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Posted on 03/21/2005 8:54:40 AM PST by annalex
POSTED: 10:34 am EST March 21, 2005
UPDATED: 11:13 am EST March 21, 2005
WASHINGTON -- President George W. Bush signed emergency legislation early Monday morning that gives Terri Schiavo's parents a chance to plea for their daughter's life in federal court.
The House majority leader said Congress is giving her a chance to live, but some lawmakers said the law goes too far.
Passage of the law came following hours of emotional debate.
"This woman needs help -- not a death sentence," Rep. Joseph Pitts, R-Pa., said.
Democrats protested the decision.
"The majority wishes to undermine over 200 years of jurisprudence," Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla., said.
The House voted 203-58 for a bill that gives Terri Schiavo's parents the right to file suit in federal court. That could trigger the reinsertion of feeding tubes needed to keep the brain-damaged woman alive.
"I told her we were going to take her for a little trip, and take her outside, and get her some breakfast, and I got a big smile out of her face, so help me God," Schiavo's father Bob Schindler said.
Almost immediately after the bill passed early Monday morning, Bush signed it into law, vowing to stand on the side of those defending life for all Americans.
The law allows Schiavo's parents to ask a federal judge to prolong Schiavo's life by reinserting her feeding tube that was removed Friday. U.S. District Judge James Whittemore set a hearing for 3 p.m. on the request for a temporary restraining order.
A lawyer for the brain-damaged woman's parents filed a civil-rights lawsuit in federal court in Tampa as allowed under the new law. The lawsuit alleges a series of rights violations. Those violations include that Terri Schiavo's religious beliefs are being infringed upon, that the removal of the feeding tube violated her rights and that she was not provided an independent attorney to represent her interests.
"We are hopeful that the federal courts will follow the will of Congress and save my sister's life," Schiavo's sister Suzanne Vitadamo said.
Schiavo's brother-in-law doesn't believe the bill is about family. He thinks lawmakers have gone too far.
"It's politics. Nothing else. People like the Bushes [and] that knucklehead Tom Delay. I have no idea what he's about. He is an absolute buffoon," Brian Schiavo said.
Schiavo's husband, Michael, said she told him that she would not want to be kept alive in a vegetative state. Her feeding tube was removed Friday under a state court's orders.
Her parents and many lawmakers say she needs treatment and another opportunity for life. Schiavo's feeding tube was removed twice before. Doctors say she probably will die in about two weeks if the feeding tube is not reinserted.
hypathetical, should be hypothetical...spell check is our friend ;-)
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I am troubled by the judges hesitation.
I am worried that the judge is looking for ways to support judge Greer. He is looking for a way out.
The article states: "Democrats protested the decision."
It should have had a qualifier "Most" because some very principled Dems voted for the bill, some of whom I usually despise.
i.e. Tom Harkin
Schiavo's brother-in-law doesn't believe the bill is about family. He thinks lawmakers have gone too far.
"It's politics. Nothing else. People like the Bushes [and] that knucklehead Tom Delay. I have no idea what he's about. He is an absolute buffoon," Brian Schiavo said.
Brian Schiavo is Michael Schiavo's BROTHER! (NOT IN LAW)
"Fed Judge is a Clinton Appointee."
He is dragging his feet also. He should have immediately ordered the tube reinserted. This does not bode well for Terri. This "death culture" we live in has totally gotten out of control.
I think the original quote refers to Terri (Schiavo)'s brother-in-law being Brian.
I saw last nite while channel-surfing, Pat Buchanan (with whom I rarely agree these days) asking Chris Matthews, "why are you in such a hurry to see this woman dead?" Matthews had no good reply (as usual.)
We have a multiply handicapped son. He was born prematurely and suffered a bleed in the brain which left him profoundly retarded. He is now a young adult who is aware of his surroundings but cannot take care of himself. If we stopped feeding him he would die and we would be tried for murder. Personnally we don't see that much difference between him and Terri. The way in which the brain damage is manifested is different but the degree is probably not dissimilar.
aren't we ALL dependent on merely food and water to live? If food/water were denied any of us, we would die!
Sloppy writing. The preceding phrase makes it clear that "Schiavo" refers to Terri Schiavo, so all relations are in reference to her, not to Michael.
Apparantly not in Florida as long as you get a judge to go along.
Sadly, I have to agree. If he were at all inclined to reinstate her feeding, he would have set the hearing earlier.
It might be unrelated, but I seriously wonder if this Judge is looking to make sure this does not somehow affect abortion "type" areas of law.
This hurry up and wait is a bear.
But, at this point, isn't the request just to allow Terri food and water (by whatever means), until the appeals can actually be decided on.
I believe that is true due to the following item I saw this morning on a news website, possibly www. cnn.com (sorry I neglected to save the source):
"David Gibbs, an attorney for the parents, filed documents overnight seeking a temporary restraining order and Schiavo's move from a hospice to a hospital for the tube's reinsertion."
"kept alive"?
We are all "kept alive" by eating and drinking. Let me rephrase the question for you. "If you knew you would not be able to eat and drink under your own power, and there was some degree of disagreement over how conscious you were, would you want to be starved to death?".
That is actually the accurate question to be asked.
God bless you for your work to sustain the life of your son.
It is occurring to me that Terri in her severely handicapped state has done more to change the face of America than a legion of lawyers. Regardless of how this battle goes, many people will examine their conscience thanks to her -- and thanks to the noble people like you.
Should Terri Schiavo be placed back on a feeding tube?
Choice Votes Percentage of 1725 Votes
Yes 906 53%
No 819 47%
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