Judicial comment sets Crist apart

St. Petersburg Times ^ | July 31, 2005 | STEVE BOUSQUET

[amdgmary]

TALLAHASSEE - It was one of the shortest speeches of Charlie Crist's career, but as a campaign for governor unfolds, it may prove to be one of the most memorable.

Two weeks ago, the Republican attorney general and candidate for governor gave a late-night speech to a roomful of lawyers in Miami where he referred to the judges in the Terri Schiavo case as "heroes."

Crist insists he wasn't endorsing court rulings that prevented the brain-damaged woman's feeding tube from being reconnected, but critics view it differently. And by appearing to break his silence in the Schiavo case, Crist has sharpened the contrast between himself and Republican rival Tom Gallagher, who has said he favored government action to "prevent Terri's starvation."

At the dinner in Miami, Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge George Greer and U.S. District Judge James Whittemore of Tampa were honored as jurists of the year by the Florida chapter of ABOTA, the American Board of Trial Advocates. The group champions judicial independence and its members are lawyers who represent both plaintiffs and defendants.

Greer is the judge who ordered Schiavo's feeding tube removed, rejecting a subpoena from Congress and pleas from Gov. Jeb Bush, and Whittemore also denied emergency requests to reinsert the tube in the weeks before Schiavo died March 31. Both men's decisions were later upheld by higher courts, and both were praised and vilified by opposing sides of the emotionally charged end-of-life case.

Crist said he was "proud" of both judges.

"You are heroes to all of us, and your defense of the judiciary and what is right is beyond admirable," Crist was quoted in the Daily Business Review, a Miami newspaper that provided the only news account of the July 15 event at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables.

In an interview, Crist did not dispute the quotations. Nor did he offer a view of whether he agreed with their decisions. Rather, he said, he praised them for fulfilling their constitutional duty to provide checks and balances against the other two branches of government.

"I try to say nice things about judges. I'm sure I was complimentary," said Crist, who as the state's chief legal officer often speaks at bar-related events. "I didn't talk about any specific case. ... It's important that those checks and balances exist. Our system of government needs to have that."

Crist's comments have resonated far beyond the Biltmore.

"Judge Greer is a poster child for everything that's wrong with the judiciary," said Gary Cass, executive director of the Center for Reclaiming America, a grass roots Christian political group in Fort Lauderdale that lists "sanctity of life" as one of its priorities and plans to form a political action committee.

"For Charlie Crist to hold that up as an example of good judicial practice concerns me," Cass said. "I think it was a mistake for Charlie to say that. I don't know how anybody can be happy about a woman being deprived food and water."

Rep. Dennis Baxley, the Republican from Ocala who sponsored legislation last spring to force the tube to be reconnected, said Crist's speech was revealing.

"I think it is one of those very important moments for us to know where he (Crist) stands," Baxley said. "I truly believe there's a lot of people out there who were sensitive to this case who are going to find those comments, and that association, very instructive. I'm understanding where people line up on this."

Baxley said that while Crist was "conspicuously absent" from the Schiavo debate in the Legislature, Gallagher sent Baxley a personal letter of support last spring. While activists in the Schiavo debate take aim at Crist, his Republican rival Gallagher is not.

"Tom's made his position very clear in the past. There's really no comment we're going to make on that," said David Johnson, a Gallagher adviser.

Polls show a majority of Americans agreed with the judges' decisions to order the removal of Schiavo's tube, as her husband, Michael, said she wanted. By a greater margin, polls show people were opposed to Congress' intervention in the case.

But to those who view the long-running Schiavo saga as a test case of support for the sanctity of life - like abortion - Greer and Whittemore are "judicial activists" who starved a woman to death.

Many of those people can vote in the Republican primary for governor in September 2006. Crist's stand on the Schiavo case could prove to be an asset if he wins the GOP nomination and faces a Democrat. But one Republican strategist said the damage has been done.

"Schiavo killed the Republicans. They've lost the women's vote," said Matt Towery, an ex-Republican legislator who now runs an Atlanta media and polling firm. "It's one of those turning points that you just can't get away from."

[8mmMauser]

News Leader

Published August 23, 2005

Ethics questions are a bit murky

Re: "An ethics report card on Schiavo," Aug. 17 Religion/Ethics.

Dr. Thompson has led his students to come to the very conclusion that most of the media had come to. "Wow." What a coincidence. The good doctor needs to receive an incomplete, as in the "rest of the story."

In a recent radio interview with Lt. Mark Fuhrman of O.J. Simpson fame, a lot of investigative research went into how Ms. Schiavo arrived at the condition she was in. Mr. Fuhrman, quoting from his new book "Silent Witness," says there was marital discord, and Michael was very much a controlling individual, and was very familiar with what is known in wrestling, and law enforcement circles, as the "sleeper hold." That move when the carotid artery is squeezed, shuts off circulation to the brain, and if not released quickly, brain damage or death can occur.

Mr. Schiavo reports that he held her in his arms until first responders got there. Their report is that they found Terri laying face down with her hands up near her face. Hmm. Mr Fuhrman's report gets even better when he investigates the kind of "quality care" that Michael Schiavo ordered up for his loving wife, and the stalking behavior he exhibited with some of his subsequent girlfriends.

I think that in light of some real investigation, Michael Schiavo's grade should probably be changed to an F.

Raymond W. Carpenter, Protem

[8mmMauser]

Sun Herald

Posted on Mon, Aug. 22, 2005        


House conservative leader proposes bill about end-of-life decisions

EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS
Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. - The president of the Mississippi Legislative Conservative Coalition says he'll push a bill next year to "preserve a person's life" if there's a family disagreement about whether a vegetative patient would want to remain hooked to feeding tubes or other machines.

Rep. Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall, said the bill is a response to the case of Terri Schiavo, the Florida woman who died of dehydration in March after her feeding tube was removed.

Schiavo had lived in a persistent vegetative state for 15 years, and her husband and parents had a long-running legal dispute about her end-of-life wishes. The feeding tube was removed after courts sided with her husband, who said she wouldn't have wanted to be kept alive artificially.

Fillingane said his proposal would not affect Mississippians who have living wills or other documents that express their wishes.

"The Schiavo instance was more where you had disagreement among the relatives," he said. "And where you have a disagreement and you can't find an agreement on that issue, the state's position at the state court level that reaches there would be defaulting toward life."

Fillingane spoke Monday at a luncheon sponsored by the Capitol press corps and Mississippi State University's John C. Stennis Institute of Government.

In Louisiana, a new law that took effect this year bars a violent husband or wife who causes his or her spouse to be terminally injured from making decisions about whether that spouse is taken off life support. It also prevents someone estranged from a disabled spouse and living with another person from making decisions for that spouse.

The proposal, inspired by the Schiavo case, originally would have assumed that a person without a living will wanted to be kept alive indefinitely with feeding or hydration tubes. It was changed during the legislative process.

Fillingane, 32, is a second-term lawmaker. He was elected in March to lead the conservative coalition, a House group of 46 Republicans and 13 Democrats. Fillingane said Monday that the group supports "strong family values," free enterprise, individual liberties and limited government.

Fillingane said coalition members are required to renew their membership each year, and each person's status must be approved by the coalition's 10-member board. He said a few lawmakers were rejected for membership this year because the board didn't consider their voting records conservative enough.

Fillingane said he expects the coalition to work next year with nonmembers - including Rep. Jamie Franks, D-Mooreville, who has said he'll file a bill designed to protect private property rights in eminent domain cases. Fillingane said the coalition will support the bill.

Fillingane said if tax increases are needed to pay for public schools, he prefers that to be done on the local level rather than the state level. He said fast-growing school districts, such as the one he represents in Lamar County, often don't get the benefit of state tax dollars.

"If we send them to Jackson, they get sent to Mound Bayou or somewhere else and we don't get the benefit of all those moneys that go in," Fillingane said.

He called the Mississippi Adequate Education Program a "redistribution of funds." The formula was put into state law in 1997 and is designed to ensure that each district receives enough money to meet midlevel accreditation standards.

A legislative committee is studying MAEP and could recommend changes in the formula.



On the Net:

Mississippi Legislative Conservative Coalition: http://www.msconservative.org

[8mmMauser]

Cindy, Oh Cindy..

Here it is, Cindy fans! She mocks the death of Terri.

8mm

[Halls]

direct link-http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig6/sheehan6.html

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[floriduh voter]

Cindy Sheehan is truly evil if she wants the world to weep for her son but she's mocking Terri. Sometimes moms are hypocrites. Cindy Sheehan ALSO is an acquaintance of one of the attorneys for the TERRORISTS. I think she's using her son, never mentions him but often mentions Bush, and likely it's against Casey's wishes if he reupped to return to Iraq. She's dishonoring her son, so why not take a swing at America's innocent daughter, Terri Schindler (schiavo - means slave).

[floriduh voter]

I believe it was former attorney CAMPBELL who made the mistake of marking Terri PVS in her case file in the first place. No matter what happened after that, Terri could do practically anything but the PVS MISLABEL would be furthered by all the attorneys who robbed Terri and the judicial despots who allowed them to do it and then, to murder her in cold blood.

ATTORNEY CAMPBELL must praise Judge Greer because she's GUILTY OF LEGAL MALPRACTICE for stipulating that Terri was PVS when she wasn't. I believe that was Attorney Campbell's fault, boys and girls. I've met Campbell. Someone's gotten to her, that's all. Since they've gotten away with corruption, I guess she feels safe amongst them. Safe in the devil's workshop is not safe at all.

[floriduh voter]

Thank you for all the updates. I'm not ready to check my google alerts or post links re: JUSTICE FOR TERRI. I did tell the GOP today that someday "there would be arrests", I was certain of it. She tried to take the discussion back to "judgment day". I brought it back around, "Oh, no. I am talking about ARRESTS." I respectfully informed her that I was becoming an independent after the primary. I gave her a five minute SEMINAR on the true story of Terri's life, her suffering and her murder. I hope if the GOP calls your house, freepers and lurkers, you tell them that Republicans should not be starving ANYBODY to death. You cannot be pro-life and kill disabled people. Adolph Hitler KILLED HIS COUSIN because she had schizophrenia. She saw ghosts but was OTHERWISE HEALTHY.

The GOP better figure out where they intend to end up. Right now, I can count the ones I believe on one hand. I did tell the GOP lady that "I do not trust man" any more. (particularly from Pinellas Cty).

[floriduh voter]

ATTENTION LURKERS AND FREEPERS: Any time that politicians or bar members give Judge Greer, Judge Whittemore or Michael Schiavo an award, IT'S A PAYBACK or a GUARANTEE.

Remember Attorney Campbell has cases before Judge Greer. If she doesn't act like he's the greatest judge on earth, ya think he might make it hard on her in his courtroom? Remember he killed Terri. Greer is rough on women. His poor wife, but she's blind to his incompetence and his calculating ways.

[floriduh voter]

561 bttt. Michael Schiavo should have a F for being the guardian from h e double "l". Greer should be in jail because he's stench from the bench, a sniveling, connected LIAR-MURDERER, that's George Greer. www.judgegeorgegreer.com

BB, where's Greer's illegal tv commercial?????

[BykrBayb]

I'm not surprised. The one thing that binds liberals, one to another, is their hatred for all that is good. Several of the anti-Terri freepers expressed hatred toward our troops. Most who did were blatant enough about it to get themselves banned. They're still hanging out at AF sites, whining about it.

[BykrBayb]

Greer's illegal tv commercial

[T'wit]

Ms. Campbell did such a horrible job representing Terri that she is the one person Michael cannot sue for malpractice. She may as well have been on the Felos payroll while pretending to represent the Schindlers.

[T'wit]

>> You would have written me a funny poem about groceries, I know how you are...

No, I would have air-dropped groceries -- but with your verse written on leaves of lettuce with a fat red crayon :-)

Insects prey on lettuce
Bugs are lettuce prey
Let us pray that if you wish
Salad in your salad dish,
Read my little verse in crayon:
Let us, pray, on lettuce spray, on
Lettuce prey.

[T'wit]

>> Greer should be in jail because he's stench from the bench

Maybe I'd better do the verse, Ducks. You're beginning to sound like Johnny Cochrane :-)

[floriduh voter]

Michael Savage says "stench from the bench". I listen to Savage a little bit.

Just so you know FLA SENATOR JIM KING is looking out for people so they don't get ripped off by restaurants on their wine selection. (what a total elitist glutton he is worrying about diners' rights).

http://www.tampabays10.com/thismorning/thismorning_article.aspx?storyid=17852

[floriduh voter]

Thanks, BB. Cindy Sheehan is jealous of the attention that Terri Schiavo got while she was being tortured and murdered????? That will play well with God fearing Americans.

http://www.mensnewsdaily.com/archive/k/kovach/2005/kovach082205.htm

[floriduh voter]

MICHAEL SCHIAVO FABRICATED DEGREE ON HIS GUARDIAN APPLICATION. (a fraud from Day 1).

http://www.theempirejournal.com/08200512_Michael_Schiavo_Fabricated_College_Degree_On_Guardianship_Application.html

[floriduh voter]

Birds of a feather flock together. J. Whittemore the blonde guy on the left and J. Greer 2nd from right. This was the award ceremony wherein Fla AG Crist praised both Whittemore and Greer as "heroes" for defending the judiciary (and for FINALLY killing Terri).

They are HAPPY IN THEIR WORK, life and death in their hands.

Let's change course: TOM GALLAGHER FOR FLA GOVERNOR!

[floriduh voter]