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.
You're a catholic, aren't you?
Only one problem, Jeb Bush ain't no MLK or Gandhi.
How did you react when George H W Bush raised taxes, breaking his solemn "Read my lips: no new taxes" pledge?
She is not being "allowed to pass". She is being murdered. She is being denied the most basic needs of survival. That is just plain wrong!
Highly upset! Still voted for him, though.
"What a small thought. FreeRepublic deserves better."
I would not actually vote for Ralph Nader, but if Jeb runs I already know he doesn't have the steel to stand up to the courts if it is necessary.
Hopefully, he is out of the running anyways and my comment is moot.
But still, the man has demonstrated that he lacks the courage to challenge injustice. Why is it 'small' to say I won't support him?
Dwight Eisenhower challeneged segregation which was lawful and legal according to many courts.
Abraham Lincoln issued an Executive Order to end slavery even though his Supreme Court had ruled slavery was perfectly legal.
George Washington stood up to his legal and sovereign government and fought it by force of arms despite orders from Parliament and the Crown (Washington was a Colonel in the Royal Army) to cease and desist and turn himself in for a court martial.
Of course, these small-minded men should have obeyed their lawful orders and the decisions of the courts and then worked within the system for change.
Yeah, right.
"Far better it is to dare mighty things to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered with failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that know not victory or defeat."
President Theodore Roosevelt said this.
I have not one damn doubt that TR would've personally gone to Florida to save Terri Schiavo and then DARED the courts to oppose him. Hell, he'd have ARRESTED the judge who gave the order.
Because it is the right thing to do no matter what the cost.
The Bush boys do not have the steel their father had. They are soft and they care only for what the polls have to say.
If 90% of Americans said it was right to save the woman they'd do it.
But that is not leadership. Consensus is the abdication of leadership. Leadership is doing the right thing even when everyone else says it is wrong.
If 88% of Americans said it was okay to kill Jews what would you expect the Bush boys to do?
What if the courts ordered it? Then what?
That is not an irrational question as it has happened before.
Sorry, if my President is going to act like a spineless liberal I'd just as soon have a spineless liberal as President as opposed to someone who puts on a good show of being a good man but then bends in the first breeze.
At least the liberal would be honest about being a liberal.
George W. Bush is not honest when he calls himself a conservative and then acts like a liberal.
How many times will you deny the truth. I asked you a question and you won't answer. Sounds kinda biblical.
Good point. Judge Greer is being given a pass for doing some of the very same things we used to justify the ousting of Saddam (i.e. starving and torturing people to death). In Saddam's case we called it a tyranny, even though Iraqi "law" indisputably made Saddam supreme dictator and thus gave him the power to torture people. We ousted him because we knew that law was unjust and we knew what he was doing was wrong. Yet when George Greer, the swamp judge, does it within our own borders we can't stop him because the torture he's ordering against this woman is within the "rule of law"???
Exd 20:13
Deu 5:17
HEALTHFUL DRINKS AND WARM MEALS SINCE THE ORDER-TO-MURDER-AN-INVALID BY JUDGE GREER
Murderer-At-Will Judge Greer 42
......................... Terri Shiavo 0
.......................... Lee Malvo 32
.......................... Scott Peterson 31
Nobody is being murdered and thats twice. Et tu, Judas?
And you're polluting again. Are you a disruptor or just seeking a forum for your drivel?
I'm sorry, not sure which question you're answering with "Absolutely not". You're absolutely not against feeding tubes? You're absolutely not against starving persons of lower mental capacity?
On separation of powers, I agree but it appears that it's the judicial branch that has overridden it's powers and is not being checked by the others (besides blustering). As to emotion over the law, is there ever a time to "go against the law"? If so, when and why?
the determination of judicial abuse ain't yours to make.
When is it right to be a vigilante? The more laws that there are, the less law that there is! Already you have people picking a choosing which laws they'll follow. With more laws will come less law, and soon the law will be worthless and our country's greatness over. Then is the time for the vigilante.
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