APPLAUSE FOR POLS WHO INVOKE THE DEATH PENALTY -- WHAT'S NEW ABOUT THAT?

We seem to be surprised at the reaction to Rick Perry's death penalty talk at last night's debate -- Will Bunch's post on the subject is headlined "Cheering Death: A Pathetic New Low in American Politics" -- but it's nothing new at all, really:

2004:

LARRY KING: Why do you favor capital punishment?

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS: Because I think there are some crimes... those men who dragged James Byrd behind that truck in Texas, they deserve the death penalty. ( Applause ) and I think there are some crimes that deserve the ultimate punishment.

1998:

"Views of the death penalty are deeply held, and I respect the right of each of you to vote your conscience on this issue. But I believe that there are murders so heinous that the ultimate penalty is warranted, and I believe our laws should cover them," Shaheen said to applause.

1995:

IN this season, when rulers often proclaim amnesties or commute sentences, the loudest applause that interrupted Gov. George E. Pataki's inaugural speech came when he said he would soon fulfill his campaign promise to restore the death penalty.

1994:

The loudest applause came after Weld proposed the death penalty for cop-killers.

1989:

In Wilmington, Mr. Bush drew applause when he reiterated that he wanted ''increased prison sentences for drug-related crimes'' and the ''death penalty for drug kingpins and those who commit drug-related murders.''

Those are just some of the rounds of applause I found in response to statements by politicians -- not all conservatives by any means, and not all Republicans. People cheer the death penalty all the time in this country. Maybe it's new that Americans are cheering death in bulk, but I'm not even sure about that.