Regret plagues King after Schiavo vote

St Pete Times ^ | 02/10/04 | By ADAM C. SMITH, Times Political Editor

[tutstar]

The Senate president says he bowed to pressure to pass a law that would reinsert Terri Schiavo's feeding tube.

ST. PETERSBURG - The phone calls and e-mails flooded into state Senate offices so fast and furious last year they crashed the phone and computer systems. Their message: Save Terri Schiavo.

State senators responded by following the lead of the state House and governor to pass an unprecedented law to keep the Pinellas County woman alive. Within hours a feeding tube was reinserted into Schiavo, whom courts had found to be in a persistent vegetative state and whose husband had insisted she would not want to live that way.

Senate President Jim King gave in to pressure and supported the legislation. Now he's sorry he did.

"The Terri Schiavo vote that I made was probably one of the worst votes that I've ever done," said the Jacksonville Republican and 18-year veteran of the Legislature.

In a meeting Monday with the St. Petersburg Times editorial board, King spoke of the "unbelievable" pressure to help Schiavo, his worries about being blamed for Schiavo's death and his regret that he didn't show more backbone.

After five years of bitter litigation over the wishes and fate of Schiavo, who had no living will, her feeding tube was removed Oct. 15. A massive campaign by religious conservatives across the country pressured lawmakers and Gov. Jeb Bush to step in and save her. The Legislature passed a hastily crafted law on Oct. 21, and her feeding tube was reinserted that evening. A legal challenge is pending.

King said other senators who voted for the Schiavo law have told him they also regret it, but the pressure of tens of thousands of phone calls and e-mails - and physical and political threats - was enormous.

"After the vote there were far more people critical of what we had done and very vehemently angry at what we had done than there were people supporting it," King said.

A Times poll in December found two-thirds of Florida voters opposed the Schiavo law.

There is "no question" he would not vote that way today, King said, "and if it comes up again I will not do it."

King said he won't try to repeal the law because he expects it will be overturned in court. But he made it clear, as he has in recent weeks, that he will block any bills aimed at making it harder to remove feeding tubes from comatose or mentally incompetent patients without living wills.

Bill Stephens, executive director of the Christian Coalition of Florida, one of the groups that fought for the Schiavo law, said he is "shocked" that King regrets his vote.

"It sounds like we're going to have a challenge this year," Stephens said.

King is a leader among moderate Republicans in Florida, and he has butted heads with Christian conservatives before.

One of his proudest and most hard-fought achievements was passing a "death with dignity law" that gives Floridians the right to refuse life-prolonging medical care.

King said he is wary of any bills inspired by Schiavo's case that could weaken those rights, which he pushed for after watching his parents die in nursing homes.

Underscoring his moderate views on social issues, King acknowledged Monday he disagrees with a Florida law that bars gay couples from adopting kids. The state allows homosexuals to serve as legal guardians and foster parents, but a law recently upheld by a federal appeals court does not allow them to adopt.

"They're doing everything else but adopting, and in many cases ... it is the adoptable child that really isn't being adopted by anyone else," King said in response to a question. "Empirical evidence is that gays that have been involved in foster parenting have better performance factors than a lot of the "normal' foster parents."

[T'wit]

>> Democrats are basically just Republicans charged with offing their "rainbow coalition" of dysgenic constituents, that's all.

Nicely put. That was the point all along, wasn't it? The abortion industry is Margaret Sanger's brand of eugenics in approved modern liberal form. And just as racist as ever.

[trustandobey]

Just e-mailed him and boy am I mad! (I think it showed!!)
If he is more interested in HIS legacy than murder being held against him for eternity, He will get exactly what he wants, however my conscience is clean in this regard.

[Old Professer]

Most politicians are about as true to their "colors" as whether they ought wear a yellow tie or a blue one in public; chameleons are more loyal.

[floriduh voter]

Watch The Factor tonight. Another Judge who should be thrown off the bench, Judge Rapkin calls Bill O' Reilly "scum' tonight on national television. Carlie Brucia was MURDERED because of the perp and Judge Rapkin being soft on crime.

Judge Rapkin SHOULD BE IMPEACHED and I emailed Mark Mahon to investigate why Judge Rapkin is on national television while another Judge in the 12th Circuit is reviewing enacting a gag order.

Rapkin MUST BE a friend of Greer, Baird and Demers. This is a small state imo. RAPKIN SHOULD BE IMPEACHED. The Factor's on at 8 pm in the east.

The Pinellas-Pasco Judges should be investigated and JIM KING serves as President until next fall. We can't afford to wait. The death lobby is working overtime to make King's life miserable...

[floriduh voter]

"O' Reilly's a piece of scum...blah, blah, blah, whatever." Sounds like a competent Judge to me? (naw). Carlie is being laid to rest and Judge Rapkin is incompetent. He's just like Terri's unfortunate selection of judges.

[NautiNurse]

Caught the rerun of O'Reilly. Rapkin looked like a wild man with bug eyes. Must be tough knowing his political aspirations are over.

[Ethan_Allen]

Pegita; All

"Father, cause Your people to stand firm ... increase their numbers where they cannot even be counted ... take these blinders from our eyes, lest we go sightless into our own doom. The enemy is relentless and beguiling and so attractive, but deadly behind a friendly demeanor. Expose them, Lord, for the evil they are, yet save them, Lord, before it is too late. Thank You that You are not willing that any should perish ... may they come under the cleansing blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. And spare Michael's children, I pray ... change his heart, lest his children be raised in the knowledge that their father sought to murder his wife."

Pegita, you and the people here with you are the essence of what it is to be a Christian. The body of Christ. I hope the world is watching. I have been reading and taking the time to reflect lately. There are too many signs happening right now. I feel as if God is doing mighty things right now to bring the world into conformance with Himself. I hope to respond to some of the other comments on this thread, but for now I just want to offer some encouragement in the battle you all are waging for 'the least of these'. We are to overcome by our faith, by prayer! and by the Word of God. I believe God is testing us, to see if we are ready to be a priesthood to Him. The more I read, the more I believe that. I am also beginning to believe that at some point in time, hopefully soon, He Himself may even step in and vanquish His last remaining foes. Until such a time, keep up the good work, good and faithful servants.

http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Rom/Rom008.html#37
http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/1Jo/1Jo004.html#4

1Cr 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also [is] Christ.

1Cr 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

1Cr 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many....

*** 1Cr 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

1Cr 12:29 [Are] all apostles? [are] all prophets? [are] all teachers? [are] all workers of miracles?

1Cr 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

1Cr 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/1Cr/1Cr012.html#12

This nation was founded in the name of Jesus Christ, and it has most of the time fulfilled the Royal Law, and loved our neighbours as ourselves. We have often been the champion of the weak and downtrodden; we have opened our doors to the whole world [to our detriment a lot of us would say, but who can say if this is not all part of God's plan? The more I read, the more I think it may be. The Bible says strangers will be joined with God's Holy Zion. More on that later.] The point is, we have, for the most part, loved others. Pegita, your love and mercy for our enemies puts me to great shame, but I hold you up as an example to the world of how God wants His people to be.

Jam 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/Jam/2/8.html

Because we have opened our doors wide, we find ourselves in the following situation, but because we got that way by being faithful, I believe God is with us:

[Esample 1:
2Ch 14:11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, [it is] nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou [art] our God; let not man prevail against thee. http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/2Ch/2Ch014.html#11 [There's an interesting hymn to the left of the verse.]

Example 2.
2Ch 20:10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;

2Ch 20:11 Behold, [I say, how] they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.

2Ch 20:12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes [are] upon thee.

2Ch 20:13 And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children....

2Ch 20:15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle [is] not yours, but God's....

2Ch 20:17 Ye shall not [need] to fight in this [battle]: set yourselves, stand ye [still], and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD [will be] with you....

2Ch 20:20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

2Ch 20:21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy [endureth] for ever.

2Ch 20:22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

2Ch 20:23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy [them]: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.

2Ch 20:24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they [were] dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.

2Ch 20:25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.

2Ch 20:26 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day.

2Ch 20:27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies.

2Ch 20:28 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD.

2Ch 20:29 And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of [those] countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel.

2Ch 20:30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about. http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/2Ch/2Ch020.html#11


Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us? http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Rom/Rom008.html#31

[Note to self. Interesting passage here. Important for what will become apparent at a later time: Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. ].

Keep the faith, little Hobbits [I hope I don't offend anyone with that analogy, but remember God takes the weak things of this world to confound the mighty]. You are a sight to behold.

[Pegita]

+ To God be the Glory ... great things He has done, and will do ... thank You, Ethan, for the Scriptures ... food for our souls and a lamp unto our feet ...

[Chocolate Rose]

[BUMPING HIS EMAIL] > king.james.web@flsenate.gov

[cyn]

Thanks for the bump! :o) Sending emails to king, Valentines for Terri - - - and a "have a heart for Terri!" Valentine for king as well.

[Gelato]

bump

[KDubRN]

Moderate Views?
MOderate Views?
Whose book of definitions is the media using now?
This guy ain't no moderate...
He's a flaming Liberal in pubbie clothing.

He has a major conflict of interest. He is on the board of Hospice.
He uses his dead parents as the excuse as to why he created the asinine bill to deem feeding tubes a method of life support.
He says he isn't bringing the Wise Bill to the floor, as it will infringe upon his legacy. He doesn't even acknowledge it is a sloppy law.
Truth be told, he's a hemlock member as well as feel louse with his spirit crap.

[KDubRN]

The other $$$ about killing being desirable: Please read Wesley J. Smith's book "Culture of Death", specifically as it relates to organ harvesting.

Agree. And don't keep signing those Living Wills, as that gives the doc the ability to decide who lives and who dies, as in treating this patient will be futile. What if you end up with a Ronald Cranford doc?
The AMA is already being pressured to change the definition of brain death. Guessing through end of life choices or whatever name they call themselves. They will soon be harvesting organs of a living human that isn't dead yet.
Last week, there was a post at work. Everybody who wants to be part of the organ procurement program, must now attend classes. I can't tell you the rationale.

[phenn]

Special Report from ABC WMBB Tonight

Terri Schiavo Makes Us Think About Health Care Decisions
http://www.wmbb.com/servlet/Satellite?c=MGArticle&cid=1031773651904&pagename=WMBB/MGArticle/MBB_BasicArticle

Tonight, a 3-part special will air on ABC in the panhandle area of Florida. This special series is from reporter Chris Mitchell os WMBB in Panama City. Mr. Mitchell has reported tirelessly on Terri's story for the past several months. In this highlight, Mr. Mitchell has been kind enough to give information on Will to Live Directives.

If you are in the panhandle area and are able to tune in, please do. You can find your local listing on tv.yahoo.com.

[cyn]

Good, he needs to know we're upset w/him! I really do wonder what is going on behind the scenes with him . . .

[Saundra Duffy]

So let me see if I understand this. If he had it to do over again HE'D VOTE FOR TERRI TO STARVE TO DEATH. What a monster!

[Saundra Duffy]

From the looks of things, somebody needs to remove his feeding tube for awhile.

I didn't think I'd be able to laugh while reading this thread until I read that. LOL!!!

[Tempest]

"A Times poll in December found two-thirds of Florida voters opposed the Schiavo law. "

Ahhhh our wonderful lawmakers.

[little jeremiah]

Underscoring his moderate views on social issues, King acknowledged Monday he disagrees with a Florida law that bars gay couples from adopting kids.

Why do the media (as if I don't know) call THAT moderate? He's a freakin liberal. Being moderate is not arresting them for sodomy.

[Saundra Duffy]

Here's my email to the monster:

I am sorry that you are sorry that you helped Terri to stay alive. I am sorry that you are sorry you didn't let her starve to death. I am sorry that you are sorry you didn't help Michael Schiavo and his attorneys kill a living breathing severely disabled human being. Do you think all people with feeding tubes should be starved to death? Or do you think only Terri should be killed in that manner?

Excuse me for saying this but you don't know which end is up. Many of us wrote to you and asked you to help save Terri's life. You were our hero. Now we find out that you can't even think for yourself. In your heart, you wanted to let Terri be starved to death all along but you bowed to pressure. Now you're kowtowing to the pro death camp. Make up your mind! Life or death?

I guess we can't trust you with life and death decisions. This is scary!!!! Terri is alive because of you but you wish she were dead. Scary!!!!!!!

Saundra Duffy-Hawkins
Fresno, California