Here is a list of people who have commented about the outrageous behavior of my Republican party and their pandering to the right to life community, and here is some more information on the Schiavo case.
Just a warning- if you are the fool(s) who repeatedly is emailing me telling me that I am un-Christian (whatever the hell that means), I wouldn’t check those links. All those people think this is a private family matter that does not need the Federal government involved, so clearly they all hate the baby Jesus just like me.
Aaron
Baby Jesus, get me a beer.
Terry
I can’t help observing that the lengthy list includes almost nothing but left-wing blogs, including the usual suspected nutjobs, such as atrios, digby, Oliver, et. al.
Today’s Wall St Journal has a long piece in it on this story. They observe that “It was not until after…a medical-malpractice jury awarded him [Michael Schiavo] roughly $1 million for Terry’s long-term care, that he began to seek his wife’s death.”
More importantly relative to some of the objections raised by liberals and others….the WSJ notes that they would have more sympathy with those objecting to congressional intervention in what would normally be considered a matter solely for a state’s judicial system if these same liberals complaining about the possibility of the federal courts reviewing the Schiavo case felt as strongly about restraining the federal judiciary when it comes to issues such as abortion, gay marriage and other social issues they don’t want to trust to local communities.
Slartibartfast
After reading what numerous blog posts have to say about this, I think I’ve been swayed by the Guardian Ad Litem’s report. Hard to imagine this guy has an axe to grind either way, so it’s pretty compelling. Plus, he supports his arguments.
So I’m considering retracting my cry of bullshit.
willyb
Well if you would have indicated the presence of a bandwagon from the beginning, I would have agreed that the JUDGE that RULED that Terri Schiavo wished to die was right.
The fact that the Guardian Ad Litem had no ax to grind does not change the fact that HE is making a decision for Terri Schiavo. His conclusion, as reasonable as it may seem, reflects Terri Schiavo’s wishes in only the legal sense of that term. If Terri had a living will that directly expressed her wish to die if she found herself in her present incapacitated state, I would say she should be left alone to die. That’s not what we have here. Here we have someone, a truly reasonable person, deciding that Terri Schiavo would want to die, and therefore taking actions to starve her to death when others (FAMILY MEMBERS) want to feed her. Since she can’t speak for herself, what harm is done if she is left to the care and feeding of her family?
Steve Malynn
John, you’ve gone overboard. I don’t know what vitriol you might be reacting to, but it is no reason to disparage the rest of us who disagree with you.
On two very basic notes: starving or dehydrating anyone to death is horrific, period; the basic care needed is easily provided due to the resources of the family and the settlement, so there is no economic reason not to provide that care.
For all the screaming about the matter, no one has explained a reason to decide to kill this woman that holds water.
John Cole
Steve- I am not disparaging anyone except for the people who, and I quote myself, “are the fool(s) who repeatedly is emailing me telling me that I am un-Christian (whatever the hell that means).”
Steve Malynn
John, don’t get sidetracked into a religious debate: irrespective of the religious goggles worn or not worn, the state (local and federal) does have an underlying interest in protecting life, and defining the paramaters of that protection. Basic Nutrition is well within the protections that must not be denied, IMHO, regardless of the likelihood of recovery, or even whether the person may or may not feel pain.
Even if the patient is never cognizant of the care, it is important for the society that the care is available. When, as in this case, the family is willing and able to assume the care, it is beyond me to to see any justice for, or any reasonable grounds for withholding the care. Her husband says she would want to die does not cut it.
It is indeed an active decision to kill. There are always justifications for killing, some more legit than others. Again, in my opinion, the justifications so far offered are far short of just.
Scott Chaffin
It’s actually a good reading list if you want to understand why John and others are calling for Judge Greer’s orders to be carried out. It’s taken me most of the day to get through, but ultimately, it’s worth it.
I still disagree, but I’m a stupid Jesus-shouter.