"It is frustrating for people to think that I have power that I don't, and not be able to act," Bush told The Associated Press on Thursday. "I don't have embedded special powers. I wish I did in this particular case."
Bush canceled travel plans Thursday to monitor the case of Schiavo, a brain-damaged woman who has gone without food and water since a judge ordered her feeding tube removed March 18.
He was in constant contact with his legal office, ordered staffers to e-mail and call him with developments and demanded state laws be scoured for a way to reconnect Schiavo's feeding tube.
At his office, Bush waved an affidavit from neurologist William Cheshire that questions whether Schiavo is in a persistent vegetative state. The emotion in his voice rose as he detailed how the affidavit stated Schiavo made a crying sound, grimaced and pressed her eyebrows together when a doctor said he was going to turn her over.
She "signals her anticipation of pain. Just like you would, or just like I would. Now is it perfect? Is she responding with the same eloquence that you would respond to? ... No. She's severely, profoundly disabled," Bush said.
He has proven over and over that he cares about this as much as anyone, and yet, he is the scapegoat people on FreeRepublic have chosen.
Makes me sick, honestly.
Jebs been working his butt off. He looks so tired and frustrated when they show him on TV.
I like Jeb. He's a good man.
I think people, me included, just had no idea how powerful Greer is. We got a hint when he spit on the congressional subpoenas and then the realization sunk in when he ordered Jeb to stay away from the hospice. I was shocked, to be honest. I had no idea.