Bleeding heart conservatives
The political intrusion into the Terri Schiavo case is nothing short of sickening. The parents now seem to have found allies in anyone that wants to further there careers on the back of a brain-dead woman. The presence of anti-abortion activists aligning themselves with the Schindler's is telling. What the hell are the Republicans trying to pull? How can a party that claims to be based on the need for less government intrusion into people's lives, advocate against a citizens wishes and force her to be kept alive? The Washington Post stated a memo distributed to Republican senators said the Schiavo situation is "a great political issue" that could pay dividends with Christian conservatives in the 2006 elections.
DeLay has weighed in on the argument with this gem: "Obviously every hour counts and time is not on Terri Schiavo's side. The few remaining objections of House Democrats have so far cost Mrs. Schiavo two meals already today, and no fluids, and now we hope to resolve this in time for her to get some food and water tonight."
Last night Bush made the following statement, "In cases like this one, where there are serious questions and substantial doubts, our society, our laws and our courts should have a presumption in favor of life". Not a single court appointed doctor in 13 trials has expressed any doubt or questions about the possibility of Terri's recovery. The full text of the bill passed last night can be found here.
AP described the following scene outside the hospice, "A crowd of about 50 people prayed and sang. One man played Amazing Grace on a trumpet, as a pickup truck pulled a trailer bearing 10-foot-high replicas of the stone Ten Commandments tablets and a huge working version of the Liberty Bell." Here come the evangelicals. Let's see if our court system has the fortitude to put them back in their place.
A friend made the following observation, "The fact that there was a broader bill that would allow the federal courts to serve as a guardian for all incapacitated persons is unprecedented. State courts have sole jurisdiction over these issues. In fact- maybe Congress forgets, but there is a Domestic Relations Exception doctrine (in the federal court system) which holds that federal courts will not hear cases arising from domestic disputes, there is ultimate deference to state courts on matters within personal relationships."
I'm really struggling to understand exactly what the Republican party is trying to stand for. They don't have an interest in lowering the deficit, creating jobs, fiscal conservation or less government. Maybe the Schiavo case is the bone Bush is going to throw Christian conservatives for his election win. I hope it's the bone they break their teeth on. It's already looking unpopular with Americans.
DeLay has weighed in on the argument with this gem: "Obviously every hour counts and time is not on Terri Schiavo's side. The few remaining objections of House Democrats have so far cost Mrs. Schiavo two meals already today, and no fluids, and now we hope to resolve this in time for her to get some food and water tonight."
Last night Bush made the following statement, "In cases like this one, where there are serious questions and substantial doubts, our society, our laws and our courts should have a presumption in favor of life". Not a single court appointed doctor in 13 trials has expressed any doubt or questions about the possibility of Terri's recovery. The full text of the bill passed last night can be found here.
AP described the following scene outside the hospice, "A crowd of about 50 people prayed and sang. One man played Amazing Grace on a trumpet, as a pickup truck pulled a trailer bearing 10-foot-high replicas of the stone Ten Commandments tablets and a huge working version of the Liberty Bell." Here come the evangelicals. Let's see if our court system has the fortitude to put them back in their place.
A friend made the following observation, "The fact that there was a broader bill that would allow the federal courts to serve as a guardian for all incapacitated persons is unprecedented. State courts have sole jurisdiction over these issues. In fact- maybe Congress forgets, but there is a Domestic Relations Exception doctrine (in the federal court system) which holds that federal courts will not hear cases arising from domestic disputes, there is ultimate deference to state courts on matters within personal relationships."
I'm really struggling to understand exactly what the Republican party is trying to stand for. They don't have an interest in lowering the deficit, creating jobs, fiscal conservation or less government. Maybe the Schiavo case is the bone Bush is going to throw Christian conservatives for his election win. I hope it's the bone they break their teeth on. It's already looking unpopular with Americans.
posted by mochi at 7:00 AM
9 Comments:
Save Terri!
Making up laws with one particular individual in mind, just to suit themselves is enough to make me want to change political parties! What's next?
"The Vatican newspaper on Monday criticized the removal of a feeding tube from a brain-damaged Florida woman, saying nobody can claim the right to decide whether a human being lives or dies...."
OK now seriously, check yourself on this statement: nobody can claim that right whether a human being "LIVES OR DIES!!" By removing that "ARTIFICIAL" feeding tube, no one but your God who you are so hopelessly devoted to, and fear endlessly, will decide what happens. In this case, the Liberals are the ones with morals, and your so-called "conservative" values. You guys are truly the ones out of touch with reality. Fucking hypocrites.
Last week, yes, last week, a Texas judge pulled the plug on a six month old baby DESPITE the pleas from the mother.
The baby and mother are black, so that might explain why Bush and his party don't care.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3087387
I hadn't seen this. Definitely worth posting, if you don't mind...
Mochi, what you are saying would have merit if Terry were "brain dead" like you said. However, although she is severely brain damaged, she is not brain dead. This is not a case of someone unconcious and hooked up to a respirator. This person is responsive. She may have the brain of the child, but she has a brain that is certainly not dead. There is nothing unethical about unplugging a life support machine for someone who is brain dead. But removing a feeding tube from someone who is responsive but brain damaged is horribly sick. Are we going to go and remove the feeding tubes from all of the severely physically retarded people? This is sad. It is reminessant of the Nazis who killed the disabled. Please view some of the videos that are floating around and the audio that Drudge played last night.
Sorry Glen but I disagree.
This is from wikipedia:
"Most of Schiavo's cerebral cortex has been completely destroyed, replaced by spinal fluid; Dr. Ron Cranford, a neurologist at the University of Minnesota assessed Schiavo's brain function in 2001 as part of a court-ordered assessment. He was quoted in Florida Today as saying "[Schiavo] has no electrical activity in her cerebral cortex on an EEG (electroencephalogram), and a CT (computerized tomography) scan showed massive atrophy in that region."
By definition lack of electrical activity on an EEG indicates brain death. I'm sure Mens News Daily and Drudge will tell you otherwise, but I believe doctors are most probably best placed to make this diagnosis.
This isn't the only doctor who has an opinion on this case. Many others have offered different opinions. In any event, all we are doing is allowing her to get a hearing in federal court. It is not like Congress passed a bill putting her feeding tube back in. Mochi, I know that you are a good person. I disagree with your ideas but I know that your heart is right. However, I am very surprised at your position here. I mean we are talking about starving someone to death. This person has the ability to breath on her own and she smiles and grunts when her parents are talking to her, and we are going to kill her by depriving her of food.
If I thought she had brain activity and had the ability to suffer then of course I wouldn't be in favor of dehydrating her to death. Not one court appointed doctor has disputed the opinion I referenced.
Just like there are scientists that will tell you the Greenhouse Effect doesn't exist, there are doctors that will give you any opinion you are seeking for a fee. If these doctors were paid by the defense I would be skeptical, but they weren't. They are impartial. Only doctors that have been paid by the Schindler's have made your argument.
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