Posted on 03/19/2005 3:05:30 PM PST by FairOpinion
PINELLAS PARK, Fla., March 19 - The morning after Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed, supporters of her parents sought new avenues in their fight to keep the critically brain-damaged woman alive, while police arrested several of the protesters who gathered outside Ms. Schiavo's hospice when they tried to force their way inside.
At midmorning Saturday about 30 people prayed and waved signs outside the Woodside Hospice, and the Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, said that later in the day that he would lead as many protesters as he could gather to Tallahassee, where they would spend the next few days lobbying the State Legislature and Gov. Jeb Bush to somehow force the feeding tube's reinsertion.
Just before 11 a.m. Saturday, three protesters were taken into custody when they tried to force their way past officers guarding the driveway to the hospice and to take bread and water to Ms. Schiavo. The three men - led by James (Bo) Gritz, a former Green Beret commander from Nevada - were arrested on misdemeanor trespassing charges, police officials said.
Ms. Schiavo cannot eat or drink without a feeding tube, but the protesters said the action was meant to be symbolic.
Shortly after the arrests, a man who described himself as a spiritual adviser to Ms. Schiavo's parents, Robert and Mary Schindler, emerged from the hospice to say they did not want any civil disobedience. The man, Paul O'Donnell, said the Schindlers were inside and wanted "everything to remain peaceful" adding that they were "devastated but hopeful."
Mary Schindler, who rarely addresses the news media, emerged from the hospice around lunchtime to say that Ms. Schiavo "is my life."
"I am begging Governor Bush and the politicians in Tallahassee, President Bush and the politicians in Washington, please, please, please save my little girl," she said.
Doctors removed the feeding tube from Ms. Schiavo on Friday afternoon. They said that the 41-year-old woman, who suffered extensive brain damage when her heart failed 15 years ago, could live up to two weeks without the liquid meals that were provided through a gastric tube.
She has been the focus of a seven-year fight between her husband, Michael, who is her legal guardian and says that he is fighting to protect her wish to die, and her parents, who reject court findings that she has no cognition and would not want to be kept alive artificially.
Mr. Mahoney, one of several conservative religious leaders trying to rally national protest of the tube removal on grounds that no life should end prematurely, said he hoped more people would travel here as Ms. Schiavo's condition deteriorated.
"We want a spiritual prayer witness sort of thing in Pinellas Park and a more political front in Tallahassee," Mr. Mahoney said.
He added that protesters would pressure Governor Bush to visit Ms. Schiavo at her bedside, as her husband has angrily invited him to do. Mr. Schiavo sued the governor in 2003 after the Legislature passed a law empowering the governor to order Ms. Schiavo's feeding tube reinserted six days after it had been removed.
Mr. Schiavo, appearing Saturday morning on the "Today" show on NBC, said that he was at his wife's side shortly after the tube was removed Friday afternoon and that he knew it was what she wanted.
"It felt like some peace was happening for Terri," Mr. Schiavo said in the television interview. "And I felt like she was finally going to get what she wants, and be at peace and be with the Lord."
Mr. Mahoney - who believes, as Ms. Schiavo's parents do, that she can think and feel and could improve with therapy even though the courts have accepted medical testimony that she cannot - said visiting Ms. Schiavo could prompt the governor to take drastic action.
"It's important for him as a chief executive to see what's being done to one of his residents," Mr. Mahoney said. "Governor Bush might be her last practical hope. We believe he could take her into protective custody or otherwise use his executive privileges."
Mr. Mahoney and Randall Terry, the founder of the antiabortion group Operation Rescue, said they would continue lobbying Congress to pass a bill that would require a federal court hearing in cases like Ms. Schiavo's to evaluate whether the state had followed all requirements for judicial due process. They also said they still hoped the Florida Legislature would pass a law requiring the tube's reinsertion or forcing the replacement of Mr. Schiavo as his wife's guardian.
Thank you.
From his photo, I wondered when he last took a bath, washed and cut his hair, and shaved. I think those sunglasses were tattooed to his furry face. The sign he was carrying that said "moron" was probably in reference to himself. At least he was honest just once.
Thanks again.
Yes, of course, Governor Bush should go and visit Terri. I'm sure he'll enjoy seeing her BEING STARVED TO DEATH!!! Jeb Bush, you better get off your butt and DO SOMETHING!!!!!!!!
I can do it you know...I know that alchemy stuff.
heh ;)
lol
I didn't care much about politics when Clinton was around, so I don't know much about his use of Executive Orders, or Executive Orders at all for that matter. My guess is that the judiciary and media tolerated it because they agreed with Clinton, but now since they don't agree with Bush they will probably react differently.
On another thread it's being reported that the Senators have decided to scrap all the old evidence and retry. I guess procedure is called de novo.
heh ;)...yourself...I don't remember asking you to cough.
Yeah Okay!!...that could be considered an example of gender discrimination. I know you can take it...you're a Mod. BTW...Go for the Gold!!!
LOL
Yes, I do agree with you. I hadn't thought about that. Thank you.
"On another thread it's being reported that the Senators have decided to scrap all the old evidence and retry. I guess procedure is called de novo."
Yes, I heard the tail end of that.
I think that would be a very good idea, because Judge Greer denied access of experts to Terri, denied medical tests, someone who was teaching Terri to speak was put on the banned visitors list, and so one -- the whole case smells.
Start anew and examine everything.
But they better put that feeding tube back in NOW, it's been out already for 24 hrs or close to it, or the whole thing will be sadly moot.
You can live without food for a while, but Terri is not getting any water or fluids either, and that can cause permanent damange much more quickly.
Maybe they won't know what the "fuss" is all about until their children unplug them to get their $$$ later in life(that's after "life support removal due to offspring decree" becomes a law).
Slippery slope indeed.
Ah, so did you applaud their having followed the law to the letter?
I believe that was Paul Begala, "The Forehead," who said that notable quote.
Too bad you missed his photo on his FR homepage. But then again, maybe it was good you didn't see it. It has now been taken down.
Ah yes, yes...You are correct. Thank you so much.
A heartfelt thank you!!
That is, yes, it was said by Paul Begala. Thank you.
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