Posted on 08/27/2003 6:43:02 AM PDT by summer
Note to FR, from summer: Yesterday I emailed Gov Bush, thanking him for taking action in this matter. I mentioned to him that I hadn't seen a full text of the letter he wrote to the judge, and I would like to read it. I then received it this morning by email from his office.
After that, I noticed his letter -- while not published in full by any of the newspapers I saw -- is also available and does exist in a download on Teri's web site.
However, for those unable to access that download, and who, like me, wanted to read the letter, here it is -- for all of us on FR, from Gov Bush:
------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: [Governor Bush's office]
To: [summer's email]
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2003 8:06 AM
Subject: Letter regarding Terri Schiavo
> August 26, 2003
> The Honorable George W. Greer
> Judge, Sixth Judicial Circuit
> 315 Court Street, Room 484
> Clearwater, Florida 33756
Dear Judge Greer:
> I appreciate the challenging legal and ethical issues before you in the case > of Terri Schiavo. As I have expressed over the course of the past several > weeks, our system of government has committed these decisions to the > judicial branch, and we must respect that process. Consistent with this > principle, I normally would not address a letter to a judge in a pending > legal proceeding. However, my office has received over 27,000 emails > reflecting understandable concern for the well being of Terri Schiavo. > Given that there is no procedural avenue available for these views to be > expressed to you in the normal course of the proceedings, I feel compelled > to write in the hopes that you will give serious consideration to > re-appointment of a guardian ad litem for Mrs. Schiavo before permitting the > removal of her feeding tube or other actions calculated to end her life.
> This case represents the disturbing result of a severe family disagreement > in extremely trying circumstances. Emotions are high, accusations abound, > and at the heart of this public and private maelstrom is a young woman > incapable of speaking for herself.
> I am disturbed by new rumors about the guardian's actions related to the > current care of Mrs. Schiavo. It has come to my attention that Mrs. Schiavo > has contracted a life threatening illness, and that she may be denied > appropriate treatment. If true, this indicates a decision by her caregivers > to initiate an "exit protocol" that may include withholding treatment from > Mrs. Schiavo until her death, which would render this Court's ultimate > decision moot. While the issue of Mrs. Schiavo's care is still before the > Court, I urge you to ensure that no act of omission or commission be allowed > to adversely affect Mrs. Schiavo's health before the September 11th hearing > you have set. No one involved should be permitted to circumvent due process > or the Court's authority in order to achieve personal objectives in this > case.
> Even discounting these rumors, there are a number of factual disputes > regarding Mrs. Schiavo's medical condition, past and current care and > therapy, and her prognosis. Given the contradictory positions of her > guardian and other family members, I respectfully ask that you re-appoint a > qualified guardian ad litem to independently investigate the circumstances > of this case, and provide the Court an unbiased view that considers only the > best interests of Mrs. Schiavo.
> It is a fine balance between Mrs. Schiavo's right to privacy and her right > to life, both of which are co-equal in our Constitution. To err on one side > is to prolong her existence, perhaps against her wishes, and continue the > debate. To err on the other is an irrevocable act that affords no > remediation. I respectfully ask that you give Mrs. Schiavo's family the > opportunity to present any new evidence as to her wishes. Evidence as to > her wishes should be reweighed as often as necessary to take into account > the effect of any new evidence, that is, to determine whether "clear and > convincing evidence" still exists that Mrs. Schiavo would now choose > withdrawal of life-prolonging procedures. While this process may delay the > surrogate's exercise of Mrs. Schiavo's privacy rights, it is necessary to > avoid denying her right to life. I urge you to err on the side of > conservative judgment to ensure that all facts can be uncovered and > considered before her life is terminated.
> I appreciate your compassion for Mrs. Schiavo's plight, and that of the > family members locked in dispute in these tragic circumstances. In light of > the ongoing contention related to so many issues in this case, I hope you > will consider appointing a guardian ad litem to ensure that the ultimate > decision is based on facts presented clearly, unclouded and uncolored by > personal interests of litigants.
> Sincerely,
> Jeb Bush
> cc: Patricia Fields Anderson, Esq.
> George J. Felos, Esq.
It's a very strange response - the anger towards Jeb and those asking for an independent guardian for Terri. It makes no sense. Why are people so eager to push for the end of another's life, especially considering the words and deeds by those 'caring' for Terri - Michael, Judge Greer and the other participants in this sorry affair over the past 13 years?
Why isn't withholding food from a disabled person who is unable to feed herself considered murder?
Because it is 'legally' sanctioned (approved) action by a court decree. The very same illogic reasoning was applied to the government's carnage in Waco, Texas, and in Ruby Ridge. In the Ruby Ridge murder there were attempts to try the federal agent who killed a woman while she was embracing her baby. The case never got to trial. The intentional murders of unarmed women and children by federal agents earned them medals - not prison.
Sixty-three years ago men and women of America went into battle with a government that contemptuously and arrogantly held human life to be the lowest order of existence.
Hitler's Third Reich.
Despite the thousands upon thousands of painful losses American families suffered in the process of defeating that insanity, and despite the unhealed psychological and physical wounds carried by our fathers to their deaths, we believed the sacrifice was required to protect the world from Hitler and the madness that gripped Germany.
Sixty-three years later we are every bit as evil as those we tried as war criminals in 1945.
America is transforming into the same nightmare we defeated. May God help us. We are too dumb and too narcissistic to care that our apathy has been feeding the beast now looming over us.
The St. Pete paper - a very leftist paper - ran Debbie Saunders column - a PRO-Terri column. The other side of this case does not stand up to even cursory examination, imho. It is often simply because we did not know what the courts were ruling, did not know that the press was misinforming, that bad rulings are allowed to stand.
This fight isn't over, yet.
Sept. 11 was a stupid date to have the hearing. After 9-11-01 the ACLU sent out a memo to its members saying now's the time to get away with passing our agenda - while there's chaos and the people mourne. I will never forget that.
In California this Sept. 11, a Judge will try to undermine the recall election. Do you wonder what these few, these far-left activist Judges and lawyers and their press accomplices will try to pull off in other courtrooms across the country on Sept. 11 as the American people mourne?
They do not represent the American people.
I'm sorry I didn't hear about Terri's case 13, 5, or even a year ago. Now, I know...thanks to individuals who cared and worked to get the word out ...and to our new voice in talk radio, and the internet, and FoxNews - and columnists like Debbie Saunders - and a Gov. who cares.
I want to believe God still holds us in his favor, that there is a Phoenix rising from the ash heap of this society to re-establish the values existing in America when I was a boy. BUT..........
Thanks for the encouragement in the heat of battle, RC. America could do for a few thousand of you to make taking our beloved country back that much easier.
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.