Posted on 03/28/2005 8:02:29 AM PST by FR_addict
Florida governor says he doesn't have power from Constitution to intervene
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, the man said to be the last hope for Terri Schiavo, says he's powerless to help the brain-injured woman who has been without nourishment for more than nine full days.
"I cannot violate a court order," Bush told CNN following Easter church services. "I don't have powers from the United States Constitution or – for that matter from the Florida Constitution – that would allow me to intervene after a decision has been made."
To Terri's parents, Bush said, "I can't. I'd love to, but I can't."
Speaking to the media for the first time in three days, the governor added, "I'm sad that she's in the situation that she's in. I feel bad for her family. My heart goes out to the Schindlers and, for that matter, to [her husband] Michael," Bush said. "This has not been an easy thing for any, any member of the family. But most particularly for Terri Schiavo."
Meanwhile, protests have continued outside the hospice where Terri is being cared for. With security having been doubled, five people were taken into custody as pastors tried to bring Schiavo Easter communion.
A handful of people in wheelchairs got out of them and shouted, "We're not dead yet!" as they lay in the driveway.
Larry Klayman, founder of the legal watchdog group Judicial Watch, said Bush has the power to grant her clemency, just as he would in a death-row case.
"We're asking the governor for a stay of execution on Easter Sunday, a day of mercy,'' Klayman said. "For Jeb Bush not to act would be a dereliction of his duty to the people of the state of Florida.''
Terri has been the subject of worldwide attention since Florida Judge George Greer ordered her feeding tube removed March 18, and courts have upheld his decision not to have the tube reinserted.
An attorney for Terri's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, painted a grim picture of the situation on CBS' "Face the Nation."
"Terri is declining rapidly," Schindler attorney David Gibbs said. "We believe at this point she has passed where physically she would be able to recover."
But Randall Terry, a pro-life activist speaking for Terri's parents, called Gibbs' description "absolutely untrue."
George Felos, the attorney for Michael Schiavo says Terri's breathing has been regular, and her death does not appear imminent. He told reporters her remains would be cremated and buried in a family plot in Pennsylvania.
They don't want it.
The likelyhood, imo, is that her intentions will be evident and will be recorded by video, audio and more reliable witnesses than the evil Greer has allowed.
Trust in Providence.
folks I think we need to keep this in perspective as a process. We must keep evolving our conservative candidats and our majority. A lawton chiles would NEVER have even participated in this. A president clinton would have shed a crocodile tear and felt her pain. A majority leader Dashel would have been "very disappointed".
Would democrats ahve defied push polls? (formulated to give them cover in any scenario)
What did Texans do after the Alamo?
What did Americans do after Pearl Harbor?
What did Citizens do after the Masss Supreme Court attacked marriage?
Instead of whining, about J. Bush who is term limited out of the governorship in 2006 we should be wondering who will be out next governor? Who is going to run agains Nelson (d)?
How are we going to get more NONwacko judges into office?
2006 is not far away folks.
Here's what passes for debate on these threads.
If GWB doesn't have the balls to tell the courts to go pound sand then what happens when he has to face a REAL enemy like China?
He's also longing for a dictator. IOW, he wants us to adopt the Chinese governing model, whom he hates.
He's not king, he's not God. He can do what you can do -- barge in -- nothing more.
"You get it and a few others get it."
But only because you registered before Sir Gawain.
I do have strong admiration for both Jeb and President Bush, I have for both for years. I don't give a rat's behind what you want to call me. However, I think your misguided anger is directed in the wrong place.
I know Jeb and President Bush did all they could other than to be arrested. If by doing that you would have Saved Terri.. I would be suprised. Because they were stopped by Court Order. As I said.. your not a conservative. Start your own party... but you are not one of us.
Much better! Thanks AM!
I am in total agreement. You are a very wise person.
Where are you loonies coming from?
If I'm not mistaken, there was a request for divorce filed by the parents. Our hero, that great font of wisdom and knowledge, Judge Greer dismissed it.
I ask you this, is it now the position of the death cult(ure)that a person should be killed by the state without knowing for a fact that there is no hope? Or that this POS called a "husband" might possibly be responsible for her injuries in the first place; and, knowing that he is an adulterer, at the very least, might possibly have an ulterior motive for wanting his actual WIFE's death.
I'll err on the side of life everytime, given these circumstances. To do otherwise is just not right, and I don't care what you, some stupid judge, or anyone else says about it. Justice must be served. If the law conflicts with justice, then the law be damned. History shows lots of laws that were in retrospect, null, because they conflicted with justice.
The evidence is, the man is an adulterer, and thus has given up any right to control his wife's affairs, especially whether she should live or die. Facts are facts, and they're very hard to get away from. This POS MICHAEL SCHIAVO IS AN ADULTERER. There are 2 living, breathing children as proof. Ex-husbands should not have the right of life and death over ex-wives. In the eyes of God (and every State Law I've ever heard of), an adulterer can be considered an ex-spouse. Just because she is unable to file the papers, or some asinine potentate of a judge is too stupid to see it, doesn't make it any less right.
You type it, but you don't really understand the importance of it.
One day... perhaps.. I will become as smart as you are.
Amen.
Which law are these people asking Jeb Bush to break?
Please cite any law-any bill passed by both houses of the Florida Legislature, and signed by a governor (that's what a law is)-that Jeb Bush would be breaking by rescuing Mrs. Schiavo from court-ordered death.
Dear Jim Noble,
I thought the JUDGES made the laws.
sitetest
Just want to make sure that you see there is a distinction here.
Indeed, there is a distinction. It is, however, important the way we behave when we express our beliefs and wishes in both issues. If we all start acting like Islamofacists or Peaceniks or people from Moveon.org, instead of the informed, intelligent, decent people who comprise the majority of the people on this forum, we seriously damage our cause.
So when the courts rule that it is not your place to interfere in a 'loving relationship' between a sixty-year old man and your eight year old boy you'll respectfully obey the decision of the courts?
Is there a court decision you won't obey?
Would you have been okay with slavery when the courts ruled it was okay?
If killing the mentally ill is ruled legal in the USA same as it has been ruled in the Netherlands (remember the USSC is now citing foreign court precedent in its own decisions) will you sit idly by while the mentally retarded are killed?
Hitler LOVED people like you.
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