Clemency has been denied in the pending excution of death-row inmate Donald Beardslee, and the first execution in California since January of 2002 should go on as scheduled tonight at 12:01am. The Governor's official statement [PDF] (which did not include the above quote from Commando, although we have a feeling someone will make a tasteless "Hasta La Vista, Baby" joke before the night is over) reads in part:

The Board of Prison Terms unanimously recommended that I deny clemency to Beardslee...After my own independent study and analysis, I agree with the board.

Although I have given serious consideration to Beardslee's plea for mercy, I do not believe the evidence presented warrants the exercise of clemency in this case. For this reason, Donald J. Beardslee's application for clemency is denied.

Schwarzenegger has been reviled by his native countrymen for his stance on the death penalty, and while SFist is not always happy with laws being changed by executive fiat, we also are not so big on the death penalty. California is no safer today than it was before executions of death row inmates resumed in 1992. Would you trust a Hollywood actor with power over life and death? We're not asking you, Sean Penn. The Bay Area Anti-Death Penalty Coalition will be holding a protest outside San Quentin's East Gate starting at eight tonight. Other vigils are being held statewide.

Photo from California Correctional Authority, via AP.