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Ex-Crips founder and four-time convicted murderer Stanley "Tookie" Williams once wrote about an afternoon in 1976 when he met a young Arnold Schwarzenegger on the Venice Beach boardwalk, and the awestruck future Governor gushed "that Williams' biceps were as big as thighs." We imagine this moment of man-on-man mutual physique appreciation is a memory Schwarzenegger has revisited often as he agonizes over whether or not to grant Williams, who is scheduled for death by legal injection December 13, a rare clemency. Meanwhile, Williams' celebrity supporters are bringing out the big guns:

Rapper Snoop Dogg's bid to keep imprisoned murderer Stanley Williams alive seems to have paid off - California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has agreed to meet with the incarcerated gang boss' legal team.

The hip-hop star asked for clemency in his pal's death sentence when he joined a rally outside San Quentin Prison, California - and performed a song he'd written to pay tribute to Williams.

And Schwarzenegger, who has yet to overturn any death sentences in his term as Governor, has agreed to consider giving the jailed former Crips gang leader the Christmas gift of life.

Schwarzenegger's press secretary Margarita Thompson says, "The Governor reviewed the material in the case this week and he decided the best route is a private clemency hearing, so he can hear directly from counsel."

Whatever you're doing, Snoop, it appears to be working. Just keep rapping from the heart and it won't be long before you penetrate all that intimidating muscle-armor and get to the mushy Arnold interior anyone who has seen Kindergarten Cop knows is in there, somewhere.