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Political Bottomfeeders
There ought to be a law--at some point after you are dead, political bottomfeeders should be arrested for trying to score political points off of your dead body.
LARGO - Refusing to give up on the Terri Schiavo case, Gov. Jeb Bush has asked Pinellas prosecutors to sort out time discrepancies Michael Schiavo has provided regarding the hour he found his wife unconscious 15 years ago.
State Attorney Bernie McCabe has agreed to review the time elements in the case, his chief assistant, Bruce Bartlett, said Thursday.
"We are going to look into the circumstances surrounding the times," said Bartlett, who declined to label the review an investigation. "The governor has expressed concern over that aspect of the case."
Michael Schiavo has said he called 911 immediately after finding his wife collapsed on the floor of their home on Feb. 25, 1990. Though medical records indicate he called 911 about 5:40 a.m. that day, he told the Medical Examiner's Office recently that he found his wife about 4:30 a.m.
Continuing with the St. Petersburg Times article:
Felos said it's impossible that 70 minutes elapsed before Michael Schiavo called 911.
"She would have been dead before they (paramedics) got there," he said.
[...]
The St. Petersburg Times asked an outside expert, Dr. Amyn M. Rojiani, a pathology professor at the University of South Florida College of Medicine, to examine the autopsy results.
The report says that paramedics began treating Schiavo at 5:52 a.m. after finding her not breathing and in ventricular fibrillation.
A pulse was documented at 6:32 a.m. and a measurable systolic blood pressure at 6:46 a.m. Getting those vital signs back after such a long time was an accomplishment, Rojiani said. When asked if Schiavo could have been revived if her heart had stopped more than an hour before paramedics arrived, he said he didn't think so.
[...]
Felos said Bush is at it again.
"I think it's sad and disgusting given the governor's continuing unwarranted meddling in this case," Felos said. "The extent to which he will prostitute himself to right-wing constituents for his future political gain I think is just pitiful."
Here's what I find sad and disgusting, besides what I said at the beginning. They are now asking the prosecutor to go back and look at Michael's statements. To what end? I mean, what are they possibly going to do with them. We know the cause of death. The coroner has stated that there is no way of knowing when she collapsed. So here's my point--what are they going to do with the review? Charge Michael Schaivo with something? What would that be? Calling an ambulance too late? That is not against the law, even if one were to suppose that it were true.
The point is that this is politics, pure and simple. There is nothing that can or could be done by continuing an investigation into something that has been investigated to death for the past 15 years already. All that's happening here, is pandering to the far right wing Republican base who don't think that Jeb Bush did enough to stop Michael Schaivo from carrying out the wishes of his wife.
I can't imagine why I thought they would leave this matter alone and grant all those involved some dignity, now that Terri is dead.
But I guess that in the world view of those who would continue to use the Schaivo case to score political points, the only real difference is the fact that they are now using a dead body, as opposed to a live body in a persistent vegetative state.
Like I said, there oughta be a law.
Casey---
Sadly, as we discussed before, a lot of this is the work of the bitter Schindler family who are still not ready to call it a day. THEY held a press conference. THEY want revenge. They called for Michael to give back the money he won in the court case since the autopsy says there was no way to prove bulimia, and that since that is what he won the case on, he should return the money. Now, correct me if I'm wrong. Didn't that money get spent on Terri's care? Are they now intimating that Michael spent all the money on himself?
Whether it's plotics, or family bitterness, or fundementalists insantiy, the world at large has spoken. We don't want to be involved. We don't want government in this. We want our privacy. The Schindlers can give their up. The politicos can try to cash in, and do you know what we can do? Register our disgust. The American people were as clear as clear can be, and anyone who keeps on with this is a fool.
Can't we just come up with a new run away bride or something?
There usually are state laws against prosecutorial misconduct maybe Linda is out there and can tell us about Florida criminal statutes. Any D.A.s that would take such bogus charges should have their law license revoked. This story which I appreciate Casey picking up just goes to show us how far extremists will take their cause. There really are no boundaries left and we should left Republicans destroy themselves with this story b/c very few people were ever supportive of Congress's interferance. It was tutter a family dispute that my Congressman, Tom Delay shamelessly and gleafully picked up and ran with. The idea that a compitnt physician like Frist would be taken in with that insanity and say that Ms. Schiavo was responsive even though blind, and he irresponsibly made a made a flawed medical judgment based upon a clipped videotape. That doesn't speak highly of his medical judgment. Only 19% of the public now believe that Congress is pursuing an agenda that deals with their lives. That poll means that Republicans are destroying themselves and especially among Republican voters who's support has plumetted. Why stop them?
She talks and laughs said DeLay.
You must remember Ira--the Schindlers called for this, begged for it. First it was doctors, and when they didn't come up with the requested outcome, it was off to the lawyers, and when the courts didn't give them the win they wanted it was off to the state politicians, and when Jeb couldn't do it, it was off to the Washington politicians. Terri's family were not willing to take no for an answer from anyone, not before, and obviously not now either. If this is their love for their daughter at work, then I'm glad I had very different parents.
I agree that the Washington politicians should have declined to step in. They could have done that. They could have refused to take up the entire thing, but they didn't. They saw points in there somewhere, and lost sight of just how harrowing and private end of life issues are. They attempted to show power at work, and it back-fired badly. They found out that there is a limit to how much people will sit still for, they were so enthralled at how much power they had and how they'd used it, they were blown back in shock at how people reacted.
I still say, put Terri back into the private world that she was entitled to, and refuse to become enmeshed in it. If Jeb insists on this, he should be met with DEAD silence, and an absolute refusal by any politician who wants to keep being one. Why can't a smart person just say, 'no comment?'
Tutt,
I suspect that's just what many (hopefully) will say. Though I can understand Michael's attoney speaking on behalf of an innocent client under attack.
As the survivor of two siblings deaths, I cannot imagine how the Schindler sibling are managing their lives, and insome sense, they are not. Terri's sister gave her statement on this from where? Day One of the Right to Life Annual Conference (I think that was the name of it). Clearly, she is still living her life around the death of a sibling and I feel sorry for her, and her family, that they can't just let go. So sad.
The real victim in this travesty is Terri's family, including and especially, her husband Michael Schiavo.
Terri was not present. Her essence left long ago.
Terri's family of origin was exploited by ruthless politicians, eager to shore up their base at their emotional expense. They were vulnerable and desperate.
The doctor appointed by Jeb Bush to evaluate Terri years ago said he did everything he knew possible, explored every avenue of the possibility that Terri was still with them. None existed. The same doctor told how loving and devoted Michael was, how lovingly he took care of Terri himself for seven years, to the point where she never had one bedsore while in his care. After seven years he realized his wife was gone, only the shell that housed her personality and spirit was still here, and decided to face the hard reality that she was no longer here, and find closure for himself and Terri, and move on toward rebuilding his life. He is not a vindictive man, and the choice he made was not an easy one. I myself feel his decision was made out of love, he loved Terri enough to let go. It was not the act of a coward, nor do I believe he was an abuser. There is no evidence to support the accusation from Jeb Bush that he abused Terri.
As if Michael hasn't been through enough, already.
I am writing a letter to Jeb Bush, and the Republican Senate, telling them to BACK OFF.
Michael Schiavo should hold a press conference and ask Jeb Bush about Cynthia Henderson, the ex playboy bunny he has been consistantly linked with over the years.
There seem to be time discrepancies between what Governor Jeb Bush says occured, the jobs he offered Cynthia and actual events.
Mr. Schiavo must express his concern over the events, as the honor and dignity of a former playboy bunny seems to have been abused by the Governor of Florida. These issues are of great importance to the state of florida and the justice system.
Leave no Bunny Behind.