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.
This experiment in self rule that was courageously begun by our forefathers has run its course. I am sure that a lot of other Conservative Christians will find it very difficult to support the GOP any more and the gains it has seen in the past few election cycles will begin to decline. It is apparent that the present crop of politicians is basically socialist, self-serving, and immoral - no matter what party you look at. Voting is a waste of time. The electorate is 1000 times more courageous than the elected, and with the elections controlled by the two major parties a moral constitutional public servant has no chance to win - or even to be nominated.
The only Republican politicians I could support for president in 2008 are considered kooks by the establishment and have no chance. Just as those of us who value life over law are considered kooks even here on Free Republic.
Good-bye USA. I will now prepare my family for the presecution to come - there is no stopping it.
Hey I'm still waiting on your revolution sign up locations. Or are you just going to bitch and moan and cry doom and not find the "Stones" to start one.
Amen. I wish Jeb could have done more -- IF he could have done more -- but I refuse to direct my anger at the one guy who did more than any other elected official to help Terri. That would be more than ungrateful.
Anyone ever have the experience of trying to do good, maybe over a long period of time, then once, just once, you fail or screw up in some way and people are angry at YOU rather than the slobs around you who never tried? That's what this situation reminds me of.
It's grossly unfair, and from a logic standpoint, it doesn't help us get where we want to go as conservatives.
Do you want me to do Jeb's job? Unfortunately there is nothing I can do legally for Terri. And unfortunately Jeb could have acted legally and reigned in runaway courts all in one swoop. He ran to the finish line and then quit before crossing it.
The Bush brothers would have you believe a county probate judge, one step above a justice of the peace, is more powerful then the President of the United States, the Congress of the United States and the Government of Fla.
It is a very small fig leaf the Bush brothers are hiding behind. But if that is what they really think then they are not fit for the high offices they hold. This case is the Row v Wade euthanasia case, Jeb made this the land mark case when he claimed the authority for the executive branch of government to act to save life. HE GOT US INTO THIS FIGHT and then washed his hands of it? Nothing could be more cowardly, nothing.
What colors would those be? Is this attack of the noob posters today? You should respect your elders.
See post 82 Sparky. I'm still waiting.
Perhaps it is like that Captain in Band of Brothers who became ineffectual in actual or near-actual combat, yet who was superb in support and training roles.
You really have your head up your a$$, don't you?
If GWB isn't going to be fundamentally different than a liberal then I'd rather just have a liberal in office who won't pretend to be a conservative. Saying that I'm unremittably disappointed with a man (GWB) who is supposed to be conservative is just too much.
As far as Terri Schiavo is concerned there is no difference between the Democrats or the Republicans because she will be dead even though the so-called 'Pro-life' GOP runs Florida, Congress, and the White House.
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?
Don't you think the world is looking at the Schiavo case and laughing at how impotent Bush is as President?
The death of Terri Schiavo has cost the GOP the next election in 2006. The Dems will pick up seats in the states and in the Congress because people with morals and conscience know the GOP to be spineless pussies when it comes to staring down the judiciary on the matters that matter the most.
As I said, I'd rather have a liberal in office if it won't matter what decisions are being made because it won't bother me as much to see a liberal doing this kind of thing.
Having a supposed pro-life conservative effectively acting no different than a pro-death liberal is just the penultimate dissapointment.
And if he coyboyed up, what do you think the courts would do?
Even if he rescued her, how long does it take her case to end up back in the courts? Four days? A week? And as much as we would all love to see Jeb or someone tell the courts where to stick it, does it really save Terri in the long run or just prolong this fiasco of judicial tyranny?
It's a power struggle now, as is evident by the rulings and the behavior of the courts this week. Terri's dad was right, Judge Greer is flexing his muscles and is determined to kill Terri - the hell with the evidence. And the good ole boy network of judges is going to back him all the way as they don't like anyone challenging the authority of the judiciary - evidence is irrelevant to judges who think they are God. So if Jeb challenges their authority by rescuing Terri, how do you think the judiciary in Florida is going to react when her case ends up right back in the courts - and it will? Do you think they will look at new evidence? They're not looking at it now.
I understand your frustration, but the problem is deeper and very ingrained in our society when most Americans believe the judicial system should be the final word - that guarantees a corrupt judiciary.
The courts have to be reigned in by legal channels. Such as, in this case, ONE JUDGE should NEVER be allowed to sentence an innocent disabled woman on heresay evidence. There are laws that can be passed to prevent this fiasco from happening again, and we have to work for and demand laws that reign in the jucidial tyranny of the courts.
Judge Greer should at this minute be in custody of federal marshals for not just ignoring a Congressional subpoena but acting to destroy the subpoenaed evidence, Terri Schiavo! For the governor to bow before Greer when Greer is in criminal contempt is beyond farsical.
No it's an attack on people using ad hominem attacks and those who feel just because they have been here since september everyone after semptember is an idiot and has nothing worthful to say.
If you don't like it being pointed out that you are being an elitist ass, go find some other place to be an elitist ass
Just want to make sure that you see there is a distinction here.
I'm still waiting for your email. I'm recruiting. You ain't yellow are ya?
The million dollar question
What is it with these noobs who keep telling me to leave? You don't represent the opinion of FR so you're wasting your time.
L've asked the AM to fix the headline.
You get it and a few others get it.
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