# Texas is #1!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-is-1/777338
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [January 16, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-is-1/777338 "2017-01-16T20:40:40Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2018, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-is-1/777338/41 "2018-05-09T14:22:48Z")
> [@kayaker](#):
>
> Texas remains #1 for executions, though, right?
Texas is #1 for executions, but only #2 for per capital executions — behind its precocious sibling state, Oklahoma. It is well ahead of all developed countries-xUSA: France et al are all tied for #2 in number of executions … at Zero.
Several #1’s on this topic: [**The first man executed who, it is now known, could not have been sentenced to death if DNA was checked.**](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/dna-could-have-saved-the-last-man-executed-by-bush-2132850.html) The capital-crime evidence against Claude Howard Jones consisted of a single hair about which a lab tech had lied. Clemency was denied by the incumbent Governor of Texas at the time, a certain George Walker Bush. 154 prisoners were executed on GWB’s watch. This appears to be the record for most executions _per year_ in any state, but he is only #2 in absolute numbers. Bush’s successor, Rick “If you don’t support the death penalty and citizens packing a pistol, don’t come to Texas” Perry, worked hard and bested Bush’s record.
[That same Governor Bush was a real charmer:](http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2005/01/13/death-in-texas/)
> [@](#):
>
> [Tucker Carlson, a journalist] asked Bush if he had met with any of the petitioners and was surprised when Bush whipped around, stared at him, and snapped, “No, I didn’t meet with any of them.” Carlson, who until that moment had admired Bush, said that Bush’s curt response made him feel as if he had just asked “the dumbest, most offensive question ever posed.” Bush went on to tell him that he had also refused to meet Larry King when he came to Texas to interview [Karla Faye Tucker, murderess turned born-again activist but still on death row] but had watched the interview on television. King, Bush said, asked Tucker difficult questions, such as “What would you say to Governor Bush?”
>
> What did Tucker answer? Carlson asked.
>
> “Please,” Bush whimpered, his lips pursed in mock desperation, “please, don’t kill me.”
>
> Carlson was shocked. He couldn’t believe Bush’s callousness …
---
### Author:  [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2018, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-is-1/777338/42 "2018-05-09T16:54:18Z")
> [@DinoR](#):
>
> There’s plenty to be upset about. Factually inaccurate and hyberbolic comparisons distract from the real issue of significant movement the wrong way IMO.
Oh, you’re no fun.
Regards,
Shodan
---
### Author:  [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2018, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-is-1/777338/43 "2018-05-09T22:22:24Z")
> [@Riemann](#):
>
> Hmm, but is this good news for Texas?
>
> There now seems no case to be made that Texas should fix the problem by building a wall to keep out the illegals who are skewing the stats.
No, we just need to keep them out, period. Stat-skewing is meaningless. But you knew that already.
---
### Author:  [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2018, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-is-1/777338/44 "2018-05-10T04:28:31Z")
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> They also closed ALL Planned Parenthood clinics, even if they didn’t provide abortions. Right: why would you want there to be contraception and prenatal care?
Not all of them. Planned Parenthood San Antonio is my Amazon Smile benefit recipient.
---
### Author:  [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2018, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-is-1/777338/45 "2018-05-10T04:35:09Z")
> [@jtur88](#):
>
> here is a chart of the rate by countries:
>
> [Maternal mortality rate - Country Comparison](http://www.indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?v=2223)
>
> Texas would rank worst than Albania, Uzbekistan, Fiji and Oman.
The US as a whole ranks worse then Kazakhstan and Libya, thanks to all the other enlightened states that have public health policies similar to those of Texas.
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-is-1/777338.md?page=2)