It is Jeb's fault that he is abdicating the independent authority of the Executive Branch by not intervening to save a citizen from a judicial murder.
It is George's fault for the same reason.
They state "There is nothing I can do", but that is a lie.
There is nobody who can STOP them from acting to save Ms. Schiavo's life, and no consequences other than flustered and angry opponents if they do. Nobody can arrest the President of the United States or the Governor of Florida.
Certainly the judiciary cannot arrest either for contempt of court. That is not how our separation of powers works.
The only consequences for acting that way would be for the Legislatures to impeach and convict them for abuse of power. But neither Congress nor the Florida legislature would do any such thing. The votes are not there to toss either from office.
Ergo, if either used the full measure of his authority, Terry Schiavo would be saved and her case given a full and proper review in light of new and conflicting evidence.
What would be established is the principle of executive override in death cases, just as the pardon of criminals acts as an executive override of both the legislature's intent and the judiciary's decisons in a death penalty case.
When the Bushes say "There is nothing more we can do", it is completely disingenuous and they know it. What they mean is "There is nothing more that I WANT to do, but I don't want you people to hold me accountable for playing Pontius Pilate."
So now you're in favor of the Executive branch being able to command that the judiciary take up a case?
Have you thought through the implications of this?
I completely understand where you are coming from. I just want people to remember that Jeb nor the President started this and both, especially Jeb, did a lot to try to save Terri. Maybe not everything, but they did do something.
I just want people who live in Florida to focus on getting Greer and those Senators out of office, then change whatever laws need to be changed. And I am sure you will have a Governor in Jeb that will sign them.
Dear Vicomte13,
Yes, of course they have the authority.
But it might be politically unpopular to exercise that authority on behalf of Terri.
What do you expect them to do? Risk their entire political agenda, in Jeb's case, future political possibilities, just to save one person? One little, frail, weak, unimportant, defenseless, innocent human being?
Think of the good they could do in the future! Reform Social Security, lower taxes, accommodate peace between the Roman government and the people of Judaea (oh, wait, wrong political career there, strike that last one)!!
How selfish that you might think they should risk all this just to use their legitimate constitutional powers, as the leaders of co-equal branches of government, with the same power to interpret and defend the law and constitutions, just to defend the life of one woman, who's a vegetable, besides.
Sheesh.
You must be one of those pro-life extremists.
sitetest