Terri Schiavo hates Tom Delay
Will you please let this woman die with dignity for fuck's sake? Have you heard about the battle going on down in Florida? The one between the evil "love-the-fetus-hate-the-human" Florida Religious Right led by Jeb and smirking wiseass brother?
About 15 years ago, Terry Schiavo had a stroke which was a direct result of her battle with bulimia, and it effectively ended her life. Her brain is still alive, however she cannot talk or communicate in any form. She cannot make meaningful expressions, understand anyone around her, walk, eat, swallow, or function like any living person whatsoever. She cannot feel pain, and she cannot react with meaningful emotion, according to all doctors' testimony. Doctors say she has zero chance for recovery. She's a vegetable now, and she will be 50 years from now. Her husband has said that she verbally made it known that she would not like to be kept alive in a vegetative state if her life ever came down to it. Her parents, and the state of Florida want to keep her alive.
I can't imagine what her family members must be going through - to see a loved one in that state must be gut-wrenching, every single day. But realize this - the motive for not letting this woman, or ANY person die with painless dignity is clear and simple: the Bible says you can't, and Republicans are more than happy to play with her like a political football to appeal to their conservative, knuckle-dragging base.
There may be some reading this who supported Congress intervening in a family, State of Florida issue, and if this includes you, I'd like for you to consider the following points about this case, very few of which you're going to hear about in the corporate media:
Those who want to keep this poor woman drooling on herself for the next 50 years have had not only their day in court, they've had their days. Before the recent escalation to various circuit appeals courts,NINETEEN state of Florida judges have reviewed and heard both sides of this case over SEVEN years. They have all, unconditionally, sided with Terri's husband in that she never wanted to be kept alive and suffering this way. They have sided with the doctors who testified her life is now meaningless, as she cannot process information or live any type of beneficial life.
That testimony I just mentioned does not just include that of her husband - it includes other people who knew Terri who stated at funerals and on other occasions, that she didn't want to be kept alive artificially if ever incapacitated.
Bush, head of the culture-of-life movement, defended his record-high 152 executions as governor of Texas by saying all of those who died had their day in court, and the courts ruling was final. Hmmmm...
Republican House members characterized Terri as suffering, starving, and whose care is at the hands of murderers. I'm not sure if the thousands of caring, and frankly amazing Hospice workers around the country feel the same way. Hospice exists to make sure people die with dignity and with the least amount of pain possible. Even though Schiavo cannot feel pain, they've given her morphine just in case.
Schiavo had a court-appointed, unconnected-to-the family guardian ad litem (guardian at law)- which is a PHD who has a law background as well, whose job it is to spend a month with Schiavo, assess her ability to respond to stimuli and her general state of vegetativeness, and write a report. His conclusion is that Michael Schiavo, Terri's husband, did everything he could, the woman is brain damaged beyond any repair or signs of life other than lower brain stem movement, and has agreed with the court's rulings. Listen to an interview with him yourself.
There are parents sending their kids to the hospice where Terri is, with duct tape over their mouths, huge signs that say "choose life," and "stop renegade judges." There are other dying members of other families in this same hospice, perhaps looking for a little peace at this point. I suggest these people take their kids, pack up the mini-van with the "Pray for bumper stickersickers on them, and perhaps look for a fucking job.
Listen to the language these people use when speaking about the judges in the case. The 40 or so judges considering this case have been called anything from activist to murderers, as if their upholding of the law and the constitution put them at fault. The more you use language like this, the more Tom Delay threatens the judges on the case (which is illegal), the more judges and their family members will have to watch out for or lose their lives over cases like this. Nice job Tom...if someone ever takes a shot at your head through a scope some day, I'll giggle myself silly and have a beer at your funeral. In fact, it's chilling in the fridge now.
Terri's feeding tube and hospice care are paid for byMedicaid. Tom Delay, House majority leader and the figure in charge of this fight for the Republicans, passed two bills recently to reduce Medicaid coverage helping Terri stay alive.
We now know that Tom Delay, leading the charge for the Republicans to keep this woman alive, pulled the virtual plug on his own dad several years ago when his family had to go through the same personal decision.
The 5-4 conservative ruled U.S. Supreme court wouldn't even hear this case. They looked at it, and said "there is no federal question here," and kicked the case back to Florida. That means Congress, in passing this bill superseded 19 Florida judges, 7 years of Florida State court rulings, and the Supreme court.
The Republicans have coined their latest vomit-inducing bumper sticker phrase during this debate as "the culture of life," that they're trying to protect. The Republican party supporting a culture of life? Culture of life my ass. Their culture of life in the past 4 years alone has included:
-1 unjustified war which has taken 10's of thousands of lives
-An allowance of the assault weapons ban to expire, as well as other gun control legislation
-Unabashed support for the death penalty, including that of minors as well as mentally incapacitated individuals by your current president, along with Texas setting the record for number of executions during his dictatorship there.
-Support for justice department members who favor torture as a legitimate inquisition method
George W. Bush, culture of life king, signed legislation into law in Texas as governor called, the futile care law which enables hospitals to pull the proverbial plug (or feeding tube) on patients who cannot afford health insurance coverage for life support. (read the law itself here)
(update) Not including the US Supreme Court over 40 judges have either looked at the case, or withdrew their ruling because they had no say in the jurisdiction.
The Republicans have capitalized on and jumped all over this case not because they care about this woman, but because they are trying to appeal to their right-wing conservative base. You want proof? A memo, obtained by several network news organizations and circulated by the Republicans in the senate asks their party to consider fighting this in congress because, "this is a great political issue, because Senator Nelson of Florida has already refused to become a co-sponsor and this is a tough issue for Democrats." You can read more about the memo here, and here.
Think about your family going through the same battle - would you really want the U.S government stepping in as high appeal court, overruling 19 judges in your state, deciding whether or not you can live or die? Is anyone else scared shitless about ethics committee investigated Tom fuckface Delay R-TX deciding what you can and cannot do with your own life? Oh, you're cool with that? Sorry.
I'm tired of Bush being praised for "taking the time to come back to Washington" on short notice to sign this legislation from congress into law. You know why? Because he's SUPPOSED to be in fucking Washington! (Remember him setting a record for vacation time for a sitting president during the mountains of threats communicated by CIA officials about a Bin Laden orchestrated attack? What amazing prioritization this guy has.)
The entire premise of the conservative party, from the days of slavery to gay rights, integration, or anything other thing worth fighting for, has been STATES RIGHTS. Period. What kind of violation of states rights is it for the Florida state court of appeals to be out-ruled by the federal US congress? I guess states rights only applies when your ancestors wanted to ass-rape your African American "hired hands," or when black people in the south wanted a fucking education.
So what has the "state's rights, less federal government" party done? They've looked to the US Federal Congress to subvert the state's ruling, and subpoena poor Terri to "testify" before the
US Government! What a great idea! After that, let's strap her in on a tilt-a-whirl at Disney Land, and see if we can make more of a spectacle out of this poor woman! Maybe we can do a commercial that says, "Hey Terri, you're about to have the government keep that feeding tube down your throat for the next 50 years of your miserable life... What are you going to do next?" Then Jeb Bush can put his claws around her mouth to make it move, while a voiceover says, "I'm going to Disney Land!"
The bottom line is, the US congress interfering with this family issue for the purposes of using this woman as a political football will make these Republicans (and Democrats who voted for the bill last night) burn in the same hell they're always trying to scare us with. I just hope they're not hooked up to life support for the last 40 years of their miserable lives to delay their arrival.
About 15 years ago, Terry Schiavo had a stroke which was a direct result of her battle with bulimia, and it effectively ended her life. Her brain is still alive, however she cannot talk or communicate in any form. She cannot make meaningful expressions, understand anyone around her, walk, eat, swallow, or function like any living person whatsoever. She cannot feel pain, and she cannot react with meaningful emotion, according to all doctors' testimony. Doctors say she has zero chance for recovery. She's a vegetable now, and she will be 50 years from now. Her husband has said that she verbally made it known that she would not like to be kept alive in a vegetative state if her life ever came down to it. Her parents, and the state of Florida want to keep her alive.
I can't imagine what her family members must be going through - to see a loved one in that state must be gut-wrenching, every single day. But realize this - the motive for not letting this woman, or ANY person die with painless dignity is clear and simple: the Bible says you can't, and Republicans are more than happy to play with her like a political football to appeal to their conservative, knuckle-dragging base.
There may be some reading this who supported Congress intervening in a family, State of Florida issue, and if this includes you, I'd like for you to consider the following points about this case, very few of which you're going to hear about in the corporate media:
Those who want to keep this poor woman drooling on herself for the next 50 years have had not only their day in court, they've had their days. Before the recent escalation to various circuit appeals courts,NINETEEN state of Florida judges have reviewed and heard both sides of this case over SEVEN years. They have all, unconditionally, sided with Terri's husband in that she never wanted to be kept alive and suffering this way. They have sided with the doctors who testified her life is now meaningless, as she cannot process information or live any type of beneficial life.
That testimony I just mentioned does not just include that of her husband - it includes other people who knew Terri who stated at funerals and on other occasions, that she didn't want to be kept alive artificially if ever incapacitated.
Bush, head of the culture-of-life movement, defended his record-high 152 executions as governor of Texas by saying all of those who died had their day in court, and the courts ruling was final. Hmmmm...
Republican House members characterized Terri as suffering, starving, and whose care is at the hands of murderers. I'm not sure if the thousands of caring, and frankly amazing Hospice workers around the country feel the same way. Hospice exists to make sure people die with dignity and with the least amount of pain possible. Even though Schiavo cannot feel pain, they've given her morphine just in case.
Schiavo had a court-appointed, unconnected-to-the family guardian ad litem (guardian at law)- which is a PHD who has a law background as well, whose job it is to spend a month with Schiavo, assess her ability to respond to stimuli and her general state of vegetativeness, and write a report. His conclusion is that Michael Schiavo, Terri's husband, did everything he could, the woman is brain damaged beyond any repair or signs of life other than lower brain stem movement, and has agreed with the court's rulings. Listen to an interview with him yourself.
There are parents sending their kids to the hospice where Terri is, with duct tape over their mouths, huge signs that say "choose life," and "stop renegade judges." There are other dying members of other families in this same hospice, perhaps looking for a little peace at this point. I suggest these people take their kids, pack up the mini-van with the "Pray for bumper stickersickers on them, and perhaps look for a fucking job.
Listen to the language these people use when speaking about the judges in the case. The 40 or so judges considering this case have been called anything from activist to murderers, as if their upholding of the law and the constitution put them at fault. The more you use language like this, the more Tom Delay threatens the judges on the case (which is illegal), the more judges and their family members will have to watch out for or lose their lives over cases like this. Nice job Tom...if someone ever takes a shot at your head through a scope some day, I'll giggle myself silly and have a beer at your funeral. In fact, it's chilling in the fridge now.
Terri's feeding tube and hospice care are paid for byMedicaid. Tom Delay, House majority leader and the figure in charge of this fight for the Republicans, passed two bills recently to reduce Medicaid coverage helping Terri stay alive.
We now know that Tom Delay, leading the charge for the Republicans to keep this woman alive, pulled the virtual plug on his own dad several years ago when his family had to go through the same personal decision.
The 5-4 conservative ruled U.S. Supreme court wouldn't even hear this case. They looked at it, and said "there is no federal question here," and kicked the case back to Florida. That means Congress, in passing this bill superseded 19 Florida judges, 7 years of Florida State court rulings, and the Supreme court.
The Republicans have coined their latest vomit-inducing bumper sticker phrase during this debate as "the culture of life," that they're trying to protect. The Republican party supporting a culture of life? Culture of life my ass. Their culture of life in the past 4 years alone has included:
-1 unjustified war which has taken 10's of thousands of lives
-An allowance of the assault weapons ban to expire, as well as other gun control legislation
-Unabashed support for the death penalty, including that of minors as well as mentally incapacitated individuals by your current president, along with Texas setting the record for number of executions during his dictatorship there.
-Support for justice department members who favor torture as a legitimate inquisition method
George W. Bush, culture of life king, signed legislation into law in Texas as governor called, the futile care law which enables hospitals to pull the proverbial plug (or feeding tube) on patients who cannot afford health insurance coverage for life support. (read the law itself here)
(update) Not including the US Supreme Court over 40 judges have either looked at the case, or withdrew their ruling because they had no say in the jurisdiction.
The Republicans have capitalized on and jumped all over this case not because they care about this woman, but because they are trying to appeal to their right-wing conservative base. You want proof? A memo, obtained by several network news organizations and circulated by the Republicans in the senate asks their party to consider fighting this in congress because, "this is a great political issue, because Senator Nelson of Florida has already refused to become a co-sponsor and this is a tough issue for Democrats." You can read more about the memo here, and here.
Think about your family going through the same battle - would you really want the U.S government stepping in as high appeal court, overruling 19 judges in your state, deciding whether or not you can live or die? Is anyone else scared shitless about ethics committee investigated Tom fuckface Delay R-TX deciding what you can and cannot do with your own life? Oh, you're cool with that? Sorry.
I'm tired of Bush being praised for "taking the time to come back to Washington" on short notice to sign this legislation from congress into law. You know why? Because he's SUPPOSED to be in fucking Washington! (Remember him setting a record for vacation time for a sitting president during the mountains of threats communicated by CIA officials about a Bin Laden orchestrated attack? What amazing prioritization this guy has.)
The entire premise of the conservative party, from the days of slavery to gay rights, integration, or anything other thing worth fighting for, has been STATES RIGHTS. Period. What kind of violation of states rights is it for the Florida state court of appeals to be out-ruled by the federal US congress? I guess states rights only applies when your ancestors wanted to ass-rape your African American "hired hands," or when black people in the south wanted a fucking education.
So what has the "state's rights, less federal government" party done? They've looked to the US Federal Congress to subvert the state's ruling, and subpoena poor Terri to "testify" before the
US Government! What a great idea! After that, let's strap her in on a tilt-a-whirl at Disney Land, and see if we can make more of a spectacle out of this poor woman! Maybe we can do a commercial that says, "Hey Terri, you're about to have the government keep that feeding tube down your throat for the next 50 years of your miserable life... What are you going to do next?" Then Jeb Bush can put his claws around her mouth to make it move, while a voiceover says, "I'm going to Disney Land!" The bottom line is, the US congress interfering with this family issue for the purposes of using this woman as a political football will make these Republicans (and Democrats who voted for the bill last night) burn in the same hell they're always trying to scare us with. I just hope they're not hooked up to life support for the last 40 years of their miserable lives to delay their arrival.
posted by Jeremy at 11:51 PM
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