Posted on 03/24/2005 10:10:41 PM PST by Former Military Chick
WASHINGTON, March 24 - Gov. Jeb Bush's last-minute intervention in the case of Terri Schiavo, even after the president had ended his own effort to keep her alive, may have so far failed in a legal sense, but it has cemented the religious and social conservative credentials of a man whose political pedigree is huge and whose political future remains a subject of intense speculation.
On one level, the Florida governor's emergence as the most prominent politician still fighting, despite a string of court and legislative defeats, to have a feeding tube reinserted in Ms. Schiavo was very much in keeping with someone who has repeatedly declared a deep religious faith.
Several associates noted that he had been devoutly religious longer than President Bush, and even critics said his efforts - prodding the Florida Legislature and the courts and defying much of the electorate - were rooted in a deep-seated opposition to abortion and euthanasia rather than in political positioning.
Yet inevitably, the events of recent days have fed the mystique of Mr. Bush as a reluctant inheritor of perhaps America's most famous dynasty since the Adams family two centuries ago.
He has assumed a very high profile in this polarizing case just as Republicans are contemplating the void that will be left when President Bush begins his walk off the stage in two years or so. At a time when many of the most frequently mentioned possibilities to lead the party are moderates like John McCain and Rudolph W. Giuliani, the governor now certainly has a place, if he wants it, as a prime contender in what is shaping up as a fight to represent a conservative wing that has proved increasingly dominant.
"He has strongly identified himself with the Christian conservative movement," said Matthew Corrigan, a political science professor at the University of North Florida. "If the Republican Party is looking for someone with good ties with the Christian conservative movement, he is the one who is going to have them."
Mr. Bush is barred by term limits from seeking a third term in 2006, and associates say they cannot imagine his running for a third term even if he were permitted to do so. Further, he has said he will not run for the presidency in 2008, an assertion that all but a few associates say they accept, though some Republicans think he may well run in 2012 or 2016.
"He's got no - as far as I know, and I really believe him - he's got no future political ambitions," said Cory Tilley, a longtime adviser. "And even if he did, he would be doing exactly what he is doing now. This is very clearly an issue that strikes at his core beliefs."
Susan McManus, a political science professor at the University of South Florida, said: "He is a very ideologically consistent person. He made no bones about that from the first day he ran for office. Those of us who watch him think this is Jeb, and how he truly believes and what he truly believes, and this may be one of those instances where he's putting politics aside."
Still, several Republicans said that while Mr. Bush might be ignoring any political calculations in a case that has etched grief on his face, it would be foolish to underestimate the political skills of someone who has managed to win two elections to lead one of the nation's most divided states. His decision to continue the Schiavo battle on his own, within hours after the White House had effectively withdrawn, followed a letter in which Bill Frist, the Senate Republican leader, urged that he make sure the Florida Legislature acted "expeditiously on Terri's behalf."
Dr. Frist is arguably the other most prominent Republican seeking to inherit the president's mantle as leader of the party's conservative wing. But Mike Murphy, a close adviser to the governor, disputes the notion of any rivalry between the two men, especially in regard to the Schiavo case.
"I don't think it's a competition at all: Jeb's the guy on the spot," Mr. Murphy said. "He's the governor of the state."
Some Democrats were skeptical, however.
"This is less about Terri Schiavo and more about shoring up the Republican base, and that's a shame," said Scott Maddox, who is departing as chairman of the Florida Democratic Party and is a potential candidate for governor. "Politics has to be in play here."
At times this week, it almost seemed as if the Bush brothers were working in tandem; the governor's decision to re-enter the case once the White House had dropped it in the face of repeated judicial rebuffs may have saved the president criticism from the right. (Paradoxically, the governor himself was pummeled Thursday by some conservative activists, who demanded that he have state authorities physically seize custody of Ms. Schiavo and reinsert the tube.)
That would not be the first time the governor has come to the aid of his brother. But it is also not the first time he has intervened in the Schiavo case. In 2003, after a court ordered the tube removed, he and the Legislature enacted a law that empowered him to order it reinserted. That measure was later overturned in another judicial decision.
"Jeb Bush is not doing this for political reasons, in my opinion," said Jim Kane, chief pollster for Florida Voter, a nonpartisan polling organization. "Jeb Bush is smart enough to know that he is not going to gain anything from this, and he's probably going to lose something."
Pressing the issue could prove particularly problematic in a state like Florida, with a heavy population of elderly voters, who analysts say are more likely to recoil at government intervention in such a case.
In any event, some of Mr. Bush's associates suggest that for all the intensity stirred by the Schiavo case now, it will ultimately fade.
"Issues have a way of coming and going," Mr. Tilley said. "This one is a very deep one. But it seems like other ones always come up, especially here in Florida."
LOL
better make it the latter as he's legally blind (as well as morally) - and wouldn't see the signs
And what issues are most important to you?
They are smart enough to agree with me on most of the issues. ;^) Well, except that Ron Paul is a little too isolationist for my tastes (like someone else mentioned).
there is a policeman in the room at all times - anyone even trying to put a wet wash cloth on her now cracked and bleeding mouth would be immediately arrested
My only complaint is that he made such a big deal by calling a news conference and announcing they had found a way to save Terri and then nothing has been done. I realize something could still happen, but as one who is not in the know, and knows that I am not in the know, I find it very frustrating. Have I mentioned that I'm frustrated? Thank you for your calm, reasoned approach to the situation.
:-)
BTW, I have seen Owens' name punted around before. I'm interested in him.
is he really legally blind? I never heard that. Maybe we can just shout murderer alot.
But I do like the sound of a good old fashioned tar and feathering.
And what is wrong with the police?
Clearly, our society is falling apart at every level. Nobody risks anything for anything. The only one determined to push his agenda is Judge Greer-- his desire to kill Terri is far greater than anybody else's desire to save her.
once again - maybe it needs to be said loudly :
Greer has already ordered his police that surround the hospice not to let any state police on the grounds.
you think a shoot out will work?
How would it be crossing a line for Jeb to just call the police back from the hospice?
Terri's family could try to feed her.
Right now they are nothing but concentration camp guards.
Exactly! He should be persona non grata--and treated just like other wife-murdering scum--OJ Simpson comes to mind.
He may have gotten away with murder--but people boo and hiss when he steps into a restaurant or onto a golf course.
This man is a little smarter than OJ--getting the state to murder his wife and do the dirty work for him--but he is no better than him. A low-life murdering scum. And I hope people NEVER forget that.
Don't get distracted and blame Bush--blame the republicans--blame the only people who have done anything to try to save her life. Put the blame on the MURDERERS and enablers--put the blame on the people that have worked tirelessly to kill this woman.
Greer does not LEGALLY have any police.
we heard you the first two times
Balancing the budgets (inc. entitlements), illegal immigration, and foreign policy (both trade deals & the WoT). Those aren't in any order by priority; I can't really place one above the others. The WoD is also a big issue for me, as increasingly will be energy policy I suspect, but there isn't much to work with on the former (nearly all politicians toe the line) and the latter is more of an abstract concern. I'm very concerned about scientific progress and maintaining our technological edge as well, but the ways that politicians matter to that mostly fit into the issue areas I already listed above.
Does this mean that Greer could issue orders to the myriad police around the hospice that they should permit armed robbery or rape or grand theft and they would have no choice but to follow his order? There is a Florida statue that makes stepping in to save an abused, disabled adult just as legal as armed robbery, rape and grand theft are illegal. If he can order that law not to be enforced then what keeps him from ordering any other law not to be enforced. Please understand, I'm not trying to be combative! I honestly don't understand how a judge at the county level can order police in his jurisdiction not to enforce a law, or worse still order the police to interfere with those who are acting lawfully to enforce a law. Thanks in advance for not taking offense at my inability to express my concerns any clearer.
Bingo
Oh, and education policy is very important to me as well, but perhaps just slightly below the big three I mentioned - mainly because I don't have crystal clear views on how that should get handled and also because it's primarily a state issue, or should be. It would be a non-issue to me on the presidential level if education weren't becoming a federalized sphere. That's the first criterion I use for governors, not nearly so much for presidents.
exactly, they have done all they legally can. They can do more.
Hey, It would be easy to take Michael Schivo out and beat him in the head with a bat until he is in a persistant vegetative state, but it would be illegal. We can't take the law into out own hands, no matter how frustrating it is, because then we become just as bad as greer. We all know he did it, it's all matter of evidence. He will be caught, if not by men then by the supreme judge
FOR VENGENCE IS MINE, SO SAYETH THE LORD . . .
I've both read it and heard it - legally blind.
as for the other - i got lots of feather pillows - you got tar?
| if you're making a reference to the Elian G case
I am aware that Greer has enjoined them from enforcing an existing Florida law, but that's not a case he really wants to fight. Ordering an executive-branch official to not enforce the law was not smart thing for a judge to have done. He could get impeached for that. Let's hope he is. For sure he is not going to be able to sanction anyone in the executive branch for carrying out his duties under a Florida statute. |
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Those were my comments, and no, I am not referring to the Elian G. case. Existing Florida law allows the DCF to intervene on an emergency basis. They would then have to notify a court within 24 hours, weekends and holidays excepted, as to what they had done. That means Monday. A hearing would then be scheduled, which requires another 24 hours advance notice to the parties. If they go in tonight, the earliest that Greer could get his hands on her is late Tuesday some time. And Greer might not even get the case; he might be one of the "parties," disqualifying him from also being the judge.