Comments on: Alito’s First At Bat … http://donklephant.com/2006/02/02/alitos-first-at-bat/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:03:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Meredith http://donklephant.com/2006/02/02/alitos-first-at-bat/comment-page-1/#comment-6104 Meredith Mon, 06 Feb 2006 19:50:19 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=1773#comment-6104 Debsay, When I say totally paralysed, I mean totally unable to move. The first chemical that is injected is an anesthesia, Sodium Thiopental. If administered correctly, it will anesthetize the person for a few minutes. Next, they inject the chemical, Pancuronium Bromide, which paralyses the skeletal muscles, including the diaphragm, which stops the person's breathing. The last chemical, Potassium Chloride is used to cause cardiac arrest. The problems enter the equation when the person has not been properly anesthetized, and then, because of the paralyzing drug, it appears the person is dying peacefully. Somestimes the chemicals are not administered properly, sometimes they are shot into an artery instead of a vein, sometimes the chemicals are not mixed up properly, etc., but there have been enough botched cases (40% cited by the Washington Post, www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54799-2005Apr14.html) that there has been a call for a moratorium, and the death penalty in the form of lethal injection is being constitutionally challenged on the basis that it violates the 8th Amendment's prohibition on Cruel and Unusual Punishment. For more info about how lethal injection works, I would suggest Googling "lethal injection" with "pain," "problems," and/or "how it works". Debsay,

When I say totally paralysed, I mean totally unable to move. The first chemical that is injected is an anesthesia, Sodium Thiopental. If administered correctly, it will anesthetize the person for a few minutes. Next, they inject the chemical, Pancuronium Bromide, which paralyses the skeletal muscles, including the diaphragm, which stops the person’s breathing. The last chemical, Potassium Chloride is used to cause cardiac arrest.

The problems enter the equation when the person has not been properly anesthetized, and then, because of the paralyzing drug, it appears the person is dying peacefully. Somestimes the chemicals are not administered properly, sometimes they are shot into an artery instead of a vein, sometimes the chemicals are not mixed up properly, etc., but there have been enough botched cases (40% cited by the Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54799-2005Apr14.html) that there has been a call for a moratorium, and the death penalty in the form of lethal injection is being constitutionally challenged on the basis that it violates the 8th Amendment’s prohibition on Cruel and Unusual Punishment.

For more info about how lethal injection works, I would suggest Googling “lethal injection” with “pain,” “problems,” and/or “how it works”.

]]> By: debsay http://donklephant.com/2006/02/02/alitos-first-at-bat/comment-page-1/#comment-6102 debsay Mon, 06 Feb 2006 19:20:29 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=1773#comment-6102 "For whatever reason the man decided the stay should not be lifted, I am glad that Taylor was not executed. I am, of course, anti-death penalty, and I do think lethal injection is cruel and unusual punishment. The reason is that one of the first needles they give you causes total paralysis, but it does not keep the person from feeling pain. The result is that we see a totally still and calm body dying peacefully, but the reality is that the person is experiencing agonizing pain and just can’t express that." Exactly what 'agonizing pain' is that? If a person is 'totally paralysed' can they feel anything??? “For whatever reason the man decided the stay should not be lifted, I am glad that Taylor was not executed. I am, of course, anti-death penalty, and I do think lethal injection is cruel and unusual punishment. The reason is that one of the first needles they give you causes total paralysis, but it does not keep the person from feeling pain. The result is that we see a totally still and calm body dying peacefully, but the reality is that the person is experiencing agonizing pain and just can’t express that.”

Exactly what ‘agonizing pain’ is that? If a person is ‘totally paralysed’ can they feel anything???

]]> By: DosPeros http://donklephant.com/2006/02/02/alitos-first-at-bat/comment-page-1/#comment-6025 DosPeros Fri, 03 Feb 2006 14:48:49 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=1773#comment-6025 Fair enough - The recent dissent by Scalia in Gonzalez v. Oregon I believe is an example of some "right-wing" "activism". Fair enough – The recent dissent by Scalia in Gonzalez v. Oregon I believe is an example of some “right-wing” “activism”.

]]> By: Justin Gardner http://donklephant.com/2006/02/02/alitos-first-at-bat/comment-page-1/#comment-6020 Justin Gardner Fri, 03 Feb 2006 05:24:29 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=1773#comment-6020 Note the (heh) at the end of that sentence. A joke and a poke at the right-wing definition of "activist" judges as anything having to do with ruling for things that the left-wing champions. Note the (heh) at the end of that sentence. A joke and a poke at the right-wing definition of “activist” judges as anything having to do with ruling for things that the left-wing champions.

]]> By: DosPeros http://donklephant.com/2006/02/02/alitos-first-at-bat/comment-page-1/#comment-6015 DosPeros Fri, 03 Feb 2006 03:24:27 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=1773#comment-6015 "Now I simply have my fingers crossed that he won’t take the court in an activist direction." What does "activist" mean to you Justin? “Now I simply have my fingers crossed that he won’t take the court in an activist direction.” What does “activist” mean to you Justin?

]]> By: Justin Gardner http://donklephant.com/2006/02/02/alitos-first-at-bat/comment-page-1/#comment-6014 Justin Gardner Fri, 03 Feb 2006 01:00:32 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=1773#comment-6014 People, one decision by Alito proves NOTHING. I, for one, hope he maintains O'Connor's swing vote, but I'm not going to be able to tell for probably several years. But one thing is for sure: he's in for life. Now I simply have my fingers crossed that he won't take the court in an activist direction (heh). People, one decision by Alito proves NOTHING. I, for one, hope he maintains O’Connor’s swing vote, but I’m not going to be able to tell for probably several years.

But one thing is for sure: he’s in for life. Now I simply have my fingers crossed that he won’t take the court in an activist direction (heh).

]]> By: Alan Stewart Carl http://donklephant.com/2006/02/02/alitos-first-at-bat/comment-page-1/#comment-6013 Alan Stewart Carl Thu, 02 Feb 2006 23:08:50 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=1773#comment-6013 I have found that people who lean right tend to view liberals as silly at best, insane at worst while people who lean left tend to view conservatives as callous at best and evil at worst. It's very odd. Conservatives=nefarious. Liberals=crazy. But I've never detected anything but the slightest tendancies towards those caricatures over here at Donklephant. I have found that people who lean right tend to view liberals as silly at best, insane at worst while people who lean left tend to view conservatives as callous at best and evil at worst. It’s very odd. Conservatives=nefarious. Liberals=crazy.

But I’ve never detected anything but the slightest tendancies towards those caricatures over here at Donklephant.

]]> By: annonymous http://donklephant.com/2006/02/02/alitos-first-at-bat/comment-page-1/#comment-5999 annonymous Thu, 02 Feb 2006 19:47:01 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=1773#comment-5999 I like this site. The authors, for the most part, are intelligent and fair, and I try to stop by daily. But why is it that the conservative authors (i.e. Denise Best and Callimachus) feel the need to be so sarcastic and scornful when talking about liberals? It really takes away from their arguments, and I feel it goes against the spirit of Donklephant. So please, just make your argument without all the "ooh, look at the silly little liberals making fun of Chimpy McHalliburton" sarcasm. I like this site. The authors, for the most part, are intelligent and fair, and I try to stop by daily. But why is it that the conservative authors (i.e. Denise Best and Callimachus) feel the need to be so sarcastic and scornful when talking about liberals? It really takes away from their arguments, and I feel it goes against the spirit of Donklephant.

So please, just make your argument without all the “ooh, look at the silly little liberals making fun of Chimpy McHalliburton” sarcasm.

]]> By: Blue Neponset http://donklephant.com/2006/02/02/alitos-first-at-bat/comment-page-1/#comment-5993 Blue Neponset Thu, 02 Feb 2006 18:00:45 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=1773#comment-5993 Wow, it looks like Bush broke his promise to nominate Judges in the mold of Scalia and Thomas. I love it when he throws his Conservative base under the Bus like that. It appears Alito is a Souter in Scalia clothing. Wow, it looks like Bush broke his promise to nominate Judges in the mold of Scalia and Thomas. I love it when he throws his Conservative base under the Bus like that. It appears Alito is a Souter in Scalia clothing.

]]> By: Meredith http://donklephant.com/2006/02/02/alitos-first-at-bat/comment-page-1/#comment-5988 Meredith Thu, 02 Feb 2006 16:34:52 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=1773#comment-5988 For whatever reason the man decided the stay should not be lifted, I am glad that Taylor was not executed. I am, of course, anti-death penalty, and I do think lethal injection is cruel and unusual punishment. The reason is that one of the first needles they give you causes total paralysis, but it does not keep the person from feeling pain. The result is that we see a totally still and calm body dying peacefully, but the reality is that the person is experiencing agonizing pain and just can't express that. For whatever reason the man decided the stay should not be lifted, I am glad that Taylor was not executed. I am, of course, anti-death penalty, and I do think lethal injection is cruel and unusual punishment. The reason is that one of the first needles they give you causes total paralysis, but it does not keep the person from feeling pain. The result is that we see a totally still and calm body dying peacefully, but the reality is that the person is experiencing agonizing pain and just can’t express that.

]]> By: Chris http://donklephant.com/2006/02/02/alitos-first-at-bat/comment-page-1/#comment-5985 Chris Thu, 02 Feb 2006 15:50:12 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=1773#comment-5985 There could be many reasons for the ruling, and I think trying to say that this indicates anything about the man is ridiculous. Among other things, Taylor is claiming that lethal injection is cruel and unusual punishment. Alito may want the case to go forward so the SCOTUS can shoot down that argument for all future cases. Or he may have even wanted to make a relatively minor ruling that would enable the Denise Best's of the world to claim that this somehow means that those who felt he would pursue a right wing agenda were wrong. There could be many reasons for the ruling, and I think trying to say that this indicates anything about the man is ridiculous. Among other things, Taylor is claiming that lethal injection is cruel and unusual punishment. Alito may want the case to go forward so the SCOTUS can shoot down that argument for all future cases. Or he may have even wanted to make a relatively minor ruling that would enable the Denise Best’s of the world to claim that this somehow means that those who felt he would pursue a right wing agenda were wrong.

]]>