Over the years there have been arguments for and against the death penalty. I’ve read about dozens of arguments, from the fact that the death penalty is primarily used against Blacks and minorities to the inhumanity of state sponsored murder. Still I believe that in some cases it is justified.

One such case is the recent death of Richard Cooey. He was responsible for the rape and murder of 2 young women, Wendy Offredo and Dawn McCreery. Both of these women went to the University of Akron. The murders occurred in 1986.

Cooey was convicted and sentenced to death. In 2003 he had his death stayed as appeals were ongoing. That gave him an extra 5 years of life. That is 5 more than he deserved, in my opinion.

But because Cooey gained 75 pounds while he was in prison he tried to yet again have his life saved. His argument was that he was too fat to be killed. And it was considered.

Thankfully this idiocy failed to gain any strength and the judges did not except this feeble excuse. Because I see no problem with his weight. Had Cooey weighed 500 pounds I still would have said he should be killed.

The key here is that because of his obesity Cooey believed he was too heavy to kill with lethal injection. It would be too inhumane to kill him if his veins could not be found. Bollocks.

The reason he was overweight was that he gained 75 pounds while he was in prison. The extended time he was allowed to live gave him the chance to fatten up off of meals. Every bit of food he ate was paid for by taxpayers, and was another moment and morsel more than either Offerdo and McCreery were able to enjoy.

I have no problem with a rapist and murderer being poked and prodded, for hours if need be, until a suitable vein can be found. In fact if they couldn’t find one in his arm, I would have suggested they use his penis.

Even at the execution Cooey had no remorse. His last words were

“For what? You (expletive) haven't paid any attention to anything I've said in the last 22 1/2 years, why would anyone pay any attention to anything I've had to say now.”

That kind of abominable waste of DNA didn’t deserve the pity or time he was able to receive. It’s that kind of crime, and criminal, that makes sense to have a death penalty. And I can only hope that in the future similar criminals never get out of their sentences with some idiotic defense as the one Cooey tried to pull off.

Labels: Dawn McCreery, death penalty, Richard Cooey, University of Akron, Wendy Offredo

Concluded from Pros and Cons of Republican Presidential candidates Part 2...

Mitt Romney

Pros –


• Former Governor
  
• Strong Business Experience
  
• Very Religious
  
• For the Death Penalty
  
• Finish Iraq war
  
• For Privatizing SSI
  
• Waterboarding (Torture ok)
  
• Pro-Education
  
  Cons –
  
  
• Few understand his religion
  
• Flipped Abortion
  
• Flipped gay marriage
  
• Unknown position about minorities
  
• Pro-GPS tracking of convicted criminals for life
  
• Mixed Gun Control
  
• Mixed Immigration policies
  
  
  Fred Thompson
  
  Pros –
  
  
• Former Senator
  
• Anti-abortion
  
• For the Death Penalty
  
• Pro-Education
  
• Anti-Gun Control
  
• Finish Iraq war
  
• Waterboarding (Torture ok)
  
• Reform SSI
  
• No Nukes in Iran
  
• Anti-Flag Burning
  
• Anti-Immigration
  
  Cons –
  
  
• Known for TV/Movie Roles
  
• Mixed on gay marriage
  
• Mixed on Minorities
  

Well there you go. I know I did not include the internet favorite Ron Paul. The fact is that while he may be popular on the net, his views are generally seen as extreme and nutty. He has no real following around the country on any poll. And as for Alan Keyes, where the hell did he come from? Are you kidding?

I hope this helps, because the most important decision in the last 3 decades faces the nation in this next election. In my opinion the Presidential Race of 2008 will determine the direction of the country for the next decade or longer, and most of the things done will be irreversible.

Your vote counts, don’t give it frivolously or cheaply.

Labels: death penalty, Fred Thompson, immigration policies, Iraq War, Mitt Romney, political issues, Presidential candidates, republican candidates, tax policy, waterboarding

Continued from Pros and Cons of Republican Presidential candidates Part 1...

Mike Huckabee

Pros –


• Governor
  
• Anti-abortion
  
• For the Death Penalty
  
• Finish Iraq war
  
• Anti-gay marriage
  
• For Privatizing SSI
  
• Anti-Gun Control
  
• Very Religious
  
• Fair Tax
  
• Pro Education
  
• Decent Minority Rights
  
• Against 3 strikes laws
  
  Cons –
  
  
• Virtually unknown to the general public
  
• Very Religious
  
• Anti-Torture
  
• Ok with Pathway to Citizenship
  
• Fuzzy on Immigration in general
  
  
  Senator John McCain
  
  Pros –
  
  
• For the Death Penalty
  
• Anti-Torture (he has huge conviction and reasons)
  
• Current Senator – Long term position
  
• Military Hero
  
• Anti-gay marriage
  
• Anti-Gun Control
  
• Strongly Finish Iraq war
  
• For Privatizing SSI
  
• Anti-Flag Burning
  
• Pro-Minority Bills
  
• Limit Judges Legislating
  
  Cons –
  
  
• Flipped on Abortion
  
• Mixed on Education
  
• Anti-Torture
  
• Pro-Pathway to Citizenship
  
• Pro-Immigration Reform
  

Continued in part 3...

Labels: death penalty, immigration policies, Iraq War, Mike Huckabee, political issues, Presidential candidates, republican candidates, Senator John McCain, tax policy, waterboarding

Not long ago I created a list of Pros and Cons of the leading Democratic Presidential candidates. To be fair and to see the differences I have complied a Pros and Con list for the leading major Republican candidates.

I do not presume that this list is all-encompassing. I recognize that while I have tried to be neutral, just as I was with the Democrats, I’m sure there are areas where my personal views entered. I do not claim my list is complete or how everyone feels. But I believe it is accurate.

Some issues may fall on both sides, because depending on personal views it is a positive or negative. Most are far more easily categorized. If you disagree, please make a comment and give your reasons why. You may be right, so why not share your thoughts?

You can see some of my source information at On The Issues and 2008 Election ProCon.

Now for the breakdowns (in alphabetical order):

Rudy Giuliani

Pros –


• 9/11
  
• For the Death Penalty
  
• Finish Iraq war
  
• No Nuke Iran
  
• Waterboarding (Torture ok)
  
• Mayor of largest U.S. City
  
• Lower taxes
  
  Cons –
  
  
• Mixed on Gun Control
  
• No International experience
  
• Flipped on gay marriage
  
• Mayor was highest level of public service experience
  
• Relies heavily on 9/11
  
• Flipped on Immigration policies
  
• Horrendous Civil Liberties (Amidou Diallo, Patrick Dorismond, ect)
  
• Sold out 42nd Street to corporations
  

Continued in Part 2...

Labels: death penalty, immigration policies, Iraq War, political issues, Presidential candidates, republican candidates, Rudy Giuliani, tax policy, waterboarding