What’s your life worth? How about your death?

In California, your death could be worth $hundreds of million$!!!

A recent study conducted on the cost of California’s death penalty has found that each of the 13 executions in the last thirty years have cost taxpayers an average of $ 308 million each.

That has got to leave a cash-strapped state’s budget hurting… and California is in massive monetary pain.

This study comes on the heels of California Governor Jerry Brown vetoing the state budget proposed by California lawmakers.

The governor defended his decision, stating,

“It continues big deficits for years to come and adds billions of dollars of new debt.”

Perhaps spending $308 million on a single death row prisoner could be contributing to said deficit?

According to the Death Penalty Information Center, 34 states in the U.S. currently allow the death penalty.

What do you think? Is the death penalty worth the price?

Or should more states join the 16 U.S. states that don’t allow it?

Image from FDA.gov

Don’t get burnt: FDA announces new requirements for sunscreen labels.

Another one in! Former Ambassador to China set to join the 2012 Republican field.

The ruling stands: Federal judge upholds judge’s decision in Prop 8 case.

And, will your gaming ever be safe again?

Incoming! Yemen’s unwavering President Ali Abdullah Saleh is seriously wounded after rocket attack.

What’s the word for “economy” in German? German Chancellor talks economy with President Obama.

Everybody say “Wii!” Nintendo adds a U to their latest gaming console.

And, how are we supposed to drink our coffee in California?

Image from The New York Times

Another natural disaster leaves more than 100 dead and thousands of more without homes.

Someones gotta go! Supreme Court tells California to cut its prison population.

Last laugh: Comedienne turns anti-gay protest into fundraiser for the Gay Men’s Health Crisis organization.

Was it his first choice? Former-RNC Chairman gets a new job…at “liberal” news network.

And, Obama follows his roots back to… Ireland?

Can’t fit your family in your Ferrari? Now you can!

Libya’s unrest is good news for gold owners…bad news for everyone else.

A whole town,Vernon, CA could become “Closed for Business.”

Just as this kooky political campaign season has halted, so has the crazy torrent of money ($3 Billion by some estimates) spent on advertisements, rallies, dinners, and debates.

Many believe this river of money is corrupting our democracy (Thanks in part to a recent supreme court ruling).

How can a candidate stand a chance, let alone win, if they don’t have a war chest worthy of a small nation?

Exhibit A: Meg Whitman’s campaign for Governor of California. Her previous roll as CEO of eBay gave her plenty of cash, $120 million to be exact, to throw at her campaign… her LOSING CAMPAIGN.

Have trouble with BIG numbers? Michael Crowley of Time Magazine explains that

$120 million is enough to buy a half-dozen F-16 fighter jets and about 25 Ferraris—and still grab Christie Brinkley’s recently listed $16 million five-bedroom home in the Hamptons.

Even more impressive is how her spending compares with the top political race, that for the White House.

Throw in the $25 million in donations, and Whitman has spent more than Al Gore’s entire 2000 presidential campaign did.

With Mrs. Whitman spending three times as much as her opponent, Democrat Jerry Brown, how could she lose?

That’s a question she’ll be asking herself as she lost to Mr., make that Governor, Brown.

How is that possible. Democracy in America notes how voters reacted to the candidates personalities with Governor Brown coming

across as unscripted and spontaneous. By contrast, Ms Whitman began seeming like a rote and robotic Powerpoint presentation. Her money, and especially her never-ending and negative attack ads, made her look worse, not better.

Over at Swapland, Michael Scherer sums up Mrs. Whitman’s defeat nicely noting that

capitalism ain’t got nothing on democracy. Voters want to know the person. Candidates are not products.

So next time you tell yourself that in today’s world of slush money and Senators of fortune the people don’t have a choice, remember money will buy you most things, but NOT everything.

In our ongoing coverage of this year’s political ads we thought we’d take a break from the tomfoolery of mudslingers and look at one of this season’s clever (and rare) positive ads.

Sarah Palin is still probably going to go ahead and run for the presidency in 2012. Also, the earth orbits the sun.

“Every speech should begin with a shot of tequila.” A candidate after a college student’s (21+ of course) own heart.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Last week, USDemocrazy kicked off its seminal 2010 election for BEST CAMPAIGN AD (of the year) EVER. This week, we’ve got entry number two for you, brought to our attention thanks to The Washington Post.

In the ad you see above, things get a little theatrical, with Nancy Pelosi portrayed not so kindly as the Wicked Witch of the West from a beloved film, “The Wizard of Oz.”

Spolier alert: John Dennis, challenging Madame Speaker Pelosi for her California congressional seat (who’s got as much of a chance in this race as the lion has courage… pre-Wizard visit). He defeats Pelosi in the ad by throwing on her a nice cold bucket of water that’s labeled “Freedom.”

Do you get it?

Did you like it? Did you think it was silly? It was probably meant to be silly.

D.C.: Prepare ye the way of Glenn Beck, et. al.! The Maine Tea Party has prepared a very helpful guide to navigating D.C. that’s worth your review.

It’ll cost you $80 to snap a pic with Blago. If you had a face like that, you’d charge too.