Public execution

The Spectator ^ | 2 April 2005 | Mark Steyn

[mal]

Do you remember a fellow called Robert Wendland? No reason why you should. I wrote about him in this space in 1998, and had intended to return to the subject but something else always intervened — usually Bill Clinton’s penis, which loomed large, at least metaphorically, over the entire era. Mr Wendland lived in Stockton, California. He was injured in an automobile accident in 1993 and went into a coma. Under state law, he could have been starved to death at any time had his wife requested the removal of his feeding tube. But Rose Wendland was busy with this and that, as one is, and assumed there was no particular urgency.

[Sam's Army]

"in the same camp as ann coulter, laura ingraham, peggy noonan, mark levin, thomas sowell, ben stein et al."

Sounds like good company to me.

"...just reacting emotionally to the entire affair..."

Life and death is a pretty emotional subject.

[xsmommy]

believe me, i am not one of those that has annointed the WOLFSON REPORT with virtual papal infallibility, i was being sarcastic.

i heard a caller to the DC talk radio station yesterday actually say that terri ceased to be human 15 years ago. it is the viewpoint of many and it sends chills down my spine to hear it uttered blithely and unselfconsciously. it speaks volumes about those that have that mindset.

[alwaysconservative]

Thanks for the ping, Pokey. This was a wonderful article, and it wasn't Mr. Steyn's fault that I kept bawling at the always fresh realization of the horror and heartbreak of this case. The horror and heartbreak are sometimes overwhelming, and Steyn shines a bright light on what would otherwise prefer to remain hidden.

[xsmommy]

honestly, do i need to put a sarcasm tag on something that was virtually DRIPPING sarcasm?? sadly, i guess i do considering what i have seen posted in FR lately.

i was being sarcastic. i do not know how those on FR who are so ardent in their fervor to see this case carried out to its horrific conclusion justify being at odds with the people i have listed, other than to have the hubris to think just what i said, that they, these freepers, are better informed and more objective. it defies credulity.

[Cboldt]

It is no misrepresentation that some posters here, on both sides, have insulted the other side. All the poster is saying is that Ann Coulter, Steyn, Limbaugh, etc. take the same side as one of the competing points of view, and therefore, deserve the same sort of insults that are thrown in THAT direction.

The post itself is not throwing an insult, it is repeating the easily demonstrated observation that some insults are being thrown to posters that think in similar fashion to Steyn, Coulter, etc.

[xsmommy]

i agree that namecalling doesn't help, Miss Marple, but honestly, is there any hope of any of them being persuaded at this point? it really seems that one either gets what is happening here, or one doesn't. i am heartsick over this.

[McGavin999]

You know, I'm not going to argue with you. If you don't like Jeb, don't vote for him. But don't go around insisting that he has powers that he doesn't have. The Florida Supreme Court has already struck him down a number of times on this issue. If he were to continue it it would show a complete lack of respect for the law. Since the legislature (the people) have refused to act, it would also show a complete lack of respect for the will of the people.

I am completely for saving Terri, but to blame a politician for the fix we are in is beyond lunacy.

[Tribune7]

brilliant

[Sam's Army]

"honestly, do i need to put a sarcasm tag on something that was virtually DRIPPING sarcasm??"

Probably. Hard to see drips thru my monitor.

[EmilyGeiger]

Superbly written. Thanks for posting. Mark Steyn has a brilliant mind.

[cyncooper]

I have been listening to Dennis Praeger's radio show...at least portions of it.

Yesterday he spent an hour speaking with Michael Medved and Hugh Hewitt, all three--Praeger, Hewitt, Medved--staunch pro-life conservatives.

The tenor of their conversation is my preference to the Rush/Ingraham tone on this topic, but preferring one over the other does not mean one is less pro-life as has been the erroneous charge tossed around here oh so casually.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

Jeb Bush
WAKE UP!
It is up to you to be a MAN.

Judges have no constitutional power whatever to give orders to the executive what to do or not do in execution of his powers. Even though the local executive, the sheriff, decided to give force to the judge's order, and the governor has no direct authority over county sheriffs, even those were not insurmoutable problems or cause for civil war. Under the Florida constitution the governor can replace the county sheriff and maybe even the judge for misfeasance, such as interfering with DCF and the state police which are under the governor and not subject to the judge either. Notice particularly that the governor could suspend ANY county officers, including judges, regardless of whether they are subject to impeachment.


FLORIDA CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE VIII - County Government
Section 1
(d) COUNTY OFFICERS. There shall be elected by the electors of each county, for terms of four years, a sheriff, a tax collector, a property appraiser, a supervisor of elections, and a clerk of the circuit court;

ARTICLE IV - Executive
SECTION 7. Suspensions; filling office during suspensions.--
(a) By executive order stating the grounds and filed with the custodian of state records, the governor may suspend from office any state officer not subject to impeachment, any officer of the militia not in the active service of the United States, or any county officer, for malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty, drunkenness, incompetence, permanent inability to perform official duties, or commission of a felony, and may fill the office by appointment for the period of suspension. The suspended officer may at any time before removal be reinstated by the governor.

ARTICLE III - Legislative
SECTION 17. Impeachment.--
(a) The governor, lieutenant governor, members of the cabinet, justices of the supreme court, judges of district courts of appeal, judges of circuit courts, and judges of county courts shall be liable to impeachment for misdemeanor in office.

[Sam's Army]

I haven't heard any talk radio in an age...what are the main differences being touted?

[cyncooper]

it is repeating the easily demonstrated observation that some insults are being thrown to posters that think in similar fashion to Steyn, Coulter, etc.

Then demonstrate it. Post an example that illustrates so clearly and easily. Not from a troll but long time respected freepers (plural, don't forget).

[EmilyGeiger]

Sure they agreed. who wouldn't want to be tortured and maimed for a Good cause.(heavy sarcasm) Felos is an idiot! To even think that shows he has no reasoning ability. Maybe he should agree to be the sacrificial lamb for euthanasia of morons.

[6323cd]

bump for later

[Egon]

Excellent article.

[cyncooper]

One strikes me as emotional hype and drawing faulty equivalencies and one is an intellectual approach.

I prefer the latter.

[Quester]

Michael Schiavo’s lawyer, George Felos, is a leading light of the so-called ‘right-to-die’ movement, and his book, Litigation as Spiritual Practice, makes interesting reading.

On page 240 Mr Felos writes, ...

‘The Jewish people, long ago in their collective consciousness, agreed to play the role of the lamb whose slaughter was necessary to shock humanity into a new moral consciousness. Their sacrifice saved humanity at the brink of extinction and propelled us into a new age ... If our minds can conceive of an uplifting Holocaust, can it be so difficult to look another way at the slights and injuries and abuses we perceive were inflicted upon us?’

Mr Felos feels it is now Terri Schiavo’s turn to ‘agree’ to play the role of the lamb whose slaughter is necessary to shock humanity into a new moral consciousness.

As I read Felos’s words, I heard a radio bulletin announce that the Pope may now require a feeding tube. Fortunately for him, his life is ultimately in the hands of God and not a Florida probate judge.

Is it actually possible that Michael Schiavo's lawyer just said that the murder of millions of Jews was a good thing???!!

Am I MISREADING THIS!??

Steyn has publicized an amazing quote.

No ... you are not mis-reading here ...

Felos definitely has an affinity for DEATH.

The death of someone like Terri Schiavo is a dream for him.

[beaversmom]

Speaking of Laura Ingraham, she just played Terri trying to communicate to questions about her pain. She was trying to answer each question the person was asking. The questions were asked and then she would try to answer it. Amazing. Don't know many turnips that can pull of that trick.