Today’s video of the day is a great television special about Mos Def, who recently traveled to Japan while promoting and performing his latest album.

Today’s video of the day comes from MSNBC’s Live, where we discussed the future of Sarah Palin.

On Tuesday, John Allen Muhammad, the D.C. sniper, was put to death by lethal injection. While many have celebrated the execution, I am left with a profound sense of sadness and disappointment at our continued use of the death penalty — rather than life in prison — as a form of justice. Like most humans, I struggle to find any sympathy for Muhammad. Instead, my heart goes out to the 13 innocent people murdered or wounded by Muhammad, as well as the millions of citizens who were placed in a 20-day state of terror because of the heartless assassin. Still, I refuse to allow my moral outrage to degenerate into rage and bloodlust.

While some focus on the moral dimensions of the death penalty per se, I make no such argument. In all honesty, I remain conflicted about whether “eye for an eye” justice has a rightful place in a civilized society. No, my concerns are far more pragmatic. How can a nation with such a deeply flawed criminal justice system feel comfortable doling out the most extreme and irreversible punishment imaginable? How can we continue to use state-sanctioned murder as a crime deterrent when all evidence says that it doesn’t work? While the Muhammad case is a clear-cut instance of guilt, our laws must reflect the broad range of death penalty cases that are far more circumstantial and murky.

Right now, many of you are saying “If it were your loved one murdered by Muhammad you’d feel differently.” While that is probably true, it is hardly the point. If I were personally connected to such a tragedy, I would be craving vengeance rather than justice. I would not be my best self. I would not have the moral clarity to make or impose justice. And I would hope that someone would have the courage and character to demand more from me, and from our society. Without such intervention, we would all fail to realize our full moral potential.

Today’s video of the day comes from BET Hip-Hop Awards, where Mos Def, Black Thought, and Eminem go in on a “freestyle” cypher. Whose verse was hotter?

How do you feel about the successful protest of Rush Limbaugh’s attempt to buy a minority stake in the St. Louis Rams?

In general, I am reluctant to deny opportunity to individuals based on their political beliefs. After all, dissenting opinions and rigorous debate are central to sustaining rich public conversation. In the case of Limbaugh, however, this is not about free speech. This is about a private organization, the NFL, deciding that a prospective owner is bad for business. Because of his inflammatory comments as a political pundit, as well as specific remarks about African-American football players, Limbaugh would be the object of perennial scrutiny, protest and boycotting, none of which are good for the collective profit-making that drives NFL owners.

Yesterday’s polls suggest that, for the first time, a majority of Americans disagree with President Obama’s politics. What happened?

Three things. First, Obama is a victim of an economic crisis that makes it hard for any president’s policies to be popular. Second, he allowed Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, two of America’s most divisive figures, to be responsible for a foreseeably controversial health care bill. Finally, the Republicans have developed a simple but effective strategy of blocking every effort Obama makes without offering any real solutions themselves. As a result, Obama, like Reagan, is becoming a wildly popular president with very unpopular policies. Not to worry though, a successful health care bill, and good news in Afghanistan, could turn those numbers around quickly.

Who will win the World Series?

The Yankees have the best team in baseball, but I’m going to pick my hometown Philadelphia Phillies in six games. To quote Rudy Tomjanovich, “Never underestimate the heart of a champion.”