Posted on 03/30/2005 4:07:26 PM PST by churchillbuff
I never had any desire to run for political office, but, if I did, it would be to make a difference.
If I didn't think I could make a difference, what would be the point?
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush told us last week he just didn't have the power and authority to save one innocent woman forced by court order and armed guard to starve to death in his state.
I don't believe that's true. Not for a minute do I believe it. Jeb Bush blinked. And that weakness that he showed for the whole world should represent the end of his political career.
It's unfortunate, because I believe Jeb Bush knew, deep in his convictions, it was wrong to let Terri Schiavo be murdered by a judge's order.
He even dispatched a team of state law enforcement officers to seize her hours after Judge George Greer refused to listen to his pleadings in the courtroom.
But he backed down. When local cops informed the state officers that they would enforce the judge's order, the agents of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement stopped.
That's not leadership. That's capitulation.
Gov. Jeb Bush shouldn't have merely dispatched officers to the scene to negotiate with the local cops, he should have led them. He should have personally persuaded those local officers that he was the highest law enforcement official in the state and he was ordering them to stand down.
He should have been a field general, not an armchair general.
He should have walked up to that hospice with overwhelming force behind him.
He should have done so with the whole world watching.
Jeb Bush has been talked about as a potential presidential candidate. But who is going to seriously consider a commander in chief who backs down at the first sign of resistance?
Bush may have been trying to take the safe route in this crisis, but it represents, in my estimation, the end of his political ambitions.
Jeb Bush was tested, and he was found lacking.
He allowed a terribly immoral action to take place in his state and did nothing but huff and puff about it.
And it wasn't the first time.
Say what you will about former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno. I think she was a fascist. I think she was a criminal. I think she was possibly stark, raving mad. But she backed up her misguided convictions by sending armed federal agents swooping in to pick up little Elian Gonzalez and take him back to Cuba. It was wrong, but she wasn't afraid.
Back then, Gov. Jeb Bush sat by and watched his authority breached by Washington.
This time, he sat by and watched his authority breached by a puny, little county bureaucrat, a local politician, Judge George Greer.
Does the Florida governor have any authority?
If not, we shouldn't take the position seriously as a stepping stone to higher office. If it does, why didn't he use it when it counted?
I feel sorry for Jeb Bush today.
I think he knew right from wrong in this case but didn't have the courage of his convictions. I think he listened to all the wrong advisers. I think he will carry regrets about Terri Schiavo to his grave.
He could have been a hero. He could have been a leader.
Instead, he appears weak. Instead, he appears to vacillate.
My wife told me: "If Jeb Bush had done the right thing for Terri, I would have given up six months of my life to campaign for him. I would have done anything to help him."
I'm sure many people feel like that. Let me ask you today: Is anyone excited about the possibility of a third Bush administration?
ROTFLOL!!
Interesting how you're more worked up and angry at me than at what is happening to Terri Schiavo.
You know, I agree that Jeb should have done more. I agree that he has the power to go in and take her out of there on the grounds that the State Constitution guarantees a person's right to life (ie Food and Water).
BUT, I am really tired of people laying the blame at his doorstep or going after GWB because they didn't stop this. But all of those people clamoring haven't done a damn thing but chat online about this. If all of you people who bash Jeb & GWB would show up and march on that Hospice, there wouldn't be enough officers to stop it.
If you're not willing to go down there and put yourself at risk, to fight through the police, then you are as much of a non-leader and coward as Jeb Bush. I don't like what's happening. I don't want to see our country kill someone. But I guess I'm just as much of a coward as everyone else who is standing by and watching it happen because MY family needs me and unfortunately I put that ahead of my desire to see her live.
Perhaps that's the same position as most of those sitting at their computers pouring out their hatred. But I, for one, am tired of seeing cowards cackle at the Bushes when they aren't willing to put themselves out either. Good people have to make hard choices and Jeb has made the choice that he has to abide by this ruling. He has tried to get around it and has failed. That doesn't make him anything less or more than me and every other person standing by. So unless you're going to fight your way into the Hospice, don't crow about Jeb not doing the same thing.
You make stupid comments, its your own fault.
How ridiculous.
Thousands if not millions of people starve every year in famine stricken lands.
Should we see this as "that old fashioned quaint idea" of God calling them?
The fact is man has been making life and death decisions on when to provide assistance to prolong life as well as when not to.
These are not easy decisions. And the sort of simple minded arguments you present don't help much.
Bashing Jeb Bush for doing all he has done FOR YEARS makes about as much sense as burning your OWN neigborhood during a riot.
If everyone has the same opinion, isn't that rather boring?
Just asking.
Nobody at FR is governor or president.
"I don't trust Hillary. She's evil. But I think if push came to shove, she give up her flesh and blood to get what she wants.
I dispise Jeb. Because he's give up YOUR daughter to get what he wants. But will most defintely SAVE his daughter."
If you, for one second feel that Hillary would not give up YOUR daughter (using your example) to get what she wants you are absolutely out of your mind.... OUT OF YOUR MIND!!!!!
Rule #1 Freecopper, for a liberal------ TAKE FROM THEM AND THEIR PARTY (or family, using your example) AND USE FOR US AND OUR PARTY (or family, using your example)....
Not really. You're just making personal attacks just to start trouble. You hit no nerve - It's actually quite tiresome, so go seek out new people to try to goad, because from now on, every time you make a personal attack on me unprovoked, I will just hit 'Abuse' instead. I never used to hit 'Abuse', but it's reached that point.
So, JonDavid, have a nice night. :)
Jeb's good guy, but not a leader. Real leaders lead, Jeb didn't.
Yes.
Look. I'm absolutely furious and do not trust bush now as far as I can throw myself.
BUT it is BECAUSE he failed to do his duty.
I may be a Republican, but I'm obligated to do my duty as a good citizen and that doesn't allow me the easy way out of pretending something didn't happen.
And thank you, for your missives.
I enjoy your knowledge and logic.
You really imagine yourself to be something you're not. Those delusions are making you post senseless twaddle.
And nobody really cares. :-)
The glaring difference between you and Ann Coulter, and Dr. Kennedy (among the obvious.... that they are informed and look at all sides), is that they have opinions on this issue, and are not out to just blame one person(s) for Terri's situation.
You, on the other hand, have an agenda. Which every true FReeper on here can see through.
Neither do I, but for arguments sake, lets say Greer had the authority to do so.
What I CANNOT fathom, is how he can legally, lawfully or morally forbid a parent to put water to the lips of their dying child.
It's against everything our country stands for.
The nerve you hit was that if Jeb had commited contempt of court and acted alone, he would rightly be impeached. Terri would still die. Sounds pretty pointless to me.
You aren't helping your cause with wisecracks like this.
You just can't face the fact that most Americans don't agree with you and want the Govt to butt out of thees difficult and personal end of life decisions that the law has left to families.
And who, pray tell, is a real leader to you?
Even elected judges have very little accountability.
Furthermore, judges exist for no other reason that the legislature can't do everything. All laws are temporal. They can be changed with a new law. Moreover, the Terri Schiavo case is a case with a time limit. Hence, a bad law now, until a better law later.
But, more importantly, I don't believe judges should have the power to decide which law is "bad". And that's the real problem here. This is a judgement which they are not permitted and yet they exercise it every day.
Simply the recognition that Michael has broken his marriage vows and that his power over his wife should be null and void should have been enough to end all of this. I believe also in the sanctity of marriage and I can do that because I've never been married.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.