Schiavo the Movie

It will be interesting to which version of the Terri Schiavo movie of the week is made. Will it be one sympathetic to the husband or sympathetic to Terri's parents. It is difficult to see how either version can be made without slamming hard either of the two parties.

"Time for Peace - The Terri Schiavo Story": Michael Schiavo struggles against fanatic in-laws who won't let go of their brain-dead daughter.

"Let My Daughter Live - The Terri Schiavo Story": Terri's parents struggle to keep their daughter alive against an estranged husband determined to see her die and an uncaring judicial system".

Knowing which side the entertainment industry takes on most issues, I'm pretty sure who's story will be told. The clincher is how Christians, pro-lifers, republicans and George Bush would be portrayed in each version. Can you say "The Reagans"?

My Letter

I don't know if the Wall Street Journal will print my letter, but here it is:


Editor - John Fund thinks that liberals are being inconsistent with their different approaches to the Terri Schiavo and Elian Gonzales cases. Actually, they are being perfectly consistent. Add both examples to the reams of evidence that liberals are motivated by feelings over facts, reason or logic.

Liberals in the media were shockingly unconcerned for basic facts in both cases that made each extraordinary. With Elian Gonzales, liberals were clamoring for his immediate return to his father in Cuba with no way of knowing if his father may have preferred his son be raised with the freedoms and opportunities in the United States. Certainly those were his mother's wishes. Equally certain, it was not Castro's.

The same rush to judgment was evidenced with Terri Shiavo. A certain diagnosis of her condition and the dubious standing of her estranged husband were afterthoughts to the question of Terri's "right to die".

Schiavo

I believe in the "right to die". This case is not about the "right to die". Of the many distinctions between the court ordered death of Terri Schiavo and that of a condemned murderer, the most pressing is that the murderer isn't slowly dying while his case is still being appealed. Just imagine officials cutting off food and water to a convict whilst awaiting word from the Supreme Court. Ironically enough, we give the murderer a last meal prior to a swift and painless death.

I would have imagined this distinction would have been more powerful than it apparently was to those who ostensibly wish Terri be put down as quickly as possible.

A second, less obvious distinction is how the debate would change if we weren't using the euphemism "letting her die" and were giving her a lethal injection instead. The great irony being death by lethal injection is much more humane than starvation and dehydration - a punishment the courts would never permit on the grounds of "cruel and unusual".

This case is not about the "right to die". This case is about the standing of a husband, who has remarried in all but name to another woman who bore two of his children, to make this choice. Thus, Mr. Schiavo's sincerity regarding what is best for Terri is not the issue. Even if he had written authorization to choose life or death (which he does not), it would be proper to address his conflict of interest.

This case is not about a "personal family issue". It is about the continuing confusion over Terri's true condition. No MRI, activist "expert" testimony, ambiguous video, conflicting witness testimony, etc... Recently, an expert claimed that many who starve feel "euphoria" as they die. Since vegetables do not feel euphoria, why bring it up? Another claimed her brain waves are flat. Others respond this is impossible since the only life support she requires is for nourishment. Her heart, lungs and other vital organs are functional. All indicate brain activity. When most people think about removing "life support", they think of respirators and heart pumps. Death comes quickly; 5-10 minutes. Terri's agonizing death won't come for a week to 10 days.

This case is not about "States rights". It is about an out of control, unelected judiciary that ignores the wishes of the people's elected representatives. Under the guise of process the Judiciary has rebuffed the clear intent of a Congressional act, which was not to overturn the decision, but merely look at it anew. An act signed by the President of the United States at 1:08 in the morning.

What I don't understand why those who only chose to see this as a "right to die" issue poo-poo, sugar-coat or ignore all the extenuating circumstances of this case. What is it about the death of this poor woman that makes them behave in such a manner?

Judicial vs. Legislative. Legal vs. Moral. This is the true divide.

Hillary '08

I've always believed that liberal positions are more emotional than logical or reasonable. Thus logic and reason alone will not be sufficient to alter the thinking of those on the Left.

For this reason, I firmly believe that the Left will not care what Hillary's posturing is. She is emotionally with them and will get their vote regardless if she is hawkish on Iraq or starts talking about personal responsibility. She cannot be beaten from the left because she has their vote locked. They know who she is and they know she one of them

The only hope another democrat has of denying her the nomination is to be able to define her as the leftist she is at heart and persuade the moderates that another northern liberal will get the same result. This effort will have to be brutal and I highly doubt any other democrat has the stomach or talent for it. The nomination is hers.

Something else that is interesting is that by 2008, Hillary's entire political career will be one completed term as a U.S. Senator and the wife of Bill. Which do you think holds more sway with the Democrats? Speaks volumes.

Judicial Appointments

The most oft cited charge levied by the opponents of president Bush's judicial appointments is that they are "out of the mainstream". It would be amusing were it not so serious.

By all indications, Americans oppose same-sex marriage by upwards of 70%. Yet, the "mainstream media" is virtually unanimous in their support. See if you can find ONE major media outlet refer to the Massachusetts Supreme Court as "out of the mainstream".

Americans oppose racial preferences by 60-70% Has the media ever referred to a judge or politician who supports racial preferences as "out of the mainstream"?

Americans support the death penalty by nearly 70%. Would the media call a judge who opposes the death penalty "out of the mainstream"?

Americans support a ban on partial birth abortion by over 70%. Did the media call the federal judges who struck down that legislation as "out of the mainstream"? Did they call ANY of the Democrat politicians (including Hillary Clinton) who opposed the legislation "out of the mainstream"?

I could go on and on regarding bilingual education, welfare reform, benefits for illegal immigrants, crime, etc...

What we have is a "mainstream media" that is distinctly not in synch with "mainstream America". The "mainstream" they refer to is the stream in which they swim with their friends and acquaintances. The river running next to them is unseen and unheard.

George Ding-a-Ling

George Ding-a-Ling
(Sung to "My Ding-a-Ling" by Chuck Berry)


After 9/11 George had a plan
He'd take out the Taliban
"Well beat the Afghan winter
and to Afghans freedom bring"

But they still call him George Ding-a-Ling

Oh George (Ding-a-Ling)
George (Ding-a-Ling)
They Still call him George (Ding-a-Ling)

George (Ding-a-Ling)
George (Ding-a-Ling)
They still call him George (Ding-a-Ling)


Saddam called George the Son of a Whore
"Mess with me you'll have the Mother of all Wars"
Caught hiding in a hole
Now on trial he will sing

But they still call him George Ding-a-Ling

Oh George (Ding-a-Ling)
George (Ding-a-Ling)
They Still call him George (Ding-a-Ling)

George (Ding-a-Ling)
George (Ding-a-Ling)
They still call him George (Ding-a-Ling)


Arafat was evil everybody knew
"No more brunches in the Lincoln Bedroom for you"
Now he's dead and buried
What a terrible thing

But they still call him George Ding-a-Ling

Oh George (Ding-a-Ling)
George (Ding-a-Ling)
They Still call him George (Ding-a-Ling)

George (Ding-a-Ling)
George (Ding-a-Ling)
They still call him George (Ding-a-Ling)


Elections breaking out all over the place
As the Arab Street does an about-face
Kadaffy got the message
and he gave Bashar a ring

But they still call him George Ding-a-Ling

Oh George (Ding-a-Ling)
George (Ding-a-Ling)
They Still call him George (Ding-a-Ling)

George (Ding-a-Ling)
George (Ding-a-Ling)
They still call him George (Ding-a-Ling)

In Germany he's ridiculed, in France he's hated
Even after 50 million liberated
That's as great as any president
Greater than any King

But they still call him George Ding-a-Ling

Oh George (Ding-a-Ling)
George (Ding-a-Ling)
They Still call him George (Ding-a-Ling)

George (Ding-a-Ling)
George (Ding-a-Ling)
They'll always call him George (Ding-a-Ling)