WP: Schiavo Case a Precursor to Battles Ahead

[kskiska]

By Dana Milbank
Thursday, March 31, 2005; 10:39 AM

The political passions stirred by the Terri Schiavo case over the past fortnight are but a hint of the feud likely to come this summer with an expected Supreme Court confirmation battle, partisans on both sides say.

Republicans say the Schiavo fight has mobilized its conservative base for the struggles to come over President Bush's judicial nominations. In defeat, they believe Schiavo's death could become a rallying point for a broader "culture of life" movement to secure judges and a justice who would restrict abortions.

"It is entirely possible that in her death Terri Schiavo will become a symbol for many people about a disturbing trend in American culture," said Gary Bauer, a prominent conservative activist. Predicting a "donnybrook" over the eventual Supreme Court nominee, he said the Schiavo case "will make more acute the feeling at the grass roots that too many of the most important decisions are being made by unelected judges."

Democrats are comforted in knowing that the intervention in the case by Congress and the president has been resoundingly rejected--not just by the courts but by large majorities of Americans and even some conservative commentators. "The other side has overplayed its hand and taken a beating," said Jim Jordan, a Democratic strategist.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15454-2005Mar31.html

[Celeborn Skywalker]

1. I don't get why MSM

and repubs keep thinking this is going to benefit them politically. Did they not see the poll that said 82% opposed congress getting involved? Another poll said about 70% agreed with the husband about removing the feeding tube. This is not a winning issue for the fundies.

[marew]

5. The fundies don't care how unpopular their stand is.

Have you forgotten? Their god is using them to straighten out the rest of us. With god on their side, how can they lose? We should be thankful they want to save our depraved and barbaric souls from eternal damnation!!! SARCASM OFF.

[jojo54]

2. IMHO

the churches around this country are going to see a drop in attendance once they start preaching "constitutional amendment"!!

I knew this was coming as soon as the religious freaks made this very sad, very personal situation into a dog and pony show.

[Melodybe]

3. So does this mean republians no longer favor the death penalty?

Culture of life and all.

[jojo54]

6. Yeah, good point

I'm wondering how * is going to try to use this to raise his approval rating.

[UCLA Dem]

8. yes and they must favor universal health care as well.

if we respect life, we must take of people so they can continuing living.

[louis-t]

4. Activist judges?

"Republicans say the Schiavo fight has mobilized its conservative base for the struggles to come over President Bush's judicial nominations. In defeat, they believe Schiavo's death could become a rallying point for a broader "culture of life" movement to secure judges and a justice who would restrict abortions."

I thought the idea was to NOT have activist judges.

[UCLA Dem]

7. Its a private family/doctor issue period.

the government needs to stay the hell out. maybe the repukes should check some of the basic tenets of republicanism, like small government that stays out of people's personal lives. Oh and then there's their latest mantra about respect for the sanctity of marriage.

[Robbien]

9. This is how the GOP is framing this

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/11278167.htm

CAPITOL HILL A leading congressman is calling Terri Schiavo's death a "legal tragedy" and a result of "moral poverty."
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay says Schiavo died because the legal system "did not protect the people" who need it most. He's vowing that will change -- and that "the men responsible for this" will have to answer for their behavior.

Meantime, House Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner is calling on Congress to pass a bill aimed at preventing others from going through the same legal battles.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist says he's "deeply saddened" by what he calls a "regrettable loss of life."

but the Dems say nothing because they think they have won. So while the Dems are savoring their supposed victory, the GOPers go on attack "spinning" the story.

[Daphne08]

11. I don't think Americans

want a law that interferes with private matters!

I think Americans wish to be left alone on this subject.

[BiggJawn]

10. "Culture of Life"

"Please, Governor Bush, don't KILL me!"

How many Iraqi children killed since 1991? 500,000? 750,000?

1500-odd American young people sacrificed to the "Cult of Democracy on The March".

How many sick people in this country who'll never survive long enough to get Hospice care?

These fuckers don't care about "life" unless it's "life" that's incapable of running on it's own without heroic outside intervention. "Can't survive without a placenta, ventilator, or 'feeding tube', hey, we're the GOP, we're your Champion!"

Doing somewhat OK, maybe just need some health care, or better Armour? FUCK you, get outta here!

And 48% of Hoosiers just lap this shit up because it's wrapped in a red/white/blue tortilla with a healthy dollop of Dumbya Bush and Gush Pfleghmball's spunk and a yellow ribbon on top of it.

[bluedeminredstate]

12. I'd like a conservative

who embraces "the culture of life" (as though people of varying viewpoints are all secret serial killer wannabes) explain to me how this movement in medicine of "conscience" and "refusal" squares with their belief that everyone is entitled to life - which apparently means from zygote to life support measures.
This new movement, which is taking root in different areas of the county, allows health care professionals refuse to treat a patient for ANY reason if it interferes with their moral beliefs. For instance, a fundamentalist Christian who believes that being gay is a sin can refuse to treat someone with AIDS - and I don't mean long-term - but for ANY reason, which could be highly treatable things like infections or other complications that just require an antibiotic to clear up. An unwed pregnant woman who needs medical intervention for whatever reason could be refused treatment because she isn't married. The sinning is endless so the reasons could be as well! And what if "moral" grounds really are financial grounds? With the number of uninsured people in this country, that can't be dismissed as a potential problem in these cases.
These laws are allowing people who are supposed to be commited to healing make moral judgements about whether a patient is worthy of their care. That is so just wrong.
Pharmacists in some states can refuse to fill a script if they feel it's morally wrong. Of course, it's mostly affecting women and their access to birth control and emergency contraception because the abortion issue is behind much of this.
It seems to me that health care workers should have decided upon another profession knowing that sometimes they might have to treat patients or do things for patients that they are opposed to on moral grounds.
But where is the culture of life in a doctor, pharmacist or other health care worker refusing to treat a sick patient for ANY reason if it could imperil that person's health or cause death?

[Moderator]

13. kick to combine

[rodeodance]

14. Political Battle in Schiavo Case Rages On

good for Kennedy for making his point!!

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=703&e=1&u=/ap/20050401/ap_on_go_co/schiavo_politics&sid=84439559

Political Battle in Schiavo Case Rages On

1 minute ago


By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON - In death as much as in life, political controversy surrounds Terri Schiavo. "The actions on the part of the Florida court and the U.S. Supreme Court are unconscionable," Sen. Rick Santorum (news, bio, voting record), R-Pa., said Thursday, attacking judges who repeatedly had refused to order tube-fed nourishment restored to the brain-damaged woman.


"This loss happened because our legal system did not protect the people who need protection most, and that will change," House Majority Leader Tom DeLay added in a statement issued hours after Schiavo's death at a Florida hospice.......


DeLay complained of "an arrogant and out of control judiciary that thumbs its nose at Congress and the president."


"I'm not sure what Mr. DeLay meant when he said 'the time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior,'" the Massachusetts Democrat said in a written statement. "But at a time when emotions are running high, Mr. DeLay needs to make clear that he is not advocating violence against anyone."
..........

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

15. No, Rick, the only thing "unconscionable" is you being a Senator.

Fortunately, we get to fix that real soon.