GOP Crack-Up? Pardon My Guffaw (Mark Steyn: Republicans "Did the Right Thing" re: Schiavo)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | 4/03/05 | Mark Steyn

[TASMANIANRED]

I applaud your intention to cancel your living will.

A living will is a very good way to get substandard care and to die from a non life threatening and temporary medical issue.

I would recommend a health care surrogate. Find somebody with medical knowledge, preferably a nurse. Have an extremely frank discussion with them about your wants.

An informed dispassionate decision maker is preferable to an uninformed passionate one.

[Cboldt]

"We would all be better off if we would ask the other party (poster) what he or she thinks instead of telling them. It's almost always a mischaracterization, and it brings more heat than light."

That is good advice. Poohbah's opus carried a hard lesson, where he related that DBR's reference to "Christians" was equivalent to endorsing "Christian Identity." Wow. An amazing leap, and could have been prevented with civil dialog, following Bilthedrill's advice.

[Just mythoughts]

"Nope, I did not mean any of your mischaracterizations."


They are the FACTS, you want I can take the time to pull then out using "RESEARCH", and I have not mischaracterized anything!

[hosepipe]

[ Maybe we need a string of consulates across northern Siberia. This could be a win-win, Siberians get easier access to warm American tourist destinations and the US gets a means of rewarding State Department officials with postings worthy of their talents and the degree of loyalty they have demonstrated to the United States. ]

Damned good idea...

[finnigan2]

"Now, to go find its etymology......."

- Say what?

[Mark in the Old South]

Re: "The Republicans did the right thing here, and they won't be punished for it by the electors. As with abortion, this will be an issue where the public moves slowly but steadily toward the conservative position:"

The last part of the above line is just ridiculous. As much as I wish he is correct it is an astonishment to me that anyone would think this. In regards to abortion the nation is not one step closer to the prolife position than they were in 1973, in fact far more are comfortable with things as they stand. As evidence I point to the rise of partial birth abortion that even Roe did not permit. 30 years ago few democrats would admit to a pro choice position and zero Republicans, today the pro abortion RINO is as common as porn. Even many "conservatives" have given up on the prolife agenda including but not limited to Goldwater, W. F. Buckley, Laura Bush and Sec. Rice. This list is far too long to be exhaustive so please be satisfied with this sampling.

Consider the related prolife issues, ie stem cell research, physician assisted suicide and euthanasia. The abortion effort is like a sitcom scene where the clumsy actor finds himself on a tread mill that is faster then he can run. Anybody remember Lucile Ball and Ethel in the candy factory. Yeah the public has moved ever so far in the conservative direction on abortion but the problem is the "conservatives" have moved the line in the sand when the real conservatives were not looking.

[zeugma]

Say what?

etymology - the historical roots of the word. Where it comes from, how its usage may have changed through history.

For an excellent example of this, goto OED's WOTD. Select the button for 'etymology'. The OED's WOTD is the best WOTD site out there in my no so humble opinion. I wish I could afford the print edition of the OED.

[RJL]

As things turn out, the "common sense Republican" has so much common sense he's an official with a union that endorsed John Kerry.

This guy fits right in with NPR's "undecided voter" who had given $500 to the Kerry campaign.

Unbelievable, you just can't make this stuff up!

[Treader]

Excellent post!

[alwaysconservative]

Thank you for your wonderful post! I just love Mark Steyn; he uses words to eviscerate the left and the idiotic. He's once again on the correct side of this issue, and it won't "cost" the GOP votes in 2006 or 2008.

And thanks for the ping, Pokey!

[Tom Bombadil]

A picture of the WWII secret weapon can be found at http://www.nevilshute.org/DMWD/DMWD_Photos.html

[beyond the sea]

You brought up the wppff for mockery back in post #9.

My, you are sensitive. For goodness sake, just tell me what I said that was incorrect.

Did not many of you who "fled" to that thread say that "we were eating our own"? Did not some of you suggest your fears that Tom DeLay's comments about the out of control courts was a bad move and that Republicans would pay in future elections. Of course you did!

Listen, I don't care if you decided to go to that thread or not. That was your thing.

***

I was outside working a while ago thinking about this. I don't know all or anything really that some of you have been called on this "right to life" issue on the Terri threads, and I don't know about all the name calling. You never heard anything like that from me because I don't really think about it. To me this whole Terri matter is just about a girl who went into a hospital long ago and, imo, was treated not as well as she should have been. That is it. Nothing about Nazis, right-to-life, Christianity, or all of those things.

If you can't bear to read a post needling you (post #9), then I feel real sorry for you.

I have never called anyone who thinks that Terri should have gone to the next world any names. That's not my concern or style. For me, the whole matter was only about what I think is a husband who acted much unlike I think I would have.

So ........... please cool it. I thought you were a lot more mellow than you are acting. You are picking on the wrong person, and it is very disappointing, and to be truthful, it is hurtful.

Again, when I first came across your WW-whatever thread, I thought it was cute, I really did not know the significance or need for it. I really still don't, because I never took part in evil nasty comments about someone with an opinion on "right-to-life".

Again, take it easy about that supposed "mockery"............. you guys are "rare birds"................ " very nice rare birds". Now start acting that way to me ........ PLEASE! ;-)

[spodefly]

BTTT!

[spodefly]

Thanks for the ping, Pokey.

Another great Steyn article.

[k2blader]

As with abortion, this will be an issue where the public moves slowly but steadily toward the conservative position: Terri Schiavo's court-ordered death will not be without meaning.

Steyn is optimistic.

[beyond the sea]

"We would all be better off if we would ask the other party (poster) what he or she thinks instead of telling them. It's almost always a mischaracterization, and it brings more heat than light." ---- That is good advice. Poohbah's opus carried a hard lesson, where he related that DBR's reference to "Christians" was equivalent to endorsing "Christian Identity." Wow. An amazing leap, and could have been prevented with civil dialog, following Bilthedrill's advice.

****

When I read Billthedrill's words, it was a beautiful thing. He said it all so well! His advice would save a lot of anger and harsh words here at FR, and isn't that what we all want........... that and an extra hundred grand. ;-)

Please pass that great quote of his around!

[Cuttnhorse]

One sees their point, of course: Let a fellow called "John" Bolton become ambassador and next thing you know Earl and Bud will want the gig.

Steyn never dissapoints...LOL!

[Tribune7]

They presented the John U. Bird award to the Pinellas-Pasco Circuit judge on May 15, 2004.

Greer deserves the Bird.

[k2blader]

But often enough you can take what a person has typed, peel away most of the deceptive outer layers, and understand the basic meaning of what he has said.

[Tribune7]

I WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!

Don't give up. We need you and the battle for this country is occuring in the GOP.