Posted on 02/26/2005 10:59:07 PM PST by churchillbuff
It's merely a guess - and an admittedly presumptuous one, too - but here's some unsolicited advice for attorney George Felos - as long as Jeb Bush reigns over Florida, your client Michael Schiavo will never be permitted to allow his brain-damaged wife Terri to die. Even if courts continue to rule in Michael Schiavo's favor?
Nope, not even then.
Not even if indeed it was Terri's wish never to be simply kept alive as the world's leading Larry King prop?Nope, not even then.
Not even if the medical evidence supports the argument that Terri Schiavo's consciousness slipped away 15 years ago?
Nope, don't even think about it.
That's because for every victory Felos may win in court on the legal merits of this tragic case, Jeb Bush, using the political wing of his organization - otherwise known as Florida state government - will continue to use his clout to subvert the judicial system.
Redneck Fiat
For this is the same governor who, along with his ideological lotion boys in the Florida Legislature, passed the poignant-sounding ``Terri's Law,'' a piece of unconstitutional palaver designed solely to interfere with the courts in order to prevent Michael from disconnecting Terri's feeding tube.
In time, the Florida Supreme Court laughed ``Terri's Law'' off the books. But the legislation had fulfilled its original intent to delay, delay, delay and muddle, muddle, muddle the Schiavo legal proceedings.
That's not governance. It's rule by redneck fiat.
And once again, Bush has abused the powers of his office by injecting the Department of Children and Families into the Schiavo case.
``I can assure you, I will do whatever I can within the means, within the laws of our state to protect this woman's life,'' Bush said, as a flock of crows landed on his nose.
Of course, ``within our laws'' sorta means whatever law Jeb Bush wants to make up at any given time.
The DCF effort to join the Schiavo case was grounded in longstanding allegations that Michael Schiavo once physically abused his wife, charges also long ago investigated by DCF and found to be unsubstantiated.
Jeb Wins
But the fact DCF already investigated the abuse claims and found them wanting is irrelevant to DCF attempting to re-investigate what it previously investigated because the DCF investigation has nothing to do with an investigation.
Clear enough for you?
For if DCF is eventually allowed back into the case by Pasco/Pinellas Circuit Court Judge George Greer, then obviously Michael Schiavo will be blocked once again from removing his wife's feeding tube, thus leading to delay, delay, delay, muddle, muddle, muddle.
Jeb wins.
And even if DCF is given the bum's rush by Greer, the agency will appeal, thus leading to delay, delay, delay, muddle, muddle, muddle.
Jeb wins.
The judicial system loses. You lose.
There is no question that in the court of public opinion, Bob and Mary Schindler, the parents of Terry Schiavo, have prevailed.
And why not? This is their daughter they have grieved over these past 15 years as she has lingered in a vegetative state.
At the same time, their very public torment is played out against Michael Schiavo, cast as the Simon Legree of the right-to-life crowd, the man, in the eyes of the 24-hour news cycle, who wants to kill his wife, the Schindlers' child. Try putting a positive spin on that!
Michael Schiavo argues he pursues his wife's cause because she once told him she would never want to live in the situation she now finds herself.
All the breast-beating aside, how you can look at the history of this doomed, beautiful young woman and have any doubt she was telling the truth?
Beyond that, why's he so anxious to see Terri Schiavo die?
Somebody might ask Mr. Ruth if he's ever interviewed Michael Schiavo and asked him why he's living with another woman, has fathered two kids with her. And is it true that he only started saying in recent years (after a huge malpractice award) that Terri would want to be starved to death?
Ruth seems to use words without knowing what they mean. "Fiat" is a dictate by an unelected ruler - - like a judge. By definition, a statute enacted by elected legislators is not a "fiat". Ruth's not a real sharp cookie - - even his name-calling ("redneck") is tired and uninspired.
I'm open to logical reasoning that comes to a conclusion I may not agree with, but this column is emotional ranting disguised as plain speaking.
If there's anyone that's brain-dead in this story it's not Terri, it's the author of this article.
Exactly! To long for anothers death so blithely...awful.
They wouldn't allow you to do it, yet this woman is going to be starved to death in a manner in which we wouldn't treat our pets.
During World War II, Italy and Germany split up Slovenia. Germany demanded that Italy help deport the Jews from Slovenia to the death camps. Germany wanted Italy to rid the Jews from the Italian-held portion of Slovenia.
The Italian general occupying Slovenia said essentially, "Okay, but it's possible that some of the Jews in our section of Slovenia are legally Italian citizens. We certainly wouldn't want to deport any Italian citizens. We'll have to check ancestries and so forth and we will get back to you. We will be happy to deport the ones who aren't Italian citizens."
A year later, the Italians hadn't completed the checking for a single Jewish person. As a result, not a single Jew was deported by that point, and thousands managed to escape.
The point: bureaucratic delays can have positive uses sometimes.
Jeb should have a million tricks still up his sleeve. For example, if the courts says Terri must die, he can say "The law is the law. But you know, starving someone to death is pretty brutal. Shouldn't you provide liquid at various intervals to ease the pain somewhat?"
The courts could rule that yes, they can provide liquid. Jeb can then challenge how often the liquid should be given. After much debating, the two sides can agree that a commission can be appointed to determine the optimal intervals for liquid feeding. Jeb can then appoint people who will spend the first year arguing about the team charter. Any good bureaucrat knows the art of making sure nothing happens.
Lol. Yup. Just made me want to cuss him out. He can't be that ignorant. But I guess he is and most of the MSM too. Plus not surprising came from Tampa Tribune. St. Pete Times/Tampa Tribune.. what's the difference. They definitely have an agenda against Terri living.
Bump.
Interfering with the courts?!
Are courts not subject to abominable failings?
Dred Scott.
And the infamous "legality" of the Nazis' genocide of Jews.
Clearly there is a brain-dead person close at hand: behold Daniel Ruth.
Very good pieace you write here.
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Florida Constitution, Statement of Rights
SECTION 2. Basic rights.--All natural persons, female and male alike, are equal before the law and have inalienable rights, among which are the right to enjoy and defend life and liberty, to pursue happiness, to be rewarded for industry, and to acquire, possess and protect property; except that the ownership, inheritance, disposition and possession of real property by aliens ineligible for citizenship may be regulated or prohibited by law. No person shall be deprived of any right because of race, religion, national origin, or physical disability.
Is Terry Schindler Schiavo a PERSON??
Flipping the radio dial, when I lived in the Tampa area, I would occasionally find his radio show. He's SO liberal, and spews constant anti-Jeb and George Bush rhetoric .. completely leftist to the core, and so his columns would have to be in sync. Blech!
If Jeb wins, everyone wins.
"Jeb Wins."
From his pursed lips to God's open ear!
Daniel Ruth is a columnist and talk radio host in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. He did his show yesterday on Terri Schiavo's situation. He stated that the allegations of abuse and neglect against her have already been investigated thoroughly by state agencies and were considered unfounded.
Since that's not true, I rang his show. I told him that the bone scan discovered in 2002 was not investigated by law enforcement or the courts. The judge said it was "interesting but not relevant". His response was "Well, it isn't relevant because it happened so long ago."
I said that the current allegations of abuse could constitute criminal charges against the guardian under Florida's laws. That Terri is confined to a single room, has had five teeth extracted due to decay and neglect and that Florida Statute 744.3215 REQUIRES the guardian to provide necessary services such as dental care. I hope you're sitting down.
He told me that the parents of Terri Schiavo should be charged with abuse. After all, they are the ones who have caused this to go on so long. People 'naturally' fall apart when they are in Terri's situation, he claimed. I suppose, by that, Mr. Ruth means that if Terri's parents would have just allowed her to be killed in 1990, she wouldn't have any problems with her teeth and the guardian has nothing to do with this.
Think about that before you read his latest hit piece. He can be reached on druth@tampatrib.com. His editor is on http://feedback.tbo.com/ or by contacting Publisher and President, Gil Thelen GThelen@tampatrib.com.
I hate to be the one to break it to Mr. Ruth, but Florida's guardianship and abuse laws are just that. Laws. Not suggestions.
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