whipping children

CARSON CITY -- Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman suggested Wednesday that those who deface freeways with graffiti should have their thumbs cut off on television.

Goodman, appearing on the television program "Nevada Newsmakers" in Reno, said: "In the old days in France, they had beheading of people who commit heinous crimes.

"You know, we have a beautiful highway landscaping redevelopment in our downtown. We have desert tortoises and beautiful paintings of flora and fauna. These punks come along and deface it.

"I'm saying maybe you put them on TV and cut off a thumb," the mayor added. "That may be the right thing to do."

Goodman also suggested that whippings or canings should be brought back for children who get into trouble.

"I also believe in a little bit of corporal punishment going back to the days of yore, where examples have to be shown," Goodman said.

"I'm dead serious," said Goodman, a guest on the panel show.

Parents are supposed to take care of their children, but government replaces them on some occasions, Goodman said.

"Some of these (children) don't learn," he said. "You have got to teach them a lesson, and this is coming from a criminal defense lawyer."

Goodman then added: "They would get a trial first."

Another panelist on the show, Howard Rosenberg, a member of the university Board of Regents, responded by saying that Goodman should "use his head for something other than a hat rack."

Cutting off the thumbs of taggers will not solve the problem, Rosenberg said.

I know you are required to make a statement or ask a question to lead into discussion, but this left me absolutely speechless. Barry Horstman with the Vegas Sun came up with some ideas of his own...


10 crime-fighting ideas to be considered by Mayor Oscar Goodman

10. Jaywalkers are blindfolded and shoved onto the Strip about 11 on a Friday night.

9. Shoplifters caught lifting any embarrassingly bad Western-themed art must prominently display the stolen works in their living room whenever their boss or in-laws come to dinner.

8. Anyone convicted of an organized crime count -- wait a minute, what organized crime?

7. Speeders are sentenced to drive nightly on the Strip -- they'll never go above 8 mph again.

6. Assault and battery convictions compel the offender to play defense for the UNLV football team, which can use all the help it can get in that regard.

5. Public intoxication charges bring a reward, not a punishment -- a bottle of Bombay Sapphire Gin. It's Oscar-licious!

4. Those nabbed sneaking into hotels' all-you-can-eat buffets must consume an entire tray of the least popular item served that night -- after some kid sneezes on it.

3. People found to be illegally receiving cable TV are strapped to a Barcalounger in front of a TV set to a home shopping channel's 14-hour marathon on crystal figurines depicting "Great Moments in Stamp Collecting" -- with the remote just beyond their grasp.

2. Ticket scalpers are sentenced to watch 250 "Legends in Concert" performances of The Captain and Tennille impersonators' rendition of "Muskrat Love."

1. You don't even want to know what he has in mind for rapists.

Did this guy really win majority vote? What would he do to rapists?

This sounds like those stupid issues that keep cropping up for my nation.

This sounds like those stupid issues that keep cropping up for my nation.

Well, if this one shows up, we'll know who comes up with their ideas.

Its not so terrible, as long as politicians are saying things that are completely crazy, you can trust them. Its when the people in power start making sense or start being agreeable that you know they are up to something.

I know I sould think of something profound to say... but as Zooke said, "absolutely speechless" just sums it up.
Mind you, I guess while Oscar Goodman comes out with this stuff, at least it's pretty obvious where he stands.
Knowing this, just how did this guy get to be Mayor????

Its not so terrible, as long as politicians are saying things that are completely crazy, you can trust them. Its when the people in power start making sense or start being agreeable that you know they are up to something.


If they are smiling they are hiding something. If there lips are moving they are lying.

If they are smiling they are hiding something. If there lips are moving they are lying.
Obviously the answer is to Oscar Goodman cut off everybody's lips.

I support televised soft punishment.

I love this guy.

Oh, and he'd cut off the rapist's penis. Thought that was self-explanatory.

I love this guy.

Oh, and he'd cut off the rapist's penis. Thought that was self-explanatory.

I think that would work.

I think that would work.
Unless they were a woman, or used dildoes anyway.

Wow. There's idiots everywhere.

Unless they were a woman, or used dildoes anyway.

Or were found innocent on appeal. That might be tricky too.

Unless they were a woman, or used dildoes anyway.

I think you lose most of your sex drive if I cut the testicles off along with the penis.

I think you lose most of your sex drive if I cut the testicles off along with the penis.
There is no reason to use the accusative, as I have never been brought up on such charges and am not about to do something that stupid.
However, Rape isn't just about sex, for the most dangerous offenders the rape is about power and control. They don't do it for the sex anymore than a Serial Killer kills because he feels some need to do so. Further, there are women rapists, and unless you are willing to rip their Uteruses out you had best keep the cleavers to yourselves, ladies.
And then like DrunkenDove said, what could you possibly offer as sufficient recompensation should they win an appeal?

There is no reason to use the accusative, as I have never been brought up on such charges and am not about to do something that stupid.
However, Rape isn't just about sex, for the most dangerous offenders the rape is about power and control. They don't do it for the sex anymore than a Serial Killer kills because he feels some need to do so. Further, there are women rapists, and unless you are willing to rip their Uteruses out you had best keep the cleavers to yourselves, ladies.
And then like DrunkenDove said, what could you possibly offer as sufficient recompensation should they win an appeal?

Ok - so we store them in liquid nitrogen. If the rapist turns up innocent on appeal, we thaw the rapist out.

And if all appeals are exhausted, we throw the frozen body on the floor to shatter.

Ok - so we store them in liquid nitrogen. If the rapist turns up innocent on appeal, we thaw the rapist out.

And if all appeals are exhausted, we throw the frozen body on the floor to shatter.
You see, that won't really work as people don't just "thaw."
Further, we are interjecting discussion that is bordering on seriousness into a very silly thread, and that is a sin I'm not about to commit. NS has far to much pretentiousness flowing about as it is.

You see, that won't really work as people don't just "thaw."
Further, we are interjecting discussion that is bordering on seriousness into a very silly thread, and that is a sin I'm not about to commit. NS has far to much pretentiousness flowing about as it is.

And I thought you always joked...

And I thought you always joked...
For the most part, yes, but as of late I seem to be making a distressing turn towards seriousness with periodic bouts of insanity. Not good at all.

Knowing this, just how did this guy get to be Mayor????
Well, to say that we Nevadans are strange when it comes to local politics would be an understatement. He's actually really popular and there's talk of him running for governor one day.

Just to scare you though, the rest of Nevada is even stranger than the folks in Vegas.

Well, to say that we Nevadans are strange when it comes to local politics would be an understatement. He's actually really popular and there's talk of him running for governor one day.

Just to scare you though, the rest of Nevada is even stranger than the folks in Vegas.


Oh my god!

Is that the sort of strange like...Dance around in assflaps waiting for rain strange? Or, wait on the roof of a skyscraper for aliens to take you home strange?

Well, they wouldn't vandalize again...

I think that would work.
Unless the rapist becomes a woman and starts raping men...

Is that the sort of strange like...Dance around in assflaps waiting for rain strange? Or, wait on the roof of a skyscraper for aliens to take you home strange?
As in state lawmakers dressing like Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Mr. Spock, and Captain Kirk to propose renaming a state highway to the Extra-Terrestrial Highway on the floor of the state legislature strange.

Well, I know one place where I'm glad I don't live.

Am I alone in thinking that some graffiti might make Las Vegas look better?

Am I alone in thinking that some graffiti might make Las Vegas look better?

Couldn't hurt, though a power outage would improve it the most.

Arg! madness!

Am I alone in thinking that some graffiti might make Las Vegas look better?

Yes, you're almost alone.