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Jeb Bush not likely to to ride to rescue
World Net Daily | March 25, 2005 | Pool

Posted on 03/25/2005 8:05:47 AM PST by yatros from flatwater

STARVATION: DAY 8
Jeb Bush not likely
to ride to rescue

Florida governor indicates
he won't defy court order


Posted: March 25, 2005
1:00 a.m. Eastern


© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

Those hoping Florida Gov. Jeb Bush will step forward to save Terri Schiavo from imminent, court-ordered starvation death are likely to be disappointed, based on his comments to a group of reporters following county court Judge George Greer's ruling against the state's effort to take custody of the brain-injured woman at the center of a worldwide euthanasia controversy.

While Bush reiterated his motivation to save Schiavo, based on new evidence that she is not in a persistent vegetative state and is, to some degree, conscious of her surroundings, the governor said "it isn't possible to remove her" from the hospice.

Earlier in the week, there were hints from the Bush administration that the Department of Children and Families might use force, if necessary, to stabilize Terri Schiavo and remove her from the facility.

"The judge is so focused on carrying out whatever decision he made years ago, that I guess the additional information he just rejected out of hand, and rejected the ability of the department to go in and stabilize her," he said. "It isn't possible right now to remove her. ... Given the fact that she's being starved to death it would be difficult to move her."

Bush downplayed the earlier reports about the possibility of action by the DCF.

"We never said that unilaterally we would do something that's against the court," he said. "I've been asked to do it by a lot of people – a lot of the advice I'm getting over the Internet and over television and the like. I know that there were lots of rumors of things that aren't accurate. I have a duty to uphold the law and I have been very consistent about that. It seemed like a big story that never was confirmed because it wasn't true. If we had that ability to do it, if there wasn't an injunction, we would do it right now. We would stabilize her by giving her hydration. We couldn't put a feeding tube in. There was already a court order in place. The opportunity we had was appealing his decision."

A prominent evangelical Christian leader yesterday urged Bush to disobey the judge's order barring the Florida governor from intervening to save the life of Terri Schiavo. In a statement shortly after Judge George Greer's decision, Rev. D. James Kennedy pointed to Bush "as the only legal authority who can save the life of Terri Schiavo."

Kennedy, president of Coral Ridge Ministries, said Bush "must act and he must act immediately on her behalf."

"He must disregard the order of Judge Greer," Kennedy said. "He has both the authority and the duty to do so under the state constitution."

Greer rejected Bush's request to grant the governor protective custody. On Wednesday he barred the Department of Children & Families from taking custody. Also yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a request from Terri Schiavo's parents, Robert and Mary Schindler, for an emergency order allowing her feeding tube to be reinserted.

As WorldNetDaily reported, Bush appeared to be clearing the way for the possibility unilateral action when he appeared at a news conference Wednesday to confirm the DCF, under his authority, has the legal right to remove Terri Schiavo, by force if necessary, from the hospice where she has lived the past five years.

Bush said new information had come to light warranting intervention, including a review of Terri Schiavo's condition by neurologist Dr. William Cheshire, who claims she may have been misdiagnosed. Cheshire believes Schiavo to be in a "minimally conscious state," not a "persistent vegetative state" as Greer has determined.

"It is imperative that she be stabilized so the DCF team can fulfill their statute to review the facts surrounding the case," Bush said.

Kennedy said Bush should be commended for his efforts over the past two years – which include the state legislature's passage of "Terri's Law" – but he noted those efforts "thus far has proven fruitless." The law later was declared unconstitutional.

"Neither the state legislature nor the courts, state or federal, have been willing to act on behalf of this helpless woman who is now within hours of death," Kennedy said.

Kennedy points out the Florida Constitution states in Article I, Section 2, that "[a]ll natural persons, female and male alike, are equal before the law, and have inalienable rights, among which are the right to enjoy and defend life ... ." According to the Constitution, "no person shall be deprived of any right [including the right to enjoy life] because of ... physical disability."

Similar arguments were brought to Florida's capital this morning by former Judicial Watch Chairman Larry Klayman and former presidential candidate Alan Keyes. Keyes wrote a column published yesterday by WorldNetDaily, arguing for Bush to step in and save Schiavo amid judicial abuse of the separation of powers.

"I have talked to a whole lot of people that I respect, not just now but the first time when Terri's law was passed, to make the determination of what my powers are and they are not as expansive as people would want them to be," Bush said yesterday. "And I understand, they're acting on their heart and I fully appreciate their sentiments and the emotions that go with this, but .... I've consistently said that I can't go beyond what my powers are and I'm not going to do it. There are 90,000 abortions that take place in this state every year. That troubles me more than I can ever describe, but that doesn't mean that I have some secret powers to stop that. There are a lot of things that go on in society that trouble me and this is certainly one of them. To have someone starve to death troubles me greatly and we have done everything we can and we will continue to do so within the powers that I have."


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 1shiningmomentlost; jebbush; jebfolds; jebsaybyebye; jurocracy; politicalcareerover; pontiuspilate; rulebyjudge; saybyebyejeb; schiavo; terri; terrihysteria; terrischiavo
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To: My Favorite Headache

I only wish that he would have acted in the same manner as the mayor of San Francisco. Go in and rescue her, then fight it out in the courts, instead of going to the rogue court and asking for their permission.

He is still the best ally that Terri had working for her. God Bless him.


21 posted on 03/25/2005 8:31:42 AM PST by kempster
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To: vin-one

Jeb: "The opportunity we had was appealing his decision."

Its over. This statement is past-tense.

The US and State Governments can now move forward to reduce their Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid obligations and expenditures in a similar manner......there is precedence......abortion-on-demand has reduced the number of likely Govt dependents for years, and now euthanasia will do the same.

And the hell of it is that many decent folks on either side of the Schiavo issue have been fooled.


22 posted on 03/25/2005 8:34:49 AM PST by Vn_survivor_67-68
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To: All

Would anyone in here want to see her euthanized than starved to death? Would you rather Dr. Kevorkian help her?

Just wondering since Glen Beck on the radio was mad that a rat can be euthanized and Terri has to starve to death.


23 posted on 03/25/2005 8:38:40 AM PST by zippee
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To: My Favorite Headache
Jeb has gone beyond the call of duty and done more for this woman over the last few years than anyone could ever ask for.

I beg to differ. I think he has fallen grossly short. Terri is being murdered and he has not stopped it. He can do so without resorting to extralegal means, but he refuses to do so.

24 posted on 03/25/2005 8:43:39 AM PST by TheDon (The Democratic Party is the party of TREASON)
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To: vin-one

Making threats to MS on an anonymous internet forum makes you appear silly.


25 posted on 03/25/2005 8:47:57 AM PST by dmz
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To: TheDon

See my post 16.


26 posted on 03/25/2005 8:48:30 AM PST by tomahawk
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Jeb has done enough, but he must draw the line somewhere.

Avoiding a constitutional crisis is a good place to draw the line.

27 posted on 03/25/2005 8:50:27 AM PST by george wythe
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To: tomahawk

Trust me if some members of the Fl legislature have gotten death threats you know MS has.

This brings to question about this bimbo he is living with. You would think that if they are getting threats she would say walk away and get on with our lives.

I remember an episode of Law and Order, A guy walked on killing his wife, a few seasons later he killed his current wife and almost walked again. but was caught. If I was this bimbo BE CAREFUL. Don't piss Michael off!!!!!!!!!!


28 posted on 03/25/2005 8:53:42 AM PST by 54skylark
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To: Ghost of Philip Marlowe
...but no politicians are willing to do anything about it.

Why?

Because: "... the rule of law carries the ever-present danger of becoming rule by judges and lawyers. "

Overwhelmingly, politicians are lawyers and therefore, satisfied with the system and their role in it.

29 posted on 03/25/2005 8:55:20 AM PST by yatros from flatwater (Justice, Justice, you shall pursue!)
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To: the invisib1e hand
Somebody, please convince me that I'm wrong. There is no other plausible explanation unless he has had his testacles removed

How about the possibility he is doing what he thinks is right given the situation and the authority he has.? Just because it doesn't agree with your sense of what every one should be doing doesn't mean they are wrong and you are right.

30 posted on 03/25/2005 8:55:23 AM PST by paul51 (11 September 2001 - Never forget)
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To: yatros from flatwater

Pontius.
Pilate.


31 posted on 03/25/2005 8:57:16 AM PST by sitetest (If Roe is not overturned, no unborn child will ever be protected in law.)
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To: My Favorite Headache
Keep in mind...he is the best political strategist this side of Karl Rove...and I mean that. He is a political genius.

How do you sleep at night?

32 posted on 03/25/2005 8:59:26 AM PST by NCSteve
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To: the invisib1e hand

Your response toward Gov. Bush is completely absurd. Jeb has worked tirelessly to save this woman's life. You flippantly assume that he is a eunuch and then curse him. You could disagree with the Gov's course of action, but it's shameless to slime him this way.


33 posted on 03/25/2005 9:03:33 AM PST by Don'tMessWithTexas
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To: Don'tMessWithTexas

Gov. Bush has done all he can except utilize the emergency removal procedure, which does not require court pre-approval.

Various legal scholars have agreed that the judge lacks legal authority to prevent this.

The only conclusion I can make is that Gov. Bush is not convinced that she is not in a PVS, because if she's not, he should go in and get her.


34 posted on 03/25/2005 9:06:38 AM PST by tomahawk
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To: tomahawk

Even if Jeb yanked Terri out of the hospice right now, the DCF would have to appear before the Court within 24 hours anyway. Besides, there is a restraining order preventing him from taking Terri. These orders have the power of law.


35 posted on 03/25/2005 9:07:42 AM PST by Don'tMessWithTexas
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To: sitetest; cyn; Ohioan from Florida; supercat; Pegita; TheSarce; Gracey; basil; DrewsDad; WOSG; ...


ATTENTION ALL FREEPERS
This just in from theSarce a H.O.T. chapter freeper.

PING ALL YOUR LISTS.
TheSarce headed for Florida and is at the Governors office and Mansion.
50 people gathered for a vigil @ the Governor's mansion in Tallahassie last night.

Governor Phones didn't stop ringing yesterday. Thank you.
BUT

Call Governor now. Fax now.

Calls have slowed down for Good Friday
But office is open till 5pm they need to hear from you all day.

Phone
850-488-4441
fax 850-487-0801

Tell Gov. Jeb Bush to rescue Terri Schiavo.

AND THIS ADDED BY THE BAT LADY
The 14th amendment to the Constitution was ratified 7/9/1868
It Says.
No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of LIFE, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.


36 posted on 03/25/2005 9:08:27 AM PST by The Bat Lady (I want to import the purple finger for the USA elections. and all on the same day, no early voting.)
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To: Kitty D

I am nearly as much concerned that Governor Bush is allowing the judicial branch to trample all over the executive branch as I am that a young handicapped woman is being starved to death on his watch.


37 posted on 03/25/2005 9:08:53 AM PST by glennaro
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To: seekthetruth

..according to Fed. Justice Moore, Jeb Bush does have the power....and has even offered his services to Jeb Bush to have him authorize taking Terri into custody. This was on Sean Hannity's show yesterday afternoon.


38 posted on 03/25/2005 9:16:33 AM PST by smiley
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To: yatros from flatwater

No heroes here. They all drink from the same trough.


39 posted on 03/25/2005 9:17:51 AM PST by Gimme
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To: Don'tMessWithTexas

I believe that order exceeds the judge's powers. Professor Turley (renowned constitututional scholar) agrees, as the judicial branch cannot order the executive branch not to enforce a valid law, only not to enforce an invalid law or to enforce a valid law.

The emergency removal statute is on the books and could be used by Gov. Bush. That's my opinion as a TN lawyer for 14 years, but not admitted in FL.


40 posted on 03/25/2005 9:38:52 AM PST by tomahawk
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