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Published on Monday, Sep 08, 2008
Clarifying the Cooey case
I want to clarify issues reported in recent articles about Richard Cooey's impending execution. While ''Inmate says he's too fat for penalty'' may make a good headline, the facts behind the story are much different.
As his lawyers in this matter, we are not arguing that Cooey, under the right methods, cannot be executed. Ohio law requires that executions be ''painless.''
While individuals may debate whether an execution should be painless, surely everyone can agree that government officials should be required to follow the law.
Ohio's execution protocol allows for only one set of procedures and dosages; it does not take into account individual variations — such as weight, medical history and vein access — that affect the intravenous drugs.
Prior to filing this lawsuit, we notified the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction about the problems that may arise during an execution because of Cooey's health issues. We received no response from the corrections department.
And that is the point of this litigation: Despite Cooey's obesity, poor vein access and prescribed medication, the department has made no modification to its protocol to ensure that the execution of Cooey will follow Ohio law.
There are methods to successfully deliver drugs (lethal or otherwise) into persons who are obese, have poor peripheral veins or use certain prescription medications.
The state could choose to have trained staff available to place an alternate IV, and could modify its protocol to allow for an adjustment in the amount of drugs administered.
But it seems those responsible for executions in Ohio do not care to follow the law and make adjustments for individual variations.
Medical professionals, including a board-certified anesthesiologist affiliated with Columbia University, have advised Cooey and his lawyers that executing Cooey in accordance with Ohio's current protocol will likely run afoul of Ohio law.
The state legislators who wrote Ohio's execution law mandated that executions be painless. When Ohio executes those condemned to death, is it too much to ask that it follow its own laws?
Timothy Young
Ohio Public Defender
Columbus
Reaction to Palin shows sexism alive and well
Perhaps the nomination of Gov. Sarah Palin as the Republican vice-presidential candidate will force us finally to acknowledge the sexism and hypocrisy endemic to this culture.
Once a woman proves she can talk as well, compute as well, shoot guns and baskets as well as a man — once she proves herself his equal — the only weapon remaining is sexuality. Using sex as a tool of power, either physical or intellectual, is rape.
Suggestions that she is not a fit mother because of her 17-year-old's pregnancy demeans all families similarly situated.
It has already been tacitly admitted that were the tables turned and a male candidate's daughter pregnant outside of marriage, it would not dim his standing as a man or father. That is sexism.
The moment anyone made a remark about Hillary Clinton's cleavage, the primary season was over for her.
I am not a Sarah Palin supporter. I like her story, her grit, her intelligence and what appears to be her massive streak of common sense. However, she, too, is a hypocrite.
If, as a 2007 Pittsburgh Post-Tribune column credits her saying, she believes individuals and families are better able to make personal decisions than the government, she would be pro-choice. That would leave her free to give birth to her precious Trig without making the same decision for another woman.
That would leave her free to teach her children her view of creation without forcing religious views on those who don't share them.
It doesn't inspire confidence in her foreign policy and national security credentials to know that she did not own a passport until, as governor last year, she needed one to visit Alaska National Guard troops in Kuwait and Germany.
It is clear John McCain's choice was made to energize the Republican base. Let's confine our discussion of Sarah Palin to the issues that rightfully are in the public arena and affect us all. That truly would shatter that highest of all glass ceilings.
Sarah Vradenburg
Akron
Cities can't be saved when thugs flourish
I just read Sen. Barack Obama's agenda for saving the cities of Ohio, namely Akron, Cleveland, Canton and Dayton, which have become like Third World nations where no sane person walks the streets after sundown. Obama wants to spend $15 billion to save them.
The people who made the cities viable, those who worked hard, paid taxes, supported businesses, made sure their kids were educated and had civic pride, have been driven out.
They have had to flee from those who do not work, do not pay taxes, trash the free houses they get, steal, murder each other on a whim and could care less if their kids go to school or grow up to be good citizens.
I am from Canton, and I used to ride the bus downtown to the movies, teen dances and the shops.
I used to love going to Myers Lake amusement park and Euclid Beach, but what happened? The thugs and gangs took over and terrorized people, driving them away, so that these good things crumbled and died.
Until the basic problem of changing a thug culture can be solved, why should we taxpayers want to save the cities? Put a fence around them and let them go. This may sound harsh, but it is time for change, and we can begin here with that change.
Not one cent for the bottomless pits we call cities. Not one cent for keeping schools open for those who refuse to use them properly. Not one cent for corrupt mayors and city councils.
Perhaps, when the funds are cut off, they may learn to start over themselves and build back what they have destroyed.
Richard L. Repasky
Medina
Correction
A letter in the Thursday Voice of the People, headlined ''Camping joy relived,'' contained three errors. The day camp at Camp Manatoc was sponsored by the Akron Jewish Center. The letter writer was Mildred Neiman Korach, and she wrote about her summer experience in 1935.
Clarifying the Cooey case
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 08:58 AM, 09/08/2008
What an offensive and totally ignorant comment.
Akron, Oh
Posted 09:32 AM, 09/08/2008
Mr Repasky, The phrase is "couldn't care less" not "could care less"
, ..
Posted 10:26 AM, 09/08/2008
One question for Mr. Repasky. Were you present at the "Klan" gathering last week in St. Paul????
