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So let me get this straight...Terri Schiavo, Activist Judges and the "Nuclear" Option....

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So let me get this straight. The Terri Schiavo case has either has been heard by a judge or the court refused to intervene at least 10 times since 2000. (see Timeline below)

If I heard it once, I heard Republican pundits complain 100 times about "activist judges." So much so, that they are now threatening a "nuclear" option to fight this perceived threat.

George W Bush already signed a law into effect in Texas as Governor that allows doctors to decide if patients can be removed from life support and the family has absolutely no say in the matter.

NOW the Republican led Congress has passed a law that would not only totally run contrary to the law Bush signed in Texas but the ONLY way this law can have its intended effect is if an ACTIVIST JUDGE in the Federal Court system can be found to overrule all the other judges that have already ruled or refused to hear this case. And to top that off, they are accusing Democrats of playing politics with Terri Schiavo’s life.

And they wonder why so many people think Republicans are unfeeling hypocrites….

Schiavo Timeline (condensed)

2000

_ Feb. 11: Circuit Judge George W. Greer rules feeding tube can be removed.

2001

_ Jan. 24: 2nd District Court of Appeal upholds Greer's decision.

_ April 18: Florida Supreme Court refuses to intervene in the case.

_ April 20: U.S. District Judge Richard Lazzara grants the Schindlers a stay until April 23 to exhaust appeals.

_ April 23: U.S. Supreme Court refuses to intervene.

2002

_ Nov. 22: Judge Greer rules that there is no evidence that Terri has any hope of recovery and orders feeding tube to be removed Jan. 3, 2003

2003

_ Oct. 10: U.S. District Judge Lazzara rules he does not have jurisdiction to intervene in case.

_ Oct. 14: 2nd District Court of Appeal again refuses to block tube removal.

_ Oct. 17: Two state courts reject the Schindler's request to reinsert the feeding tube.

_ Dec. 2: An independent guardian concludes there's "no reasonable medical hope" that Terri Schiavo will improve.

2004

_ May 6: Circuit Judge W. Douglas Baird rules the law allowing Bush to intervene is unconstitutional. The governor's attorneys appeal.

_ Sept. 23: Florida Supreme Court strikes down "Terri's Law" as unconstitutional.

_ Dec. 29: The 2nd District Court of Appeal upholds Greer's decision not to grant a new trial.

2005

_ Jan. 24: U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear the appeal brought by the governor's attorneys

Feb. 22: The 2nd District Court of Appeal clears the way for Michael Schiavo to remove Terri's feeding tube, then Pinellas Circuit Court Judge George Greer issued an emergency stay blocking removal of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube for until 5 p.m. EST the next day.

"Key Dates in the life of Terri Schiavo," AP, Feb. 22, 2005

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