[expatguy]

I think direct legal representation for her is out of the question unfortunately as her intentions can not be divined.

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Out of the question? That cannot be.

So in other words - Terri Schiavo is being sentenced to death and has no legal representation?

No legal representation and brain damaged ~~

The Supreme Court ruled in June 2002 (Atkins v. Virginia) that it was unconstitutional to execute the mentally retarded.

Why would we then order Terri executed?

Im gonna leave out "cruel and unusual" punishment for the moment. Im sure we don't starve death row prisoners to death do we?

[The Mike Device]

Didja read the devil's advocate part? ;) But seriously, I think that the courts have to at least entertain the notion that these may have been her wishes while she was in possession of her faculties. I don't like it either, I wish to God she still had her feeding tube in. A lawyer for a death row inmate that suddenly goes into a coma has some prior knowledge as to his client's wishes. We're talking about appointing someone Now to advocate for Her directly. How does he know beyond the shadow of a doubt what she wants?

[antiRepublicrat]

Im gonna leave out "cruel and unusual" punishment for the moment. Im sure we don't starve death row prisoners to death do we?

No, but we remove feeding tubes all the time without protests. The only difference is that in those cases the family is in agreement. Us not believing Michael Schiavo on the subject of her wishes doesn't create some new big Constitutional issue of "cruel and unusual." We wouldn't even be having this discussion if Terri's family hadn't protested Michael's decision.