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First Lady Laura Bush Says Government Right to Intervene in Case of Brain-Damaged Florida Woman
The Associated Press ^ | Mar. 29, 2005 | DEB RIECHMANN

Posted on 03/29/2005 4:39:09 PM PST by Former Military Chick

Mar. 29, 2005 - First lady Laura Bush said Tuesday the government was right to have intervened in the case of Terri Schiavo, a severely brain-damaged Florida woman whose case has stirred national debate about life and death issues.

"I just feel like the federal government has to be involved," Mrs. Bush said. "It is a life issue that really does require government to be involved."

Mrs. Bush commented on the Schiavo case aboard a plane bound for Afghanistan, where she was to promote education and women's rights.

Schiavo's husband, Michael, has waged a long court battle with his parents-in-law, contending his 41-year-old wife, who has been in a persistent vegetative state since 1990, would not want to live that way. Schiavo's parents, on the other hand, have been pleading with the U.S. Congress, Florida lawmakers, federal judges and in courts in Florida to have their daughter's feeding tube reinserted.

"I am not surprised over the debate," Mrs. Bush said. "I think it's an issue that, you know, everyone is concerned about and interested in.

"I'm sorry for the family that it has to be so public. This is such a very, very difficult time for them and for everyone who watches Terri."

Mrs. Bush said she has been encouraged to hear that the case has prompted more people to inquire about living wills.

"I think that is really good," she said. "The president and I have living wills and, of course, our parents do. They wanted us always to be aware of it. I think that it is important for families to have opportunities to talk about these issues."


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: firstlady; laurabush; schiavo
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To: sinkspur
If you want to support the goofy Constamatooshinalists, go right ahead.

I was under the impression that the Republican party was interested in constructionist judicial candidates; Wouldn't that be a return to the constitution? Or do you have an issue with that too?
81 posted on 03/29/2005 8:04:30 PM PST by ARCADIA (Abuse of power comes as no surprise)
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To: Jorge
One more example of how the hysteria over this has the right eating their own......how sad.

I'm not hysterical. I'm being practical. Jeb Bush has serious problems if he intends to stay in politics. I only care if Jeb Bush is in politics if he does good work. If he puts the people he has sworn to protect and serve above himself. If he can't he needs to seek other work.

82 posted on 03/29/2005 8:06:03 PM PST by isthisnickcool (Here come da king, er, judge!)
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To: PhatHead
The ONLY thing that I am a "fanatic" about, at this moment,is the abject stupidity and witch trial emotionalism re Terri, on this forum right now.

You don't believe that the police would arrest the president and the governor,IF they tried to DROWN Terri by giving her water by mouth? THEN YOU DON'T HAVE 3 WORKING BRAIN CELLS!

She 1) can't swallow and 2) oh yes the police most assuredly WOULD arrest anyone and everyone who would try to give her water.

No matter WHAT you "feel", our laws ARE our laws and we ARE a nation of laws. You want something different? Work to change the law.

83 posted on 03/29/2005 8:07:20 PM PST by nopardons
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To: jpsb
How does it feel to shown horribly wrong on the webs most popular conservative site?

'Far-right-wing-nut' web site is what it has become. Let's change the subject and try to convince me that the earth is flat.

84 posted on 03/29/2005 8:08:03 PM PST by snapperjk (If you are a terror to many, then beware of many.)
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To: ARCADIA

Intepret the law. That's what a strict constructionist does.


85 posted on 03/29/2005 8:08:11 PM PST by sinkspur (I'm in the WPPFF)
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To: jackbill
I don't want anyone who thinks that Jeb Bush didn't do all that he could to be involved in my life, in any way, shape, manner or form.

Uh, OK.....

86 posted on 03/29/2005 8:08:41 PM PST by isthisnickcool (Here come da king, er, judge!)
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To: snapperjk
" earth is flat."

You need convincing? That is wrong with you!

87 posted on 03/29/2005 8:10:04 PM PST by jpsb
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To: nopardons

Go get um, nopardons!! Yeeee haaaaa !!!!


88 posted on 03/29/2005 8:10:22 PM PST by snapperjk (If you are a terror to many, then beware of many.)
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To: jpsb
"Jesse's only in it for the publicity."

LOL, ya think? The Lord works in mysteriuos ways doesn't he.

Through two faced publicity seeking hypocrites with reputations worse than dirt..THIS IS who the Lord works through? Jesse Jackson?
You really think so?

Yall calling for Terri death are getting to be a very small club. With zero consrvatives of note in it. How does it feel to shown horribly wrong on the webs most popular conservative site?

Are you really this clueless?

EVERY POLL shows the majority of Americans support the decision by Terri's husband and DISAGREE with Congress and Bush tampering with process.

I love Bush but his approval numbers are taking a HUGE hit, and most blame the radical rights fanatical activism over this case.

This is ABSOLUTELY going to hurt the Republicans and help the Dems.

89 posted on 03/29/2005 8:12:11 PM PST by Jorge
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To: jpsb
I'm NOT "calling for Terri's death". Go find any post of mine wherein I said that and CCP it to this thread. If you can't do that, then you owe me a public apology, ON THIS THREAD ! And since I have made less than 12 posts on Terri threads, NONE of which called for her death,or even approved of anything at all that's been going on, YOU are a damned liar and a < B>LIAR!

The LORD has nothing at all to do with Jesse Jackson. The Schindlers called him and asked him to come down there. Jesse being Jesse, he went...looking for the cameras and microphones every 2 seconds.

90 posted on 03/29/2005 8:12:12 PM PST by nopardons
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To: snapperjk

:-)


91 posted on 03/29/2005 8:14:10 PM PST by nopardons
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To: Right_in_Virginia
Sorry to learn you missed the law passed by Congress and signed by the President.

Under what Constitutional authority. Abuse of power is plain wrong, no matter which party is the perpetrator.

92 posted on 03/29/2005 8:14:34 PM PST by nonliberal (Graduate: Curtis E. LeMay School of International Relations)
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To: Jorge

Correct; sadly.


93 posted on 03/29/2005 8:15:30 PM PST by nopardons
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To: Jorge
EVERY POLL shows the majority of Americans support the decision by Terri's husband and DISAGREE with Congress and Bush tampering with process. I love Bush but his approval numbers are taking a HUGE hit, and most blame the radical rights fanatical activism over this case. This is ABSOLUTELY going to hurt the Republicans and help the Dems.

Jorge, you forget that the polls 'lie'. Naughty, naughty, naughty on you, Jorge. ROTFLMAO...

94 posted on 03/29/2005 8:16:19 PM PST by snapperjk (If you are a terror to many, then beware of many.)
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To: isthisnickcool
I'm not hysterical. I'm being practical. Jeb Bush has serious problems if he intends to stay in politics.

Yes, attacking a popular Republican Governor and giving a huge opening for the Dems and the left to move in is really "practical".

Maybe it's really a bit vindictive, short-sighted and counter-productive.

95 posted on 03/29/2005 8:16:28 PM PST by Jorge
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To: nopardons
Yes, the laws clearly should be changed - though I'm not convinced existing laws could not have been enough to prevent this. Too many laws, too many loopholes - there's always a way. One of the reasons we're no longer quite the "nation of laws" that we were all brought up to believe that we are.

I'm not sure I understand your apparent hysteria here. A certain amount of passion in defense of defenseless human life, outrage at the over-reaching of the courts, is understandable. And we've seen that in many of these threads.

Emotional outbursts attacking those who wish for a greater respect for the sanctity of life in our culture is another thing entirely. And I don't understand that.

96 posted on 03/29/2005 8:17:17 PM PST by PhatHead
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To: jackbill
I don't want anyone who thinks that Jeb Bush didn't do all that he could to be involved in my life, in any way, shape, manner or form.

April 1999 - House Bill 2131 was introduced in the legislature by the Florida Elder Affairs & Long-Term Care Committee to amend Section 765 (Civil Rights) of the Florida Statutes. Amendments to Section 765.101 = legal definition of life prolonging procedures to add: "INCLUDING ARTIFICIALLY PROVIDED SUSTENENCE AND HYDRATION, WHICH SUSTAINS, RESTORES, OR SUPPLANTS A SPONTANEOUS VITAL FUNCTION". It becomes law on October 1, 1999.

How do you feel about Jeb signing this law which made it possible to starve Terri? Is that part of the "everything he could do"?
97 posted on 03/29/2005 8:18:26 PM PST by ARCADIA (Abuse of power comes as no surprise)
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To: isthisnickcool
Too bad Jeb doesn't have a living will for his political career.

Exactly.

Jeb was quoted on FR today giving a speech to a group of disabled people during the last election. I wonder how that same buoyant, can-do speech, to the same group, would be received next election cycle...

Once Jeb sent a team to rescue Terri but did not back it up, the legend "wimp with a silver spoon" was tattooed on his forehead forever. Jeb has ultimate administrative responsibility for state government, and that probably puts him in the chain of command of every state sworn officer. If not, Jeb still could cause the city officers to stand down and transfer custody of Terri to him.

More than anything else, Jeb projected an unwillingness to take a chance, to hold fast to a possibly unpopular human-rights principle, and to risk his cushy career for Terri.

I believe that blackmail lies at the root of the weakness shown by Jeb and others. Democrats stole hundreds of FBI files in the last administration. Reasonably, Jeb's is among them. Also, Greer conceivably could be blackmailed by information received by M. Schiavo via his new girlfriend's mother, who works in the sherriff's office

98 posted on 03/29/2005 8:23:36 PM PST by Tax Government (pOption" -- a rules change to dislodge DEATHocrats. Contribute to FR.)
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To: snapperjk
'Far-right-wing-nut' web site is what it has become.

Sadly I agree.

I've been addicted FR for almost 5 years, and the shrill, hysterical rhetoric that has taken over these boards the past few months has made me dread coming here.

99 posted on 03/29/2005 8:26:13 PM PST by Jorge
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To: PhatHead
Frankly, YOU don't understand anything at all.

I am NOT "hysterical"; I'm quite calm, rational, and logical; unlike you.

I have no idea how old you are, but I know, again unlike you, that there wasn't a damned thing that could be LEGALLY, that hasn't already been done, by the president and the governor. And we've always been a nation of laws. Those laws change; sometimes for the better And sometimes for the worse.But people have gone through exactly what Terri is now going through and worse, since we became a nation. YOU JUST WEREN'T APPRISED OF IT 24/7 OF IT BEFORE. Does that make it right? No.

You're the one who is being emotional; not I. And at least I know the facts; yet again, unlike you newbie.

100 posted on 03/29/2005 8:26:18 PM PST by nopardons
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