Posted on 03/21/2005 7:30:53 AM PST by Dog Gone
Overwhelmingly, most of the keep-her-alive-at-any-cost posters on Free Republic are out of touch with reality.
Indeed. After demonstrating that they can get a controversial bill drafted, passed, and ready for Dubya's signature in a weekend -- if they really want to -- they are going to be big-red-capital-Superman-S screwed if they don't get satisfactory results on tax/spending cuts, Social Security reform, et cetera.
Just to clarify, I *WANT* to believe Terri is cognitive. I want her to revive. I don't want her to die. However, the facts I've seen simply don't support the belief she is cognitive and there's a chance she will recover.
Here's my problem with all of this. *IF* these are all true; why is it no court has EVER sided with Terri's parents and why is it all the court-appointed experts can find no trace of cognitive ability? I find it hard to believe not one court has ever concluded Terri is NOT in a PVS. I've even read the report of one of the court-appointed guardians.
I saw the tapes Terri's parents put out and it was obvious to me how the scenes were staged. Her mother holds her head directly in front of her face. Have you tried putting your face nearly nose-to-nose with someone and focus on the other? Her father stands in front of where Terri's face is and carries on a conversation when she's making noises and grunts. How do we know she doesn't always make such noises when they're not there or not having such a "conversation"?
That's the problem with just viewing a small clip of a videotape. It allows for highly edited and selective portions to support one's position. Those appointed by the courts who have spent MONTHS with Terri have ALL concluded she does NOT try to communicate and there is NO evidence of cognitive ability. Her eyes don't even focus on moving objects (IIRC).
Why do you think the neurologists who have actually examined her have all concluded she is in a PVS? The only ones who have claimed otherwise never examined her in person (again, IIRC) but only made such an observation by viewing the video her parents have put out. Even then, it was tentative pending examination.
Please clarify your claim about her ability to swallow. All I've seen were conclusions she was incapable of swallowing.
True. But against her wishes.
The polls over the next few days will be painful to look at. In FR's "ehco chamber", and in this hothouse of emotional venting, it's easy to miss the fact that the larger swath of Americans does not like this, or the precedent it sets.
There are large numbers of voters who supported the President and the Republicans based on the security issue, but were a bit leery of the religious right. Their fears are now being confirmed. We can only hope they don't remember this in 2006, or the Senate at least is in jeapardy.
The federal government has no legitimate role whatsoever in homicide cases (outside a few narrow circumstances, none of which are applicable here).
very true
When the opposition is shooting himself in the foot, don't interfere.
That was the question of poll ~ most didn't even read the poll question.
"What would you do if it was you in this state?"
I wouldn't spend six months that way ~ release me from my earthly bonds and let be with the Lord.
Or, they're reading the polls and getting out of the way while the Republicans shoot themselves in the foot.
That is correct. If she would have, she'd have been dead and buried back in 2000 when it was first ordered by the court.
As it is, she verbally told her husband, her husband's brother, and her best friend that she wouldn't want to live that way. The judge heard, and accepted, the sworn testimony of those three individuals.
By law, that is sufficient.
I think I'd want to be kept alive. I understand she can taste and appreciate jello and she smiles at music and her parents.
Maybe it sounds stupid to base a quality of life just on the pleasures of eating jello, but I figure that is better than nothing (I'm assuming she's not in severe pain).
I think that is better than being dead, myself. HOWEVER I would want to be well taken care of, given therapy, changed positions so I don't get bedsores, etc.
I guess I just really value my life. We only get one, after all. It might not be the quality of life we once had but it's better than no life (IMO).
I've told my husband I'd want to be kept alive. Guess I'm one of the 2 in 10 who would. Oh well--it's not the first time my opinion is out of the mainstream!
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Yup. They'd better be thinking about working a LOT of weekends now. Oh, and when the Dims charge, as they will do, that the GOP is controlled by its extremist factions (think judges), there won't be much cover left. Or political capital.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Agreed. The "culture warriors" really don't get it. And anyone who tries to spell it out is going to be attacked for doing so.
Logical people understand that's irrelevant. Michael is her guardian.
"At the very least he has a conflict of interest that he cannot overcome when it comes to any decision about Terri's fate."
What's the conflict? Live or die, there's no conflict. What are you talking about?
"And you seem to be ill-informed ..."
And you seem to be ignorant of what I know.
Yeah.. and now, we're going to have some trobule on Social Security... I hope the Repbulicans are used to working weekends. And the Religious Right had DAMN well better deliver in 2006 after the GOP stuck their necks out or they're going to have ZERO credibility with the GOP for a generation.
Thank you for your excellant post.
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