Posted on 03/24/2005 6:51:21 PM PST by FairOpinion
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - It's not often Gov. Jeb Bush is frustrated pursuing his goals. He was the first governor to start a statewide school voucher program. He got rid of civil service protections for tens of thousands of state workers. He pushed through billions of dollars in tax cuts. His goal of prolonging the life of Terri Schiavo is proving much harder.
"It is frustrating for people to think that I have power that I don't, and not be able to act," Bush told The Associated Press on Thursday. "I don't have embedded special powers. I wish I did in this particular case."
Bush canceled travel plans Thursday to monitor the case of Schiavo, a brain-damaged woman who has gone without food and water since a judge ordered her feeding tube removed March 18.
He was in constant contact with his legal office, ordered staffers to e-mail and call him with developments and demanded state laws be scoured for a way to reconnect Schiavo's feeding tube.
At his office, Bush waved an affidavit from neurologist William Cheshire that questions whether Schiavo is in a persistent vegetative state. The emotion in his voice rose as he detailed how the affidavit stated Schiavo made a crying sound, grimaced and pressed her eyebrows together when a doctor said he was going to turn her over.
She "signals her anticipation of pain. Just like you would, or just like I would. Now is it perfect? Is she responding with the same eloquence that you would respond to? ... No. She's severely, profoundly disabled," Bush said.
The governor's court record is mixed. He succeeded in removing affirmative action guarantees from state hiring and university admission practices, but a law requiring doctors to notify parents if they perform an abortion on minor girls was thrown out.
Still, he's been persistent. After a court threw out a law requiring tougher sentences for three-time felons, the governor went back to the Legislature and fixed the problem. Currently, he and lawmakers are working on a plan to require parents be notified before their minor daughters get abortions.
In the Schiavo case, he's running out of legal avenues — but not hope.
"You know what I hope for first and foremost? That Mr. Schiavo would say, 'I'm going to let Terri be with her parents. I'm going to move on with my life. I've made my point,'" Bush said, referring to Schiavo's husband, Michael, who insists she would not want to be kept alive artificially. "That obviously doesn't appear to be happening."
"So secondly I pray for an openness by the people who are responsible for making these decisions so we can act and allow for her to stabilize."
He says the courts appear to have turned a deaf ear to his arguments.
"For this lockdown to occur without having the ability to have an open mind, and say, 'Well, maybe there are new facts on the table, maybe there are new technologies, maybe, just maybe, we should be cautious about this' ... is very troubling," Bush said.
In 2003, when the Legislature passed a law allowing Bush to order the feeding tube reinserted after it had been removed, critics accused him of political grandstanding as his brother, President Bush (news - web sites), sought re-election.
Justin Sayfie, Bush's former communications director, said they were wrong: "He's term-limited out. His brother is term-limited out."
"Most strategists or political operatives would say 'Don't touch this,'" said GOP political strategist Geoffrey Becker, noting polls show most people don't believe government should be involved in the case. "I firmly believe that this is his personal conviction, that he believes this is the right thing to do."
Yeah, you know all about what "Terri needs".
The question is, why the hell aren't you doing any of it?
Oh yeah...that's right. You expect better men than you to break the law and throw the system into chaos, while you sit on your ass in your livingroom and call other people "stupid".
Then, after this blows over, you'll find something new to blame on the Bush brothers.
Unfortunately, you're not unique around here.
Gee for someone that has "Abuse of power comes as no surprise", you sure do want Jeb to abuse his.
I guess MOST people don't think the JUDICIARY is part of the GOVERNMENT, nor the POLICE acting on orders from the Judge, we have a NATION of public education nitwits.
I hope you are right. I would love to eat crow on this one!
I want her to live, too. This is a horrible situation. The system - and her "husband" - have failed her, I think.
YOU GO, GIRL!
(1) Except in cases of treason and in cases when impeachment results in conviction, the Governor may, by executive order filed with the Secretary of State, suspend collection of fines and forfeitures, grant reprieves not exceeding 60 days, and, with the approval of two members of the Cabinet, grant full or conditional pardons, restore civil rights, commute punishment, and remit fines and forfeitures for offenses.
I'm not a liar, I mean lawyer, or an English professor for that matter, but does "grant reprieves not exceeding 60 days" get qualified by "for offenses"? Or can "grant reprieves not exceeding 60 days" stand on it's own in this paragraph?
If it can stand on it's own, then why can't Bush issue a 60 day reprieve?
For the third time tonite, I'm not a Bush basher!! I voted for him. But I disagree with him on this case. Talk is cheap and he can do much more, like use his presendential executive powers to help a starving innocent victim at the meercy of godless people. He can send troops to defend freedom around the world and in harms way, but he cannot defend it right here in our own country? He just is protecting his brother Jeb, who knew there was alleged abuse 2 years ago but did nothing. Sorry, I am not going to defend him on this one.
My last 500 posts (or more) have been in outrage that the state is killing Terri Sciavo. Check it out, and see if you don't believe me. We have called Senators, Congressmen and e-mailed many times (yes, Jeb Bush, multiple times).
The problem is that ignorant people keep blaming the wrong people for this crime, and that is worthless and self-defeating. Jeb Bush is not at fault, and calling him a coward is just plain stupid.
If you don't know what you're talking about......which you don't...... then don't post.
Well,in that case, more power to ya!
You're not very good at this troll stuff, Daisy. Check back at DU, and get better instructions.
Do you mean, have I let an unelected judge convince me, the elected governor of a state, that I cannot enforce state law? No.
You, at your keyboard, talking like a tough guy in the safety of your dark little room.....YOU are the wimp.
No, sonny. Anyone who is elected to public office, and then defers all hard decisions to a tyranny of unelected judges, is the wimp.
... how about that wimpy President who is toppling tyrants and changing the world with his vision and courage. I'm sure terrorists all over the world agree with you that he's a wimp.
When was the last time President Bush stood up to an unelected judge? Better to ask, when will be the first time?
I want to know why the courts are free to ignore the authority of the legislature, the U.S. Congress & the executive branch, while the governor for some reason feel obligated to kowtow to the courts.
He just is protecting his brother Jeb, who knew there was alleged abuse 2 years ago but did nothing. Sorry, I am not going to defend him on this one.
That's right, Jeb did nothing 2 years ago when the feeding tube was first removed.............only got the FL legislature to pass a law giving him the authority to reinstate the tube and then once he had the authority he used it. If it wasn't for Jeb she would have died 2 years ago. Did you forget this? Well, this should shut you up once in for all.
You're not very good at this troll stuff, Daisy
>> Jeb Bush is a governor, not a dictator.
I have to give you that one. The unelected dictator in this case is Judge Greer, supported by his cabal of unelected judges in higher courts. Jeb is just a wimpy governor afraid to exercise the powers the people rightfully gave him.
Spoken like a wimpy frenchman.
Next time I want stupid french talk, I'll come to you.
When I want COURAGE, I'll find a BUSH brother.
Here is a reader's comment to Die Welt, a German newspaper, especially note the last sentence -- it really sums it up:
"I think the term "allowing her to die" masks what is happening -- Terri is being starved and dehydrated to death. There has been little attempt at rehabilitation although her husband promised to use the money Terri was awarded to do this. Her parents are willing to look after her and her husband can get on with his life with his new partner and his two children by her. There have been numerous cases of people who have awoken from so called PVS. In France the editor of Elle, Jean- Dominique Bauby, wrote a book about his life after a massive stroke left him completely paralysed except for being able to blink an eyelid. PVS is a term used to dehumanise a person so that s/he can be killed. -- Janet Secluna Thomas, U.K.
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1528461,00.html
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