"Repub. used the case to try to score points for the "culture of life,"

[rodeodance]

http://www.slate.com/id/2115104/fr/nl/

Everyone fronts news about (and photographs of) what an NYT video calls "the most extensively litigated right-to-die case in the history of America." Terri Schiavo has lived in a persistent vegetative state since 1990, and her husband has been lobbying for the right to withdraw her feeding tube in accordance with what he says were her wishes. With the tube gone, Schiavo will live no more than five or 10 days. Republicans launched an eleventh-hour effort to keep her alive, issuing subpoenas for her to testify before Congress--despite the fact that she's been unable to speak for 15 years--and warning that doctors who removed the tube would be guilty of interfering with a congressional witness, a federal crime. But they were smacked down by a circuit judge, who said, "The fact that you--your committee--decided to do something today doesn't create an emergency."

The NYT points out that Republicans used the case to try to score points for the "culture of life," while Democrats bit their tongues, hoping to signal their willingness to move to the center. The NYT hints that Tom DeLay, who appeared on television to rally conservatives, was trying to wag the dog, using the issue "as a sudden distraction from his troubles." The WP notes although her doctors say Schiavo had no hope of recovery, Bill Frist reviewed home videos and disagreed. The NYT points out that Frist is a potential presidential candidate.

[cap]

1. could we use this case for better medicare/medicaid funding

such that if families wish for their relatives to live in this condition that the state pick up the funding for this?

[fasttense]

2. The culture of life my *ss.

Repukes and b*sh have killed more people either in the electric chair or through war then most soldiers. The only thing they are against killing is fetuses (especially if they are not their own fetus) and now comatose patients who have no chance of ever being normal. This whole thing should never have become the political circus it is. This is a private, family tragedy used to advance a bunch crooks. Poor Terri.

[alcuno]

3. Dems are moving to the center when the majority of Americans OPPOSE

what's being done to Terri. They say that in her state they would not want to be kept alive. Democrats in Congress are total idiots.