Has the Schiavo case Become a Political Football?

Quote:

If the police are called to the scene of a man beating up his wife, do they have the right to interfere with the husband's right to "carry out his wishes?"

If the woman asked to be beaten I would tell the state to stay out. A ridiculous notion, I know, however, that's where this differs. A woman never asks to be beaten. Terri may have requested to NOT be kept alive like this.

The inescapable fact that is being completely denied is that Michael's guardianship is a total sham.

WASHINGTON - The urgency in Washington last weekend wasn't just about Terri Schiavo. It also was about politics.
As hundreds of congressmen and President Bush cut short vacations to intervene, they also hoped to broaden the party's hold on power.

Republicans acknowledged the goal of using the Schiavo case as ammunition against Democrats, particularly Florida Sen. Bill Nelson.

Republicans Take Aim

Davis and Nelson, who is running for re-election next year and is Florida's only Democrat elected statewide, may be the top two Democrats on Florida's 2006 ballot.

Republicans are aiming to energize their base of religious conservatives, and it likely will work, several political analysts said.

``The Schiavo case is perfect, powerful political symbolism for reinforcing support among social and cultural conservatives,'' said University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato.

A memo circulating among Republican senators acknowledged the goal.

``This is an important moral issue and the pro-life base will be excited,'' the memo states, noting that Nelson ``has already refused to become a cosponsor and this is a tough issue for Democrats.'' ``This may turn out to be one of the most significant abuses of power by Congress in decades,'' he said Monday.

He flew to Washington on Sunday prepared to block a voice-vote passage alone. A handful of other Democrats joined him.

University of South Florida political scientist Susan MacManus said the issue can only help Republicans.

Besides religious voters, she said, it will also affect a larger group, ``the married vote and family vote,'' and an underestimated voting group, the disabled. About 17 percent of Florida households include a disabled person, she said.

Even if some voters consider the intervention politically motivated, said East Carolina University political science professor Richard C. Kearney, ``It doesn't cost [the Republicans] anything ... After all, they can always say they're on the side of life and an ethical person.''

But some Democrats say the GOP may feel a backlash from voters who don't favor government intervention in end-of- life decisions.

``I think it's going to come back and bite them on the butt,'' said state Sen. Walter ``Skip'' Campbell, D-Tamarac. ``To take a tragedy of life and make it a political issue is the most absurd, uncaring, un- American form of behavior I have ever seen.'' he said.

Florida's huge contingent of elderly voters has a personal stake in the issue, said Margaret Lynn Duggar, a consultant in the field of elderly issues, and a Republican.

In conversations with her, she said, ``A lot of them have expressed serious concern about government getting involved in these decisions, overriding what appears to have been a person's decision.''

What is the meaning of dead?

Oh...she signed something?

Bella Dea wrote:

What is the meaning of dead?

I could probably define it if I had enough time here, but the definition clearly does not include her. If she were dead, she would not be able to take in the food and water they have now denied her, since big appetites is not a noted characteristic of corpses.

Websters Dictionary --

2 a (1) : having the appearance of death : DEATHLY <in a dead faint> (2) : lacking power to move, feel, or respond : NUMB b : very tired c (1) : incapable of being stirred emotionally or intellectually

Bella Dea wrote:

Websters Dictionary --

2 a (1) : having the appearance of death : DEATHLY <in a dead faint> (2) : lacking power to move, feel, or respond : NUMB b : very tired c (1) : incapable of being stirred emotionally or intellectually

If she is dead, then why is there even any question of her taking food and water? Your argument is frankly silly. The words dead and alive are well understood, and she is alive.

Brandon9000 wrote:

Bella Dea wrote:

What is the meaning of dead?

I could probably define it if I had enough time here, but the definition clearly does not include her. If she were dead, she would not be able to take in the food and water they have now denied her, since big appetites is not a noted characteristic of corpses.

check the dictionary. I think it clearly includes her.

DrewDad wrote:

http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/healthlawprof_blog/2005/03/lifesupport_sto.html

Quote:

Under chapter 166 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, if an attending physician disagrees with a surrogate over a life-and-death treatment decision, there must be an ethics committee consultation (with notice to the surrogate and an opportunity to participate). In a futility case such as Sun Hudson's, in which the treatment team is seeking to stop treatment deemed to be nonbeneficial, if the ethics committee agrees with the team, the hospital will be authorized to discontinue the disputed treatment (after a 10-day delay, during which the hospital must help try to find a facility that will accept a transfer of the patient). These provisions, which were added to Texas law in 1999, originally applied only to adult patients; in 2003; they were made applicable to disputes over treatment decisions for or on behalf of minors. (I hasten to add that one of the co-drafters in both 1999 and 2003 was the National Right to Life Committee. Witnesses who testified in support of the bill in 1999 included representatives of National Right to Life, Texas Right to Life, and the Hemlock Society. Our bill passed both houses, unanimously, both years, and the 1999 law was signed by then Governor George W. Bush.)

Here is the law in question:

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/docs/HS/content/htm/hs.002.00.000166.00.htm

I don't see anything about can't pay.

Brandon9000 wrote:

Bella Dea wrote:

Websters Dictionary --

2 a (1) : having the appearance of death : DEATHLY <in a dead faint> (2) : lacking power to move, feel, or respond : NUMB b : very tired c (1) : incapable of being stirred emotionally or intellectually

If she is dead, then why is there even any question of her taking food and water? Your argument is frankly silly. The words dead and alive are well understood, and she is alive.

my argument only seems silly to you because I've given you a definition of dead that includes Terri.

Bella Dea wrote:

Quote:

If the police are called to the scene of a man beating up his wife, do they have the right to interfere with the husband's right to "carry out his wishes?"

If the woman asked to be beaten I would tell the state to stay out. A ridiculous notion, I know, however, that's where this differs. A woman never asks to be beaten. Terri may have requested to NOT be kept alive like this.

Oh...she signed something?

What? You are taking in circles Brandon. Please. Being dead, as a legal definition, must be taken from where? Being dead, from a personal/religious standpoint must be taken from ones self. I believe that she is dead. I would consider myself dead if I were in that state.

Call me silly or a liar but you can't debate the way I feel about something.

If you truly want to make me believe she is not dead, and change my mind about the meaning of dead, why don't you give me the "true" and legal definition?