Gov. Bush May Appeal Schiavo Decision

[wicket]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=6&u=/ap/20040924/ap_on_he_me/brain_damaged_woman_12

Attorneys for Gov. Jeb Bush said he may appeal the decision by the Florida Supreme Court (news - web sites) that struck down a law created to keep a severely brain-damaged woman hooked to a feeding tube.

The seven-member court unanimously ruled Thursday that Bush and lawmakers improperly tried to pull an end-run around the court system in the case of Terri Schiavo, who has been at the center of a long and bitter right-to-die dispute that pits her husband against his in-laws.

Bush has 10 days to ask for a rehearing. Either action could stop, at least temporarily, any attempt to remove the tube.

As early as 2000, lower courts had ruled that Michael Schiavo could have his wife's feeding tube removed. But last October, the Legislature passed "Terri's Law" to override the courts, and Bush quickly invoked it to order the tube reinserted, six days after it had been withdrawn.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. I don't get it, WHAT'S IT TO HIM!?

Why does he insist that the woman be forced to live (and I use that term VERY loosely, considering her state)?

[A_Possum]

2. This is obviously important to him morally

So he's poking his fat nose into it as hard as he can.

His bro killing kids in Iraq and our soldiers getting blown to pieces, well, that's just Georgie's business. Who cares?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

4. It's not his moral dilemma though.

It's the Schiavo family's. Aren't Republicans supposed to want the government OUT of our lives?

[slackmaster]

16. It comes as no surprise to me

Aren't Republicans supposed to want the government OUT of our lives?

I think most of us here recognize that as the core hypocrisy of Republicanism as it exists today. The Bushes are not my late grandmother's GOP.

[coreystone]

22. These ARE NOT Republicans!

They only hide behind a shield of a political history in this country which has "BASTARDIZED" any positive connotation to the GOP. It sickens me as a life time independent to observe how well the American public has been deceived by the label!!

:puke:

[slackmaster]

23. Invasion of the Brain Snatchers?

That was an early sketch on Saturday Night Live. Everyone who was going to vote for Ronald Reagan had weird-looking pods in their houses.

:D

[janx]

42. You're right about that.

They're the neo Republicans.

[Arianrhod]

45. Of course they're Republicans.

The Party has been deliberately moving in this direction for 30 years, as many on DU have pointed out numerous times.

Although I certainly didn't foresee the specifics, much of what's happening today is no real surprise to me. I've been arguing against Creationists, Fundamentalists, Ayn Randians, libertarians, laissez faire fanatics, and Deconstructionists for over 25 years. What we're seeing today is simply the implementation of what these groups have been advocating ever since they lost Vietnam.

[saigon68]

28. Republicans want the government OUT of their lives

When it comes to creating water pollution

Using undocumented $3.00 an hour labor in their factories

Putting taxes on corporations

Along with the Bush Criminals most Repukes want government to stay the hell away from their making obscene corporate profits.

[janx]

43. Not anymore! n/t

[atreides1]

10. Morals and Bush, is an Oxymoron

Morals, from a man whose wife tried to smuggle in $20,000 in jewelry into the country, whose daughter tried to get prescription medication with a fraudulent prescription. One son who was caught having sex with with a teenage girl in the parking lot of a shopping mall, and the other son who after driving on the lawn of an ex-girlfriend's house tried to break into the same house.


Bush family values and morals at its best.

[Judi Lynn]

14. The word "morally" might be a stretch!

How about substituting "politically?" Now you're talkin'.

If you're not squeamish, look at the top three photos of Allen Lee Davis, who was electrocuted in Jeb Bush's electric chair, "Big Sparky."

http://www.ccadp.org/tinydavis.htm

Everyone seemed to have a damned fine laugh upon learning that flames shot up and on top of his head during the process. Comments were made that he'd been a vicious murderer, himself. The implication is that if you can catch these guys, it simply doesn't matter what you do to them, the sky's the limit. That's their Bible-waving verdict.

Are they colossal hypocrites? Are they vicious bastards pretending to be civilized? Do they make people sick when they simper, and coo, and yammer over causes they believe are "just?" There IS no justice if the people doling it out are vicious savages posturing as human beings.

[karlrschneider]

20. It doesn't mean shit "morally" to him...it's pandering to the rightwingnut

fundy moron assholes.

[Demoiselle]

25. Not JEB's own morals...

He's doing this to keep the single issue far right right to lifers in his pocket, that's all.

[wicket]

26. It's sickening how he is using this woman as a pawn!

:grr: :grr:

[montanacowboy]

3. It's the right to lifers --

you must stay alive at all costs,no matter what the suffering - all fetuses must be protected, all vegetative state persons must be protected so they can continue to suffer -- except if we execute you or have you slaughtered in illegal wars, that's different

hypocritical bastards all of them

[dryan]

6. I know....

Mr. Schiavo's aunt and uncle. They are friends of mine. The whole family is torn up about this situation. I don't believe in euthenasia but the governor is trying to politicize a tragedy for this family.

[snippy]

24. "It's the right to lifers -- you must stay alive at all costs." Unless

you are poor and need healthcare.

[Changenow]

35. You must stay alive at all cost if you are white and come from a

family that can afford the life sustaining treatments.

There is no moral dilemma about allowing a cancer patient die because he can't afford medical care. That is a life that's, well, not worth saving. Providing medical care is a moral imperative only when a particular, special, life is in jeopardy. The right sees no moral obligation to protect all life.

The hypocrisy in this case is more stunning than ordinary Republican hypocrisy.

[atreides1]

5. Watch Out

You're about to stir up a hornets nest on this subject.

In my opinion, her quality of life is questionable, and speaking for myself I wouldn't want to be kept alive like this.

If her parents are truly Christian, then they need to let her go, not because they don't love her, but because they do. I know if it were me I would let my child go, to her reward, instead of thinking only of myself and what I wanted.:(

[wicket]

9. As Christians, wouldn't they want her to get to heaven quicker??

I don't see how making the poor woman suffer any longer on this earth does any good :(

[karlrschneider]

21. Well, it's a VERY rare "christian" that wouldn't expend any means to

keep from "goin' ta hebbin" if their own life is on the line. It's ironic the only ones who REALLY trust in praying are the ones who won't take their kids to a doctor...and they often croak. I think they should be strung up, but have to admit I understand their 'faith' somewhat (which of course I think is stupid.)

[Big Swing]

37. It's her choice

I haven't heard anyone mention that it was her desire to use the $$$ for rehab - not fighting a legal battle to end her life. Her hubby is going directly against her wishes. He was supposed to use every penny of that money to try to revive her, and he's disrespected her legal rights and wishes. Point blank.

[janx]

46. And how, exactly, did she get this point across to people?

?

[atreides1]

47. Her Husband Sued, In Her Name

Actually it would be kind of difficult for the lady to make her desires known when she was already in the state she's in when the lawsuit was finalized.

And yes the money was supposed to be used for rehabilitation, but where was it in writing, did the court order that the money be used
for her rehab, no.

Her husband stated that he was going to use the money for rehabilitation, but then placed her in a facility that did not have rehab facilities.

First of all, you can't revive someone who might be brain dead, and if he had placed her in rehab, do you think the State of Florida would have taken over once the money ran out. She would have ended up in the same situation she's in now.

It's up to God now, not the courts, not her parents, not Jeb Bush, not even her husband, God has the final say.

[MUSTANG_2004]

39. Yes, but the husband shouldn't have pushed

He tried to get the feeding tube removed against the parents' wishes. If they hadn't been pushed, it is entirely possible that given some time they would have reached the point where they could let her go.

Without a living will, I'm uncomfortable in stopping feeding someone without both spouse and parents agreeing to it.

[LiberalFighter]

44. It should be what their child wants... not what they want

Are they even thinking about what their daughter is feeling? Are they thinking about how useless she would think in her situation? What she would be telling them?

How about what it is doing to them? Do they think their daughter wants them to anquish over her like this?

I wouldn't want to be kept alive like this either. There is a limit as far as what doctors should do in keeping one alive. One reason I would not want to be kept alive indefinitely would be to allow my will and other death related financial actions to be initiated. The sooner it is done the sooner my wishes would be completed.

[tom_paine]

7. Gotta keep pandering to the Witch-Burners

Even if it means keeping a vegatative husk hanging on in limbo, what does Prince Jeb care about a "Fodder Unit", as they like to call the Imperial Subjects of Amerika.

[BiggJawn]

8. What a sad case...

Her husband wants to let her "go", others think she's gonna someday wake up and go "Wow, I look like HELL! is Bill Clinton still being impeached?"
And Jebbie Bush, in an effort to pander for Fundy nut-job votes, is sticking his nose in.

i saw something today in the paper where they claim that she "smiles", thus is aware and happy....Looks like involuntary grimaces to me...

Another dig in the consciousness to get off my ass and get that "living will" thing done....

[wicket]

11. living will

Right on about that, I definitely need to get one too. My family knows I would never want to live like that, and I know they would never do that to me if god forbid something horrible happens like it did to Mrs. Schiavo, but it's best to get it in writing any way. Saves someone having to make the heart-wrenching decision.

[BiggJawn]

17. Also saves the trouble of fundies trying to read your mind...

"Oh, I'm SURE he would want no effort spared to save him! Why, with the advances in medicine happening every day, he could be back on his bike within a month of waking up! Doesn't he deserve that chance?"

Bull. Coma, "Vegative State", that shit ain't "living".

Same thing for Alzheimers.

[wicket]

18. Alzheimers is hell

I've lost 2 aunts to it, wouldn't wish that disease on my worst enemy.

[short bus president]

31. Sadder than that, even.

She wouldn't likely have a clue who Bill Clinton is. She may or may not have seen the Berlin Wall come down. Her PVS has been that long.

[janx]

41. Yep. Fourteen years. n/t

[MUSTANG_2004]

38. Sad and pretty nasty

The problem is that Terri Schiavo's parents think she's responsive, the husband and most doctors say not.

To complicate it, she was awarded a large sum of money in a malpractice lawsuit. During the court testimony, her husband said the money would be used for her care and therapy. Shortly after receiving the money, he said she had said she wouldn't want to be kept alive and that he was going to have her feeding tubes removed.

[maxsolomon]

12. death is a part of life

by not letting her die, her parents, the courts, gov. bush are NOT LETTING HER LIVE.

[whistle]

13. Can somebody please explain what business this issue is of...

...Gov Jeb Bush's?

[wicket]

15. he's trying to be a martyr or something

I think he needs to butt the hell out and let Mrs. Sciavo's wishes (to not be kept alive artifically) be followed.

[TexasSissy]

19. Of course he will. Did anyone think he wouldn't? By announcing

it this way, maybe he's testing the waters to see how strongly his base feels about it (as if he needs to ask THAT).

[liberalcanuck]

36. Bingo! A little test of the water to probe for a reaction - a sort of

quick poll. Hey, it doesn't matter that it's morally reprehensible that he's politicizing what must be an agonizingly difficult decision -- gotta deliver the state to dimson number one dontchaknow!

Can someone please pinch me? This is a crazy country we live in, isn't it?

:wtf:

[janx]

40. "...lawyers say he MAY..."

That's exactly what he's doing. Jebby and the whole Florida legislature were saturated with right-wing fundies last time when they wrote this law, most of whom were not even from Florida.

[wicket]

27. kick!

:kick:

[napi21]

29. Who does he have to appeal this to? SCOTUS?

Or does he have to go to a Fed apelate court first? I hate this happening to ANYONE! Dear God, if I was that poor woman...

I have a living will, and I suggest everyone have one, but this is so very unfair to her.

[Hepburn]

33. There does not appear to be a federal question IMO...

...so WTF is he gonna appeal this to? He is at the highest court of his state. It's not like going to a Federal Court is an automatic thing and just some higher kind of appeal - there have to be federal issues involed and in this case...it was about the functioning of a state constitution. I am trying to think of a NEW federal/Const issue that this case might present, but IMO Marbury vs. Madison seems to have taken care of that issue way back about 200 years ago. Maybe the newspapers misspoke and meant he was going to request a rehearing, but that is not exactly an appeal.

Sheesh, maybe I should just chalk it up to Jebbie being mega stupid and not knowing WTF he was talking about.

[skooooo]

30. Why doesn't Jeb donate his brain to her??

He's not using it himself ...

[Princess Turandot]

32. At some point, Terry Randall & Operation Rescue got involved..

with this. IMO he is simply pandering to them, and they are exploiting her family for their own agenda.I think her family believes she can recover and that Op Rescue is reinforcing those false hopes w/o any scruples whatsoever.

[wicket]

34. It wouyldn't surprise me if they got involved

Operation Rescue makes me sick! :puke: