The Price of Publicity?

At National Review Online, Radley Balko notes that Florida pain patient Richard Paey, who is serving a 25-year sentence for drug trafficking even though he never trafficked in drugs, seems to have been punished for seeking media attention. After he gave an interview to New York Times columnist John Tierney, he was transferred to a prison farther from his family and threatened with loss of the pain treatment he is receiving through a morphine pump. Paey's supporters are hoping publicity will pressure Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to pardon him.

Comments

Akira MacKenzie | October 28, 2005, 2:42pm | #

Disgusting.

Galius_Persnickety | October 28, 2005, 2:58pm | #

Pardoning a Convicted Drug Trafficker is no way to get re-elected.

SPD | October 28, 2005, 3:16pm | #

If you think either Bushspawn would ever let one of them bad ol' potheads off the hook, you're high.

Larry A | October 28, 2005, 3:17pm | #

It's for the children.

Not Paey's children obviously. And not the children who can't get treatment because they can't afford to admit they're using, and particularly not the children locked up because they got caught.

But some children, somewhere.

How do these people sleep at night?

Nobody Important | October 28, 2005, 3:21pm | #

How do these people sleep at night?
Comment by: Larry A at October 28, 2005 03:17 PM

Sleeping pills?

saw-whet | October 28, 2005, 3:24pm | #

Booze. Lots and lots of booze. And Jesus.

Akira MacKenzie | October 28, 2005, 3:28pm | #

And Jesus.

Yes, you can't forget Jesus in this equation. Remember, if this oh-so-very Christian state got it's say, Terri Schiavo would still be with us, lingering on life support.

Appearently to social conservatives, mercy is for the sinful.

Galius_Persnickety | October 28, 2005, 3:28pm | #

Normally I would be sympathetic toward Paey, but in this case I cannot:
Due to his cybernetically-enhanced mobility, he must be considered a super-criminal, too dangerous to take any chances with.

I would think that the libertarians would have learned this lesson when Davros wreaked havoc across the galaxy, but apparently they're too busy getting high to pay attention.

Akira MacKenzie | October 28, 2005, 3:45pm | #

I would think that the libertarians would have learned this lesson when Davros wreaked havoc across the galaxy, but apparently they're too busy getting high to pay attention.


Exterminate! Exterminate!!! EXTERMINATE!!!

John | October 28, 2005, 4:53pm | #

If Jeb pardons this guy, there will be a prison cell freed up for Nicole.

Akira MacKenzie | October 28, 2005, 4:54pm | #

...or Limbaugh.

RandMan | October 28, 2005, 7:45pm | #

The news on Paey is bad enough. But imagine being that one juror that wanted to vote not guilty, was told that Paey would get probation, voted guilty, then he sees Paey given this outrageous sentence after the verdict is rendered. Have to feel sorry for him, too. Should have stuck to his guns.

On the other hand... | October 28, 2005, 8:03pm | #

Hey Akira Mckenzie!!!

Dude. It seems clear from your post that you thought the Schiavo decision was the correct one - that is, removing the feeding tube. A logical extension of that thought is that you felt that she was, indeed, beyond any feelings of pain as she was truly brain-dead.
So don't try to have it both ways by saying that "Christians/Social Conservatives" would have had her "lingering" on life support. You can't "linger" if their's nobody home.
As for this Paey guy. It sounds pretty messed up and if the information is accurate he's being treated in the worst way by those in power.
Truly shameful.

Otoh...

The Wine Commonsewer | October 29, 2005, 12:33am | #

Now there's a surprise. Piss off the keepers and they screw you around.

Shit rolls down hill. Learnt that in Uncle Sam's Misguided Children.

Repeat after me:

Keep a low profile.............

Jim Walsh | October 29, 2005, 4:11pm | #

It's a powerful story with the potential for some compelling and stimulating conversation.

Naturally, not a single talk host in Florida is touching it.

Instead, they just keep on banging away at Libby, Sheehan, DeLay, etc. because god knows we can't get enough of those stories. (sigh)

dude | October 29, 2005, 9:59pm | #

I want to fucking rip off Jeb's head and piss down his goddamn trachea. Then I can bury him in vomit, and then set it aflame.