Posted on 03/25/2005 4:33:23 AM PST by ex-Texan
Jeb Bush may take Terri Schiavo into state care
The war over the fate of Terri Schiavo was entering its final stages today as her parents clung to two slim hopes of preventing their severely brain-damaged daughter from being allowed to die.
The 41-year-old has been without food or water for almost seven days, after her feeding tube was removed last Friday on the orders of a Florida state judge.
Friends and lawyers say she is showing signs of dehydration - flaky skin, dry tongue and lips, and sunken eyes. Doctors have said she would probably die within a week or two of the tube being removed.
"It's very frustrating. Every minute that goes by is a minute that Terri is being starved and dehydrated to death," said her brother, Bobby Schindler, who said seeing her was like looking at "pictures of prisoners in concentration camps".
But Brian Schiavo, the brother of Mrs Schiavo's husband Michael who has argued for her to be allowed to die with dignity, strongly disagreed, telling CNN that Terri Schiavo "does look a little withdrawn" but insisting she was not in pain. He added that starvation is simply "part of the death process".
One of the final hopes of Mrs Schiavo's parents lies in the federal courts. Last night Bob and Mary Schindler went back before a federal judge in Tampa, filing another emergency request that the feeding tube be reattached while they pursue claims that their daughter's rights are being violated.
District Judge James Whittemore previously rejected an almost identical request on Tuesday. He promised to work through the night to issue his new ruling.
The second and more dramatic hope lies in the hands of Jeb Bush, the Governor of Florida, who was last night considering the politically explosive step of ordering state officials to force their way into the hospice where Mrs Schiavo lies motionless and take her into state custody, in defiance of the US courts.
A Florida judge yesterday rejected a request by Governor Bush to allow the state to take custody of her, but the governor's aides afterwards refused to rule out further action.
The possibility emerged on Wednesday night, when Governor Bush declared that Mrs Schiavo - who court-appointed doctors say has been in persistent vegetative state for 15 years - had been misdiagnosed. He based his assertion on "new information" provided by William Cheshire, a Florida neurologist, who says that she may only be in a "minimally conscious" state.
Although Dr Cheshire, a leading member of the Christian right-to-life movement, did not examine Mrs Schiavo, he observed her for an hour on March 1. Governor Bush maintained that his testimony was compelling enough for the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) to take her into protective custody.
On Wednesday night, amid reports that Florida state officials were "mobilising" outside Mrs Schiavo's hospice, Florida Circuit Judge George Greer issued an emergency restraining order prohibiting DCF agents from seizing her.
Judge Greer then formally rejected Governor Bush's custody request yesterday. Last night he refused to hold a new hearing to assess Dr Cheshire's claims.
He also ordered the local sheriff's department not to allow state officials into Mrs Schiavo's hospice - but, under Florida law, the governor has the power, without court clearance, of taking a citizen into custody for a 24-hour appraisal if it is suspected they are in jeopardy.
Very long article . . Click Here to Read More
Yep. I said BEFOE the press conference: Don't hold a special press conference unles you have a special reason. The Press conference accomplished one thing, it raised false hopes and made Jeb look awful.
Laws that have NOT been followed!!!!!! Greer was given a ORDER from CONGRESS!!!!!! Feds were given instructions from CONGRESS.........it all depends on WHO breaks the laws, some can, others can't . Selective , I say!!!!
The Emancipation Proclamation freed only the slaves in the Confederate states. Since they were no longer part of the Union at that time, then that order had no legal status.
If I divorce my wife, I am not responsible for any debt she would incur after that divorce.
What specific action would you like POTUS to take that he has not already taken?
Jeb has alienated conservatives, pro-life Democrats, Christians, Jews, educated Black voters, Hispanics (95% Catholic) and womens rights supporters. Also everybody who believes that an ex-husband should not have the right to act as the custodian in this case (too many legal conflicts). And, he alienated Democrats who he was not being suported by anyway.
Bottom line: Jeb Bush made a BIG mistake. But Terri Schiavo is the one suffering. 'Suffering unto death,' as Heidigger or Nietsche would have put it. Do you want to bet that Jeb does not quickly enough to protect evidence after Terri dies? Losing a chance for an autopsy. Her body will be cremated by her ex-husband. Jeb will do nothing about it. And possible evidence of an alleged felony will be destroyed.
If were living in Florida today, I would be raising caine about 'governor' bush. But, sadly, I'm living in the Peoples Republic of Oregon.
Yes, you said this WELL!!!!
Jeb Bush at best doesn't care about Terri. But he will be always remembered for this.
The Founders thought those rights stated in the Declaration to be self evident. Went so far as to call them 'truths'. And noted that when governments become destructive of those ends, it was within the rights of those so governed to change that government. They felt that strongly about that which you claim has 'no legal weight' that they pledged lives and fortunes in a desperate gamble and rebelled against the strongest nation on the planet.
Only to have those 'truths' dismissed as 'having no legal weight'. The very foundations of the nation has 'no legal weight' to some on this very board, and to those vultures in black robes that infest our 'legal' system.
I'm stunned.
Thanks for the link, I've already emailed. I strongly encourage anyone who hasn't, please email Governor Jeb Bush.
I am saying that the Declaration of Independence is not a law, nothing more, nothing less.
If the Declaration of Independence carried the weight of law, then why would we need the Constitution, or anything else? Because we, as a people, have never been able to agree what those self-evident truths are.
If I claim that my pursuit of happiness entitles me to run naked in the streets it that allowed? No, because the law, agreed upon the local people of my community, says no.
If we are saying that this issue is big enough that we are willing to go back to square one, issue a second Declaration of Independence with all the ramifications that implies, then so be it.
Do we form a new government because of this case?
Hi, ex-Texan! I think Gov. Bush cares very deeply about these developments. I just think he hasn't got the stomach for a full-blown constitutional crisis in Florida. Which is probably just what Florida needs right now -- its legal system is a snakepit, from the Supreme Court down to the circuit courts. It seems clear to me he has the statutory authority to act; but I doubt he will, at this point. If he did, can you imagine the stink the Left would raise? And they would not be addressing the valid constitutional issues involved, either; they'd just try to perform a character assassination -- on Gov. Bush and Christians in general -- and confuse everybody. They'd falsely claim that their "opponents" were trying to establish a theocracy....
I actually had an email from an acquaintance this morning gloating and teasing me about Terri. Very cruel.
I hope Jeb Bush had a good dinner last night, slept well, and had a sumptuous breakfast this morning.
The Constitution merely sets up the form of government we have. Ever hear of the Articles of Confederation? It was the first attempt to set up the new American government. It failed, so the former colonies started over.
The Constitution is not the Founding document of this Nation. It founded the government. The government is not the Nation. The Declaration of Independence founded the Nation. Without that, we are still subjects of the British Crown.
If you wish to run down the street naked, go forth and do so. If that is what makes you happy, there is something wrong with you. But no one will lose their life over it. It is a specious argument in a very serious matter. Equating running down the street nude with a discussion about a woman that is starving to death? That is twisted.
Do we need to issue a second Declaration? Nope. First one summed things up pretty well. New government? No. We just need to get back to one that respects and follows the Constitution in the first place. The one now seems to have lost its way.
We do not need to resort to force of arms. Yet. The situation is still salvagable.
Again a matter of perspective. Has the Constitution lost its way, or are actions taking place with which you (and me for that matter) disagree?
The law doesn't always empower us to act the way we want. As for running naked down the street, I was not equating it to any other act other than itself.
There is no weight of law in the Declaration is my point. The Declaration is truly a great document. But I would not go into a court of law and claim that the Declaration of Independence grants me the right to do anything.
"But according to the law we can kill the innocent."
And those same people who insist on following the law and killing the innocent are the first to scream"
The bible verse with Jesus talking about "wailing and gnashing of teeth" comes to mind. Everyone here must remember that God is Perfect Justice and in the end there will be Justice under God
"But I would not go into a court of law and claim that the Declaration of Independence grants me the right to do anything."
And that is EXACTLY the problem. The men who started this nation thought that these things would be so freaking obvious that the dimmest person would be able to grasp the concepts laid out. They didn't even bother saying that the citizens had the right to their own life, they thought it to be THAT obvious. Some even fought against the Bill of Rights, fearing that they would be considered an enumeration, a list, of rights, and it turns out that they were both right and wrong. I shudder to think of how far we would have fallen if the BoR wasn't there. (The right to life doesn't show up until the 14th Amendment's ratification in 1868, by the way). They never concieved that a person would be stripped of their life by judicial fiat after they had set the nation upon its course.
If you read the history of that time, you will find that the Founders literally hanged judges for this very reason. Judges that had 'followed the law' to the letter.
The Constitution hasn't lost its way, we have. Legions of lawyers and judges have beseiged it, and twisted its words, read certain portions out of it by their 'legal opinions', and generally made mockery of it.
Yeah, I'm a true believer in the meaning of the Founders words. Too bad I seem to be in a minority, now.
No he hasn't.
he has almost overwhelming police power at his disposal.
Do it now, Jeb. And then tell this nobody judge from a puny nowhere county to "bring it on" and dare him to do anything about it.
Spomeone needs to stand up to the tyranny of the judiciary, even by extra-legal means if necessary. Life is far more important than any law.
Otherwise, you've forever lost my support and I'll never EVER vote for you should you run nationally.
And what are you doing to save her life?
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