Parents, Bush fail to allow Schiavo case to end
Yesterday’s release of Terri Schiavo’s autopsy report showed that Ms. Schiavo’s brain had suffered severe, irreversible damage establishing the permanence of her physical condition. One would have hoped that these findings would have ended political involvement in this case. They have not.
Now, Florida Governor Jeb Bush has called for a probe into why Ms. Schiavo collapsed 15 years ago as well as why it appears that there may have been a delay between Mr. Schiavo’s discovery of his wife and his 911 call.
Despite the results of the autopsy, Schiavo’s parents have refused to back away from their position that Ms. Schiavo deserved to live and may have gotten better. They certainly deserve the right to take this position. In fact, they are well within their rights to question the decision of their son-in-law for making the decision that, in effect, ended their daughter’s life.
I fail to see the rational for the continued involvement of the state in this issue. The courts ruled that state statutes gave the spouse of Ms. Schiavo the final decision as to whether or not to remove the feeding tube that had sustained her (a position that the Republicans on the basis of the Party’s belief in the sanctity of marriage should have heeded). If there had been a reason to bring criminal charges against Mr. Schiavo for his actions, or in-actions, they should have been investigated and brought forward 15 years ago. Yesterday's findings shed no light on the cause of Ms. Schiavo's collapse 15 years ago and a new investigation is unlikely to turn up any new evidence. This call for an investigation is another waste of taxpayer dollars and a new effort to provide justification for the Republican Party's illogical behavior throughout the final weeks of this case.
posted by Unknown @ 1:08 PM
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7 Comments:
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It's politics pure and simple. Jeb Bush, like most Republicans, rely upon wedge issues to help them distract the public from the more pressing problems that face the state of Florida.
A large segment of his base truly believe this ridiculous rhetoric. He's using that belief within those poor misguided ignorant people to promote himself in their eyes. The standard Republican tactic in this case was to just make up things about Terri's husband, the judge, and anyone else who fell into their roster of pet political causes, and feed it to the media. It was most shameful to see senators and governors advocating this ridiculous "culture of life" propaganda. But without these smoke and mirror issues, they've got little else to do except subsidize corporate welfare and deregulate everything in sight will.
I'm wondering is Jeb going to direct the FDLE to override the local authority
totally agree with the original post. this is all just very infuriating. this whole melodrama concerning terri schiavo--while very sad--should in no way impede on the very necessary work that is waiting to get done for the many more disenfranchised americans, who i might be so bold to hint are living in equally (if not more) tragic conditions. the schindler family wants to talk about the tragedy and inhuman barbarism of the act of starving people to death. how do we balance this issue with the fact that there are countless anonymous americans who are starving as i type this minute?
everyone always prefaces comments about the schindler family saying that the "grief-stricken family's excesses" are understandable. but while i might find it in my heart to sympathize (on a good day, if i try very hard), i am more inclined to find the family's actions rather selfish and lacking in imagination to see that perhaps they are NOT the only ones suffering.
Governor Jeb Bush and Victims
It is hard to fathom why Governor Bush is re-opening the Schiavo discussion with a re-examination of the actions of Mr. Schiavo at the time of Mrs. Schiavo's collapse, but I think that it has something to do with the Gov.'s unusual (and one-sided) view of a "victim".
Last December I was at a clemency hearing in Tallahassee to appeal for a commutation of sentence for Taylor Wells. Taylor Wells is serving a life sentence for a very minor (and coerced) part in a burglary that ended in the death of a young man, David Codgen. ( http://www.taylorwells.org ) The Felony Murder Rule had been inappropriately applied in Taylor's case, and the men who had actually committed the burglary received lesser sentences than Taylor. Taylor had been in prison for over 12 years.
All of the advisors to the governor had recommended clemency, as well as the parole board. However, the governor remained resolute and unchanging in his decision to reject Taylor's request for a commutation of sentence.
He has given no explanation for his decision. His legal aide seems to infer that Taylor's family does not show enough "remorse". Taylor has continually expressed sorrow for the death of David Codgen, but how exactly do you express remorse for a crime you did not commit?
I do not think that the Governor has taken the time to know the real story of what happened to Taylor Wells. When he does realize what power he has yielded over this innocent victim, I hope it will shake him up some.
Ms. Kay Day, an accomplished Southern writer ( www.kayday.com ) is presently writing a book about what happened to Taylor, "One Night for Life". You can read the unfolding blog about her involvement in the case of Taylor Wells at http://onenightforlife.blogspot.com
Please, if you are interested in how the strange zeal of Governor Bush affects the citizens of Florida, take a look at these sites. We need all the help we can get.
http://onenightforlife.blogspot.com
http://www.taylorwells.org
http://justicefortaylor.blogspot.com
Thank you,
Beth Cioffoletti
561-626-6520
qbeth@bellsouth.net
Governor Jeb Bush and Victims
It is hard to fathom why Governor Bush is re-opening the Schiavo discussion with a re-examination of the actions of Mr. Schiavo at the time of Mrs. Schiavo's collapse, but I think that it has something to do with the Gov.'s unusual (and one-sided) view of a "victim".
Last December I was at a clemency hearing in Tallahassee to appeal for a commutation of sentence for Taylor Wells. Taylor Wells is serving a life sentence for a very minor (and coerced) part in a burglary that ended in the death of a young man, David Codgen. ( http://www.taylorwells.org ) The Felony Murder Rule had been inappropriately applied in Taylor's case, and the men who had actually committed the burglary received lesser sentences than Taylor. Taylor had been in prison for over 12 years.
All of the advisors to the governor had recommended clemency, as well as the parole board. However, the governor remained resolute and unchanging in his decision to reject Taylor's request for a commutation of sentence.
He has given no explanation for his decision. His legal aide seems to infer that Taylor's family does not show enough "remorse". Taylor has continually expressed sorrow for the death of David Codgen, but how exactly do you express remorse for a crime you did not commit?
I do not think that the Governor has taken the time to know the real story of what happened to Taylor Wells. When he does realize what power he has yielded over this innocent victim, I hope it will shake him up some.
Ms. Kay Day, an accomplished Southern writer ( www.kayday.com ) is presently writing a book about what happened to Taylor, "One Night for Life". You can read the unfolding blog about her involvement in the case of Taylor Wells at http://onenightforlife.blogspot.com
Please, if you are interested in how the strange zeal of Governor Bush affects the citizens of Florida, take a look at these sites. We need all the help we can get.
http://onenightforlife.blogspot.com
http://www.taylorwells.org
http://justicefortaylor.blogspot.com
Thank you,
Beth Cioffoletti
561-626-6520
qbeth@bellsouth.net
You say: I fail to see the rational for the continued involvement of the state in this issue. well, here it is: Because there was nothing found in the autopsy that supports bhulimia, as was asserted by her husband, then there is seemingly no reason why she should have collapsed in the first place. Bush sumply wants an investigation into the reason why an otherwise healthy woman would collapse and fall into a coma, and sop do a lit of the rest of us. Just because there is no evidence of strangulation, or physical abuse, or poison found in the autipsy, as Mark Fuhrnman pointed out, there other ways to strangle someone without leaving evidence. Michael Schaivo lied to the court about the eating disorder, so it stands to reason that he may have had some involvement of a more sinister kind in his wife's death. And if you are wondering abiyt motive, check out how much money he acquired on the malpractice suit he filed.
I agree that Gov. Bush is not playing politics.
But his tenacity is not religious conviction or conscience or courage. It is fear.
I've seen it before. He takes a "side", then digs his heels in and is unable to see any other story.
Wierd.
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