"Instead of worrying about my wife, who was granted her wishes by the state courts the past seven years, they should worry about the pedophiles killing young girls," [Michael] Schiavo said, referring to a local case. "Why doesn’t Congress worry about people not having health insurance? Or the budget? Let’s talk about all the children who don’t have homes." "To … Read More
The Marketing of Terri Schiavo
This is the "urgent message" sent out by Randell Terry: Dear Friend, It is unthinkable… like some dark scenario in a horror movie… but true. An innocent, disabled woman is now being starved to death. Her food and water were suspended on Friday afternoon. […] Even if Congress does pass a bill and President Bush signs it, it will only … Read More
Starving to Death? The Calculated Inflammatory Rhetoric of the Christian Right
As one might expect, the American Journal of Bioethics is following the Schiavo case closely. One recent bioethicist/commentator took to task those who like to insult the hospice industry, under the false assumption that caring nurses and doctors would allow Terri Schiavo to experience pain and discomfort. She writes: One of the more disturbing aspects of the political rhetoric is … Read More
GOP Rapes Terri
It does. There is no better way to say it. Republican politicians don’t care about HER — but about their agenda and Election Day 2006. In fact, they are so concerned about getting re-elected that they will trod over a dying woman, a dead child, and their own values. Doubt me? Read on. First of all, let’s read a little … Read More
Those Of Us Who Read Liberal Blogs
Digby says: Those of us who read liberal blogs are also aware that Republicans have voted en masse to pull the plug (no pun intended) on medicaid funding that pays for the kind of care that someone like Terry Schiavo and many others who are not so severely brain damaged need all across this country. Those of us who read … Read More
Schiavo Protesters
Look at the picture on the left of people opposed to the Schiavo tube removal. This is the kind of protest that, if done by the liberals, would have the right wingers rolling in the aisles, making fun. But I think it is a perfectly fine protest — after all, they got their pictures taken, which means they got their … Read More
Yet Even More on Terri
Right winger Neil Boortz has the courage to see what this is is about, and he ain’t afraid to say it: At the center of the Terri Schiavo tragedy is America’s anti-abortion movement. Notice, please, the presence of Randall Terry. The fact is that the anti-abortion movement has seized Terri Schiavo … figuratively kidnapped her .. and they intend to … Read More
Isn’t It Ironic, Don’t You Think?
One of the most ironic statements about the Terri Schiavo case can be found in one of Judge Greer’s opinions: Perhaps one of the few agreements between these experts is that stem cell research is currently at the experimental stage and is years away from being accepted either medically or politically. It would not appear from the testimony that this … Read More
More Thoughts on Terri
Okay. I wanted to write a lengthy response to Professor Volokh’s bombshell in which he advocates torture (you’re never going to get on the Supreme Court that way, Eugene!), but I guess I better focus more on Terri Schiavo since — I’m told — my analysis of the case was rather amateurish and undetailed. To which I plead guilty. Guilty … Read More
Terri Schiavo News Wrap-up
Today is the day that Terri Schiavo is to have her feeding tube removed and to have a dignified death. But, you know how busybody some people are. Even though they don’t know her, or claim to know her, or claim to know what Terri would have wanted, the conservative we-know-better-than-you-because-God-tells-us-we’re-right assholes are doing all they can to make sure … Read More
Why Jeff Gannon Is A Moron
What JeffJim GannonGuckert would have asked the President, if he could have gotten a day pass to the last White House press briefing: Today’s Briefing Question While I am on hiatus from the White House briefing room, I’m going to post the question I would have asked had I been there. It will be interesting to see if anyone else … Read More
Spamming God
Mel Gibson wants us to "hammer God with prayers and hammer him hard." (Source). All this to keep Terry Schiavo alive. Now, I have many thoughts on the Schiavo case, but that’s for another day. My point here is that I don’t think we should be "hammering God" with prayers, the way Viagra companies hammer me with ads for penis … Read More
The Hidden Cost
A side of the Iraqi War that you rarely read about: Jesus Bocanegra was an Army infantry scout for units that pursued Saddam Hussein in his hometown of Tikrit. After he returned home to McAllen, Texas, it took him six months to find a job. He was diagnosed with PTSD and is waiting for the VA to process his disability … Read More
Disconcerting News
WASHINGTON – The Earth may be on the brink of a worldwide epidemic from a bird flu virus that may mutate to become as deadly and infectious as viruses that killed millions during three influenza pandemics of the 20th century, a federal health official said Monday. *** "The science here is all alerting us that we have a great deal … Read More
No Shit, Sherlock
The New England Journal of Medicine reports on a study which concludes that medical interns who have been "working for 32 consecutive hours with only two or three hours of sleep" are twice as likely to get into car accidents on the way home from work. The study, conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School, also concluded that when medical … Read More