...I'm okay with being REALITY-based.




Friday, March 18, 2005
      ( 7:04 AM )
 
Helping Big Brother

Not that Big Brother. But sort of. Whenever he can't seem to get his judges to do what he wants, Jeb runs to little brother George and begs the Federal Government to step into Florida judicial issues. The sacred role of the state and its rights as opposed to the Feds taking over gets pushed aside whenever Jeb feels he must supercede the Florida courts and stand against horrible injustice, like his brother losing the election in 2000.... or interfering in a private family affair like a brain-dead woman being kept alive by people who seem to be more about themselves than about her.

We've talked before about Terri Shaivo, and that fact that court after court reviews the medical evidence and finds that it is the right of her former husband to have made the decision ages ago to pull the plug on a woman who will never have brain activity again. Well, now Congress has decided that it has the right to intervene in this situation.

In a last-ditch attempt to stop the court-ordered removal, a House committee on Capitol Hill here decided early Friday morning to start an investigation into Schiavo's case and issue subpoenas ordering doctors and hospice administrators not to remove her feeding tubes and to keep her alive until that investigation was complete.

The effort by the House Government Reform Committee (news - web sites) came after lawmakers in both Washington and Tallahassee failed in attempts to pass legislation to keep her husband, Michael Schiavo, from having the tube pulled despite heavy lobbying by Schiavo's parents.

"This inquiry should give hope to Terri, her parents and friends and the millions of people throughout the world who are praying for her safety," House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Majority Leader Tom DeLay and Government Reform chairman Tom Davis said in a joint statement. "This fight is not over."

And then little bro stepped in:

At the White House, President Bush left little doubt where he stands.

"The case of Terri Schiavo raises complex issues," he said in a statement. "Yet in instances like this one, where there are serious questions and substantial doubts, our society, our laws and our courts should have a presumption in favor of life. Those who live at the mercy of others deserve our special care and concern."

Sure, they favor life, except when it comes to providing the needs and healthcare for children and old people, until that means giving a living wage to families who work hard just to get food on the table, until that means making sure veterans get the care they need after fighting for this country. Evidently, for the Bush family and their Republican friends, the "culture of life" extends only to brain dead people and fetuses. They are such incredible hypocrites.

If you haven't done it yet, MAKE A LIVING WILL NOW. Spare your family and say exactly what your wishes are should you end up on life support. It's a responsibility we all should take. The technology is good, but when it gets in the way, it's important our families know our exact wishes.

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