On the changed politics of death

This op-ed from Friday’s Washington Post calls Virginia Governor Mark Warner’s decision to grant clemency to Robin Lovitt “a landmark in the nation’s debate over capital punishment” which reflects a “a changed political climate.”  In recent posts here and here and here and here, I have spotlighted a lot more recent signs of a changed politics and new culture around the death penalty. 

I agree that these political and cultural changes helped save Lovitt’s life.  Now the question is whether they might save Stanley Tookie Williams’ life (background here).