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Subject: Destroying Dignity (3/22/2005)
I've been watching the Terri Schiavo
case, along with the rest of America,
for the past week. At first, I
thought my outrage with this case
was directed entirely at Congress
and BushCo. Tonight, I realized
why I'm really angry over this
case.
Tonight, I was watching Larry
King Live, and there was a clip
of the mother saying that she
and Terri "cried together,
laughed together, talked together."
Enough. The mother hasn't talked
WITH her daughter in 15 years
- she's talked AT her daughter
for 15 years. It's time for the
parents to get over their delusions,
let their girl go and let the
son-in-law get on with what's
left of his life.
The parents, Congress, and BushCo
have effectively destroyed any
dignity this poor woman had left,
and have stigmatized her husband
for the rest of his life. Forever
more, in the annals of the disturbed
minds that are the Religious Reich,
he will be Satan incarnate.
This woman had a heart attack
15 years ago because of her bulimia.
Where were her parents then, when
this woman obviously needed all
the help she could get?
Where were they when she really
needed them?
The husband has turned down offers
of money from this family and
their 'helpers,' and I find the
offer itself to be an egregious
display of a complete and utter
lack of moral fortitude. How dare
they think that everything everyone
does is motivated by greed and
money? How dare they assume this
man, who has stuck by his wife
for 15 years, watching her deteriorate
more every day, when all he had
to do was file for divorce and
turn her care over to them permanently,
has done anything for her out
of any motivating factor but love
and honor?
How dare they turn their daughter
into a circus sideshow freak,
and how dare Congress and the
president perpetuate this nonsense?
How dare they put makeup on her
and let the world watch her "perform"
for them on international TV?
Enough damage has been done, and
it's time for them all to let
it, and let Terri Schiavo, go.
Tammy Day
Richmond, VA
Subject: Why The Republicans
Are Worried About Terri Schiavo
Dear Buzz:
It's no mystery to me why the
Republican Party has expended
so much energy on the Terri Schiavo
case. The scenario as I envision
it:
G.W.: So what's the big deal,
Karl? I signed a law making it
okay to pull the plug on little
kids in Texas, even if their parents
object. Why are we raising such
a hissy fit over Terri Schiavo?
She's been brain dead for fifteen
years!
Rove: Put down those pretzels
and think, George. She's a brain-dead
adult, right? Now, besides the
big-shot contributors in your
"Rangers" and "Pioneers"
clubs--the guys who make a mint
off of having you in office--what's
your voter base, George?
G.W.: Um--I don't know.
Rove: Well, George, what WOULD
it be? You're flushing their economy
down the toilet, degrading their
image around the world, trashing
their public educational system,
sewing their kids into body bags
everywhere from Katmandu to the
Horn of Africa, and working your
ass off to make sure they lose
Social Security in their old age
along with everything they're
losing now. You're poisoning their
air, giving the green light to
every kind of corporate corruption
there is, and carving out whole
new frontiers in shameless political
manipulation. You've dirtied their
most sacred national ideals without
a second's thought. You lie to
them, steal from them, and laugh
right in their faces about it.
The little "looking for WMDs"
skit you did to entertain your
friends even made ME a little
nauseous. Yet, they line up and
vote for you. Fifty-eight million
of them. What kind of people would
do that?
G.W.: Why, they'd have to be
brain-dea... Hey. Hold it!
Rove: That's right, George. You
got it. Brain-dead adults are
your voter base, and you've got
to protect them. That's why Terri
Schiavo matters to the Republican
Party.
Actually--since we're talking
Florida here--I wouldn't be surprised
to find Terri Schiavo's name on
a list of registered Republican
voters who showed up at the polls
last November. Here's hoping they
leave the poor woman and her husband
alone to follow the dictates of
conscience. This circus is a national
disgrace.
Robert Crawford
Halfway, OR
Subject: Bushism speech regarding Social Security
Okay ... okay ... I think I can understand that! Because he always
talks like this ... I think what he is trying to say is ... that
he has no real plan ... that he just wants it privatized. When he
said that, for now, about 3.3 persons are paying each recipient's
monthly check, what this means is ... if we take each month 1/2
of that amount ... then that person will be getting about one half
less ... Okay ... are you with me? Or maybe he means ... without
any change at all ... he says it will go bankrupt in 18 years, and
the SS administration says we have until 2042 and the CBO says it
will have until 2052 ... or vice versa ... you still with me???
Sheesh ... I am scaring myself. That speech ... I would love to
have seen, I do not doubt one word in it, but, what the hell is
he trying to say? I have heard him double talk before, but this
is getting more and more frightening! Has he become so accustomed
to the rightwing going along with everything he says, and most of
the, are too rich to even care, the only people that this change
would affect are the middle and low income people. Americans! This
is an insurance policy that we have been paying into since we started
working ... it is not a choice ... it is taken from our checks ...
get active!!!
Shirley..................St. Louis
Subject: Schiavo Ruling
Has anyone in Congress given any consideration to the fact that
their ethically questionable and legally suspect law to turn Terri
Schiavo into some sort of martyr for the Christo-fascist faction
of the GOP base endangers one other life? Judge Whittemore, a Clinton-appointed
federal judge, didn't really have much choice in his ruling but
to agree with the 19 (I think) judges that have already heard the
matter. But since Congress acted in the extreme to put Terri back
on the tube, they are absolved from retribution. I fear that this
judge might face very real threats to his own life, for being an
"activist" judge. Recent events concerning violence against
judges should have presented Congress with the obligation to prevent
a judge from facing harm as a result of their own actions. I suppose
DeLay and co. merely look forward for another vacancy for W. to
appoint a puppet to yet another judicial post. I'll bet there's
already a list of potential candidates.
Jamie Cowan
Subject: The Voting Machines And The Corporate Media
This administration does as it pleases.They will do as they please
no matter who disapproves. Why? Because they have the voting machines,
how else can the most moronic, dufus, daddy boy, become the president
of the U.S.A., twice? They can vote a dog in as president, if they
desire. I am not kidding, as far as mental capabilities, we aren't
far from that with the present occupant.
The absolute number one issue is to eliminate these machines. If
we don't, what we complain about is just that, complaints. The disenfranchising
of African Americans is not of interest to them and I am sorry to
say, not to a lot of liberals. Only Senator Boxer and 32 reps, mostly
black caucus members, voted to investigate voting irregularities.
VOTING PROBLEMS WERE MASSIVE, IN ALL STATES.
Five people in my family lost their right to vote, in Texas. If
I hadn't checked my ballot before casting it on THE MACHINE, I would
have voted straight Republiklan.
The corporate media (bush owned) should be the target of most
of our protest. We should protest at their headquarters. In other
words, bring the news (protest) to them. The right wing (suckers
of all suckers) are just the stepping stone for these greedy pigs.
After they get what they want, the right wingers will be cast aside.
Like I said, they have the machines, and the so-called media, none
of us will matter to them.
Richard
Subject: All This Talk Has Become Cheap
First, let me say I respect and admire every person here for posting
their thoughts and opinions. I, in the past, have also vented my
ever growing frustration at this nation's government. But it has
become clear to me that simply voicing your opinion is not enough
any more. This nation is ripe for a revolution. Someone, somewhere,
is going to have to stand up and take charge. Words are not enough
anymore, it's time to fight. I may not be the smartest or the bravest
American, but I am an American who is ready to fight, and die if
necessary, to win back the freedoms this government has taken away.
I can feel the anger in this country like a hot wind. All it needs
is a lightning strike in just the right place to stir up a fire
of change. I'm Ready.
Steven
Texas
Subject: I think Richard Cohen got it right
I agree with many Buzzers that Richard Cohen (Washington Post) is
often too conciliatory (a nicer word than "spineless")
toward the Republican Lite faction of the Democratic party. But
I thought yesterday's (3/22) column was beautifully on target. Although
I have no idea whether he even SEES his email (and I'm sure he doesn't
respond), I thought I'd share what I sent with Buzz readers:
Your "Great
Political Issue" column was the most succinct, penetrating,
and persuasive (not that I needed persuasion) piece on Terri Schiavo,
Bill Frist, Tom DeLay, GWB, et. al. that I've read anywhere. (Last
week, after hearing Frist proclaim that he'd watched the video
-- and reading Terri's mother's claim that [I paraphrase here]
"We laugh together, we cry together, we smile together, we
talk together," I nearly hit the ceiling. Frist the heart
surgeon diagnosing a patient's neurological condition by watching
a 4-year-old videotape makes about as much sense as a podiatrist
prescribing a triple bypass. And those who cited Mrs. Schindler's
statement seem to have missed the point: If, indeed, Terri Schiavo
is "talking" these days, why doesn't someone ask her
what she wants -- and get it on tape? (Sorry. I'm not really making
light of a sad situation. But watching Frist, DeLay, Bush, et
al. posturing and praying and platitudinizing tends to bring out
my sardonic side.) Thanks for a really memorable column!
Although I've given up entirely on writers like Nicholas Kristof,
I think there's hope for Cohen (although among mainstream media
columnists, E.J. Dionne and Paul Krugman are still my heroes).
Barb in Athens, GA
Blue soul in Red state
Subject: Denial of Admittance to Taxpayer funded Presidential visits
Dear BuzzFlash,
This is a copy of an email that I sent to the Arizona Chapter of
the ACLU this morning. I think it is time for everyone who pays
taxes and is denied access to these events to organize and file
lawsuits against the entity that denies access to publicly funded
political events. It is time to DEMAND our liberties under the constitution.
I wasn' t in Tucson for Bush's talk, but it seems to me that
if I as a taxpayer helped pay for the event I should have the
right to attend regardless of party affiliation. Has the ACLU
initiated any litigation over this issue anywhere in the country?
If not, perhaps it is time to do so based on the news reports
of what happened in Tucson. Thank You.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: BuzzFlash Is A Good Cause
Hey Buzz,
I'm with Shirley in St. Louis. I haven't watched network news
since November 2004. It's time for the Buzz readers to stop supporting
and complaining about Cooperate media, it's time to turn it off
and stop buying the papers. We all know how unfair the reporting
has been. I would like to suggest that all of my fellow Buzzers
look around their homes and find something they'd like to sell and
list it on Ebay, and donate the money to BuzzFlash. We should put
in the title of the listing for "BuzzFlash." Isn't this
a more useful way to spend your money, instead of paying for cable
news that comes straight from the White House? BuzzFlash is giving
us something that is priceless and has become rare in the American
media ...The truth.
Kimberly D.
New York
Subject: Teresa Whitehurst And Terri Schiavo
I am an atheist, a devoted BuzzFlash reader, despise the Republican
Party and everything it stands for AND I agree with Dr. Whitehurst's
thoughtful opinion piece on Terri Schiavo. The politicizing of this
tragic situation is disgusting, and I HATE ending up on the side,
inexplicably, of right-to-life zealots. On the other hand, I live
in Oregon and support completely our assisted suicide law, which
allows individuals to decide their own fate, and to do so with the
help of medical professionals.
This is different. We should be thinking about our care of the
profoundly disabled, of our commitment to health care for everyone,
of our obligation to spell out for others our wishes should severe
injury or terminal illness befall us. I believe in assisted suicide:
I do NOT believe in starving people, animals or anything else to
death, especially not on the word of someone who is now otherwise
personally engaged.
Bottom line, there is a middle ground that is compassionate, sane,
and therefore in keeping with the Democratic, progressive ideal.
There is nothing about the idea of depriving a disabled person of
nourishment and fluids that fits that world view. Thanks, BuzzFlash,
for running a piece that doesn't agree with either knee jerk mainstream
opinion.
Christy Bishop
Eugene, Oregon
Subject: Stop Cheering For Terri To Die You Idiots
Karl Rove is probably laughing his butt off. Once again, he picks
a fight - on his turf, on his issues - and the progressives run
to get hit. Do idiots like Nadler, Barney Frank and others really
think it helps the progressive agenda by being front-and-center
against prolonging the life of Terri S.?
How many times can Rove do this before idiots in the progressive
side wise up and choose NOT to get into this fight? If you check
what Bush says about the news, he says that he does not read the
stories, but he is aware of what stories are getting attention.
The progressives indignantly pointed out the hypocrisy of the pseudo
vets' attack on Kerry. But IT WORKED.
Sarcastic radio hosts like Randi Rhodes, Stephanie Miller,and Franken
all think they are being moral heroes by giving attention to this
topic. Why are you all so happy if they let her die? Do you think
this helps us stop Bush's war, his attacks on working people, and
on and on?
I know you all have your pet theories, but the biggest swing vote
to defect to Bush was Catholics. This was not an accident. This
is a group which is key to stopping his policies. Most are conflicted
over voting against immoral policies such as war and mistreatment
of the poor, sick, etc., versus voting on the well-known cultural
wedge issues. Bush and Karl won the fight for these people, and
the religious in many other faiths. (see note below)
All you are doing is helping Rove re-create the 'us against them'
model that won the election, and driving other progressive issues
out of the limelight.
We should be giving OUR top issues our top attention.
Note on Swing Vote Behind Rove's Tactics on Terri S.: This is
the fight we are still engaged in after the election, in order to
defeat Bush's policies. "Religion is an increasingly powerful
predictor of partisan behavior. Bush slaughtered Kerry 61 percent
to 39 percent among voters who say they attend church at least once
a week.
During the last 28 years, Catholics -- who make up over a quarter
of the total electorate -- have proven to be an important swing
vote. They've voted for winners in every election except in 2000,
when they tipped slightly in Gore's favor. This time, Bush beat
Kerry by five points among Catholics despite the fact that Kerry
was the first major-party Catholic presidential nominee since
John Kennedy in 1960." -- Campaign
and Elections Magazine
Subject: News Tip - c-span sells out online community, silences
public
Before the election, the c-span community for public political
commentary was shut down "temporarily" to "improve"
it. Much truth was exposed on this site by eager, hard working Americans.
The silencing of the public is the only "improvement"
that has taken place.
One more loss to the public. When truth is suppressed, democracy
dies.
http://community1.c-span.org/webx?14@42.AXhMacWXh6B.1@.ee6cd85
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Keith Olbermann
As a BuzzFlash junkie, I would like to once again commend the MSNBC
show "Countdown" with Keith Olbermann. His guests and
insights this week about the Red Lake shooting and the Schiavo case
were hands down the most progressive in the MSM. He consistently
airs stories and information that juxtapose the propaganda pushed
on America by his other MSNBC pals like Chris Matthews & Joe
Scarborough.
Kim W.
Orange County, CA
Subject: Bush Administration And War Crimes
Since the 109th Congress started, I have signed every progressive
petition on line, I have called and written Representatives and
Senators. This congress wastes its time on legislation that harms
everyday citizens (Tort Reform and Bankruptcy) or wastes its time
and our money on non-issues. Bush et al. wastes billions of OUR
dollars on phony news and fake "town hall" meetings. I
for one am extremely FED UP! Enough is enough! Last week I wrote
the International Court on War Crimes, pleading with Carla Ponte
to start an investigation against Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld,
et al. I included all graphic pictures I could find on the net,
and particularly highlighted those of Dahr Jamail showing use of
Napalm/White Phosphorous. If enough concerned and everyday Americans
write to the IC War Crimes, we could soon see some relevant actions
being taken against the War Criminals in this administration.
The online link is:
http://www.hrw.org/contact.html
Please join me in this effort.
Maureen Auclair
Fall River, MA
Subject: More On Why Reid Was Right About AG
When Sen. Reid pointed out Greenspan's political role, the commentators
were aghast. Interesting that Tim "Jabba the Hut" Russert
asked another Democrat to disavow the statement but failed to dig
up any facts to put on the screen.
More on Greenspan as political hack. Note all the names here: Nixon,
Ford, Baker, Cheney, Kissinger
Note the roles: Working on the campaign trail, negotiating deals
for who would be nominees and cabinet members, sitting in cabinet
meetings. Reid had it right. AG is no more a dispassionate statistics
guru than Michael Jackson.
"I can assure you," says Ford, "at Cabinet meetings,
Alan expressed himself on any subject he had strong feelings about."
Greenspan soon became involved in Ford's 1976 reelection campaign,
too, reprising the role he had played for Nixon eight years earlier.
Still technically chairman of the economic council, he began to
spend a large portion of his time on the road with the campaign,
advising on both policy and strategy. Ford had fallen thirty points
behind Jimmy Carter by August of 1976, and Greenspan was part of
the elite circle of aides assigned to put the president back in
the race. Touring the country with Jim Baker, Dick Cheney, and Ford,
Greenspan was involved in virtually every aspect of the campaign.
"He was the substance guy on economic stuff," says a source
from the campaign. "But there was also a feeling that he understood
the politics. That's why he was on the plane."
... As the 1980 presidential race approached and Ronald Reagan
seemed poised for the Republican nomination, Greenspan became an
informal adviser to Reagan, but he also engaged in a secret dialogue
with Henry Kissinger to return Gerald Ford to office. To this day,
opinion varies on who conceived the idea for Reagan to nominate
Ford as his running mate, but it was Greenspan and Kissinger who
almost made it happen.
Reagan said, “Ford wants Kissinger as secretary of state and
Greenspan at treasury.” My instant response was, “That is the craziest
deal I have ever heard of.” And it was." ...
Reagan again described the deal being negotiated, complete with
Ford’s demands for Kissinger and Alan Greenspan, adding, “I thought
that was more than a little sacrifice.” Then Reagan went to his
bedroom to take a short nap. He knew it would be a long night.
Shortly after 6:30, Kissinger entered the suite to talk to Meese,
evidence that a serious negotiation was indeed in progress. Half
an hour later, he emerged; we chatted briefly, but the former
secretary of state revealed nothing of the talks. Meese, who was
similarly guarded, said that Kissinger wanted to proceed with
discussions.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Let's Make a Deal - Open the debate on research and hard
choices
Hello, All.
The Schiavo story of the day (or week) trumps all other news and
dominates BuzzFlash, as it does other media resources. One trembles
with the fear that this distraction is covering a raft of damaging
activity moving under the radar to rape our rights and clean out
our pockets, but that's another issue.
The political hypocrisy doesn't mask the fact that there are issues
surrounding the Schiavo case that may be open to discussion, now
that we have the public's attention.
Dr. Whitehurst has written a thoughtful column on the abuses of
care of the old, infirm and brain-damaged, which in her view are
driven mainly by the pecuniary interests of insurance companies:
Dr. Teresa Whitehurst
- Ms. Schiavo and The Costly Ill: While Democrats Grumble
David Corn has quoted the medical guardian appointed by Governor
Jeb Bush in an earlier Florida court effort (2003) to clarify Ms.
Schiavo's condition, pointing out that there is no treatment that
can restore her cognitive ability.
David
Corn
During Mr. Ashcroft's tenure as Attorney General, the full majesty
of federal power was brought to bear on the Oregon Assisted Suicide
law, which has twice been passed by Oregon State voters. Courts
so far have stopped this abuse of federal power, which would otherwise
imprison physicians for acting in compliance with state law by prescribing
or handing over drugs intended to provide a prompt and peaceful
death for their terminal patients.
The focus on the Schiavo case presents an opportunity to give more
public visibility to some important issues.
I hope that in April, when the Schiavo story fades from memory,
that the core issues raised by the media circus events of March
will be addressed in a thoughtful and useful way. But, I'm not holding
my breath.
One issue, which no one so far seems to have fully appreciated,
is that Ms. Schiavo's condition is not presently treatable. This
is not likely to change in the near future. However, one pathway
toward making such conditions subject to treatment, based on use
of stem cell technology to repair or regenerate brain tissue, has
been blocked by the Bush administration.
The limited number and contaminated nature of stem cell lines available
to federally-funded researchers effectively closes the door to meaningful
life for patients like Ms. Schiavo.
The emphasis of the administration on use of federal drug law to
criminalize euthanasia, as in the instance of Oregon law, leaves
us with the withdrawal of food and water as the only allowable way
to allow patients to die. Laws on how this may occur vary, as we
have seen in polemical articles on the hypocrisy of Texas law signed
by then-Governor Bush, compared with his posturing in the Florida
case of Ms. Schiavo.
There are three issues that deserve extended examination and consensus:
1. How to enable scientific research on life-preserving and health
renewal treatments to move forward through stem cell research, including
use of stem cell lines derived from embryonic tissue.
2. How and when to withdraw artificial means of sustaining life,
allowing patients to die.
3. Whether (and how) to go beyond the presently allowable death
by dehydration and starvation to be replaced with a medical intervention
that will allow a quiet and prompt death with dignity.
If we could make a deal that unlocks federal stem cell research,
I for one would be open to the idea of adding reasonable expectations
of medical advances to the judicial considerations of courts in
future contested cases. So long as our expectations from the objective
prospects of scientific research are frustrated by pandering to
Fundamentalists, there is indeed little prospect for the life-restoring
treatments that would give persons such as Ms. Schiavo their lives
back.
If we could make a deal that would provide some alternative to prolonged
dying by starvation and dehydration, that would have broad appeal
to humanists as well as religious people. In order to do so, we
have to make a deal to quit threatening principled health care providers
with imprisonment under federal law.
Fencing these considerations away from the debate on abortion also
needs to be part of the deal.
John F. Williford
Richland, WA
Subject: Bush Wants Our Eye Taken Off The Ball With Schiavo
Hi BuzzFlash Readers,
Think of what Bush and the Repugs in Congress are really doing
with this Terri Schiavo story in the news. Where did the news about
Iraq and Afghanistan go? Where did the news about the counts of
Killed or Wounded Soldiers go? Where did the news about Bin Laden
go? Where did the news about Iran, Korea and Syria and Nuke Weapons
go? Where did the news about Bush's Pre-Arranged, "Town-Hall"
Social Security Meetings with people who "pass the Bush-Backer"
test go? Where did the news about Tom Delay's Corruption go? Where
did the news about Gannon-Gate or Novak-Leak go? Where did the news
about Trade Deficit go? Where did the news about Outsourcing go?
Where did the news about High Oil Prices and who is getting the
money go? Where did the news about Patriot Act go? Where did the
news about Education go? Where did the news about The Environment
go? Where did the news about What The Media Fails to Report or What
How They ALL Lie like faux go?
Get the picture? This is simply The Repug method to keep these
articles out of the paper, off the radio and unseen on television
news.
Tom Wieliczka
Windsor Locks, CT
Subject: Terri S.- 2005 & 2006 ( I Hope)
That's right, Republicans, especially you in the Bible-belt South
... keep on talking about Terri Schiavo. Let the American public
see how narrow and hypocritical you really are. Go on and on about
her until autumn of 2006 and get your sorry asses defeated in November.
You've locked yourself in a narrow box again and it will be most
entertaining to see you try to get yourselves out.
All right, Democrats. Now that you've seen the Grand ol' Party
intervene on one person's behalf of life (what a beautiful choice),
now's your chance to really rub it in their noses and make them
confront the true issues of life and health. If they can intervene
on this episode, why not intervene to introduce universal health
coverage, mandatory price caps on prescription drugs, better funding
of OSHA, better funding of meat and poultry inspections, etc. Because
like Dubya said, IF GOVERNMENT MUST ERR, IT MUST ERR ON THE SIDE
OF LIFE.
Steven McCrary
Leighton, Alabama
Subject: FYI . . . A Great Essay on Why the US is Number One .
. .
BuzzFlash,
Just thought I would pass this along in case you people have not
seen it.
From MakeThemAccountable
. . . David Podvin, "America Rules ... We're Number One"
It would have made more sense for the Courts in Florida to also
suggest that the parents of Terri Schiavo get counseling. There
are parents who invest themselves in their children's lives without
taking the trouble of living a life of their own, separate from
the life of their child. To me, hearing 15 years and thinking back
to that time would be back to 1990 that this woman has lain in a
hospital bed. Unbelievable for them not to understand that no one
would want the world to see them in that way and because of their
selfishness, they have stripped the dignity from this woman's death.
Added to that, we have a degenerate leadership that is capable of
also exploiting and stripping this woman's dignity in death. But,
the Bush administration has never been about respect. I don't believe
there is a Low that is too Low to go for the Bush administration.
Thanks BuzzFlash,
Shirley Smith
Subject: The Supreme Court Cannot Be Trusted
Dear BuzzFlash Readers/Supporters:
Greetings from the Christian Progressive Liberal. Today [Wednesday],
I write the following with a good deal of apprehension and uncertainty
for the outcome.
For days, we have been bombarded with the issues surrounding a young
woman named Theresa "Terri" Schiavo, and whether or not
her husband has the right as her guardian to allow her to die with
dignity, or be forced by her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, to
allow her to continue living in a "persistent vegetative state"
until her body gives out and gives her over to death.
It's easy to label the husband as being selfish - but this man essentially
put his life on hold for 15 years to care for his wife. I think
he fulfilled the marriage vow "In sickness and in health."
Well, she's not going to get better either way, so why not allow
her to die with dignity?
It's equally easy to sympathize with Bob and Mary Schindler - parents
always want their children to bury them first; not the other way
around. In fact, every parent that has lost a child would probably
tell you, "This isn't right - my kid should be burying me,
not me burying my kid." Perhaps, they fight for Terri's life
as a means of avoiding their own confrontation with their own mortality.
We can't ever know who's right and who's wrong here.
But the biggest concern we, as Americans, should be having is with
the machinations of our Federal Government. They are trying to pick
and choose the areas where they decide they want to play GOD. And
since the judicial system seems inclined to follow the established
law, as well as allow the full operation of the concept of governmental
checks and balances, Congress has decided to discard any and all
constitutional provisions, and drive this vehicle further towards
the United States of America becoming the United States of Fascism.
The day a Federal Court rules in a way that GeeDubya, or Tom DeLay
doesn't approve of, they wilfully violate the provision of the Constitution,
piss on the Judicial System and pass a law which violates all tenets
of due process of the law, not to mention the fact that the Constitution
specifically stipulates that Congress cannot overrule a Federal
Court decision. If they are that concerned about Terri Schiavo,
where was this concern over Sun Hudson, an African-American baby
in Texas, whose tube got pulled over the objections of his own mother?
Where was Congress' concern for the first 14.5 years of Terri's
life in this persistent, vegetative state, while they are voting
simultaneously to cut the Medicare funding that pays for Terri's
care, and legislation that would limit the damages that Terri's
family collected for malpractice in her treatment.
The hypocrisy of our Legislators literally takes my breath away,
and I'm not having a Jessica Simpson moment, either.
Yet, our Government is not in the hands of those who would respect
and honor what has been established by a 229-year old document.
They forget why a faction of people in Europe, Britain to be precise,
fled what they considered a tyrannical government ruled by a monarch,
to come to this land and found a new nation where democracy would
be king, and government would be of the people, by the people and
for the people. They come here, and almost 230 years later, they
are repeating the history that their ancestors fled.
Complicit in all of this is the United States Supreme Court - until
2000, many Americans, including me, believed that if justice would
ever be given a final outcome, the Supreme Court is the branch of
government that would lay down the law, and settle the matter. Whenever
they decided a court case, their word was final. No other avenues
for appeal; whatever resolution they developed became the law of
the land. As I said, until December 13, 2000, we believed the Supreme
Court to be non-partisan, objective and impartial.
Then comes Bush v. Gore - the Supreme Court case that changed everything,
and along with changing everything, eviscerated any perception we
ever had of this judicial body being fair, impartial, objective
and non-partisan. When the justices acted in the most blatant and
partisan manner in even deciding to accept the case, let alone issue
a ruling in it, most Americans were shocked, because most of us
who studied political science, or history; we knew that in the event
of a dispute in the outcome of a presidential election, the Constitution
provides for Congress to convene and take a vote to decide who would
be the next President of the United States. There was no need for
Bush to rush a case before the Supreme Court - Congress already
had a partisan majority that favored him getting the Oval Office
very easily, thanks to the landslide midyear elections in 1994.
Did he not trust the GOP to vote in his favor and needed to guarantee
he would be President of the United States?
I know in the African-American community, we dog Clarence Thomas
for his continual selling out of minorities with his rulings to
no end. The fact that he was picked by Poppy Bush to replace the
legendary Thurgood Marshall, continues to insult our intelligence
thirteen years after the "hi-tech lynching" only to read
David Brock's book "Blinded by The Right; the Conscience of
an Ex-Conservative" and find out everything alleged by Anita
Hill was true, not to mention he was the least qualified jurist
ever to be nominated for the Supreme Court.
Or take Antonin Scalia. He's too chummy with individuals who more
likely than not, will have a court case coming before him for a
decision. We already know just how impartial he is, or how well
he tries to avoid appearances of conflict or impropriety (going
hunting with Dick Cheney did wonders in restoring our faith in the
Court's ability to be impartial). Yet Scalia and Thomas are GeeDubya's
favorite members on the bench, and he wants to elevate one of them
to Chief Justice. That alone is enough to make Freddy Krueger look
like Beaver Cleaver in any nightmare we are beginning to experience.
I'm wondering if William Rehnquist, who is battling throat cancer,
has a living will, cause if the Supremes take this case, the Government
may tell his loved ones what to do with him if he succumbs to a
coma and can't be revived.
Now that the Federal Court of Appeals in Atlanta has upheld the
previous ruling in Michael Schiavo's favor, the Schindlers, fueled
by money from the Bradley and Sciafe Foundations, are now heading
to the Supreme Court to have this case heard ... again. Never mind
that they have already been before the Court, and the Court decided
not to hear the case, but remanded it back to the State of Florida
for a determination. We cannot take comfort that they more than
likely will refuse to hear this case again. We already made that
mistake with them in Bush v. Gore. And even if they weren't prepared
for the fact that their credibility suffered tremendously in the
court of public opinion with that ruling, we cannot be comforted
by the fact that they would remember the public's perception of
the Court, nor can we take comfort in the hope that public opinion
would persuade them to not hear this case. Remember, this is a Court
that wanted Bush to become President so badly, they failed to use
established law, but, in fact, discarded the Constitution and gave
Bush the Presidency solely because of their partisan beliefs.
Even though 70% of Americans believe that Congress only got involved
in the Schiavo case for craven political grandstanding (which I
hope will result in those voting for this legislation being found
among the unemployed in 2006), the Supreme Court, like Congress,
just may not give a damn what we, the American people, think about
this issue. In fact, may I suggest that the Bush Administration
would like all Americans to just stop thinking, period, because
when we are thinking about things that matter, we tend to ask questions.
Questions that the Bush Cartel don't want to answer, and when they
do, they lie about it.
So, in thinking about the Schiavo case, I'm remembering that this
issue is going before a judicial body that has already betrayed
the American People. The date of that betrayal was December 13,
2000, when they ruled to give Bush the presidency. When Bush took
office on January 20, 2001, our Nation began the long, hard slog
towards ceasing to be a government of the people, by the people,
and for the people, and got on the road to hell and purgatory. Our
nation began her shameful descent towards fascism, and she continues
her journey to this very day.
Simply put, The Supreme Court Cannot Be Trusted to do what is right.
They lost the trust of the American People with Bush v. Gore. Now,
they have another opportunity to show themselves as an impartial,
judicial body, and regain some of their stature and credibility
they used to enjoy, not to mention the trust of the American People,
even if Bush attempts to stack the court with right-wing nut jobs
like himself. Will they take it, or will they betray this Nation
again?
My name is Leutisha Stills and I am the Christian Progressive Liberal.
[BuzzFlash Note: Today the court opted [again] not to hear the
case. One small step toward regaining our trust?]
Subject: Are any Democrats left in Congress?
I am outraged at the Democrats' (?) response to the Republicans.
Why aren't they out there pointing out that Bush let a 6 month old
baby die because his mother could not afford the cost to keep him
hooked up? Why did any of them (besides Lieberman - wannabe Repug)
vote with the Republicans on this Schiavo case? Every request that
is received by me goes back to the DNC telling them to get a backbone.
Every Republican votes against the ordinary guy - is meaner than
the Devil - and the ones who call themselves Democrats wring their
hands like a little old lady who believes in Santa Claus.
Who is out there fighting for the middle class? Where are those
who can tell the rest of us how to get our voices heard loud and
clear? Is Dean listening?
RioRita
Subject: "sanctity of marriage"
Just wondering why all those so-called conservatives that were recently
defending their attacks on gay marriages as “defending the sanctity
of marriage” now seem to care nothing about the “sanctity” of Terri
and Michael Schiavo’s marriage and instead now seem to be saying
that the parents of a 39 year old have more rights than her own
husband? I guess that “sanctity of marriage” really means next to
nothing for heterosexual marriages in the pseudo-conservative world.
Shunk Wugga
Subject: Paul Harvey Breaks Rank
We listen frequently to Paul Harvey while making lunch. He is most
often kissing George's A--. Well, we almost fell over today March
23, to hear him complain about the high cost of oil and then state,
"Maybe we elected the wrong Bush!"
On another note, good news from Idaho. The local college is presenting
a week long seminar on "Hot Topics" i.e. the first amendment,
the media and the right to privacy vs the public's right to know.
Other topics are gay marriage, gun control and the patriot act.
I attended yesterday and will go on Thur. It is wonderful and I
feel so much better because there are kindred spirits here and many
of the teachers are liberal, fair-minded and educated men and women.
The panel discussions are great and anyone has a chance to speak.
I was very impressed with some of the young college students also.
Guess it was a good lesson on not judging others by how the state
voted.
Sandra Boynton
Subject: Terri Schiavo
Hmmmm. All those Congressional Christians lining up to save what
little is left of Terri Schiavo's life. They all believe there's
a Heaven waiting for her when she dies but they won't let her die
to get there. Fascinating paradox. And they're running our country.
Yikes!
Stephen Moore
Reno, NV
Subject: Jeb Bush Seeks Schiavo Custody
My, isn't that special! If Jeb Bush were Joe Shmoe, and Shmoe's
kids had been arrested as much as Bush's have, would Shmoe have
the tiniest chance of custody? Jeb Bush, the guy who couldn't show
up for his own daughter's court date, is now going to court to get
another daughter.
Gov.
Bush Seeks to Take Custody of Schiavo (AP/Yahoo)
Harriet
Wilmette, IL
Subject: Recruitment
Dear BuzzFlash Readers:
I just saw on a CNN crawler this afternoon that the Army is thinking
of changing its sales pitch. Seems to be some concern about the
low recruitment, which they have finally noticed will not go away
soon.
It actually mentioned that their new 'sales pitch' will be to
push the "Patriotic" angle toward people who will then
(hopefully) push the "Patriotic" angle at their kids to
get them to sign up. I am not kidding. At least the Army is actually
telling us what it is going to do, and not hiding it with "Patriotic"
words and phrases.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Transforming Schiavo Into Pro-choice
Allowing time for the Schiavo circus to die down, Democrats should
be ready to capitalize on the unpopularity of the larger issue here:
the Republicans' intrusion into a private family matter. This is
a chance to finally explain that to those pro-choice doubters, who
have been exposed so long to pictures of dead fetuses and anti-abortion
propaganda. It's a chance for Democrats to enlarge the issue to
encompass all private medical decisions people have to make every
day. Pro-choice ... it's about keeping those politicians and religious
zealots out of our private lives!!! After this repulsive spectacle,
I bet it would make people stop and think.
Jennifer
St. Louis, MO
Subject: Nobel Nominated Neurologist
Re Dr William Hammesfahr, the neurologist predicting a lucid future
for Terry Schiavo, it seems odd that a Nobel-nominated doctor, as
he claims to be, would have NO PUBLICATIONS WHATSOEVER listed in
MEDLINE, the National Library of Medicine's database of medical
journal articles. (MEDLINE is accessible via its PubMed database.)
By way of contrast, Nobelist Joshua Lederberg has 116 articles listed
in MEDLINE.
Harriet
Wilmette, IL
[BuzzFlash Note: You're such a skeptic! (Just kidding.)
The Daily Howler's report sheds light on this.]
Subject: Question
I saw a bumper sticker that said something like "God bless
our troops and God damn the liars who send them to die."
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Neocons vs. Big Oil
Dear Buzz:
Any truth to the story that big oil forced Bush to "promote"
Wolfie out of their way
because the neocon vision for Iraq is not in their best interest?
Will Rummy and others follow? It would be great if these people
would consume each other. The enemy of my enemy is still my enemy.
Dave in WV
Subject: Another Progressive Christian point of view on Terri Schiavo
I read Dr. Whitehurst's
article and agree with a great deal of it. But as the Director
of Public Policy for a progressive Christian organization, I was
shocked by the assumptions of guilt that riddled much of the article.
In particular I am aghast at her allegation that Terri's condition
was caused by her husband when all the evidence, including a settled
lawsuit, shows that it was a doctor's failure to properly ascertain
the degree of damage she did to herself from an eating disorder.
To point the finger of blame at him - to revile him for finding
another love in his life - is to succumb once again to the kind
of judgements - against people whom we do not know - that pass as
tests of 'faith' in the most extremist forms of Christianity.
I would like to assert openly that Progressive Christians are not
just rabid conservatives with better language and softer voices.
We mostly think very differently about the issues that strike our
hearts and lives than do those who are conservative. Why do people
support Michael Schiavo's desire to remove the feeding tube? Because
we believe that love comes in many forms, and the desire to care
for one's loved ones by letting them end suffering is an act of
grace. What is pro-life if not taking into account the whole breadth
of what our lives encompass - including merciful death? Michael
has hung in with Terri for 15 years. This is no rush to judgment.
There are no current videos of her, probably for a reason - they
would not show anything pretty. Life is hard, and people in Terri's
state don't age well. We are passionately sad for her parents and
siblings - abandoning hope is the hardest thing one can do. Letting
someone go is giving up a part of yourself in the process - losing
daily routines, acts of kindness, gifts of love that give one's
own life meaning. That's gut wrenching and impossibly difficult.
But keeping someone alive requires that we decide whose life is
important - our own or theirs.
I do not doubt that a young woman would say that she didn't want
to be kept as Karen Ann Quinlan was, did not want to be dependent
and impassive. We've all talked about it when it's in the news or
in our lives, even teens think about it when it arises. I believe
Michael and their mutual friends who said Terri didn't want to be
that way. I believe the myriad of doctors, nurses, hospice workers
who wanted desperately to give hope to the family - and could not.
So Terri is where she said she didn't wish to be, and for whom is
she being kept alive? For herself as a valued human being - or the
world as a political object?
Every day someone faces such a heart-wrenching decision. Faith can
help get us through - as long as faith is honest and isn't judging
the depth of love by the standards of politics. None of us can know
the mind of God or the forces of the universe or the power of hope
that all come to play in cases such as Terri's. Progressive Christianity
like all really deep calls to faith, should offer hands to heal
and support those in the midst of these momentous decisions. We
serve no cause at all, and certainly not our faith principles, if
our hands merely serve once again to point fingers at people we
don't even know in judgment of anguish we don't even have to share.
Elizabeth Sholes
Sacramento, California
Subject: When Does a Warning Become a Threat? . . .
BuzzFlash,
If the Democrats don't start talking back to Bush and telling the
public just what the truth is about this administration ... they
are going to continue to be battered around and we just can't continue
to allow this government to spiral down into the depths of total
darkness and chaos.
Bush
Warns Democrats About Opposing Accounts (Washington Post)
Flanked by Republican Sens. Pete V. Domenici (N.M.) and John McCain
(Ariz.), Bush invited Democrats "to come to the table"
to help devise a solution to shore up Social Security's finances.
"I believe there will be bad political consequences for people
who are unwilling to sit down and talk about the issue,"
he said.
The Bush administration has created an insane fiasco this week
using the US government to do so. We need to hear from the Democrats
when the Bush administration commits a crime against our government.
Now, Bush wants the Democrats to come to the table so he can threaten
or whatever he does to get them to kneel to his demands. Social Security
doesn't need the Bush administration to do anything. The biggest problem
this Nation faces is the Bush administration itself and what they
have done to the US and Countries around the world. That is the problem
facing the US today.
When is Bush going to be impeached for his negligence of his responsibilities
to his office and to this government? It just keeps going on and on.
Somebody has got to stop this out-of-control Bush administration.
Who will that be? Bush has gotten away with so much that his cup of
spiked confidence is spilling over. He needs to hear the word NO.
And, instead of Bush working the Democrats to his advantage, the Democrats
need to start working on the Democrats who always vote with Bush and
the irresponsible Republican Party. The Democrats need to speak out
to the public and take the risks. Whatever the risks are that seem
to keep them quiet. What do they have to lose?
Just a thought,
Thanks BuzzFlash,
Shirley Smith
CLICK HERE FOR PART 2 OF
THE MARCH 24, 2005 BUZZFLASH MAILBAG.
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