Posted on 08/26/2003 2:58:58 PM PDT by yhwhsman
MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH Jeb Bush intervenes for Schindler-Schiavo Asks for delay to investigate case of brain-disabled Florida woman
Posted: August 26, 2003 1:37 p.m. Eastern
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
Flooded with 27,000 e-mails urging him to intervene, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has asked a judge to delay setting a date for removal of a feeding tube sustaining the life of a brain-disabled woman, Terri Schindler-Schiavo.
Gov. Jeb Bush
In a letter, Bush asked Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge George W. Greer yesterday to keep her alive until a court-appointed guardian can "independently investigate the circumstances of this case and provide the court with an unbiased view that considers the best interests of Mrs. Schiavo."
On Friday, the Florida Supreme Court refused to intervene in the case, clearing the way for a Sept. 11 hearing in which Greer would set a date for removal of the feeding tube.
Bush said, according to a copy of the letter obtained by WND, he normally would not write a judge concerning a pending legal proceeding but noted the 27 e-mails his office received "reflecting understandable concern for the well being" of Schindler-Schiavo.
"This case represents the disturbing result of a severe family disagreement in extremely trying circumstances," Bush said. "Emotions are high, accusations abound, and at the heart of this public and private maelstrom is a young woman incapable of speaking for herself."
As WorldNetDaily reported, Terri's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler of Gulf Port, Fla., have been locked in a decade-long legal battle with their son-in-law over the care and custody of their daughter, who suffered massive brain damage when she collapsed at her home 13 years ago under unexplained circumstances at the age of 26.
Terri Schindler-Schiavo before her disability.
The bitter dispute over Terri's lack of care became a major euthanasia battle five years ago when her husband Michael Schiavo petitioned the court for permission to have her feeding tube removed, claiming she is in a persistent vegetative state and would not want to be kept alive "artificially." The Schindlers and a number of doctors and therapists believe she could be rehabilitated, but the courts have consistently sided with Schiavo and his lawyer, right-to-die advocate George Felos.
Schindler-Schiavo was hospitalized Sunday for the second time in less than two weeks, CNSNews.com reported yesterday.
"The parents don't know what's going on, but she appears to be in critical condition," family spokeswoman Pamela Hennessy told the news service. "It appears to be pretty serious."
Considering the lack of coverage in the mainstream media, contrasted with the numerous threads here, I'd be willing to bet that at least 20 of those e-mails came from FReepers. God bless this site!
Please don't think I am being disparaging of Jeb Bush. But I do know what a political adviser would tell Jeb. For every person that calls or emails or sends a letter there are 150 people who feel the same way, but don't call, mail or email.
If you take 27,000 emails and multiply it by 150 you find that 4,050,000 people think Jeb should do something. No politician I have ever known would ignore that. I doubt that Jeb wanted to ignore it. But if he did want to do something he wanted to do it with the greatest chance of success.
Jeb went to some effort to point out the fact he got 27,000 emails. Judges have to be elected too. And if they want to remain a judge they will take these 4 million people seriously. Jeb waited until talk radio was at his throat and the public arroused and then put the JUDGE on the hot seat with the burner turned up to high. I can tell you it burns that Judges very tender a$$ a lot.
The point that will not be missed by the judge is that if he kills this woman, he will never be appointed to a higher court. He will never be elected to a higher or even the same court. He won't even be invited to major events. The power strcuture will see the Jdge as a third rail legal killer. Legal killers don't get invited to homes or public event. The word political pariah comes to mind.
It will in effect cost the judge all his stature and a future if he rules the wrong way.
This move by Jeb Bush late in the game with huge public backing is hardball politics at its hardest. If I were Bush's political consultant it would have been my advise to handle it exactly this way. But I doubt that it took a political adviser thinking about the Governor to formulate this plan. The most likely scenario is the Governor asked everyone on his staff to tell him how to save this womans life?" He took the plan with the highest chance of success and he did it.
To kill this woman the judge will have to commit judicial suicide. That is the sentence Jeb just delivered on him. There is on ticked off judge tonight of that you can be sure.
Biased AP reporter strikes again. Necessary counterstrike inserted.
Hubby is looking a little nervous but with a pal like Judge Greer who is no Judge Moore, Terri has until the September 11 hearing to decide the date her starvation begins.
Here are the phone numbers: courthouse - 727-464-3000, guardianship numbers: 727-582-7563, 727-582-7771, and 727-464-8700. We can at least call as friends of Terri and voice our concerns.
Can someone find State AG Crist's phone number? That would be great. Maybe he can weigh in on this. He helped George keep his flag.
And his use of 'frankly' twice in the same breath can mean only one thing: He is NOT being frank.
Jeb waited until he could gain the maximum leverage (if, indeed, he has any leverage).
And, you're right about the judge. His judicial career has Peter-Principled out!
Maybe we need to email Hannity, Savage, Limbaugh, Boortz, Glenn Beck, et al.
September 11 is decision day on when the starvation and withholding of fluid begins.
Judge Greer has been with the husband since day one. A guardian ad litem would have been fair for Terri and her parents. Her parents love her but they are treated as the enemy. I'm ashamed this is happening in Pinellas County.
I'm wondering that too.
Back in the '90s in the Nancy Cruzan 'right to die' case, SCOTUS ruled that there was NOT 'clear and convincing' evidence that Nancy Cruzan had expressed a wish that her life be terminated were she ever to fall into a 'vegetative' state.
SCOTUS's ruling temporarily halted the Cruzan family's crusade to starve Nancy to death.
However, somewhat later a couple of Nancy's ex-co-workers were conjured up to swear that Nancy had made such a declaration to them. The Missouri court accepted that as 'clear and convincing' evidence, and ordered Nancy's death.
So Nancy Cruzan had food and water withdrawn. It took eleven days for her to die.
A few years later her father, who had campaigned for her death, committed suicide.
Oops! I was skimming the article and only saw the typo.
Charlie Crist is big on prosecuting fraud and abuse. If this isn't abuse, I don't know what is. I found the courthouse phone numbers and I bet CC's toll line is on the internet. I am running out of energy today. I hope somebody can research for AG Crist's phone number. Thanks in advance.
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