Freepers call to action re. Terri Schindler-Schiavo. Make a complaint against Judge Greer:

Various ^ | August 28, 2003

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Freepers, we may be able to help Terri:

---

I made some phone calls today and have the ULTIMATE PHONE CALL for registering a Complaint against Judge Greer. I can't reveal my sources but this is the phone number for a few pay grades above J. Greer.

Call the: Judicial Qualifications Commission at

#1-850-488-1581. I am complaining to them tomorrow that J. Greer isn't God, that he's been in the husband's corner since Day One, he doesn't care a wit about Terri's parents or her husband's attempt at medical neglect, and I'd like to know if Greer can be recalled or impeached.

HE SHOULD HAVE OR COULD HAVE HONORED GOV. BUSH'S REQUEST TO ASSIGN A GUARDIAN AD LITEM to represent Terri's interest instead of once again, taking the side of the husband. Judge Greer is from the Sixth Circuit Court, Pinellas County.

Oh, and ping everybody you can think of.

72 posted on 08/27/2003 5:06 PM EDT by floriduh voter

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From summer:

"..do a separate thread asking people to call this phone number FV provided. This could get a guardian appointed if the judge is tossed off the case for BIAS."

---

Background:

8 Jeb Bush intervenes for Schindler-Schiavo -   WND | 8/26

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has asked a judge to delay setting a date for removal of a feeding tube sustaining the life of a brain-disabled woman, Terri Schindler-Schiavo.

In a letter, Bush asked Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge George W. Greer yesterday to keep her alive until a court-appointed guardian can "independently investigate the circumstances of this case and provide the court with an unbiased view that considers the best interests of Mrs. Schiavo."

---

8 From JEB to FR: Full text of Gov Bush's letter to Judge Greer re: Terri Schiavo. Email from Gov Bush to summer, for FR | 8/27

 ----- 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.

---

(WND article excerpts, cont.:) "On Friday, the Florida Supreme Court refused to intervene in the case, clearing the way for a Sept. 11 hearing in which Greer would set a date for removal of the feeding tube.

Terri's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler of Gulf Port, Fla., have been locked in a decade-long legal battle with their son-in-law over the care and custody of their daughter, who suffered massive brain damage when she collapsed at her home 13 years ago under unexplained circumstances at the age of 26.

***The bitter dispute over Terri's lack of care became a major euthanasia battle five years ago when her husband Michael Schiavo petitioned the court for permission to have her feeding tube removed, claiming she is in a persistent vegetative state and would not want to be kept alive "artificially." The Schindlers and a number of doctors and therapists believe she could be rehabilitated, but the courts have consistently sided with Schiavo and his lawyer, right-to-die advocate George Felos.

~~~~

The article is on CNSNews.com.

Florida Judge Rejects Governor's Bid to Help Terri Schiavo
By Jeff Johnson
CNSNews.com Congressional Bureau Chief
August 27, 2003

Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - Florida Circuit Judge George Greer Tuesday rejected a plea from Governor Jeb Bush to appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the best interests of Terri Schindler Schiavo, a 39-year-old disabled woman who suffered a brain injury in 1990 under questionable circumstances. Bush had intervened Monday after receiving 27,000 email messages asking for his help on Terri's behalf.

"I read [Gov. Bush's letter] because it came from the governor and I respect his position," Greer told the Tampa Tribune. "Beyond that, it is going in the file."

As CNSNews.com previously reported, Bush wrote Greer Monday asking him not to remove the disabled woman's feeding tube until a new guardian ad litem could "independently investigate" her condition. In the letter, Bush referenced the "fine balance between Mrs. Schiavo's right to privacy and her right to life," which Bush noted are co-equal under the Constitution.

"To err on one side is to prolong her existence, perhaps against her wishes and to continue the debate," Bush wrote. "To err on the other is an irrevocable act that affords no remediation."

But Greer told the Associated Press that he no longer has a choice in the matter.

"Frankly, I think I'm operating under a mandate from the 2nd District Court of Appeals," Greer said, "and frankly I don't think I can stray from that mandate."

In that same interview, however, the judge contradicted his own assessment of the limitation on his authority by stating that he was "not inclined" to appoint a guardian ad litem.

Michael Schiavo called Gov. Bush's intervention on behalf of Terri "crazy."

"The governor has deliberately twisted the facts in this case in an apparent effort to kowtow to his right-to-life political supporters," Schiavo told Tampa Tribune reporter David Sommer. "This has nothing to do with him. He should stay out of it."

Schiavo - who, for five years, has been seeking judicial approval to end his wife's life by denying her nutrition and hydration - also accused Terri's parents of manipulating their Catholic faith to keep their daughter alive.

"I believe in God and so did (?) Terri," Schiavo said, speaking of his still living wife in the past tense, "but they are out to push it on people... suddenly they are on a religious kick."

Judge refuses motion for hearing to set 'death date'

Greer also denied a motion Tuesday to hold an immediate hearing to set a date for the removal of Terri's nutrition and hydration tube. The hearing will be held, as previously announced, on Sept. 11. At that hearing, Greer will also rule on whether Schiavo may legally prohibit Terri's priest from visiting her.

Schiavo's attorney, George Felos, had also petitioned the court Monday to prohibit doctors from caring for Terri's current fever, labored breathing, vomiting, diarrhea and a "substantial infection."

"Given the imminence of the ward's death, further treatment (other than comfort care) for the ward's infection and other medical problems is unnecessary, unwarranted, inappropriate and futile," Felos said in an emergency motion, adding that Terri, "should be put back in hospice and receive comfort care and die in a peaceful setting."

Greer denied that motion, as well.

55 posted on 08/27/2003 5:29 PM EDT by yhwhsman ("Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small..." -Sir Winston Churchill)

---

Michael Schiavo is using "privacy" as an excuse for denying Terri every contact from the outside world, even flowers. "One sign of the case's nastiness is the Schindlers' complaint that Schiavo limits their visits with their daughter. They also say he has refused to allow doctors to examine her, refused her antibiotics and needed dental work, refused to replace a broken wheelchair so she could be taken outdoors and refused the delivery of flowers from a friend to her room on her birthday."

"Her teeth are fine; she doesn't eat," Michael Schiavo said. "Why take her to a gynecologist? She was supposed to die months ago. I don't want her room filled with flowers from strangers or right-to-life activists. Even though she is vegetative she has a right to privacy."

17 posted on 08/27/2003 10:14 AM EDT by I still care

***

I thought Gov Bush very eloquently made his case here, in this part:

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.

18 posted on 08/27/2003 10:14 AM EDT by summer

***

..this judge is going to look really bad if this part is ignored by the judge:

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

21 posted on 08/27/2003 10:17 AM EDT by summer

***

HE SHOULD HAVE OR COULD HAVE HONORED GOV. BUSH'S REQUEST TO ASSIGN A GUARDIAN AD LITEM to represent Terri's interest instead of once again, taking the side of the husband. Judge Greer is from the Sixth Circuit Court, Pinellas County.

That is one thing that floors me .. This Judge should have long ago appointed an independent Guardian Ad Litem and not left her husband as her sole guardian .. especially since there are questions about her husband with abuse and the fractured bones that were reveled in xrays of Terry.

Everything I have read .. this Judge seems hell bent on having her killed

73 posted on 08/28/2003 2:45 AM EDT by Mo1 (http://www.favewavs.com/wavs/cartoons/spdemocrats.wav)

***

I know that Mr. Schiavo has tried to ban Terri's mother and family and priest from seeing her.

But, I don't know how a court could prevent doctors from ordering therapy, speach therapy (which is often actually swallowing therapy) and most especially oral nutrition.

27 posted on 08/26/2003 7:34 PM EDT by hocndoc (Choice is the # 1 killer in the US)

***

Judge Greer has been with the husband since day one. A guardian ad litem would have been fair for Terri and her parents. Her parents love her but they are treated as the enemy. I'm ashamed this is happening in Pinellas County.

31 posted on 08/26/2003 7:41 PM EDT by floriduh voter

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Judge Greer will not appoint a guardian ad litem. I have phone numbers from the phone book for the Clearwater Courthouse and all the guardianship phone numbers. He husband held a presser today and was very flippant about Jeb's letter and called the emailers a "bunch of right to lifers."

Hubby is looking a little nervous but with a pal like Judge Greer who is no Judge Moore, Terri has until the September 11 hearing to decide the date her starvation begins.

Here are the phone numbers: courthouse - 727-464-3000, guardianship numbers: 727-582-7563, 727-582-7771, and 727-464-8700. We can at least call as friends of Terri and voice our concerns.

25 posted on 08/26/2003 7:34 PM EDT by floriduh voter

---

Freepers, please call the Juducial Qualification Commission regarding Judge Greer:  1-850-488-1581.

***

Contact friends, thank those have been fighting on Terri's behalf, including Glenn Beck, Lars Larson, CNS News.com, WND, and Bill O'Reilly.

*** Terri Schindler Schiavo's website - background and news updates: www.terrisfight.org ***

8 Terri Schiavo's website Media Contacts

Governor Jeb Bush (R)
Office of The Governor
Florida Capitol Building, PL-05
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
(850) 488-7146
(850) 488-4441
jeb.bush@myflorida.com

The Honorable(?) George W. Greer
6th Judicial Circuit
315 Court Street, Room 484
Clearwater, FL 33756
(727) 464-3933
ggreer@co.pinellas.fl.us

Attorney General Charlie Crist
Office of Attorney General
State of Florida
The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050
(850) 487-1963
Fax: (850) 487-2564
ag@oag.state.fl.us

[MarMema]

I receive Fox news by email and just sent them a letter with a thank you to Bill for the coverage, and some details about terminal dehydration.

[MarMema]

If the right to privacy is invoked, there's no way to know what exactly they have planned. Some pro-death advocates are all for harvesting organs of disabled people. I think they are implementing plans now that were drawn up years ago because laws had to be rewritten to support their cause.

Trust me on this one. I work in healthcare. If you want the grisly details about why someone who dies from terminal dehydration is not an organ donor candidate, I can share. But I don't think you want to know.

[freeparoundtheclock]

Since I don't trust anybody who is trying to carry this out, I was suggesting that they weren't really going to dehydrate her and possibly use some other method?

I believe you on dehydration. It has to be just horrid. We are mostly made of water to begin with.

[freeparoundtheclock]

I'm googling the High Representative now. We already know they like Howard Dean.

[Ohioan from Florida]

Good idea! The more we can inform the public, even if that means we inform the media, the better off we all are. I just can't see how there would be so many people who are opposed to starving and dehydrating people as a method of withholding a medical procedure (IOW, killing).

[Ohioan from Florida]

Are you saying they might try to "donate" her organs before she even dies? Ugh! But I wouldn't put anything past M. Schiavo! That guy gives me the creeps!!

[syriacus]

Yay!! I have to thank O'Reilly for doing it!

Good idea. He certainly deserves our thanks.

[syriacus]

I think it's most likely because they have Terri's medical records sealed

Thank you for the explanation.

[pc93]

FYI, etc. call to action, etc.

Here are e-mails from another thread on another board. There are people who are interested in acting to stop the criminal activities of Greer, Michael Schiavo and George Felos. The e-mails they posted include e-mails from terrisfight.org so that they can see that indeed we are doing something to get the word out:

bob@terrisfight.org, bobby@terrisfight.org, suzanne@terrisfight.org, phenn@zimp.org, fran@ferrisfight.org, dave@terrisfight.org, sfoster@worldnetdaily.com, beth.barber@scripps.com, escmc@aol.com, feedback@tbo.com, feedback@tcpalm.com, HeraldEd@herald.com, insight@orlandosentinel.com, katherine.bauman@scripps.com, letters@naplesnews.com, letters@SPTimes.com, letters@tallahassee.com, mailbag@news-press.com, mike.goforth@scripps.com, nancy.smith@scripps.com, randall.murray@scripps.com, swfnews1@flguide.com, tribletters@tampatrib.com, ttuell@keysnews.com, voice@gvillesun.com, 71154.1006@compuserve.com, bljolkov@jewishworldreview.com, comments@foxnews.com, deepee@usamedia.tv, drudge@drudgereport.com, editor@eco.freedom.org, Editor@IndianCountry.com, editor@insightmag.com, editor@opinioneditorials.com, editor@pushback.com, editor@Spectator.org, editor@usatoday.com, editorial@wastenews.com, ghenderson@vancepublishing.com, letters@msnbc.com, letters@newsday.com, letters@newsweek.com, letters@publicintegrity.org, letters@reason.com, letters@worldnetdaily.com, newsforyou@newswithviews.com, newshour@pbs.org, oped@csps.com, submit@sierratimes.com, usatoday@clark.net, witan@vdare.com, jeb@jeb.org, jeb.bush@myflorida.com, jeb.bush@myflorida.com, ag@oag.state.fl.us, bob_graham@graham.senate.gov, ddemers@co.pinellas.fl.us, ggreer@co.pinellas.fl.us, comdosp@aol.com, sheltonj@dosp.org, viewer@ewtn.com, zapata.juan@myfloridahouse.com, wishner.roger@myfloridahouse.com, wiles.doug@myfloridahouse.com, waters.leslie@myfloridahouse.com, vana.shelley@myfloridahouse.com, troutman.baxter@myfloridahouse.com, stargel.john@myfloridahouse.com, stansel.dwight@myfloridahouse.com, spratt.joseph@myfloridahouse.com, sorensen.ken@myfloridahouse.com, sobel.eleanor@myfloridahouse.com, smith.chris@myfloridahouse.com, slosberg.irving@myfloridahouse.com, simmons.david@myfloridahouse.com, seiler.jack@myfloridahouse.com, sansom.ray@myfloridahouse.com, ryan.tim@myfloridahouse.com, russell.dave@myfloridahouse.com, rubio.marco@myfloridahouse.com, ross.dennis@myfloridahouse.com, roberson.yolly@myfloridahouse.com, robaina.julio@myfloridahouse.com, rivera.david@myfloridahouse.com, richardson.curtis@myfloridahouse.com, ritter.stacy@myfloridahouse.com, rich.nan@myfloridahouse.com, reagan.ron@myfloridahouse.com, quinones.john@myfloridahouse.com, prieguez.manuel@leg.state.fl.us, POPPELL.RALPH@myfloridahouse.com, planas.jc@myfloridahouse.com, pickens.joe@myfloridahouse.com, peterman.frank@myfloridahouse.com, paul.jerry@myfloridahouse.com, patterson.pat@myfloridahouse.com, negron.joe@myfloridahouse.com, needelman.mitch@myfloridahouse.com, murzin.dave@myfloridahouse.com, murman.sandra@myfloridahouse.com, mealor.david@myfloridahouse.com, meadows.matt@myfloridahouse.com, mcinvale.sheri@myfloridahouse.com, mayfield.stan@myfloridahouse.com, mahon.mark@myfloridahouse.com, mack.connie@myfloridahouse.com, machek.richard@myfloridahouse.com, llorente.marcelo@myfloridahouse.com, littlefield.ken@myfloridahouse.com, kyle.bruce@myfloridahouse.com, kravitz.dick@myfloridahouse.com, kottkamp.jeff@myfloridahouse.com, kosmas.suzanne@myfloridahouse.com, kilmer.bev@myfloridahouse.com, kallinger.jim@myfloridahouse.com, kendrick.will@myfloridahouse.com, justice.charlie@myfloridahouse.com, joyner.arthenia@myfloridahouse.com, jordan.stan@myfloridahouse.com, johnson.randy@myfloridahouse.com, jennings.ed@myfloridahouse.com, homan.ed@myfloridahouse.com, holloway.tee@myfloridahouse.com, henriquez.bob@myfloridahouse.com, hasner.adam@myfloridahouse.com, harrington.lindsay@myfloridahouse.com, harrell.gayle@myfloridahouse.com, harper.james@myfloridahouse.com, greenstein.ron@myfloridahouse.com, green.carole@myfloridahouse.com, gottlieb.ken@leg.state.fl.us, goodlette.dudley@myfloridahouse.com, gibson.hugh@myfloridahouse.com, audrey.gibson@myfloridahouse.com, gelber.dan@myfloridahouse.com, gardiner.andy@myfloridahouse.com, garcia.rene@myfloridahouse.com, gannon.anne@myfloridahouse.com, galvano.bill@myfloridahouse.com, fiorentino.heather@myfloridahouse.com, fields.terry@myfloridahouse.com, farkas.frank@myfloridahouse.com, evers.greg@myfloridahouse.com, domino.carl@myfloridahouse.com, detert.nancy@myfloridahouse.com, dean.charles@myfloridahouse.com, davis.mike@myfloridahouse.com, davis.don@myfloridahouse.com, cusack.joyce@myfloridahouse.com, culp.faye@myfloridahouse.com, cretul.larry@myfloridahouse.com, clarke.donna@myfloridahouse.com, carroll.jennifer@myfloridahouse.com, cantens.gaston@myfloridahouse.com, speakerbyrd@myfloridahouse.com, bullard.edward@myfloridahouse.com, bucher.susan@myfloridahouse.com, brutus.phillip@myfloridahouse.com, brummer.fred@myfloridahouse.com, brown.donald@myfloridahouse.com, brandenburg.mary@myfloridahouse.com, bowen.marty@myfloridahouse.com, bilirakis.gus@myfloridahouse.com, berfield.kim@myfloridahouse.com, benson.holly@myfloridahouse.com, bense.allan@myfloridahouse.com, mindingall.dorothy@myfloridahouse.com, bean.aaron@myfloridahouse.com, baxley.dennis@myfloridahouse.com, barreiro.gustavo@myfloridahouse.com, baker.carey@myfloridahouse.com, ausley.loranne@myfloridahouse.com, attkisson.frank@myfloridahouse.com, arza.ralph@myfloridahouse.com, antone.bruce@myfloridahouse.com, anderson.tom@myfloridahouse.com, ambler.kevin@myfloridahouse.com, altman.thad@myfloridahouse.com, allen.bob@myfloridahouse.com, alexander.jd.web@flsenate.gov, argenziano.nancy.web@flsenate.gov, aronberg.dave.web@flsenate.gov, atwater.jeffrey.web@flsenate.gov, bennett.mike.web@flsenate.gov, bullard.larcenia.web@flsenate.gov, campbell.walter.web@flsenate.gov, carlton.lisa.web@flsenate.gov, clary.charlie.web@flsenate.gov, constantine.lee.web@flsenate.gov, cowin.anna.web@flsenate.gov, crist.victor.web@flsenate.gov, dawson.mandy.web@flsenate.gov, portilla.alex.web@flsenate.gov, dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov, fasano.mike.web@flsenate.gov, garcia.rudy.web@flsenate.gov, geller.steven.web@flsenate.gov, haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov, hill.anthony.web@flsenate.gov, jones.dennis.web@flsenate.gov, king.james.web@flsenate.gov, klein.ron.web@flsenate.gov, lawson.alfred.web@flsenate.gov, lee.tom.web@flsenate.gov, lynn.evelyn.web@flsenate.gov, margolis.gwen.web@flsenate.gov, miller.lesley.web@flsenate.gov, peaden.durell.web@flsenate.gov, posey.bill.web@flsenate.gov, pruitt.ken.web@flsenate.gov, saunders.burt.web@flsenate.gov, sebesta.jim.web@flsenate.gov, siplin.gary.web@flsenate.gov, smith.rod.web@flsenate.gov, villalobos.alex.web@flsenate.gov, schultz.debbie.web@flsenate.gov, wilson.frederica.web@flsenate.gov, wise.stephen.web@flsenate.gov, alexander.jd.web@flsenate.gov, argenziano.nancy.web@flsenate.gov, aronberg.dave.web@flsenate.gov, atwater.jeffrey.web@flsenate.gov, bennett.mike.web@flsenate.gov, bullard.larcenia.web@flsenate.gov, campbell.walter.web@flsenate.gov, carlton.lisa.web@flsenate.gov, clary.charlie.web@flsenate.gov, constantine.lee.web@flsenate.gov, cowin.anna.web@flsenate.gov, crist.victor.web@flsenate.gov, dawson.mandy.web@flsenate.gov, portilla.alex.web@flsenate.gov, dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov, fasano.mike.web@flsenate.gov, garcia.rudy.web@flsenate.gov, geller.steven.web@flsenate.gov, haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov, hill.anthony.web@flsenate.gov, jones.dennis.web@flsenate.gov, king.james.web@flsenate.gov, klein.ron.web@flsenate.gov, lawson.alfred.web@flsenate.gov, lee.tom.web@flsenate.gov, lynn.evelyn.web@flsenate.gov, margolis.gwen.web@flsenate.gov, miller.lesley.web@flsenate.gov, peaden.durell.web@flsenate.gov, posey.bill.web@flsenate.gov, pruitt.ken.web@flsenate.gov, saunders.burt.web@flsenate.gov, sebesta.jim.web@flsenate.gov, siplin.gary.web@flsenate.gov, smith.rod.web@flsenate.gov, villalobos.alex.web@flsenate.gov, schultz.debbie.web@flsenate.gov, wilson.frederica.web@flsenate.gov, wise.stephen.web@flsenate.gov, mccarron@flacathconf.org

[trustandobey]

I have been busy sending out letters today and might tomorrow to. Thanks for the concern. No, we got rid of tv years ago, thats probably why I love FR so much. I have to admit to wishing I had FNC though. So much appreciate you guys keeping me informed and a big thank you will go out to FNC and Bill O'Reilly. Wish I could give Greer some heat LOL.

[trustandobey]

Glad you posted these. I started to earlier, but ended up e-mailing them. Most went through.

[pc93]

It would be nice to get all the pertinent facts of the case into a textified datasheet that shows everything, and I mean everything criminal about this case on the part of Michael Schiavo, George Felos, and George W Greer. This includes the 2nd District Court of Appeals, the Florida Supreme Court, Jeb Bush, Charlie Crist, President Bush and John Ashcroft because they cannot wash their hands of this matter when the blood will not come off.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

I'm sure y'all posted this when it came out, but I liked it, and just wanted to post it again.

http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-smith091603.asp

September 16, 2003, 12:40 p.m.
Terri Schiavo’s Life and Death
Time gained.

By Wesley J. Smith

September 11, 2003, was to be the beginning of the end for Terri Schindler Schiavo. Last Thursday, a judge was scheduled to order the intentional dehydration of the cognitively impaired Florida woman, at the request of her husband. Mercifully, however, the law got in the way. (For more background on the case, see here.)

Judge George W. Greer of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, in Clearwater, Florida, has repeatedly made it clear that he intends to order Terri's death by dehydration; even though her husband has refused to provide his wife any rehabilitation or therapy for more than ten years; even though renowned doctors have sworn under penalty of perjury that her condition can be improved with proper medical intervention; even though the husband who wants her dead could benefit financially and personally from her demise — he plans to marry his fiancé with whom he has begun having children, but he can't while his wife is still living; even though Terri's blood family wants to care for her the rest of her life; even though a guardian ad litem for Terri recommended against the dehydration; even though Governor Jeb Bush wrote a letter requesting him to reconsider.

In a tragic irony, September 11 was supposed to be the death-ordering date. But St. Petersburg, Florida attorney Pat Anderson, attorney for Terri's family, may have struck legal gold in her and her clients' heroic struggle to save Terri's life. She may have found a legal argument that should, at least for now, prevent Terri's demise.

This is the gist of Anderson's approach:
Ending a patient's life by dehydration involves not one, but two, discreet acts:
(a) Act # 1 is removing/clamping off the feeding tube. Michael Schiavo requested, and has received, the right to this act. Alas, due to "right to die" advocacy, killing a person through intentional dehydration because they are cognitively disabled is legal.
(b) Act # 2 involves the deliberate withholding of food and water by mouth. Michael did not ask for the right to do this act.
The provision of food and water by mouth is not a medical treatment but is humane care, and thus cannot be withdrawn or withheld legally from a patient who can assimilate nutrition and hydration.
A speech pathologist, who has successfully weaned four cognitively disabled patients off of feeding tubes in the last month, testified that Terri "has a good or excellent prognosis for being able to be taken off her feeding tube."
Under Florida law, the right to rehabilitation is retained by the ward, and not delegated to the guardian.
Under Florida law, neither the guardian — Michael — nor the court — Judge Greer — has the right to harm the ward;
Absent some pre-incapacity expression by Terri to waive the basic right to food and water and the right to rehabilitative therapy, the legal rights to them must be honored and enforced. Testimony that she would not want to be maintained by "tubes" would clearly not be enough since no tubes would be involved in her care.
Terri has not been given the opportunity to receive rehabilitation or to be weaned off the feeding tube so that she can take food and water by mouth. Indeed, Michael has required that she just lay in bed for more than ten years.
Hence, while a Florida Court of Appeals ordered the removal of Terri's tube-feeding an order with which Judge Greer seems eager to comply, it cannot be done in such a way as to "harm" Terri, e.g. without giving her a chance to survive by taking food and water by mouth.

Terri should be allowed reasonable rehabilitation attempts before Judge Greer orders her dehydrated to death. Refusing this clearly humane and merciful request would be to intentionally cause Terri harm. Some might even argue that refusing Terri any chance to live would be a non-voluntary euthanasia homicide.

Judge Greer may just be listening. Rather than ordering the food tube immediately clamped as had been widely anticipated, he has taken the matter under advisement. Greer is expected to render his decision later this week.

If Pat Anderson's motion is denied, I know she will appeal. And well she should. Her approach is not a ploy to stall for time; it is a serious and credible legal argument that deserves careful consideration. During any appeal, Terri's dehydration should be put on hold until these crucial legal issues that affect each and every cognitively disabled person on a feeding tube in Florida are sorted out.

If Greer orders the dehydration to proceed without giving Terri a chance to rehabilitate, he will have demonstrated that he views her as a less than complete person. In such case, Floridians should begin to ponder their legal and political options against Judge Greer (recalling him or voting him out of office).

Now, about Governor Jeb Bush: When I recently wrote about Terri's case, I reported that Bush had received more than 27,000 e-mails and other communications demanding that he intervene to save Terri's life. I also reported that he had responded by writing a letter to Judge Greer requesting that he appoint a guardian ad litem.

Gov. Bush meanwhile has received up to 34,000 citizen communications. The governor, however, has so far refused to do more than write a letter. He continues to refuse his administration's formal intervention or make her a ward of the state — or even explain why Florida law prevents him from at least trying.

Fortunately, Judge Greer's hesitation and Pat Anderson's advocacy give people concerned about Schiavo's case more time to continue pressuring Governor Bush to stand in the breach. Here's the 411:

Governor Jeb Bush
Florida Capitol Building, PL-05
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1050
850-488-7146
850-487-2564 Fax
E-Mail: fl_governor@eog.state.fl.us

— Wesley J. Smith is a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute and an attorney and consultant for the International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide. His revised and updated Forced Exit: The Slippery Slope From Assisted Suicide to Legalized Murder was recently published by Spence Publishing.

[freeparoundtheclock]

I've got bad news and bad news. At least one of HD's supporters is in the OHR. It's a cult and some of their members are from Vermont. They are for the complete separation of church and state. So, who's going to alert the media? I'm too tired right now. That google was kind of scary.

Put in cult and OHR or Office of High Representative cult. You'll see what I mean. If you find anything else, please freepmail me. OHR blogs hate Christians and have pet names for them. It was pretty disgusting and we should go private reply from this point forward.

Although it kind of ties in with Terri's fight, it's not directly related. Weird, huh?

[kimmie7]

bless your heart! been there, done that. Praying for your mouth to heal quickly.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

If you care to, read some of the reviews: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1890626481/ref=nosim/nationalreviewon/103-2196187-5594204

[kimmie7]

They will air it again -- 11 EST, I believe.

[kimmie7]

ping to the post I'm replying to...

O'Reilly covered Terri's story tonight. It should be re-broadcast at 11 EST...

Let's not forget to thank him: oreilly@foxnews.com

[kimmie7]

Could you FReepmail me the info you found? I'm something of a researcher of cults, and would like to look into them further.

[kimmie7]

Duh - I need more coffee. Ping to around 7000...and watch O'Reilly's re-broadcast tonight for what sounds to be a fair segment on Terri.