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From JEB to FR: Full text of Gov Bush's letter to Judge Greer re: Terri Schiavo
Email from Gov Bush to summer, for FR | Aug. 27, 2003 | FL Gov Jeb Bush

Posted on 08/27/2003 6:43:02 AM PDT by summer

Note to FR, from summer: Yesterday I emailed Gov Bush, thanking him for taking action in this matter. I mentioned to him that I hadn't seen a full text of the letter he wrote to the judge, and I would like to read it. I then received it this morning by email from his office.

After that, I noticed his letter -- while not published in full by any of the newspapers I saw -- is also available and does exist in a download on Teri's web site.

However, for those unable to access that download, and who, like me, wanted to read the letter, here it is -- for all of us on FR, from Gov Bush:


------------------------------------------------

----- Original Message -----
From: [Governor Bush's office]
To: [summer's email]
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2003 8:06 AM
Subject: Letter regarding Terri Schiavo

> August 26, 2003

> The Honorable George W. Greer
> Judge, Sixth Judicial Circuit
> 315 Court Street, Room 484
> Clearwater, Florida 33756

Dear Judge Greer:

> I appreciate the challenging legal and ethical issues before you in the case > of Terri Schiavo. As I have expressed over the course of the past several > weeks, our system of government has committed these decisions to the > judicial branch, and we must respect that process. Consistent with this > principle, I normally would not address a letter to a judge in a pending > legal proceeding. However, my office has received over 27,000 emails > reflecting understandable concern for the well being of Terri Schiavo. > Given that there is no procedural avenue available for these views to be > expressed to you in the normal course of the proceedings, I feel compelled > to write in the hopes that you will give serious consideration to > re-appointment of a guardian ad litem for Mrs. Schiavo before permitting the > removal of her feeding tube or other actions calculated to end her life.

> This case represents the disturbing result of a severe family disagreement > in extremely trying circumstances. Emotions are high, accusations abound, > and at the heart of this public and private maelstrom is a young woman > incapable of speaking for herself.

> I am disturbed by new rumors about the guardian's actions related to the > current care of Mrs. Schiavo. It has come to my attention that Mrs. Schiavo > has contracted a life threatening illness, and that she may be denied > appropriate treatment. If true, this indicates a decision by her caregivers > to initiate an "exit protocol" that may include withholding treatment from > Mrs. Schiavo until her death, which would render this Court's ultimate > decision moot. While the issue of Mrs. Schiavo's care is still before the > Court, I urge you to ensure that no act of omission or commission be allowed > to adversely affect Mrs. Schiavo's health before the September 11th hearing > you have set. No one involved should be permitted to circumvent due process > or the Court's authority in order to achieve personal objectives in this > case.

> Even discounting these rumors, there are a number of factual disputes > regarding Mrs. Schiavo's medical condition, past and current care and > therapy, and her prognosis. Given the contradictory positions of her > guardian and other family members, I respectfully ask that you re-appoint a > qualified guardian ad litem to independently investigate the circumstances > of this case, and provide the Court an unbiased view that considers only the > best interests of Mrs. Schiavo.

> It is a fine balance between Mrs. Schiavo's right to privacy and her right > to life, both of which are co-equal in our Constitution. To err on one side > is to prolong her existence, perhaps against her wishes, and continue the > debate. To err on the other is an irrevocable act that affords no > remediation. I respectfully ask that you give Mrs. Schiavo's family the > opportunity to present any new evidence as to her wishes. Evidence as to > her wishes should be reweighed as often as necessary to take into account > the effect of any new evidence, that is, to determine whether "clear and > convincing evidence" still exists that Mrs. Schiavo would now choose > withdrawal of life-prolonging procedures. While this process may delay the > surrogate's exercise of Mrs. Schiavo's privacy rights, it is necessary to > avoid denying her right to life. I urge you to err on the side of > conservative judgment to ensure that all facts can be uncovered and > considered before her life is terminated.

> I appreciate your compassion for Mrs. Schiavo's plight, and that of the > family members locked in dispute in these tragic circumstances. In light of > the ongoing contention related to so many issues in this case, I hope you > will consider appointing a guardian ad litem to ensure that the ultimate > decision is based on facts presented clearly, unclouded and uncolored by > personal interests of litigants.

> Sincerely,

> Jeb Bush

> cc: Patricia Fields Anderson, Esq.
> George J. Felos, Esq.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: fl; jebbush; terrischiavo
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To: I still care
I thought Gov Bush made some excellent points here, too, and this judge is going to look really bad if this part is ignored by the judge:

Even discounting these rumors, there are a number of factual disputes > regarding Mrs. Schiavo's medical condition, past and current care and > therapy, and her prognosis. Given the contradictory positions of her > guardian and other family members
21 posted on 08/27/2003 7:17:48 AM PDT by summer
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To: summer
Thanx for the ping, summer. Sadly, I don't share your view that Jeb Bush has actually accomplished anything ... or that he even intended to do so. A stay of execution is still need ... and Terri is totally vulnerable to the trickery her murderous 'husband' can inflict.
22 posted on 08/27/2003 7:37:33 AM PDT by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote life support for others.)
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To: summer; All
Thanks!
23 posted on 08/27/2003 7:37:38 AM PDT by netmilsmom (God Bless our President, those with him & our troops)
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To: summer
Good post Summer. Thanks for the update :)
24 posted on 08/27/2003 7:39:06 AM PDT by Those_Crazy_Liberals (Ronaldus Magnus he's our man . . . If he can't do it, no one can.)
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To: summer

Keep up the great work, Bro ! ...

25 posted on 08/27/2003 7:41:49 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP (Check out the Texas Chicken D 'RATS!: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/keyword/Redistricting)
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To: MHGinTN
Re your post #22 - I really disagree, with all due respect to you. Had he done absolutely nothing, then I would agree with you. But, now, I think time will tell what happens, and it is clear more time is what Gov Bush wants in this matter. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, MHGinTN. :)
26 posted on 08/27/2003 7:42:50 AM PDT by summer
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To: netmilsmom
My pleasure, netmilsmom. :)
27 posted on 08/27/2003 7:43:20 AM PDT by summer
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To: summer
Thanks for your work on this issue.

You seem to have a very direct contact to your governer's office.........................

c'mon come clean.................

your last name is BUSH right?

Just kidding,

Good thoughts for this poor woman!
28 posted on 08/27/2003 7:44:36 AM PDT by WhiteGuy (It's now the Al Davis GOP...........................Just Win Baby !!!)
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To: Those_Crazy_Liberals
Re your post #24 - Thanks for your post, here Those_Crazy_Liberals. Gov Bush is so great about being responsive to people and issues. I am glad he released this letter and that I posted it on FR, as the newspapers never seem to find the space to publish what people are actually interested in reading. :)
29 posted on 08/27/2003 7:44:42 AM PDT by summer
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To: WhiteGuy
LOL...no, but I did have an extended email correspondence with Gov Bush about education, and that was BEFORE I ever posted on FR! Not only that, but throughout that time, and, when I first came on FR, I was STILL A REGISTERED DEM!!! Believe it or not! :)
30 posted on 08/27/2003 7:45:42 AM PDT by summer
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To: MeeknMing
bttt
31 posted on 08/27/2003 7:46:09 AM PDT by summer
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To: Guenevere
Ping!
32 posted on 08/27/2003 7:46:12 AM PDT by lysie
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To: WhiteGuy
Good thoughts for this poor woman!

Yes, good thoughts for prayers for her!
33 posted on 08/27/2003 7:47:19 AM PDT by summer
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To: summer
Well, perhaps Governor Bush has 'arranged' the means for future intervention ... we can hope so. Thanx again for the ping, Summer.
34 posted on 08/27/2003 8:02:24 AM PDT by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote life support for others.)
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To: summer
Thank God Gov. Bush took action on this. I hope he is successful and the court appoints a new guardianad litum and a full medical exam and investigation is launched. My prayers too.
35 posted on 08/27/2003 8:07:12 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: summer; All
The LifeNet e-mail this morning had an article saying that the judge planned to ignore Governor Bush's request for a guardian. Judge Greer claimed (according to the article, which I haven't saved, unfortunately) that the appeals court ruling didn't allow him to do anything other than set the execution date.

Things may still turn out differently, but the judge is ... well ... words fail me.
36 posted on 08/27/2003 8:10:52 AM PDT by Tax-chick (Pray for Terri Schiavo!)
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To: summer
Bump
37 posted on 08/27/2003 8:49:45 AM PDT by Robert Drobot
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To: summer
I heard/read they would fight Jeb?
38 posted on 08/27/2003 9:07:43 AM PDT by JustPiper ( "Free Republic" - The Greatest Information Truth Highway on the Internet!)
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To: summer
Broken link (a close quote inserted in error).

I went to MyFlorida and got the address, if anyone wants it:

jeb.bush@myflorida.com

39 posted on 08/27/2003 10:07:25 AM PDT by beckett
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To: summer
Thanks for the ping, summer. The full text of Governor Bush's letter to Judge Greer is appreciated.

My thank you has been sent to Governor Bush.
40 posted on 08/27/2003 11:25:39 AM PDT by windchime
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