The Nashua Advocate: Schiavogate Archives Growing By The Hour; Please Help

[nashuaadvocate]

Hi all,

Just a note to say that we are continuing to update our quasi-comprehensive Schiavogate compendium (find it here) and continue to urge all of you to e-mail us (or comment at the base of the article) with any additional stories, leads, or links.

Many warm regards,

The News Editor
The Nashua Advocate

[Nothing Without Hope]

1. Something I'd like to see a press story about: Bush's grandstanding

I wondered if Bush really did have to cut his vacation short and rush off to Washington to sign that bill to "save Terri's life." So I asked Rep. John Conyers Jr. in his blog (http://www.conyersblog.us) in a comment in his March 27th entry, "New York Times' and Other Perspectives On Schiavo: Is Bush Backpeddling?" He replied in a later comment in the same thread.

I said (in comment #8):

"Re Bush's dramatic dash to DC to sign the Schiavo bill: aside from questions of the wisdom of his signing it, did he really HAVE to rush across the country to do it? Couldn't it have been flown to him in Texas to sign instead? If my supposition here of deliberate grandstanding is true, then the contrast is even stronger with his failures to travel to DC on so many other occasions these past years when his presence and effective action there were truly needed."

And he responded (in comment #13):

"Thank you for all of your comments. CAT in # 8, you ask if Bush could have signed in Texas. The answer is yes. There are numemrous occassions where a bill has been flow to the president so that he may sign. He made the decision to interrupt his vacation and return to DC for the late night signing."

Now it seems to me that there's a powerful story here. Did Bush actually SAY he was flying to Washington because he had to "save Terri"? If so, he's LYING, and he shouldn't be allowed to get away with it. And even if he didn't say the words (and I don't know what he actually did say), he certainly implied that his actions constituted a gallant rush to the rescue of a helpless dying "girl" menaced by "activist judges" and her husband. (So much for the much ballyhooed sanctity of marriage.)

And just think of all the times Bush DIDN'T interrupt his vacation to go to DC when he actually WAS needed. Many examples spring to mind. Some of them are discussed in this DU thread, which starts with a piece on this subject from AmericaBlog:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1675026
Title: "Americablog: Issues Bush Didn't Rush Back To D.C. For..."

Finally, I'd like to point out that Conyers' newly resuscitated blog is a good source in itself. I don't imagine he will be able to continue to painstakingly repond to comments the way he did last week, since he's bound to be overwhelmed as people discover it, but it's thrilling while it lasts. Good for him for giving this a shot.

[thjay]

2. Conyers Blog

I've been reading it everyday for the past week. It is "thrilling" to communicate with a US Congressman. I have tremendous respect for his desire to communicate and his willingness to spread the plain truth. Part of me wants to tell everyone I know about his blog and encourage their participation. The selfish part of me wants to keep it a secret so it doesn't become impossible for Conyers himself to stay involved.

.... and kudos to the Nashua Advocate. I'm signed up for your google alerts so I don't miss a thing, but the truth is that I'm so eager to read your next article that often I've visited your site long before the google alert makes it to my inbox.

[Al-CIAda]

3. Kickity kick for NA!