Gov. Bush calls special session over Terri Schiavo

Firstcoastnews.com ^ | 10-20-03 | Cynthia Capers

[JulieRNR21]

TALLAHASSEE, FL -- According to a news release sent by the Terry Schindler-Schiavo Foundation, Florida Speaker Johnnie Byrd will introduce "Terri's Bill" during the special session Monday.

The bill would put an immediate moratorium on all dehydration and starvation deaths in Florida. Meanwhile, supporters of Terri Schiavo showed up Sunday outside a Pinellas Park hospice.

Doctors say Schiavo has been in a vegetative state since complications from a heart attack in 1990. Her husband was granted a court order that her feeding tube be removed, saying his wife wouldn't have wanted to be kept alive.

[clouda]

People that get this story from the news, don't really have all the facts. They need to see how Terri is in the videos, and read the timeline.

CNN Headline News is now using the term brain damaged instead of comatose.

[HiTech RedNeck]

a gastronomy tube

Jeb you're a brother of Mr. "Strategery" ain'tcha. A "gastronomy tube" would be something like a piece of rigatoni! I think you meant "gastrotomy" :-)

[dixiegrrl]

You sound just like mom!!

[pc93]

I don't think so but I am sure she is going to have her family by her side at all times. They don't need Michael or Felos now. It is my sincere hope that Michael and Felos will be banished from their lives forever. This needs to get out of the courts and back to the family.

[KZele]

I truly hope you give them LOTS and LOTS of Heck! I DID! Fox Darn sure better have cover this from here on out!

[clouda]

CNN Poll

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/anderson.cooper.360/

[lonevoice]

First, will all those who devoted so much activism and energy for this woman continue to uphold her and her family prayerfully and financially once this story is no longer in the news? I hope that these folks will but I rather doubt it. The family will most likely be left to bear this burden alone.

Second, will the state now be empowered to veto the decisions that I make about the health of my children, or their education and point to this legislation as a precedent? Admittedly the state has intervened in a tough situation but there's an old saying "Tough cases make bad law."

I can appreciate your concerns. As to your first question, I can't answer for anyone else, but I think many would answer similarly. Absolutely Terri and her family will be upheld in my prayers, and by any means available to me, for as long as they choose to make their journey together known to us. I was a late arrival to Terri's plight when compared to many. I'm aware of some of Terri's advocates who have been at this for 3 years, most of it far from the public eye. I don't know of any reason why they would suddenly stop their efforts on Terri's behalf. And if they did? Terri and her family would still have the gift of this miracle, another chance at life for Terri. That can't be taken away from them.

I have little concern of this bill setting precedent for the types of things about which you speak. This bill was very deliberately crafted with an extremely narrow focus. It's nearly custom tailored around Terri Schiavo's situation.

This certainly isn't the first time a state law has been written, amended, or repealed, and it won't be the last. This event does speak strongly to not only the need for Living Wills, but the need to know what legislators represent what's most important to you and to lend those lawmakers material support.

[pc93]

We can still have info campaigns and put Terri's info. out there en masse and perhaps some ignorant perceptions will be changed. A lot of the news feeds on sensationalism, etc. Like when I was at work someone was on CNN or one of the other news networks (I guess he was an interviewee) and was saying all this bad stuff about Terri not being able to get out of her bed, etc. and how this was wrong for the law to be passed, etc. I am so sick of people ignorant people like that. The news can be pretty darn ignorant.

[Lovergirl]

I hope she will have her rehabilition now, and be at peace. She will do ok as long as the almighty michael leaves her alone. How can we make sure he leaves her alone?

[johnb838]

Somebody is freeping the poll.

[HiTech RedNeck]

How can we make sure he leaves her alone?

Let him try something then the GAL will have a restraining order issued.

[mtbopfuyn]

Ick, CNN is talking about poor, poor David Blaine and how he suffered all those days in a box and that he's trying to get down some food, blah, blah, blah. Such irony. Shaking my head.

[HiTech RedNeck]

(GAL = guardian ad litem)

[Lovergirl]

I know.

[MagnoliaMS]

That's what I've been wondering. WILL he have to leave her alone now? Will he still have access to her privately? Can he keep her family out unless he or one of his "representatives" (prospective mother-in-law, recently) are there? Lots of questions I would love to see answered, but I guess no one really knows yet.

[pc93]

and Felos.. I hope Felos is made to pay back the money he raped from Terri's rehab fund. Hopefully him, Greer and Michael will have to pay for all of that and more. but can you believe that Jeb's office sent out an e-mail and said just as Jeb now is making sure Terri gets hydrated that he can rescind his order and kill Terri if her condition changes? Welp he waiting long enough didn't he. This never had to happen and now he wants to control her life. This needs to get out of the courts and back to Terri's real family - her parents and siblings who love her. Michael/Felos and Co. needs to be forced to stay away from Terri and if it takes a restraining order then so be it. Divorce should be the next explored option. Terri only needs to have either her newly appointed Guardian Ad Litem perform this function or needs to have representation, rehab so that she can make her mark on the Divorce papers after explaining it to her. I am sure she would happily choose to be rid of the rodent who has tortured her over these years and held her hostage, prevented her from going outside, having a wheelchair, etc. getting any rehab, list goes on as you know. Let's keep praying for Terri.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Greer himself = untouchable. But maybe when he comes up for reelection in '04 he'll get the boot.

[Gelato]

O'Reilly Factor to discuss Terri Schiavo tonight.

[Graymatter]

msnbc is discussing case now, top of the hour

[johnb838]

Laurie Dhue just said she's been in a "near vegetative state" since 1990. I think we need to get rid of the word "vegetable". It is offensive, inaccurate, and unfair to the disabled.