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.
Rush just put it out.....Janet Reno went against the courts when the feds seized Elian Gonzalez and sent him back to Cuba. Unfortunately JEB baby doesn't have the fortitude.
You say, Scew you Jeb, you coward.
Brilliantly said.
Jeb is gutless.
Get this guy out.
I hope the Democrats beat him in the next election.
If it was Jeb's daughter, guaranteed he would send in the troops.
If jeb intervenes terri is a kidnapping victim to be "rescued by the courts" and she will still be forced to die.
If the stiuation continues, Terri becomes a symbol which makes the democrats the party of death.
No matter what choices are left, it ends with death. It is only a question of how that death will give meaning.
So it doesn't matter to you that, say, the next two Supreme Court justices are going to be nominated by Bush rather than Kerry?
I hate to break this to you, but Bush will not get any of his judges appointed. The stalemate in the Senate will continue throughout his term. So nothing will happen until the next Democratic president is elected, when the Republicans in Congress will fold like a house of cards, play 'nice' and let all of that president's liberal judges go through. The only way to change this would be for the Repubs to get a super-majority in '06 to stop the nonsense, and we all know that won't happen. It seems as if this Schiavo case has stirred up the country's opinion against the GOP as well as causing conservatives themselves to lessen their support, so we're looking at the Dems picking up seats.
I have long thought that the issue of illegal immigration would split the GOP base if Bush continued his policy of compassion for everyone but legal US citizens. But the pro-life camp hung in their even those they too mostly opposed illegal immigration. Well has Bush figured out a way of to alienate the pro-lifers too! Hell even many Democrats are aghast that what the government is allowing to happen in Fla.
It will take time for the scope of this betrayal to sink in, but when it does it will become clear that the current GOP is not up to the task of running the government and it not deserving of any support. Yea that means the democrats will once again take control of government, oh well, but anything is better then having a completely incompetent conservative in name only government. A completely incompetent conservative in name only government ties the hands of conservatism allowing liberal socialist gains that a loyal opposition minority could stop.
Time to let this government fall, it is not worthy of support.
Is that not grounds for divorce in Florida?
When is someone going to openly admit that this whole mess is the fault of the people of Florida. It is they, after all, who elected the legislators and Greer. Were it not for the compassion of the rest of the nation Greer, Felos, and Schiavo would already have gotten away with this murder.
As far as Jeb Bush goes, if he sits there and allows a court ordered travesty to occur, then he has consented to the stripping away of the independence of the executive. Where then are the checks and balances so carefully designed by the founders of the nation?
You say, "This is not Jeb's fault.
Are you stupid.
If it was Jeb's daughter he would send in the troops.
The Democrats will come out from under their rocks and scream bloody murder.
And rightly so!
"The stalemate in the Senate will continue throughout his term. So nothing will happen until the next Democratic president is elected, when the Republicans in Congress will fold like a house of cards, play 'nice' and let all of that president's liberal judges go through."
No, the Republicans will filibuster, but the Democrats will pass the nuclear option and override the filibuster.
Republicans are unwilling to fight that hard for life.
But Democrats are willing to fight that hard for death.
I agree.
If there were any "justice" in this world, this "judge" should be arrested for contempt of congress, and thrown into the open in the nastiest prison available.
Did anyone just hear the Pro-Death news? It was criticising the people sending their children in with water - calling the kids "sacrificial lambs." Geez. I guess being pro-death isn't enough for these people - now it's necessary to revile and sneer at anyone who actually doesn't want to see another human being starved to death.
Whew. There's a moral split in this country of incredible proportions.
Good point. One way to stop judicial tyranny is to pay attention to judicial elections on the state level. Greer was reelected just this past November so either the citizens of Pinellas County did not know or did not care about his actions in the Schiavo case. We have to make people aware of judicial misconduct, not just at the time but on election day.
And it might not matter so much, either.
Due process is a POSITIVE right, and only a consideration if the person has been criminally charged by the government.
The right to defend life is an absolute, NATURAL right, applying to all people at all times.
It's two different types of law.
And as soon as Terri gets a brain to function, she can file for a divorce on grounds of adultery....AFTER she testies and responds to answers the subpoena she got from the Congress last week.
You're a genuine keyboard warrior.
Me too.
But alas, he's just a man, he tried. She's have been dead two years ago if It hadn't been for Jeb.
So no I will not fellow Jeb to hell and back either, but alas he's just a man.
Hi,
I've tried to create new articles only to have the Admin Moderator pull the threads again and threaten me with suspension if I start threads again (despite I see dozens of pro-Terri threads initiated every day here).
So, if I get suspended, good luck and I wish you the best. Four years of participation down the drain due to the Admin Moderator's personal bias.
FYI, here's the article that has been pulled twice today:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
BRAVO TO THE BUSHES FOR NOT BREAKING THE LAW
President George W. Bush and his brother Governor Jeb Bush of Florida want Terri Schiavo's feeding tube reinserted. They don't want her to die. President Bush even cut his vacation short by flying back to Washington to sign the ultimately futile and apparently unconstitutional congressional bill.
They have gone to the limits of their authority under the US and Florida Constitutions. Neither can do any more for her.
Despite their best efforts and desires; they have been attacked, demonized and condemned by the very people they were supporting. Somehow these protesters are upset that they don't unilaterally break the law just because they want them to.
These people have vowed they will never vote Republican again and will especially never vote for Jeb Bush. Somehow President Bush and Governor Jeb Bush are now guilty of wanting her to die just because they refuse to break the law.
Breaking the law is very serious, especially for political leaders. They can be impeached and even go to jail. The Bush brothers wisely steered clear of placing themselves in harm's way by obeying the protesters' demands.
Do these protesters really want their political leaders to violate the US Constitution under pressure from special interest groups?
Won't these same conservative and religious protesters get livid and devastated if the next democratic leaders break the law under pressure from leftist groups? Perhaps their freedoms will be targeted. Perhaps their homes shall be confiscated. Perhaps their religion will be persecuted.
Only fools demand their leaders break the law - the moment this becomes acceptable; the slippery slope is stepped upon and every group with their own agendas will be demanding similar action.
Those condemning the Bush brothers and other Republicans for refusing to violate the law should ask themselves if they want satanists to begin running their churches? After all, perhaps the satanists will be demanding the next democratic leaders also break the law and violate the US Constitution by making satanism the official religion of the US.
What goes around comes around. Let us not forget it.
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