Starved for justice (ANN COULTER re: Schiavo)

WorldNetDaily ^ | 3/23/05 | Ann Coulter

[AZ_Cowboy]

Democrats have called out armed federal agents in order to: 1) prevent black children from attending a public school in Little Rock, Ark. (National Guard), 2) investigate an alleged violation of federal gun laws in Waco, Texas (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms), and 3) deport a small boy to Cuba (Immigration and Naturalization Service).

So how about a Republican governor sending in the National Guard to stop an innocent American woman from being starved to death in Florida? Republicans like the military. Democrats get excited about the use of military force only when it's against Americans.

In two of the three cases mentioned above, the Democrats' use of force was in direct contravention of court rulings. Admittedly, this was a very long time ago – back in U.S. history when the judiciary was only one of the three branches of our government. Democratic Gov. Orval Faubus called out the Arkansas National Guard expressly for purposes of defying rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court and lower federal courts.

The decadent buffoon Bill Clinton sent armed agents from the INS to seize a small boy from an American family – despite rulings by the majestic and infallible Florida courts granting custody of the boy to that very family.

None of these exercises of military force has gone down in history as a noble moment, but that's because of the underlying purpose of the force, not the fact that force was used.

To the contrary, what has gone down in history as a glorious moment for the republic was when President Dwight Eisenhower (Republican) called out military force of his own. In response to Gov. Faubus' abuse of the National Guard, Eisenhower simultaneously revoked Faubus' control of the National Guard and ordered the 101st Airborne Division to escort black students to school. (Minutes later, Democrats pronounced the Arkansas public schools a "hopeless quagmire" and demanded to know what Ike's exit strategy was.)

As important as it was to enforce the constitutional right to desegregated schools, isn't it also important to enforce Terri Schiavo's right to due process before she is killed by starvation?

Liberals' newfound respect for "federalism" is completely disingenuous. People who support a national policy on abortion are prohibited from ever using the word "federalism."

I note that whenever liberals talk about "federalism" or "states' rights," they are never talking about a state referendum or a law passed by the duly elected members of a state legislature – or anything voted on by the actual citizens of a state. What liberals mean by "federalism" is: a state court ruling. Just as "choice" refers to only one choice, "the rule of law" refers only to "the law as determined by a court."

As a practical matter, courts will generally have the last word in interpreting the law because courts decide cases. But that's a pragmatic point. There is nothing in the law, the Constitution or the concept of "federalism" that mandates giving courts the last word. Other public officials, including governors and presidents, are sworn to uphold the law, too.

It would be chaotic if public officials made a habit of disregarding court rulings simply because they disagreed with them. But a practice borne of practicality has led the courts to greater and greater flights of arrogance. Sublimely confident that no one will ever call their bluff, courts are now regularly discovering secret legal provisions requiring abortion and gay marriage and prohibiting public prayer and Ten Commandments displays.

Just once, we need an elected official to stand up to a clearly incorrect ruling by a court. Any incorrect ruling will do, but my vote is for a state court that has ordered a disabled woman to be starved to death at the request of her adulterous husband.

Florida state court Judge George Greer – last heard from when he denied an order of protection to a woman weeks before her husband stabbed her to death – determined that Terri would have wanted to be starved to death based on the testimony of her husband, who was then living with another woman. (The judge also took judicial notice of the positions of O.J. Simpson, Scott Peterson and Robert Blake.) The husband also happened to be the only person present when the oxygen was cut off to Terri's brain in the first place. He now has two children with another woman.

Greer has refused to order the most basic medical tests for brain damage before condemning a woman to death. Despite all those years of important, searching litigation we keep hearing about, Terri has yet to receive either an MRI or a PET scan – although she may be allowed to join a support group for women whose husbands are trying to kill them.

Greer has cut off the legal rights of Terri's real family and made her husband (now with a different family) her sole guardian, citing as precedent the landmark "Fox v. Henhouse" ruling of 1893. Throughout the process that would result in her death sentence, Terri was never permitted her own legal counsel. Evidently, they were all tied up defending the right to life of child-molesting murderers.

Given the country's fetishism about court rulings, this may be a rash assumption, but I presume if Greer had ordered that Terri Schiavo be shot at her husband's request – a more humane death, by the way – the whole country would not sit idly by, claiming to be bound by the court's ruling because of the "rule of law" and "federalism." President Bush would order the FBI to protect her and Gov. Bush would send in the state police.

What was supposed to be the "least dangerous" branch has become the most dangerous – literally to the point of ordering an innocent American woman to die, and willfully disregarding congressional subpoenas. They can't be stopped – solely because the entire country has agreed to treat the pronouncements of former ambulance-chasers as the word of God. The only power courts have is that everyone jumps when they say "jump." (Also, people seem a little intimidated by the black robes. From now on we should make all judges wear lime-green leisure suits.)

President Andrew Jackson is supposed to have said of a Supreme Court ruling he opposed: "Well, John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it." The court's ruling was ignored. And yet, somehow, the republic survived.

If Gov. Jeb Bush doesn't say something similar to the Florida courts that have ordered Terri Schiavo to die, he'll be the second Republican governor disgraced by the illiterate ramblings of a state judiciary. Gov. Mitt Romney will never recover from his acquiescence to the Massachusetts Supreme Court's miraculous discovery of a right to gay marriage. Neither will Gov. Bush if he doesn't stop the torture and murder of Terri Schiavo.

[writer33]

JEB Bush needs to declare a state emergency, activate the National Guard and go inside that hospice and take her out and give her to her parents. If she dies later, naturally, it would still be the right thing to do.

I think it's high time we showed the courts that the PEOPLE set laws pertaining to morality or any Constitutional issue.

[nicmarlo]

bttt

[CitizenM]

Terri really does need a miracle now. We are beyond human sensability with the courts and those who have agendas that are not based on compassionate understanding. We need a real, honest-from-God miracle.

Please, I don't mean to sound ridiculous, I am reaching deep inside my spirituality to find some help for her, and hope for all of us. We know there were miracles, most of us believe they happened. But, just in the past? Perhaps the modern day miracles get "poo-pooed" and ignored, or are small, but they are happening. At this time, with all the world watching, a miracle that helps to save Terri is what I pray for.

"Dear God, in Your infinite mercy, and wise judgement grant that Terri Schiavo be saved from the evil darkness that surrounds her. Bring those into the light who now intend to harm her. Shine brightly upon her, her family, and Your children who so need You to act in her favor. Give Terri the strength to endure, beyond all medical and known comprehension, the trial she is now suffering. Bring a miracle upon her so believers and non-believers world-wide alike can see the enormity of Your powers and the strength of pure love. We humbly ask this of you, Our Father, from whom all kindness eminates, and all good flows. We ask this for Terri and for the world that has hardened its heart because of evil's poison. We beg for Your greatest act of compassion, and Your greatest sign of power to bring Terri out of the fog and into the sunshine of this glorious Easter Season. Amen

[EveningStar]

So how about a Republican governor sending in the National Guard to stop an innocent American woman from being starved to death in Florida?

When I read this, I thought Ann was being tongue-in-cheek. She wasn't. She just said as much on Al Rantel's talk show. Al asked her if she really felt that Jeb should sent in the cops to rescue Terri and Ann said yes. THIS IS NUTS, FOLKS!!! THIS IS WRONG!!! THIS IS IRRESPONSIBLE!!!

[sweetliberty]

Annie; you're awesome! Thanks for standing up for Terri.

[EveningStar]

I was asked to repost to this thread. I noticed you folks pinged me on the other thread. I hope for SCOTUS to overrule the lower courts. I want the process to be legal and responsible. This is not the way.

[Keith in Iowa]

And a judge ordering a governor or any executive branch officer to disobey the laws of the state of Florida is wrong. Greer's order is wrong. Gov. Bush has no duty to obey an illegal order.

[EveningStar]

Are you sure about that?

[litany_of_lies]

I think the evidence of abuse and crime (let alone judicial malpractice and total disregard of Congress's intent with the law passed a few days ago) is sufficient to justify intervention.

I've always wondered where in the bleep the DA has been with all this obvious evidence available.

I also hoped it wouldn't come to this, but it has. The judiciary has said "we do what we want, bleep you." It's long past time to call their bluff.

[Libertina]

You are not in the dog house per se, and even if you were, we would not deny you dinner and water. It's OK to discuss issues :)

[Keith in Iowa]

>>>Are you sure about that?

What? That Gov. Bush has no legal obligation to follow an illegal court order? I'm very sure about it. Just as sure as I am that military people are under no obligation to follow unlawful orders.

[Enterprise]

I know in my heart that SCOTUS will do nothing. Jeb Bush is her only hope, and I am not confident that he will do anything either. That's about my spin on it.

[evangmlw]

ANN COULTER FOR PRESIDENT -- SHE COULD BEAT HILLARY!

[Urbane_Guerilla]

Coulter is a serious human being, vitally connected to life ... no wonder the liberals and phonies (like Andrew Sullivan) hate her. She is too real for them.

[EveningStar]

I'm for exhausting all legal avenues. I'm not for pursuing illegal ones. Keith thinks Jeb is within the law. I don't know.

[Unknown Freeper]

Cut to the chase bump

[harpo11]

King George Greer

Thank you Ann, excellent and absorbing as always.

Judicial tyranny has led America to judicial homocide.

Pray for Terri. Pray for America.

[MarMema]

solely because the entire country has agreed to treat the pronouncements of former ambulance-chasers as the word of God.

Very good. thanks!

[HiJinx]

The husband also happened to be the only person present when the oxygen was cut off to Terri's brain in the first place.

That's why my mother is in the condition she is in, and why her husband will never take her home. This one hits so close to home, it's scary...

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Offering my prayers for your family Brother.