Breaking news....Senate to call Terri Shiavo to testify

[spanone]

These crazy fuckers in Washington. I'm sure they can communicate with someone in an equally vegetative state. What happened to states rights??? What happened to sanity? What has happened to this once glorious nation??? Perhaps George Bush* ?

[Catch22Dem]

1. Are ya serious?

[mondo joe]

2. They should bring her in to testify right away

And not let a single senator leave until she's done.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

19. I'd amend that.

Not let a single senator that agreed to call her to testify to leave until she's answered every last question. I wouldn't want to torture our people.

[bryant69]

3. Well

I mean they could observe if she reacts to the world around her I suppose.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[deek]

I agree

At least they would be making an informed decision, void of the misinformation that most people spew.

[deek]

107. although...

The whole scene might be a bit overwhelming for Terri. People with significant brain damage often "shut down" when they are exposed to too much light/sound stimulus. I hope this does not happen and she is able to reveal her true self.

[Dr.Phool]

4. This is the most disgusting thing I've heard of.

But, maybe they need someone to communicate with Jim Bunning.

The Republican Party has lost all sanity.

[NewInNewJ.]

6. Dr. Phool

That's hilarious! It does make sense though.

[FreedomAngel82]

176. They lost sanity long ago

I think they're all long gone.

[GiovanniC]

5. This Is a Joke, Right?

Please God, tell me this is a joke.

[leftynyc]

7. As I understand it

if she's called to testify, they must protect her and that's how they get around the removal of her feeding tube.

[liberalpress]

11. I for one, hope this works...

...that way, say a tank division is called up to got to Iraq. One of our reps can issues subponaes for all of them, thus forcing the Government to protect them (meaning they can't go to Iraq).

I like this idea. A lot.

[ck4829]

8. There's only one way we can combat this

This is crazy.

SHUT THE SENATE DOWN!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3292832

[Walt Starr]

9. Senator Mike Enzi (R - Asshole - Wyoming) is trying a last ditch effort

at pandering to the religiously insane.

Unfortunately for his idiotic move, it'll be struck down by a court very soon because she is in no way capable of testifying before congress. SHE HAS NO BRAIN!

[RaleighNCDUer]

14. That's all right. You don't need a brain

if you got Jaysus. Ask any wingnut.

[LionInWinter]

20. No, no, no. You don't need a brain to be IN the Senate!

:evilgrin:

[KansDem]

22. ...or the White House!

:evilgrin::evilgrin:

[cap]

10. yes... but how long are you going to keep her on the witness stand

in the Senate? I mean, you are going to have someone on a stretcher there all hooked up. And not in a hospital where they can deal with a medical emergency.

[HEIL PRESIDENT GOD]

29. Maybe they just plan to install her

Just hook her up on the Senate floor.

And to those of you who think it's Jesus that makes her so important to these guys, you're wrong. She's better to them than any of us because she consumes energy every second of her "life," whereas we can turn out the lights when we go to sleep.

[ohio_liberal]

52. Great idea

They should put her in one of the aisles, let the thugs walk around her every day. Better yet, show the Repugs how to change her diapers and administer the liquid through her tube. They can take turns.

[samiam1972]

42. For what it's worth...

Terri isn't "hooked up" to any machines. She's fed through a tube several times a day but otherwise is not connected to any machines. She also wouldn't need to be on a stretcher. If Michael would just fix her broken wheel chair or get her a new one, she could sit up, go outside, etc.

[atldem]

49. Are you telling me

that there is only one wheelchair that that woman can use?

[samiam1972]

55. Yes.

She had one wheel chair. It broke. Michael didn't have it fixed nor did he replace it. (He is her guardian and was given money for things such as this.) That is when she was no longer taken outside for fresh air.

[atldem]

56. And her parents

can't get a wheelchair for her?

[Name removed]

60. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

109. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ultraist]

146. That is disgusting. She is STILL a human being

Severlely brain damaged or disabled people are not fucking turnips.

It IS possible to state your case in a civilized manner.

[GiovanniC]

165. Terri Schiavo Is An Empty Shell

There is no cognition there. Her brain is gone. She is in a vegetative state, which is a medical term. The point is, they are making a lot of hay out of their lie that Michael Schiavo isn't letting anyone take her outside, and even if it WERE true, it wouldn't matter, because TERRI SCHIAVO ISN'T ALIVE ANYMORE. Terri Schiavo is dead. Her body, in vegetative form, is all that remains here.

[Name removed]

191. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[janx]

168. Look:

To: All

May I ask what might possibly be considered a stupid question? I was defending Terri's life on DU today (I know, why bother?) and they kept saying she has no cerebral cortex. I am not a doctor. I don't know what that means. Does anyone have any information specifically on this or a site that will give me more info? I appreciate any and all responses!!

1,527 posted on 03/18/2005 11:45:30 AM MST by samiam1972 (Live simply so that others may simply live!)
< Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1514 | View Replies | Report Abuse >

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1365111/posts?q=1&&page=1501

[ohio_liberal]

169. No surprise there

n/t

Ok, that's not true. I'm surprised at the freeper's level of ignorance.

[GiovanniC]

170. Well Color Me Surprised

Not.

[GiovanniC]

171. Look At Those Words: "Defending Terri's Life"

TERRI IS DEAD.

But it was a very self-important choice of words: "I was defending Terri's life". Wow, just wow.



EDITED TO ADD: That thread is very entertaining, by the way.

[LibertyorDeath]

193. In reality what they are defending is a persistent vegetative state

Would you keep an animal alive like this your Dog Cat or any other living creature.

What is wrong with these wackjobs where is their humanity

The Womans wish was to allow Nature to take its course if she was ever in a position like this it is beyond cruel to keep her going through artificial means.

Sick really fucking sick.

[WoodrowFan]

181. oh good God

an ignorant Freeper. who wouldna thunk it? :eyes: Hey SAMIAM1972. Do a little basic research, THEN form an opinion, ok??

[Name removed]

180. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

192. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[samiam1972]

61. No.

Don't you think they would have done that already? Michael won't allow it. He has specific rules for hospice staff to follow. He won't let her parents have anything to do with her care. They are lucky he allows them to visit her.

[atldem]

63. Would you want to be

kept alive this way. Aren't we supposed to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. We treat animals more mercifly than this woman is being treated.

[samiam1972]

65. Kept alive "this way"?

You mean by being fed? Yes. I would want to be kept alive that way. I would want to be given food and water.

[atldem]

70. She seems to have no

cognitive ability whatsoever other than involuntary reflexive actions. I think that it's cruel to keep her alive.

[samiam1972]

74. I've heard

that she is able to speak a few simple words. Maybe what congress is doing, asking for the MRI etc, isn't such a bad idea. It would sure help those that believe there is more to Terri than a "corpse". So it's postponed a bit longer to make sure all facts are there. I've noticed TONS of conflicting information out there. One sight says one thing, one sight says another. I'd like to be sure.

[GiovanniC]

80. This Has Been Gone Over a Bazillion Times

We're talking about a decade and a half of legal bullshit. There is no way that the morons in Congress are going to "stumble" on some miracle medical fact that nobody else caught in all of these idiotic court proceedings.

As for what different sites are saying, let's explore that for a minute. Some sites say that 9/11 was caused by a terrorist hijacking. Other sites say that the CIA planted a remote control device under some planes which they used to fly the planes into the World Trade Center in an effort to bring about a New World Order. I bet if I looked hard enough, I could find a site that said that the planes were piloted by Brazilian vampires from outer space. Just because somebody has the capability of writing down every cuckoo-for-cocoa-puffs idea that is rattling around inside their skulls doesn't give them credibility. If that were the case, I would be expecting subpoenas for some Brazilian vampires from outer space so we could get to the bottom of this whole 9/11 fiasco.

[samiam1972]

90. As I stated earlier.

I don't belong here. Forget I ever tried to disagree with any of you. I believe she has rights that her cheating husband is trying to deny her. I'm leaving now.

[GiovanniC]

93. As I Stated Earlier

You'll be missed.

[Mz Pip]

111. Her cheatinbg husband???

I suppose you believe he should have conjugal visits with Terri.

Now he's cheating on her. That's rich. :crazy:

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Chelsea Patriot]

122. Well, Bye-bye, Sugar! And not a minute too soon!

But do take one thing with you from your brief stay at DU...

Remember, Mary Louise....

Sight=vision

Site=place

TTFN!

[tishaLA]

161. I love when people quote Blondie songs

"Red eye shadow, green mascara. Ick! She's too much"

[Pathwalker]

103. MSNBC showed Terry Shaivo's BRAIN SCAN

this morning on TV, during and interview with the Head of Neurology at Beth Israel Hospital. She has HAD MRI's and they show a brain that is "no longer capable of ANY cognitive function". "I've heard" is just another way of passing along thirty-second hand GOSSIP. PROVE IT!!!!
They've got her brain in pictures, why haven't they been able to video her saying a single word - in FIFTEEN YEARS!!!! Because she HASN'T!

Please buy a clue.

[Chelsea Patriot]

116. Here's a few simple words for you, samiam 1972

sight...something that is seen

site...the place, scene or point of something

Your illiteracy is surpassed only by your ignorance of biology.

[GiovanniC]

64. Ha Ha Ha... Let's See Some Proof That Doesn't Come From a

Right wing whackjob site, genius.

Then we'll talk about the evil ogre who won't the poor, innocent Schindler's take their daughter's empty shell out for a walk.

[samiam1972]

69. Show me

some proof otherwise.

[GiovanniC]

71. Wait... You Claim That Her Wheelchair Broke

That her husband refused to repair or replace it, that he refused to let anyone else do so, and you want ME to prove that your nuttier-than-squirrel-shit, bizarre, right-wing-whack-job talking points aren't true?

Guess again, pal.

The burden of proof is on the person making the batshit insane claims.

[samiam1972]

76. Gee.

Thank you for that well thought out response. I can't prove anything to you. I'm seeing a lot of different information out there. I don't see why a few tests can't be done. MRI, etc., maybe give her a month to see if she can swallow for herself. If she could eat without a tube would you try to find some other way to let her die or would you let nature take it's course?

[atldem]

77. If she can swallow on her own

then she should be cared for for as long as she lives.

[deek]

114. So this is what defines a life "worth living"?

eating orally?

[GiovanniC]

117. No, But If She Can Do That, It Would Be Proof That Someone Was Home

A correllary would be if I said, "If Terri Schiavo stands up and starts moonwalking, she should be cared for as long as she lives."

Does moonwalking equate to a life worth living? For some, maybe, but the point is not what the action IS that's important, but that the action was an indication that she was actually sentient.

It is, however, a moot point, considering that Terri Schiavo has the same ability to swallow as a Chia Pet.

[deek]

121. the ability to orally eat

has nothing to do with mental capacity

[GiovanniC]

123. The Fact That She is UNABLE To Orally Eat Has EVERYTHING

To do with her current mental capacity.

She doesn't know when there is food around her. She doesn't know when there is food in her mouth. She does not know when to chew and when to swallow. This is because she is a vegetable.

HOWEVER...

IF she was able to know when she had food, and swallow, and all of that, that would be an indication that she was in fact aware and cognizant of her surroundings, thus proving that she is not the empty shell that she is.

However, once again, since she and a Chia Pet both have about the same likelihood of swallowing a spoonful of tapioca, it's really a moot point.

[deek]

126. I would recommend

you try to get to know a few people who are unable to eat orally first, before heartlessly comparing them to a chia pet.

[GiovanniC]

135. And I Would Recommend

That you stop trying to mischaracterize what I said, but then again I guess we can both recommend in one hand and shit in the other, huh?

I said "Terri Schiavo has the same likelihood of swallowing as a Chia Pet." Other things with the same likelihood of swallowing as Terri Schiavo:

- A slab of granite
- A watermelon
- A hubcap from a 1989 Ford Escort
- Play-Doh
- etc.

In other words, Terri Schiavo has no likelihood of swallowing. That's because Terri Schiavo is a vegetable and her brain is long gone. It's keeping her lungs and heart going and firing off some reflex responses and that's about it. She has no cognitive abilities, some level of which would be required for someone who is going to swallow food.

As for comparing all people who can't swallow to Chia Pets, again, I'm going to assume that you're being obtuse purposely because it suits your particular agenda. I can also make a statement like, "I have the same likelihood of sprouting wings and flying as my dog does." That doesn't mean I am comparing myself and all other people who cannot sprout wings and fly to a dog.

[Modem Butterfly]

139. Harsh, but true

Terri Schiavo is, for all intents and purposes, a chia pet.

[Name removed]

125. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[deek]

127. ahem

very progressive and humane comment

[GiovanniC]

136. Well It Would Elminate The Complaints About How He Is "Cheating" on Her

[GiovanniC]

81. The Medical Facts Have Already Been Proven, Time After Time, In Court

I was asking you to back up your BULLSHIT ASSERTIONS regarding the wheelchair that allowed people to cart Terri Schaivo's corpse around like some kind of morbid real-life "Weekend at Bernie's III", and Michael Schiavo's evil plot to refuse to let anyone do anything for the shell that used to be his wife.

You made the claim, now you back it up.

[samiam1972]

84. If I try to back it up

I'll get banned. I don't want to get banned. I am a person that disagrees with what is going on here. I don't like the idea of euthanasia and that is what this is. I don't think food and water should be considered "life support" that can be denied. The information I have come from one of Terri's support sights. I could give you that information but I would be reduced to a right-wing nut job. You know what? Just forget I said anything. I obviously am not as far-left as the people here. I've run into this before. I'll find a different Democratic board to frequent. I'm not crazy enough to be here.

[GiovanniC]

87. You'll Be Missed

[atldem]

88. Ok bye.

Bad arguements tend to crumble when someone challenges them don't they?

[RetroLounge]

159. yeah, whatever.

B'bye...

:eyes:

RL

[FreedomAngel82]

178. LOL

If you're not crazy enough to be here WHY ARE YOU HERE?! LOL! And you'll get banned because your opinions are different? We all have different opinions honey. LOL! And you made the mistake of coming here thinking you could argue with us without proving your talking points. LOL. Too funny. Bye bye!

[MADem]

182. Food and water are not life support? But OXYGEN is???

What's the difference between food and water and a respirator? Where was Tom Delay when one of his fellow TEXANS was unhooked from a respirator this past week?

This whole issue is a POLITICAL football. No extraordinary measures to prolong life means just that--if she wants to live, she'll eat and drink. But we know that won't happen, because she has fewer cognitive skills than a lobster. Her cerebral cortex is GONE.

Her husband has dealt with this for 15 years. Like the law or not, he has the RIGHT, according to the courts, to make the decisions. The only way they can go after him is to trash him. He's been treated unfairly in all this, IMHO.

The courts ruled that the Texas hospital could override the wishes of the mother of the Texas baby (but if she had money, they would have kept the kid going--it was all about COST, that case), and the courts ruled that Michael had the right to determine the course of his wife's care.

[MissB]

83. "give her a month to see if she can swallow for herself"

hahahahahaha

*missb wipes away tears of laughter from her eyes*

She can't swallow food. She also has no cerebral cortex.

[GiovanniC]

91. I Think It's a Great Idea

Remove the feeding tube. Put some meatloaf and mashed potatoes and carrots and jello on a tray in front of her. Give her a month to eat it.

From there, que sera, sera.

[Name removed]

92. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[GiovanniC]

95. Hey, I Was Just Agreeing With Your Ingenius Plan

[MissB]

97. Aside from samiam1972's personal attack

All he is suggesting is that for all those people that believe that she can exist (despite the lack of cerebral cortex), then fine, give her some food. If she can eat, great. If not, well, there you go.

[GiovanniC]

98. I Didn't Attack Anybody

[MissB]

99. No, you didn't. I worded it poorly. Sorry

I meant the other poster personally attacked you. I alerted on them.

[atldem]

100. Yes you did

I was trying to have a reasonable argument with that person and you came in with words like "bullshit assertions" and all that does is shut people down.

[MissB]

101. No, he didn't. But the other poster did

He was called a sick person. That is a personal attack. It would've been easy for the poster to word it differently and not attack him personally.

[atldem]

104. Please address your comments to the correct person.

I never said anyone was sick.

[MissB]

106. I'll edit

Darned threads. Sorry 'bout that.

[deek]

115. it was bullying, plain and simple eom

.

[GiovanniC]

118. Well Here's a Tissue For Your Tears

Next time says something really stupid, I'll try to pretend like it was smart.

For example, that was a very intelligent and important contribution to this thread, deek.

[deek]

129. just calling it as i see it

When someone bullies someone else, and that person responds to it, it's a tad silly for the bully to cry "foul".

[GiovanniC]

138. That's Very Intelligent

Clever, brilliant and quite brainy!

[GiovanniC]

102. Two Points

(1) Saying that someone is making bullshit assertions is not a personal attack. In this case, it was simply a statement of fact.

(2) You were never going to have a reasonable argument with that person.

[atldem]

110. Well

Saying "and you want ME to prove that your nuttier-than-squirrel-shit, bizarre, right-wing-whack-job talking points aren't true?" is a bit of an attack.

Don't presume what kind of argument I can have.

[GiovanniC]

113. Again, I Was Just Stating Facts

They were and are nuttier-than-squirrel-shit, bizarre, right-wing-whack-job talking points, and I am free to say so. However, you should take care to notice that I was describing the claims themselves, and not the claimant.

As for the kind of argument you can have, I'm sure that you can have great arguments but that person was not listening to facts or reason, nor did they seem to care too much about it.

[janx]

96. The courts have explored all of these avenues for years.

You're just spouting the old stuff again.

[deek]

112. customized wheelchair is needed

It must be specially made for her positioning needs. It can take from 6mo to 1 year to make the the initial chair. Frequently, modifications must be made after that to make it truly appropriate.

It has taken over 2 years after an initial seating evaluation to finally get my daughter's customized chair to be "right".

These types of chairs usually cost $10-$15K (nonmotorized).

[Name removed]

130. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[deek]

132. my daughter is not a turnip

how dare you

[Modem Butterfly]

143. Are you Terri Schiavo's mother?

:shrug:

[ultraist]

148. She IS making a very valid point

It's uncivilized to make crass "jokes" about brain damaged or disabled people.

Regardless of people's positions on this, it's not necessary to talk about her giving blow jobs or calling her a turnip.

[Modem Butterfly]

149. If we can't make fun of the living dead, who can we make fun of?

In all seriousness, the ridiculousness and grossness of the situation has reached an all-time high with the subpeona of Terri Schiavo. Now THAT'S what's offensive.

[deek]

153. let's make fun of

progressives who believe in social justice and equal opportunity for all, but who make fun of people who are disabled.

If/when this administration decides my daughter's life is not worth of value, I would most certainly want them to meet her before condemming her to torture and death.

[Modem Butterfly]

156. Terri Schiavo's not disabled

THIS is not disabled:



The black stuff is what used to be Terri. Calling this a disability is like calling Fallujah an urban renewal project.

[SillyGoose]

188. Let's just say that the term "hypocrite" fits equally well

on both sides of the aisle, Deek. I cannot believe that I am seeing this type of commentary on a so-called progressive site. Based on the comments I have seen today alone, it appears under our "BIG TENT" there is social justice and equal opportunity for some. The insensitive and disgusting comments spewed out here do nothing to promote intelligent discussion of the issues and are an embarrassment to DU.

Just know that there are some of us "progressives" who take the rights of the disabled very seriously. Peace and hugs to you.

[ultraist]

158. I'm not saying it' s not ok to make fun of the situation in general

But it's bad form to call a human being a turnip or make sex jokes about her, that's just gross.

She IS still a human being and there ARE people that read this board that have severely disabled children or loved ones. Someone posted on another thread that their brother is in a coma.

I don't make fun of retarded people either.

They thought it was funny and said so, I didn't and said so.

[GiovanniC]

162. I Honestly Don't See It As a Joke About Brain Damaged or Disabled People

I see it as a joke about the people who are lying about how Terri Schiavo supposedly doesn't get to go outside because Michael is a mean, mean man -- AS IF TERRI GIVES A FLYING SQUIRREL FUCK one way or the other. These people are playing Weekend at Bernie's with Terri Schiavo, many of them for the sole purpose of furthering their own anti-choice, anti-dignity, anti-science, right-wing agendas.

So to try to tug at your heart-strings, they will play violins and sing you a sad song about the woman with the cognitive activity of a turnip (or radish, or whatever... vegetable being the theme here) can't go outside to frolic in the fields. They are manipulating human emotions and completely throwing all logic out the window in doing so.

[MsTryska]

185. don't forget....

anti-marriage

"sole purpose of furthering their own anti-choice, anti-dignity, anti-science, right-wing agendas"



the people getting involved in schiavo case in Congress are the same ones who are huge fans of the DMA.



these people aren't just against the right of married gay people, they are agaisnt the rights of married straight people too.

[deek]

151. no, but

my daughter is very simiar to Terri. She has more medical involvement than Terri, though.

I was talking about the need for customized wheelchairs and shared my personal experience re them.

Saying that most turnips only get grocery carts is insulting and heartless.

[Modem Butterfly]

152. Your daughter is in a PVS?

[deek]

154. pvs

Nope, nor is Terri.

[Modem Butterfly]

157. Oh, gee, I guess all the doctors, including Jeb's doctor, were wrong then

All they really needed to do was consult some anonymous nut on the Internet with nothing but an opinion and we could have avoided all this trouble.

:eyes:

[deek]

163. that's me

"some anonymous nut on the Internet with nothing but an opinion"

poor baby

[ultraist]

144. Making crass "jokes" about the disabled is totally UNCALLED for

It's says quite a lot about a person.

[Modem Butterfly]

150. Terri Schiavo isn't disabled

She's dead.

[SillyGoose]

177. Why don't you grow up?

Your comments are crass and juvenile. If you cannot discuss this issue without sinking to this level, then keep it to yourself. I hope if that should you ever find yourself or a loved one in this position that you receive more sensitive and intelligent commentary than what you have contributed in this case.

[ProfessorGAC]

62. That Is Factually Incorrect

And i suspect you know it to be inaccurate.
The Professor

[samiam1972]

66. Please

show me how this is inaccurate.

[ProfessorGAC]

68. The Court Record

Do some research. That statement was debunked in open court.
The Professor

[ohio_liberal]

67. The money

The money is administered through a trust fund and every single expenditure is approved through a judge. I'm pretty tired of the suggestions that Michael Schiavo has control of Terri's settlement money.

[samiam1972]

72. Is he her guardian?

Could he have requested that a new chair be given to her? Who is going to do it besides him? I don't care about who controls the money. It was awarded for her care. Is it being spent for her care?

[atldem]

73. I was under the immpression that

there was no more money from her settlement.

edited for a typo.

[ohio_liberal]

78. Estimated $50,000 left

She's a Medicaid patient at her current facility.

[GiovanniC]

75. It Absolutely Is, and Your Ignorance Is Glowing Through Big Time

Furthermore, Terri Schiavo has absolutely no clue or concept whatsoever of whether she is inside or outside or on fucking Neptune.

Wheeling her around outside like some Cabbage Patch Doll doesn't do anything for her, but whining about how they aren't wheeling her around like a Cabbage Patch Doll sure gives them a nice little sob story, even if it isn't true.

[samiam1972]

79. The reason

I brought up her wheel chair was in response to some "sob story" about having her on a gurney with tubes everywhere. I don't care if she gets outside or not. How do you know she has no concept of what is going on. I know there are a lot of doctors saying she is in PVS. However, whether you believe it or not, there are also doctors, that have actually seen her, not just a picture or video, that think she could improve with therapy. How does it hurt anyone to give her this opportunity? And thank you for stooping to name calling.

[MissB]

82. "How do you know she has no concept of what is going on"

Um. Lack of cerebral cortex. Big clue right there.

If you are unaware that her cerebral cortex is gone, then perhaps it would be best for you to discover exactly what that means.

[GiovanniC]

86. I Didn't Call You a Name, I Said You Are Ignorant, Which is a Fact

Like, if I said you're an "ignorant moron", THAT would be namecalling.

As for whether or not she has any concept of anything going on around her, when you take someone's brain, and it stops functioning, and then it turns into mush and soup, you cannot possibly tell me that you think there's any cognitive abilities there. If that is truly what you believe, that betrays your ignorance about how the brain works. And frankly, your ignorance does not equal a good reason to keep the corpse animated.

[ohio_liberal]

94. Of course it was spent on her care

There's not much left so she's a Medicaid patient now. Do you understand that there is nothing to be gained by pouring her into a wheelchair and taking her outside?

[deek]

119. nothing to be gained by taking her outside?

sunlight, vitamin D, fresh air, appreciation of nature, listening to birds, feeling movement.....getting OUT of that room

[GiovanniC]

124. Unable to Appreciate Nature -- Not Cognizant

Unable to Listen to Birds -- Not Cognizant
Unable to Feel Movement -- Not Cognizant
Has No Idea Where She Is -- Not Cognizant

Her brain is gone.

[deek]

131. bleeding heart liberals

my ass

[ProfessorGAC]

133. Touche!

Not really! Just a simple reply to a simple post.
The Professor

[SillyGoose]

190. uh, alot was spent on legal fees.

In 1992, Terri was awarded nearly one million dollars by a malpractice jury and an out-of-court malpractice settlement which was designated for future medical expenses. Of these funds, less than $50,000 remains today. The financial records revealing how Terri’s medical fund money is managed are SEALED from inspection. Court records, however, show that Judge Greer has approved the spending down of Terri’s medical fund on Schiavo’s attorney’s fees - though it was expressly awarded to Terri for her medical care. Schiavo’s primary attorney, George Felos, has received upwards of $400,000 dollars since Schiavo hired him.

http://www.terrisfight.org/myths.html

[ultraist]

137. They have wheelchairs at that facility

[GiovanniC]

140. Why Do You Have To Come Around Spreading Truth Around?

The lies are much more convenient for some.

[WoodrowFan]

174. my BS detector just went off the scale.

opps, too late.

[janx]

89. She has no cerebral cortex.

Scan of a normal human brain:



Terri Schiavo's brain (dark blue is cranio/spinal fluid; light blue is remnants of brain tissue):

[applegrove]

187. The pictures I saw of her on TV did not show an empty shell. She

was liking human contact. Has her condition changed from that video?

[Lisabtrucking]

189. Wow that is bad. My grandmothers wasn't even that bad and she died.

[ps1074]

12. Her parents are nuts

This is insane. Let the poor woman die peacefully. I am sure the parents are proud of themselves. They let their daughter become a political tool now.

[kedrys]

15. The whole thing I don't get is

if her parents want to leave Terri's fate in God's hands, would it not make more sense to unhook her from the machinery and see what happens? I mean, what if keeping her alive is against God's will because God wants Terri back?

Just wondering. I can't understand how those people think - or whether they do at all.

[fertilizeonarbusto]

13. I'm sure becoming a political circus attraction is exactly

what she wanted to do with her life. I hope they try to bring her to DC and the shock of the trip puts her out of her horrible agony right in chambers in front of God and everyone.

[ultraist]

16. Where did you hear Terri is going to testify?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/18/national/main681495.shtml

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.

"This is not Stalinist Russia where the state owns your body, and the United States House of Representatives is not the politburo," Michael Schiavo's attorney, David Felos, told CBS Radio News Friday morning. "They don't own Terri Schiavo's body and they can't force her to have life support continued against her wishes, nor can they override court orders."

The effort by the House Government Reform Committee 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."

"I don't believe there is any way that Congress can intervene to stop the removal of the feeding tube," said Felos. The Government Reform Committee is the same committee that forced Major League Baseball players and officials to testify Thursday about steroid use. It was not immediately known when the subpoenas would be delivered to Schiavo's hospice and doctors, or whether the Florida health care providers would recognize them. A possible penalty for not recognizing the subpoena is to be held in contempt of Congress, a GOP leadership aide said.

"Everything is a longshot," said Gibbs, attorney for Schiavo's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler. But several last-minute legal avenues were being tried, such as the habeas corpus appeal, which is commonly used in death penalty cases.

[spunky]

17. Its a developing story on drudge. . .

**Exclusive Fri Mar 18 2005 00:50:07 ET** The Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee, Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming) has requested Terri Schiavo to testify before his congressional committee, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned. In so doing it triggers legal or statutory protections for the witness, among those protections is that nothing can be done to cause harm or death to this individual.

Members of Congress went to the U.S. Attorney in DC to ask for a temporary restraining order to be issued by a judge, which protects Terri Schiavo from having her life support, including her feeding and hydration tubes, removed... Developing...

[ultraist]

38. Drudge?

That doesn't mean she is going to testify. I'll believe that part of this when it's from another source. It's seems pretty far fetched that they would transport her to DC from FL. They may take a video of her and use that as her testimony though, they do that sometimes.

[spunky]

44. Oh, I don't think they'll really get her to testify. This is just a tactic

to prevent them from removing the feeding tube, and keep her alive until they can find another way to but in. IMO.

http://reuters.myway.com/article/20050318/2005-03-18T141312Z_01_N18698359_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-RIGHTS-SCHIAVO-CONGRESS-DC.html
here's the article it eventually linked to. THe article doesn't say they are supoening her exactly, just that they issued subpoenas to prevent her tube from being removed.

Either way its a load of sh*t in my opinion. They should stay out of it. If they want to change things, they should pass a law, but if they don't get the law passed in time for Terri, too bad. They are totally overstepping their bounds, IMO.

[GiovanniC]

18. The House Government Reform Committee... Like Jon Stewart Said on TDS

the other night... they can hold hearings on ANYTHING. Anything at all. Gannon. Plame. No WMDs. Abu Ghraib. 9/11. Anthrax. ANYTHING.

They have chosen steroids in baseball and a keeping a corpse animated.

There are your government's priorities, people.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

21. Unfortunately,

I think those actually are the priorities of the redneck ignorant hateful assholes that put these jackasses in office.

[thinkingwoman]

24. keeping a corpse animated

is very important to national security!

Case in point: Dick Cheney.

</sarcasm and nonsense>

[elehhhhna]

23. A human political football.

[Pathwalker]

105. A rope in a tug-of-war!

n/t

[powergirl]

25. Even though I am suspicious of Mr. Shiavo, THIS IS NUTS!

I think Mr. S. is a weasel and it bothers me that he has a new woman in his life and two children but chose to remain married to Terry. He should have divorced her long ago. Having said that, the courts have done their job and have determined that Mr. S did nothing illegal and that this poor woman is in a persistent vegetative state. Many people who look to the courts for redress become disappointed - it sucks but that is the law.

I just wish that these jackass moron Repub Senators could respect the rule of law. They are the one's who whine about "activist judges" unless the judge is "activisting" for some stupid Republican cause. Those senators don't give a crap about that poor woman and her family. What a bunch of opportunistic jerks. They need to spend their time doing something important - like investigating pro baseball steroid use - NOT!!!:grr:

[Old Deuteronomy]

26. It is a sad situation....

but if my wife had told me she did not want to be kept alive in such a state, I would fight for her too. I know my wife and children know I don't ever want that, but it needs to be put in writing I suppose because of such idiots...

[Walt Starr]

27. Well tell me, would you wait fifteen years?

His wife has been dead while her animated coirpse has been kept kicking for FIFTEEN YEARS!

My wife and I currently only have a verbal agreement on this issue, but we've both agreed the OTHER SHOULD MOVE ON!

[mondo joe]

31. Precisely. It's exactly what I'd want my spouse to do.

Make sure your obligation to me is fulfilled, but also move on with your own life.

[Walt Starr]

34. In an identical situation with my wife

I would have moved on in a similar fashion. I would not wait for theanimated corpse to be allowed to die first.

[mondo joe]

28. Precisely how many years must one wait to move on

without being a weasel?

[powergirl]

30. Actually, Mr. S. had been trying to to this long ago

I don't blame Mr. S. for the delay. I blame the Schindlers- definitely. I don't blame Mr. S for starting another family - he should! But, Mr. S. is a weasel because he should have DIVORCED Terry before starting another family. That is one part of the case that is disturbing.

[mondo joe]

33. But it's not his fault they won't let him fulfill his duty to Terri

I'd want my spouse to do the same thing -- carry out his responsibility to me AND move on.

It's possible to do both.

Divorcing Terri would mean abandoning her to people who don't care about her wishes.

[powergirl]

36. I'm also annoyed that Repubs only pick "popular" right to life causes

For example, down here in Dallas, Texas (Yes, a fiercely Red state - pray for me), an indigent African American woman gave birth to a profoundly disabled child. The child had no prognosis of living without life support. He had some rare form of dwarfism that caused his lungs to have zero capacity and he basically had no brain. The mother wanted to keep him alive. Baylor hospital (good Baptist folks) wanted to end life support b/c this lady didn't have any money, etc..

So, she went to court, lost and the child was removed from life support and died. It was probably the humane thing to do. But, the mother's attorney wondered why the Republican Right to Life Bandwagon didn't pick up on this and help her the way they are helping Terry Schiavo? I think we all know why -- indigent and African American causes aren't near and dear to Repubs looking for some press.

[Quixote1818]

39. Yes, for the right this battle is not for life but for power. nt

[Walt Starr]

35. Michael Shiavo is a HERO

The Shindlers are the weasels!

[powergirl]

37. The Schindlers are being used

I feel bad for all the parties involved - especially Terry. But the Schindlers are being used by the Republicans who are encouraging this frenzy. The Repubs swoop down like vultures and prey on these poor people. When this is over, the Repubs will pack up and return to their country clubs and the Schindlers will be all alone.

[mondo joe]

40. They stated they would defy her wishes

The Schindlers stated they would defy her wishes even if they KNEW she requested no life support.

So they get not an ounce of sympathy from me.

[powergirl]

41. They deserve sympathy

Their daughter is dead. I guess I'm too much of a bleeding heart to have hatred for them. They defintely don't have "clean hands" in this conflict and they will pay ultimately for this. But I find it heartbreaking and as a mother my heart goes out to anyone who has lost a child.

[mondo joe]

43. Sorry, but once they admitted they didn't give a shit what she

wanted, I don't care.

Not all parents and good or decent.

[Norquist Nemesis]

48. Sympathy for saying they'll cut off her arms and legs?

I feel sympathy for them that they've lost a child. No parent should have to live that experience. I feel sympathy that they've been brainwashed and used by the religious right. I feel sympathy that they refuse to let go because of the religious right.

But when I heard Mr. S. say (on Nightline) that Terri Schiavo's father testified in court he would cut off her arms and legs...my sympathy meter started tanking.

Let's just say, hyphothetically, that the Schindler's 'win' in the end. After the religious right packs their bags, and another 30 or 40 years have passed, who will be taking on the care and cost of Terri?

[BronxBoy]

145. Why?

[spunky]

45. He is not a weasel.

If she had stated that she wouldn't want this (which I believe him when he says she did) then I think what he is doing is really quite beautiful and touching. The easy thing to do would be to walk away and let her parents do what they want.

But he has chosen to perservere and fight for what he believes she wanted, even though I'm sure it is emotionally exhausting for him, his girlfriend, and their children.

If it were me, I'd want my husband to move on and find love while he was fighting for my right to die with dignity. Life is too short for him to waste time waiting for courts and what not. He is still alive, and if she loved him, she would want him to live and enjoy his live as much as he can.

[ohio_liberal]

108. Please

Terri Schiavo's parents told Michael to "get on with his life". That's exactly what he did, and now they want to use it against him. And I guess they are using it very effectively. Maybe, just maybe, he has stayed married to her for all these years because he wants to do the right thing by fulfilling her wishes. He can't do that if he divorces her. Think for a minute--he could have bailed the minute he got his part of the settlement. And he didn't.

[Chelsea Patriot]

134. So, he should be having kids with Teri....?

That's one sick fuck!

[Name removed]

167. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[AzDar]

32. If this comes to pass, our Government is truly lost to us....And that

poor,poor woman.

[dogindia]

46. the tapes of her on tv show her looking and smiling.

The greater soul sits not in the body. The question is does this soul want to stay in this body and who can communicate with her.

I am not sure but I was touched by her smiles. I think she may have more consciousness that her body allows us to perceive.

I think that if her soul wanted her to die she would have.

That is just my opinion.

[Modem Butterfly]

47. They're reflexes

People in PVS have basic reflexes. They twitch, smile, cry and moan. The lights are on, but no one is home. Terri is nothing more than an animated meat-sack. Time to let this sick, sad spectacle end.

[RaleighNCDUer]

51. And if they woudl just stop force feeding her she would die.

Her brain waves are practically flat-lined. MRI brain scans show that her cerebral cortex has atrophied so much as to not be there at all. In effect, she has no brain, and no chance of recovery -- there is no brain tissue there to rehabilitate.

They should do the merciful thing and let her expire, as she should have don fifteen years ago.

[GiovanniC]

57. Every Day, There Are Like 20 Terri Schiavo Threads

And in every one of them, someone brings up this heavily edited tape that shows the involuntary and unconscious twitches, reflexes, and spasms of the quasi-corpse of Terri Schiavo.

HEY KIDS! YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN "SENTIENT VEGETABLE" VIDEOTAPE! JUST FOLLOW THESE EASY INSTRUCTIONS!

STEP 1: Find someone who has the involuntary reflexive reactions that are typical even in someone in a persistent vegitative state.

STEP 2: Set up a video camera.

STEP 3: Shine a huge, bright strobe light at your subject to "jump start" the reactions.

STEP 4: Say, "If you are not a vegetable and can understand everything we say and want us to completely disregard your wishes about being kept alive in this state, move your arm."

STEP 5: Repeat until, on the 161st try, the subject's arm involuntarily spasms.

STEP 6: Edit out the first 160 times.

STEP 7: Show the tape everywhere to swing otherwise rational people to whatever right-wing agenda you might have at the moment.

CONGRATULATIONS, KIDS! YOU HAVE NOW CAPITALIZED ON THE MISFORTUNE OF A HUMAN BEING FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL POLITICAL GAIN!

[MoonRiver]

50. I'm sure they can communicate with someone in an equally vegetative state

Lol, three guess who that might be! :D

[Arkana]

53. This is a joke, right? Tell me this is a joke!

[Name removed]

54. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Norquist Nemesis]

58. Welcome BrokenLizard3!!!

Thanks for the info from someone who directly knows what's going on and the ramifications. :)

:hi:

[Orangepeel]

59. welcome to DU, BrokenLizard!

:hi:

Thanks for your input.

[kliljedahl]

85. Maybe they're tring to find

An intellectual equal for Dubyah.






http://www.kliljedahl.net

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

120. Are they going to give her congressional immunity?

The only thing more grotesque than the case itself, is the politicians participating in it.

[aeolian]

128. Wouldn't removing her from the Hospice in Florida

and carting her up to Washington kill her?

Or would that just be God's will?

[janx]

141. Chief judge in Pinellas County just blocked tube removal

temporarily--

Live feed:



http://www.tampabays10.com/weather/doppler/speedera_doppler.asx

[Cleita]

142. Well, she does seem to have more brain activity than all of

Congress and the White House lumped together.

[aeolian]

160. So does a potato. (n/t)

[bridgit]

147. life to very soon be determined by ones ability...

to show up in court and/or before a republican led congressional committee

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/18/national/18cnd-schiavo.html?hp

[ultraist]

155. Delay just made a statement commending the stay on the court order

On CNN. They have issued subpeonas and will hold a hearing at the Hospice in FL, where Terri is. Terri will attend the hearing on March 25.

[janx]

164. The block on the tube removal is only temporary--

until they can schedule a conference with Judge Greer. His cell phone was messed up or something.

[tishaLA]

166. Research help please

Can someone tell me where I can find the info about the Schindler's "experts" and the problems with them. I remember reading somewhere that they didn't even see her, that they got their expert opinion from viewing videotape and/or pictures, but I can't find that right now.

Any help?

[Quixote1818]

173. I would post this as a new thread. Few people scan to the bottom of thread

[WoodrowFan]

175. here you go, the bogus "experts"

http://majikthise.typepad.com/majikthise_/2005/03/red_herrings_17.html

[SheepyMcSheepster]

172. just heard on the radio that the judge denied the request

to have her testify..........

anyone else hear that or am i hearing things?

[Mr_Spock]

179. Tom Delay should have his face kicked in for politicizing this issue

This guy is a fucking low-life - trying to take political shots on this issue - where has this fucking ass-wipe been for the last seven years during the long legal battle in this case. This mother fucker (Delay) has got to be kicked out on the street on his fucking lying weasel ass.

[MADem]

183. He's waving his arms to create a smokescreen!

His ethics woes have filled the news--he's trying to get some fundie support to beat that back by hopping on this bandwagon.

Of course, he managed to do a great job of ignoring a similar case having to do with an infant child in Texas...course, that kid was black, and mommy had no insurance!

[Mr_Spock]

184. Ed Schultz just called him a "little slimeball"

I'd call him something worse myself :D

[Jehanatu]

186. *sigh*

According to wikipedia, the court booted this request out. It appears the only part of the three branches who have any regard for life.