It was the media spin that hurt the GOP, not the GOP actions themselves. As well all know the MSM spin on things has no basis in reality.
I don't know that the GOP was hurt. But I was disappointed in our GOP leaders.
The article is correct the GOP stepped into a huge pile and it will be a while before it can be scraped off.
1) A Living Will used to outline the actions you DIDN'T want taken in case of incapacitation. It has now been inverted to mean if you didn't ask for it in writing, you won't get it because you didn't want it. Every single Living Will now has to be rewritten. How many Down's Syndrome sufferers will get a Living Will, and who will write it?
2) A guardian no longer has to look out for the best interests of his ward. Simply meeting the broader needs of society is his primary duty.
3) Hearsay is now legitimate evidence.
4) A death penalty candidate gets his case reviewed multiple times. Schiavo's case was reviewed but once, then rubber stamped multiple times. A murderer gets his case reviewed by 12, a disabled person just has one.
5) Hospice can now accept patients who are not terminal. These patients can die without contest.
6) The protocol for unresponsive patients used to mandate that food and water be placed in front of them and help offered, at least once a day every day. No more. In fact, a judge can forbid you from taking food and water by mouth, as Judge Greer did.
7) Oh, notwithstanding that the judicial system failed abominably to properly exercise its responsibilities, the author proposes to give them more duties.
What more do you need? Not many triple digit IQs left on Free Republic, I'm afraid.