Schiavo's case lands in Congress

St Petersburg Tines Tampa Bay ^ | 3.11.05 | ANITA KUMAR, Times Staff Writer

[SerpentDove]

That's an excellent point. If a mass-murderer was starved to death, the liberals would be marching, screaming at the top of their lungs.

But let an innocent woman be starved to death, and you hear not a word.

We live in truly evil days.

[Dog Gone]

No. If a state violates a person's constutional rights, it does not grant Congress the power to override state law. It gives the person the right to challenge the law in court.

BIG difference.

[SerpentDove]

"I agree; I thought conservatives were for states' rights."

The right to life trumps states' rights in this case.

We're talking about the murder of an innocent person, and we're busy splitting hairs.

[Dog Gone]

You wouldn't be so flip if this were your daughter.

I'm not being flip in the least. If you want the law fixed, talk to the people who wrote it, THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE.

[ContraryMary]

This is an awful bill. It will involve the federal courts in hundreds of thousands of these kinds of cases every year. It'll be more fodder for attorneys fees, cause families to spend money they don't have at a time when their savings have likely been used for medical bills, and create more grief at a time when families are already burdened by grief.

Fortunately, this bill will be ruled unconstitutional the first time it is tested in court.

[SerpentDove]

So I guess we are going to decide if the right to life is inalienable or alienable.

This is madness.

[goldstategop]

Harry Reid and his party have a chance to show Red State voters they respect their values... that it isn't simply a cynical election time gimmick. This is one vote that ought to be a slam dunk. No one supports FORCED euthanasia - or do they? That's the issue here.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[churchillbuff]

If a state violates a person's constutional rights, it does not grant Congress the power to override state law. """

Sure as h-ll does. The 14th amendment specifically says Congress has authority to enforce federal constitutional rights, through statute. This is black-letter law --- it's why Congress can - and does - pass civil rights acts, and religious freedom laws, and other rights-enforcing legislation. And the Supreme Court - including the conservatives on the Supreme Court - have acknowledged its authority to do so under the explicit language of the 14th amendment.

[Dog Gone]

What do you mean the Florida legislature can do nothing? They are the only ones who can constitutionally. Did somebody take them hostage?

[ContraryMary]

It is not up to Congress to decide whether the states have violated constitutional rights. It is up to the federal courts to do so. This bill, as currently proposed, will not pass constitutional muster.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

That has already happened last year with the FLA legislature ,and guess what judge Greer over rode that as well.

So where do we turn when we have an activist judge- making laws at the bench and usurping the will of the people in that sate.

Does the sate then have the right to go to a higher power? I say yes.

[SerpentDove]

"You can't argue with a straight face that Terri has been deprived of due process in this matter. It's the most litigated "end of life" case in our nation's history."

So she has received the death penalty, after being found guilty of what?

[sandbar]

>>>I'm not being flip in the least. If you want the law fixed, talk to the people who wrote it, THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE.>>>

Yes, that's true. But that also takes time, time Terri doesn't have.

[jwalsh07]

The Florida Legislature already passed a law. Iw was ruled UNCONSTITUTIONAL byt the Florida Supreme Court. Anything they do will be ruled UNCONSTITUTIONAL by the FSC.

[ContraryMary]

That's why this is not a matter of due process. Congress, with their over-inflated egos, thinks it can solve all of society's ills by passing laws. It can't.

[SerpentDove]

Do you believe that Terry Schiavo has an unalienable right to life?

[Diva Betsy Ross]

And point out where she had representation.

[SerpentDove]

"And point out where she had representation."

Exactly.

[ContraryMary]

I think you mean inalienable, not unalienable. My personal views have no bearing here. The federal government has long recognized limits, e.g., abortion.

[Dog Gone]

That has already happened last year with the FLA legislature ,and guess what judge Greer over rode that as well.

A decision which was allowed to stand by the US Supreme Court, if you recall.

The Florida legislature did try to come to Terri's rescue. They just happened to choose a very obviously unconstitutional way to do it. A first year law student would have seen that mistake.

They still have time to fix the law they wrote. I can do it for them if they can't find competent legal counsel. It's not hard.