--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: According to the L.A. Times, Attorney…" description: "\"According to the L.A. Times, Attorney General John Ashcroft wants to take \"a harder stance\" on the death penalty. What's a harder stance on the death p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc8/jay-leno-210_attorney_according-to-the-l-a-times-attorney-gene_2558697.png" --- # According to the L.A. Times, Attorney General John… ![“According to the L.A. Times, Attorney General John Ashcroft wants to take "a harder stance" on the death penalty. What's a harder stance on the death penalty? We're already killing the guy? How do you take a harder stance on the death penalty? What, are you going to tickle him first? Give him…” quote by Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc8/jay-leno-210_attorney_according-to-the-l-a-times-attorney-gene_2558697.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc8/jay-leno-210_attorney_according-to-the-l-a-times-attorney-gene_2558697.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc8/jay-leno-210_attorney_according-to-the-l-a-times-attorney-gene_2558697.png) > “According to the L.A. Times, Attorney General John Ashcroft wants to take "a harder stance" on the death penalty. What's a harder stance on the death penalty? We're already killing the guy? How do you take a harder stance on the death penalty? What, are you going to tickle him first? Give him itching powder? Put a thumbtack on the electric chair?” [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote satirically questions how a “harder stance” could be applied to capital punishment, implying absurdity. **In simple terms:** It jokes about making execution more intense. Key Takeaway Recognize satire and avoid literal interpretation. Themes humor justice politics Mood irry critical thought‑provoking Type satirical commentary political When to use this quote - political commentary - media criticism - public policy debate Key Concepts satire absurdity Questions to Reflect On - What does this reveal about public discourse on punishment? - How does satire influence perception of serious issues? A Different Perspective The statement is a joke, not a policy proposal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attorney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attorney/) [Attorney general](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attorney-general/) [Chairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chairs/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death penalty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-penalty/) [Electric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electric/) [Electric chair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electric-chair/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder/) [Harder Stance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder-stance-1585022/) [Itching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/itching/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) [Penalties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penalties/) [Penalty Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penalty-harder-1585021/) [Penalty Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penalty-killing-1585023/) [Powder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powder/) [Stance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stance/) [Stance Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stance-death-1585020/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [The Death Penalty: Killing people that kill people to show people that killing people is wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-death-penalty-killing-people-that-kill-people-to-show-people-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Have you noticed how the Republicans and Democrats try to copy each other at their conventions. 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Times, Attorney General John Ashcroft wants to take \"a harder stance\" on the death penalty. What's a harder stance on the death penalty? We're already killing the guy? How do you take a harder stance on the death penalty? What, are you going to tickle him first? Give him itching powder? 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