Terri Schiavo: Another Political Trap from Karl Rove?

[JohnnyCougar]

Right now the Terri Schiavo case looks bad for Bush, as he is being seen as responsible for overstepping his bounds and intruding into the personal lives of US citizens. So far, so good, right?

Perhaps not. The reason why people are against Bush on this issue is because of the way they perceive Terri's situation. The perceive her as a vegetable that is mostly brain-dead, and someone who is probably better off dead, anyways. With zero chance of recovery, over 80% of the country would not want to be kept alive, anyways, so their position on Terri's life is understandable. But what if we are about to be thrown a curve ball? What if it comes out that Terri was abused and beaten by Michael, and this is what has caused her condition? How will this change the political dynamic of this issue?

We must begin thinking about this now. If this is the next twist in the case, expect a shift in support of Bush and his actions in this case. Making a political issue out of a brain-dead woman will be viewed differently than trying to save the life of an abused woman.

The right-wing propaganda machine is already pushing the "It looks like Terri was abused" angle. Obviously, if this ends up being true, the Democrats and anyone defending Michael will be caught with their pants down.

Another Rove trap?? It would be wise to start thinking about it!!

[Wonk]

1. Do the names James Dobson, Richard Mellon Scaife, and Joseph Coors

ring a bell?

http://uspolitics.about.com/b/a/155253.htm

[JohnnyCougar]

4. Exactly...this case was created by the right-wing fundies.

I find it hard to believe they are sticking to their guns despite Bush's plummeting approval rating. Makes me think something is up.

[aquart]

2. Rove is really God. His wishes must not be thwarted.

And won't be.

As long as the world contains idiots.

[spooked911]

3. wingnuts have already tried that tactic. It doesn't fly because of the

facts of the case.

The facts are, Terri's parents are the ones with problems.

[JohnnyCougar]

5. Your post sounds pretty much like opinion to me! n/t

[Wonk]

8. "Referring to the facts of the case sounds like opinion to me!"

ROTFLMAO

Btw, your posts so far in this thread are just opinion. Worth pointing out.

[JohnnyCougar]

18. LOL!!

The facts are, Terri's parents are the ones with problems.

So this isn't opinion? LOL!

And my posts in this thread are opinion as well? Why, you bastion of infinite wisdom!! I'm glad you pointed that out!

OF COURSE IT'S FRICKIN' OPINION...this is a discussion forum! This is just something to consider!

[proud patriot]

6. rove using Terry S to whip up the base against The Judicial Branch

Lines drawn to keep A Free and Independent Judiciary .

All Americans Who Love Freedom and our Constitution
Must Stand United .

rove is attempting to inflict grievous injury
to the Rule Of Law in this land for a generation .

[mikehiggins]

7. The Insurance Card

Michael S won a settlement from a malpractice suit.

If there was ANY evidence WHATSOEVER that he had done ANYTHING to contribute to his wife's situation it WOULD have come out during the investigation of the claim.

Even the dumbest asshole in the reddest state can do the math on that one. If there was ANYTHING to this charge it would have come out when the real American God--MONEY--was on the barrelhead.

It didn't, so it doesn't exist.

Even Rove can't convince the American public that an insurance company would pay money to someone who abused his wife.

[JohnnyCougar]

20. Well, it sound unlikely, but it's not impossible.

Court cases are not perfect. Although for the ammount of money in the Schiavo case, I find it unlikely that the investigation of the insurance company wasn't thorough.

Unlikely, but still possible.

[BillZBubb]

9. How she got to this state is immaterial to the proper outcome

She has no cerebral cortex. She is basically a vegetable that cannot even feed itself. Whatever the cause, those are the facts. People understand that.

Sure the wingnuts will attack her husband. That's what they do. But, we aren't defending her husband. We are talking about the most humane outcome for her.

As for the overall politics of this the Chimperor won't be harmed and Jebthro will gain huge clout with the Fundies. The Repugs know their base. Their is no gain for the Democrats, particularly since they sat on the sidelines and acquiesced to the Repugs.

[mikehiggins]

11. If you think the Fundies will be satisfied with this

you really don't know these folks at all.

They want their pound of flesh and God help the people who don't deliver it. The Bush boys blinked and that will NEVER be forgotten by the people who beleive that they, and Jesus, elected the two of them to office to make America safe for Christianity.

You accept these people are crazy but then you seem to think they are logical.

[BillZBubb]

21. Actually, it's because they are crazy that I know they'll stay Repug

They'll feel betrayed by Bush, perhaps, but they'll believe that any "evil, godless, librul" Democrat would be much worse. They are not logical, so being let down by a fellow traveler won't have the expected logical outcome. Just wait, you'll see.

[JohnnyCougar]

19. You're right, we are talking about the most humane outcome.

I'm just throwing up a warning sign against defending the husband. Is this bone scan business pure RW propaganda? Maybe. Remember, reality doesn't matter in politics, perception of reality is what matters.

The Dan Rather documents were real, but that didn't stop the RW noise machine from making them seem fake to most of the nation. If Democrats are percieved as defending Michael, don't be surprised if the push this abuse thing.

[snippy]

10. Bush and the other republican politicians have crawled back under

their rocks in response to the polls on their involvement in this case. If they had a "curve ball" to throw they would not be revealing themselves as the poll driven cowards which they are. They would be on television pretending that the courage of their convictions allowed them to disregard unfavorable poll results.

[POAS]

12. Here in NE Ohio

we have had a case involving a toddler named Aiden Stein who is suffering from brain damage allegedly caused by shaken baby syndrome.

The State has been trying to take custody of Aiden so that they can allow him to die and then bring charges against the father for murder.

Just in the last several weeks a judge ruled that custody and guardianship be given to his paternal grandmother rather than the state. This is the type of situation that is played out all over this country on a regular basis and people all over have made it clear they want the lawmakers to stay out of these matters of personal tragedy and leave them to the families or, when criminality may be involved, with local law enforcement and courts.

Here is a snippet from the Akron Beacon Journal:

Sobbing and trembling, Arica Heimlich listened Thursday as a judge explained that she was about to become a ``legal stranger'' to her own son, who turns 17 months old on Sunday.

But if the 22-year-old mother agreed to surrender her parental rights, Aiden's paternal grandmother could get legal custody, and the government would be excluded from any decision to end the severely brain-damaged boy's life.

``That issue still hangs out in the air and that issue may come back to haunt this entire case down the line,'' said Richland County CSB attorney David Kitzler. ``This was a compromise based on a lot of realities. Nobody is totally happy with it, but everyone is satisfied with it.''

Spon was more than satisfied with what he called an ``excellent'' agreement that leaves the fundamental question of ending life support in the family rather than with a stranger.

``In a sense, mercy and justice have kissed one another,'' he said.

Here is a link to the whole article (registration required)
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/11226827.htm

edited to fix title

[baby_bear]

13. She was a victim of bulimia

I'm not sure who the bad guy is when it comes to bulimia. Society in general, I suppose....very doubtful that a single person (such as a husband) could cause such a horrific (but common) mental disorder that plays itself outu physically as well as mentally.

http://www.underthesamesun.org/content/2005/03/forcestarved_to_1.html


<snip>
March 20, 2005
Terri Schiavo's Bulimia: Not on "The Agenda"
There has been a lot of attention on Terri Schiavo as her formal husband, her parents, and the so-called pro-lifers fight over whether her feeding-tube should be removed so that she'll die by starvation or whether she should continue to be force-fed so that she will remain alive in a persistent vegetative state.

Much less mentioned is the fact that Schiavo had this heart attack at a very young age, causing the current persistent vegetative state, because of her bulimia:

When she finally lost 65 pounds in her late teens, men started to pay attention — including the man who would become her husband, Michael Schiavo, who was tall and handsome.
But keeping the weight off was a struggle for Terri Schiavo, and years later — after her heart stopped briefly, cutting off oxygen to the brain — a malpractice case brought against a doctor on her behalf would reveal she had been trying to survive on liquids and was making herself throw up after meals. The Schiavos' lawyer said her 1990 collapse was caused by a potassium imbalance brought on by an eating disorder.

It is a cruel twist lost on no one close to the case: A woman who is said to have struggled with an eating disorder is now in the middle of a court battle over whether her feeding tube should be removed so that she can starve to death.

</snip>

I don't think even Karl Rove can make hay out of this one. But, people are always in denial when it comes to eating disorders, so maybe he can.

b_b

[tubbacheez]

14. Skepicism is healthy. In this case, tho', I doubt many facts will change.

This case has been wrung repeatedly through the courts for 12 years. And with the high-drama showdown this month, I doubt either side has any "secret weapon" kept in reserve. They've been going for broke, and for a long time.




My sci-fi imagination tells me that it's remotely possible that Rove and some secret government lab could cook up some illusion or ruse that makes it "look" like Terri is miraculously recoving her health.


But barring anything that far-fetched, I won't place any bets on new material facts suddenly appearing out of nowhere.



Just my 2 cents.

[spanone]

15. They are gonna use this to change the courts. Watch out!

'Activist Judges' means judges that don't agree with the Republican congress.

[AlinPA]

16. The only tangible gain for Rove & Co is increased energy of the

right wing zealots. My opinion is that some republicans would rather the politicians stay away. TV was the big winner in this unfortunate circus.

[MsMagnificent]

17. No real evidence, other than hysterical & years on...

The fact remains her potassium level (which regulates hydration within a cell, as opposed to sodium which regulates water outside a cell) was very very low is really a refutation of any alleged abuse; especially when you consider they won over 1 million in damages for medical malpractice from the doctor who was closely treating & (supposedly) monitoring her.

However, on Hannity and Colmes, accusations of abuse from the sister and a friend on the part of Michael Schiavo, including this gem of a quote:

"She never told me about any abuse, but that doesn't mean there wasn't any."


Unbelievable how low they can really go...

[demo dutch]

22. You're giving him tooo much credit... Really!

[JohnnyCougar]

23. Maybe I am...but Dan Rather didn't give him enough credit.

It doesn't hurt to be cautious. It can't hurt if we keep focus on what a political charade this is instead of focusing on whether she should or shoudn't die.