Governor Bush Has Legal Authority, But Lacks Politcal Will To Save Terri Schiavo’s Life

THOMAS MORE LAW CENTER ^ | 10-17-03

[cpforlife.org]

ANN ARBOR, MI - According to Richard Thompson, former prosecutor of Jack Kevorkian, Florida Governor Jeb Bush has the legal authority to act in the case of Terri Schiavo, but lacks the political will to do so. Responding to the Governor’s statements that he cannot intervene in the civil case, Thompson claimed Bush is confusing the public on what is being asked of him.

“Nobody is asking the Governor to intervene in the civil case. We are asking him to initiate an independent criminal investigation based on a list of facts that suggest criminal wrongdoing,” said Thompson. “We have outlined for the Governor some of these facts, and confirmed his Constitutional authority to act. The fact that he has chosen to confuse the public by referring to the civil case, completely ignoring the request that we presented, reveals a lack of moral courage and political will. We expect the Governor to do the right thing, and so far, he has refused to do so.”

“If Governor Bush does not act quickly, I expect Terri will be killed by an overdose of morphine. She is being starved and denied fluids, and the Governor needs to act now before it’s too late,” said Thompson.

Thompson, now president of the Thomas More Law Center, delivered two emergency letters to Bush Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, asking him to initiate a criminal investigation. The letters outlined the constitutional authority of the Governor to act in the case, including a factual basis for initiating a criminal investigation. Bush has maintained he has no authority to interfere in the civil case that led to the feeding tube being removed.

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[AAABEST]

RINO-boy ought to be bashed. He has the opportunity to save a life and do what's right yet he's acting like the coward he's always been. He chooses to watch her die and lie about his ability to do anything about it.

Not only should he be bashed, after being bashed he should be thrown on the RINO ash-heap and never be allowed anywhere near the Whitehouse.

Additionally, those who take property that doesn't belong to them in order to further their political viability are disgusting human beings. Sorry, but I don't feel any sympathy whatsoever sorry for fat-boy.

[AAABEST]

Well, with Jack "Batman" Thompson running Thomas More, I'd be less than reassured.

Can you keep typing? Since you seem to be on the "kill Terri" side we need all the blathering fools we can muster from that camp to speak their minds.

[MHGinTN]

Sinky knew the difference but thought to confuse things even further. Strawmen and red herrings are sinky's stock and trade.

[fishbabe]

i'm crushed to hear that....you killed my illusions about there being decent republicans out there....he actually helped that bitch when she's out helping the racist pro abortion movement....like i said,i'm CRUSHED!!!!!!!

[Conservative til I die]

I think the people that are anti-bash Bush threads tend to skew to the other side, believing that we can't call a Bush on the carpet even when it's justified, in the name of party unity or something like that. We shouldn't be slaves to a political party.

[RLK]

Bush should have intervened in this when it became apparent. The Bushs are alien creatures from another solar system who live in a state of distant indifference to what happens in this country. They way of life is one of bland social presentation at the country club and drifting through life on the basis of money acquired in distant generations and social contacts. As far as ideological commitment or other concens they haven't any. The thing with Saddam Hussein is the single demonstration of manhood like intercepting the pass as a third string player in the college football game for one inning which they will ride forever. It's a persistent famoly pattern. If you expect any more, you're naive. If Jeb is seriously threated with recall as governor he might do just enough to get by, but that will be it. If he had any manhood or sense of humanity he would have had the same reaction to this as I have had. But the Bush family has water for blood. Face it.

[DallasMike]

Can you provide the full text of the statute giving Governor Bush the authority to launch a criminal investigation.

In most states, such authority (if at all) lies with the independently-elected attorney general. Otherise, it remains with local officials.

Before this starts some flame, I want to say that this whole thing sickens me.

Thank you for your note of sanity. I agree wholeheartedly that Terry Schindler-Schiavo needs to be saved, but I haven't seen any indication that Gov. Bush has the authority to intervene, other than the quote of one lawyer from Minnesota or Michigan. Big deal.

Having said that, I do support Judicial Watch's suit.

We have Gov. Bush's word that he is trying to find a way to intervene. Can any Bush-Bashers here cite a case or find a law (sorry, farm animals don't count) allowing him to do so? He's prohibited from interfering where the state constitution doesn't allow him to interfere.

[Theodore R.]

Bush still has his anti-domestic violence program in FL and says it is his highest priority. Why didn't he bring Terri's fight under the scope of that program? All the evidence is there for an open hearing. Why wouldn't he have the power to bring this case under domestic violence?

[Theodore R.]

Is Terri aware that Michael Schiavo is having her killed? I hope she understands that fact, not that it will be any comfort to her now.

[Tamzee]

Republican bashing is the reason I don't participate in the pro-life threads, it's completely counterproductive and strengthens the left.

Just from a political point of view, Jeb Bush has everything to gain and nothing to lose by interceding and saving Terri... IF he could do so without breaking the law and without setting a dangerous precedent for future DemocRAT governors.

[MHGinTN]

I'm detecting a lot of people rising to offer excuses for the feckless governor of Florida. Addressing the inequities at some legislative date, after Terri has been cremated, is about as politically expedient as one can get. We will se how much Jeb manipulates this after Terri is gone, he certainly shows no sign of taking any chance in saving her life. Excuse his feckless posturing all they like, he still is exposed as cowardly and thus a poor head of state or nation. To assert unequivocally that he cannot act, is assinine apologist rhetoric.

[MHGinTN]

Your post was irrational, to lump the courageous President with his feckless brother is just Bushbashing exploitation.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Why didn't the parents kidnap Terri?

It seems that many on FR are advocating "fighting to the death" for Terri, but it makes me wonder if that is what the Schiavos want to do. I respect their wishes, and obviously they wanted to work within the legal system. But years ago they should have realized that Greer wasn't going to stop this. I believe they fought for their daughter to the best of their ability.

[sinkspur]

Excuse his feckless posturing all they like, he still is exposed as cowardly and thus a poor head of state or nation. To assert unequivocally that he cannot act, is assinine apologist rhetoric.

In your opinion, of course.

You really want him to establish the precedent of intervening in every life and death situation in Florida? Of stepping over the separation of powers' line so that he can then overturn any judicial judgement he doesn't agree with?

You do little for Terri by trashing Jeb Bush, Danny.

[sinkspur]

Strawmen and red herrings are sinky's stock and trade.

And hysteria and rudeness (ping me if you mention me) have become a pattern lately with you.

[sinkspur]

But the Bush family has water for blood. Face it.

Another notorious Bush-hater.

[sinkspur]

Just from a political point of view, Jeb Bush has everything to gain and nothing to lose by interceding and saving Terri... IF he could do so without breaking the law and without setting a dangerous precedent for future DemocRAT governors.

Overturning judicial decrees would set a dangerous precedent, don't you think?

[EricsMom]

Who Can intervene in civil cases?

[Tamzee]

I certainly do think so. I'm sickened at what is happening with Terri and her family and would dearly love to see Jeb Bush be able to stop it... If he can't do it legally than he is probably suffering even more at this situation than we are.

[pollywog]

If he can't do it legally than he is probably suffering even more at this situation than we are.

If HE CAN'T then he owes it to the citizens of Florida and Americans that are suffering right now, to HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE on the STEPS OF THE HOSPICE and give a EXPLANATION of just " WHY"......and then go in and visit Terri personally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!