Now Bush chooses life?
Speaking about Terri Schiavo, Bush said”This is an extraordinary and sad case,” as he hosted Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin and Mexican President Vicente Fox for talks on trade and border security.”
“And I believe that in a case such as this, the legislative branch, the executive branch ought to err on the side of life, which we have. And now we’ll watch the courts make its decisions. But we look at all options from the executive branch perspective,” said Bush.
Err on the side of life? Since when has Bush wanted to “err on the side of life”?
As of 7:30pm EDT, December 7, 2000, 152 people have been executed during Bush’s tenure as governor. This makes Texas Governor George W. Bush the most-killing Governor, in the history of the United States of America.
Need another example of Bush’s sensitivity to life?
Although he said he was anguished by the decision, in an interview in Talk magazine, writer Tucker Carlson described Bush mimicking the woman’s final plea for her life. “‘Please,’ Bush whimpers, his lips pursed in mock desperation, ‘don’t kill me.’”
March 25th, 2005 at 6:51 am
I can see Ramdac probably isn’t a fan of comedian Ron White, who said on the “Blue-Collar Comedy Tour” that his home state of Texas has the death penalty “AND…….WE……USE…….IT!” to the roar of a more than approving audience.
Actually, I wouldn’t be opposed to sentencing death row inmates to a life of HARD labor at a penal colony in the coldest part of Alaska, as an alternative……..they’d WISH they were dead.
But the same dipsticks who oppose the death penalty would get all pissy about that too!
I’m not sure whether Schiavo is a vegetable or not (the family says otherwise), but I think it’s cruel to starve a person to death.
And if starvation is such a peaceful way to go, as her husband says, then as an alternative to lethal injection, I say we use the same technique on Scott Peterson.
March 25th, 2005 at 8:31 am
I have always said for me to be pro-life then I almost have to be against the death penalty. I am with Chris, I think hard Labor is better punishment anyway, but liberals in this country would call that cruel and unusual punishment.
So I agree that Bush supporting the death penalty doesnt back his choose life stance. However, How many people who are against the death penalty support abortions.
So if we are going to point out Bush’s condradiction, shouldn’t we point out the difference in choosing life when it is a baby.
If Terry Schavio’s parents want to take care of their daughter, and are willing to pay the doctor bills. WHy not let them do just that.
Micheal Schiavo has obviousy moved on.
March 25th, 2005 at 9:20 am
“If Terry Schavio’s parents want to take care of their daughter, and are willing to pay the doctor bills. WHy not let them do just that.
Micheal Schiavo has obviousy moved on. ”
Because he has power of attorney, they don’t.
March 25th, 2005 at 10:23 am
I’ve been tossing and turning over this Schiavo case ever since I first heard it.
On the one hand, I hate the fact that congress is stepping into what I believe should be a personal, family decision. Michael Schiavo, as the guardian and caretaker, has seen all the facts, heard the advice from the experts, and realized his wife has “zero chance” of recovering. Whether or not I agree with the decision he makes, it is still his decision.
On the other hand, my gut just tells me that this is wrong, especially with the method we are talking about here. It isn’t that she is being unplugged from a respirator because she cannot breath on her own. She is being starved and dehydrated. Something about that just doesn’t sit well with me. Is that a place where we as a society want to go? Do we really want to starve someone to death? Imagine the fuss there would be if we starved a prisoner at Gitmo or in one of our jails. Where is the line drawn between “human rights” and “mercy killing?” I guess one could point to her alleged wishes to not be put on any type of life support.
As far as the Bush issue is concerned . . . . it takes a very naive individual not to be able to distinguish between innocent life (such as in the case of abortions) and a heinous criminal facing the sentence that a jury of his peers deemed necessary.
March 25th, 2005 at 10:56 am
MIcheal Schaivo - has two children and a common law wife. Are Terry’s Best interest really what concerns this man. He says this the way she would want, but Many family members say otherwise. As far as the doctors go, not all the doctors are saying the same thing. But I will admint the chances of recovery are slim to known, but is that the real issue hear.
Where do we draw the line. Christopher Reeves need a machine so he could breathe. If the Law says Micheal can pull the plug, then the system needs to be changed. Tell Micheal to go on about his life, OH. Thats right he already has.
March 25th, 2005 at 11:48 am
Big difference between Schiavo and Reeves. Reeves could speak. He had a cerebral cortex that was more than just fluid. For all intents and purposes, she’s a vegetable.
March 25th, 2005 at 12:01 pm
Some doctors say she is in a lowered concisious state which is a step above vegetable. But that isnt the point I was making. He couldn’t live withoug machines just like Terry Schiavo. The only difference Terry cannot prove that she will feel the pain of starvation. SHe can breathe on her own. They say she recognizes family members. If she was on life support where machines keep her alive, I would see this differently, but She lives on her own, she just cant eat.
March 26th, 2005 at 1:55 pm
Isn’t Terry Schiavo only alive because of man’s artificial interference? If it were truly up to GOD’s WILL, wouldn’t she have died long ago? Why is George W. Bush and the Christian Right forgetting this? Are not THEY playing GOD?
March 26th, 2005 at 2:29 pm
The simple argument against that would be that God has blessed man with a mind to discover means to heal people. Would you argue that someone shouldn’t take medicine that remedies a sickness, but say that if they only trust in God then He will heal them? Almost all churches would reguard this as foolish. It is nothing to do with “playing God,” but using all available resources.
As far as Michael Schiavo not having Terry’s best interests in mind, I would be hesitant to go there in an argument. Looks can be very deciving. He’s been offered anywhere between $1 - 10 million to walk away and let her parents take care of her. I think he honestly believes it would be best for her to be taken off the life-support. After 15 year, this man is just ready to move on and believe her family should to. He’s realized that there is no chance for recovery for this woman and believes his in-laws to be controlled strictly by their emotions. I can’t say I agree with this man’s choice, but I understand why he’s made it.
I think we can all agree we wouldn’t want to be in his shoes.
March 27th, 2005 at 12:49 am
March 28th, 2005 at 3:37 pm
I know this may seem like a horrible thing to say, but she was already starving herself before her heart attack ever even occured. I can’t say that Its an inhumane way to die, when she obviously already made a decision long ago about how she wanted to die. Not eating is in speculation as to the cause of her heart attack in the first place.
March 28th, 2005 at 3:43 pm
The reason why the courts have been involved with this particular case is due to the conflicting views that the parents and the husband have int he situation. Micheal wants to follow her wishes and let her go, and the parents can’t except the fact that their daughter is gone. I don’t think she will ever recover from this due to the fact that the thinking part of her brain is mostly gone, but even in the smallest possibility that she were to recover, she would never be the daughter her parents once knew her as, she is gone no matter what the outcome, she wants to go, just let her. I’m sure she will pass on before the court battles are finished, so instead of spending their final moments together, they are stuck in court wasteing the time they have left.
March 28th, 2005 at 3:53 pm
I disagree that she was “starving herself.”
There is a difference between having an eating disorder and wanting to die.
The woman was not trying to commit suicide. She had some mental problems and was seriously depressed, as are all those with eating disorders - not trying to starve herself to death.
March 28th, 2005 at 4:55 pm
There is also speculation that some form of abuse from her husband cause her condition. She had suffered from some level of broken bones.
If her wish was to die if she was in this situation, then why didnt Micheal say that 15 years ago.
Micheal has not been consistent during the process
March 29th, 2005 at 10:33 am
No one needs to take “cheap shots” at Bush and his Nazis. They do a fine job of it all by themselves. They use the Constitution and the Bill of Rights as door mats. America died when W was first Inagurated. I’m afraid you haven’t seen anything yet. This boy idiot who sits in the Whitehouse has put America on the path to destruction. I’m not sure that it will ever recover. The mindless yahoos who support this abomination are nothing less than traitors to all that America once stood for. The sad thing is, is that they don’t even realize it. They eat, sleep, and breathe the BIG LIE, and mock any who question the LIE. They say they need proof. . .some “intelligent” arguement to show them wrong. An intelligent arguement to insanity? They need proof that the President and his Neo-Cons have manipulated a coup of this Nation’s government through lies and misdirection, and misinformation? If they can’t see the proof of the pudding after tasting it. . .well. . .
March 29th, 2005 at 10:52 am
Yeah, Joey, I don’t think anyone could speak on Micheal’s behalf, yet I wouldn’t want to demonize him during this process. I’m sure the guy has been through alot already.
It could be easily speculated that for the first few years, he held out hope. He was hoping to see Terri recover, so he didn’t say anything.
As time went on, he gave up that hope and wants to move on with his life.
Again, can’t say that I agree with his choice here, but I wouldn’t want to demonize him either. I can see exactly where he is coming from. If I was in his situation, I have no idea what I would do.
March 29th, 2005 at 3:51 pm
Everyone is saying Micheal isn’t being consistant, and that he is now saying that Terri didn’t want to live that way, and to let her go. Well, I agree with JoshM on this one. “It could be easily speculated that for the first few years, he held out hope. He was hoping to see Terri recover, so he didn’t say anything.”
I can understand her parents view, but I agree with Michael, I think he’s more concerned for her now then her parents are, her parents are concerned for themselves, and what it may mean to have their child die before them, or to not know what to do next.
Just because a person wishes to be dealt with a certain way in situations, doesn’t mean the family will carry them out. Me personally, I want my organs donated, and anything else that might be able to be used given away in case of my death. With whats left of my body, I want cremated. My parents however think its a horrible idea. They think your body should be put in the ground as is… and that cremation and donating your organs is wrong. If I ever want to my death wishes carried out, I’ll eventually have to write out a will… because I can’t be gauranteed by my family that they will carry out my wishes.
Michael wanted to see what would happen, if Terri could be saved, but now he finally realizes that she can’t, and has given into her wishes, now that he has given up hope the issue has arised.
Every generation is different, and I don’t think Terri wants to live like how she is now, nor would any person. I mean why would a person want to live like Terri is? I can’t say anyone would, but if I were given an alternative to it, I’d choose death. The reason being, because I wouldn’t be living, I’d be strapped to a hospital bed, having food injected into my mouth, not swallowed. I’d probably be living with a bed pan permanetly attached to my butt, if not I’d have one of those bags to have someone empty for me… Someone please tell me how thats living? Its not! Its wasting away, until nothing is left.
If you get all religious with it then you also have the vision of God to think about. Do you think God wants you strapped to a bed, and someone changing you bed pan? Do you think God invisions that as living. Of course you may be breathing, and all of your organs may function normally, minus the brain that is… but how is it any different from being dead? I think God would rather have me praying to him on earth, or rejoicing in heaven, then wasting away in a hospital bed.
March 30th, 2005 at 8:59 am
I agree I am demonizing Micheal here, but I am also not going to speculate his innocence. Josh, You said if you were in that situation that you wouldnt know what to do. I would imagine that I would know how to handle it. The problem is Micheal knows exactly what he wants to do now anyway. I know it is a tough situation, and no one can really know the truth it seems, even the poeple involved.
Ditto, No one can presume to know God’s will. Terri has touched many lives that she hasn’t even met. The problem that I have with this case is that the courts are trying to define a life or quality there of. I believe that god’s will should prevail. I know not everyone believes that way, but we have a voice too.
March 30th, 2005 at 5:28 pm
Joey, your right, I don’t know God’s will, I would like to state that many people do believe they know God’s will, and its sad to see so many people using it to sway public opinion. I will say I’m sorry to anyone who I may have upset by what I said concerning God. I just reread what I wrote and saw how ignorant it sounds to use God in that way. it’s my opinion not his, and I can say I’m probably the last person who should be talking on God’s behalf.
March 30th, 2005 at 5:44 pm
If we made a list of people who should talk on God’s behalf, everyone would be at the bottom.
All I can do is allow my religious background influence who I am and the decisions I make and who I vote for.
March 30th, 2005 at 7:54 pm
The Pope now has a feeding tube placed in him.
He’s not really valuable anymore in his capacity as Pope anymore, so I say pull the thing out!
March 30th, 2005 at 8:52 pm
I’m not really sure what you mean by that statement Chris… Can you clarify? I’m not sure if your serious or joking?
I mean the Pope is still alive and can think and talk.. their is a big difference between him and terri, the Pope and walk, she can’t.
March 30th, 2005 at 9:50 pm
Actually I was joking.
Did anyone catch tonight’s “South Park”?
It dealt with this very issue, except it was Kenny who had the feeding tube.
March 31st, 2005 at 7:55 am
Chris was joking, but makes a good point. There is a big difference between Terri and the Pope, but The value of life is diminishing in this coutnry.
April 1st, 2005 at 4:04 pm
Terri has now passed away, I heard it was 13 days without nutrition and water. Maybe now she can rest, and her families can go on with their lives.