MSNBC LBN: Rebuffing Congress, judge lifts order blocking removal of ....

[sabra]

<<SNIP>>
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7212079/

Judge rejects GOP bid to keep Schiavo alive
Senate, House Republican leaders had tried to intervene

NBC, MSNBC and news services


Updated: 1:43 p.m. ET March 18, 2005

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. - Rejecting requests from Republican leaders in Congress, a Florida judge on Friday refused to again delay permission to remove the feeding tube keeping alive Terri Schiavo, a brain-damaged woman at the center of a battle
Courts had previously cleared the way for Schiavo's husband to remove her feeding tube as early as 1 p.m. ET Friday. The tube has been removed twice in the past and then reinserted as the battle continued.

The Republican-controlled Senate health committee earlier Friday requested that Schiavo and her husband, Michael, appear at a hearing March 28 on health care for "non-ambulatory persons." The move to include Terri Schiavo, who is in a vegetative state, was meant to block the removal of her tube, at least until the congressional hearing is held.

In a press release, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, himself a doctor, noted that federal law "protects witnesses called before official Congressional committee proceedings from anyone who may obstruct or impede a witness' attendance or testimony."

<</SNIP>>

[bearfan454]

1. There is a court order to remove it.

We all know how big the repukes are on the law.

[montanacowboy]

4. I think this is the latest

I believe this came after the order to leave the tube in

and round and round we go, and where we stop, nobody knows

[qanda]

2. Huh?

I'm confused.

[truthpusher]

12. Me too - this doesn't read clearly

[sabra]

15. It appears they tied to get this out really fast...

not paying too much time on the details :-)

[janx]

14. Judge Greer just told the wingnuts in Congress to take a hike!

That's basically what happened!

[AngryOldDem]

25. Okay, just so I understand

Judge Greer is the one who caused the delay in the first place, because he could not be found around noontime for a teleconference with Congressional lawyers, correct?

So now, the way is clear to remove the feeding tube?

I am so sick and tired of this sad circus.

[janx]

30. At least for now, apparently so. But the wingnuts won't let

go of this. They'll think of other things to do.

[Cocoa]

3. hopefully Schiavo will be released soon

what a sad sad spectacle, seeing this human being be used, in her last days of existence, as a political football by the likes of Tom Delay and Jeb Bush. :-(

[karlrschneider]

5. CNN reporting same thing now

:eyes:

[BrklynLiberal]

6. Wow!c Wonder if this will finally put an end to this whole case.

[GiovanniC]

7. Someone Needs To Fire The Person Who Writes the Headline Copy

What a fucked up, garbled, needlessly confusing mess that is.

[meganmonkey]

8. OMG

I have to stop checking LBN. My head is going to explode.

:eyes:

Although I only started really following this case recently, I have already learned that no decision about Terry Schiavo will stand for long enough for her to pass away.

Will this one be different?

I hope so.

Let her die in peace, let this get out of the public discourse, and let's all move on....

[Liberal Veteran]

17. This case is important in a number of ways...

Because this is clearly a case where the government and politically motivated forces are trying to interfere in an issue that rightly should between a spouses (or legally designated next-of-kin).

The only reasons that would be acceptable for them to interfere would be if they had compelling evidence of malice by the next-of-kin or true medical testimony to the ability of the person to improve.

[Liberal Veteran]

9. Better Headline: "Fla. Justice System to Congress: F*ck You!"

I hope this last ditch effort by the pukes to involve themselves in this case is done.

[sabra]

10. Amen!

[grannylib]

11. The Senate's move is a ploy to keep her 'alive' by subpoenaing her; if

she's been subpoenaed, removing the tube could itself be considered a violation of the law, so it's a whole neo-con-job trick to try to prevent her husband from carrying out what he says would be her wishes.
And here I thought the reThugs were such fans of the sanctity of a marital union as long as it's between two people of opposite gender, and supposedly, they are against government interference in private matters, but we all know what a fat lie that is....

[joanski01]

28. I just heard Tom Delay in a live

press conference broadcast on Span2 declare that the sanctity of life was more important that the sanctity of marriage. Tom Delay said that he didn't care what her husband thought. Sensenbrenner, Roy Blount, and other Repukes were there. I checked the other channels to see if the press conference was being broadcast on those, but they were not. Only on C-Span2. The House is coming back in session on Monday to take this up. The Senate is coming back in at 4:00 p.m. on Monday to take up their bill. What a mess!

[paula777]

13. AP: Case judge reinstates order to remove Terri Schiavo's feeding tube.

http://www.cnn.com/

[Frances]

16. The Bush Brothers are for life

according to W

Then why did W execute so many people in Texas when he was governor

Why is W cutting medicaid which will cause poor children to suffer

[bushisanidiot]

32. And Why did AWOL Bush Murder thousands of innocent iraqi's in

"shock & awe"?

[grannylib]

36. Including at least one mentally disabled person...what a hypocrite.

But then we all know THAT too.
There is NO consistency to their rationalizing; it's whatever works at the moment.
Fuckers.

[uppityperson]

18. Block congress, remove tube, yahoo link too

Congress, go do your job and leave this alone. It is not your responsibility to deal with this.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&u=/ap/20050318/ap_on_re_us/brain_damaged_woman_43


PINELLAS PARK, Fla. - The presiding judge in the case of Terri Schiavo ruled Friday that the feeding tube keeping the brain-damaged woman alive can be removed despite efforts by congressional Republicans to block the move by seeking her appearance at hearings.


Pinellas Circuit Judge George Greer refused a request from U.S. House attorneys to delay the removal, which he had previously ordered to take place at 1 p.m. EST. Greer determined that it should go forward about an hour after another judge issued a temporary delay blocking the tube's removal.


There was no immediate word on when the tube might be removed

[KayLaw]

19. I live in Pinellas County

When reporting the story today, the reporter said, Hopefully, Congress will do something before than afternoon or her husband will remove the tube, even though the majority people polled believe she should be allowed to go and the stupid, goddam government should stay out of it.

Yesterday, the same channel said gas prices are high because our economy is booming and there's so much demand.

[Ganja Ninja]

20. Which channel?

I'm guessing it was 10 or maybe 28.

[seasat]

26. I'd bet that it was WB 38.

That's the local Sinclair station. I refuse to watch that Repug propoganda station.

[Terre]

24. So write the channel and tell them

that you are no longer going to watch their news, and that their reporters should be told to leave their biases at home.

[KayLaw]

52. WFLA

8 on Your Side. I hate that WB someone mentioned. I do watch Everybody loves Raymond in the early evening and the leadins for the 11 o'clock news are so obnoxious!

[DS1]

21. Fodder for the "Activist Judges" argument. Looks like I'm going to have

to fly down to Florida and finish this off myself :eyes:

[dave123williams]

22. The GOP; we never miss an opportunity to grandstand on morality...

Who cares if it's really none of our business? Who cares if it's the hardest thing Michael Schiavo's ever had to do, or will ever have to do?

We at the GOP will score political points with our base by trading on the dead at the WTC, by ruining Schiavo's life, by selling the country's future down the river.

The fucks are are really begining to get on my bad side.

[AngryOldDem]

27. Agreed

And I've just about had it, too, with the entire pro-life camp, period.

[wryter2000]

23. Does Frist still have a medical license?

If he still has a medical license, his state medical board should pull it.

[powergirl]

29. Is this the same Dr. Frist who suggested that one can get AIDS from tears?

If he cares so much about life, why would he want to force an invalid to be wheeled out to the capital? Actually, the Schiavo caretakers should take poor Terry to Dr. Frist's house and let him talk to her. HA!

[Guckert]

34. Yes, he is a great example of a GOP intellectual. DUH..

[janx]

31. Word has gone out from one of the propaganda artists in this

case, one Cheryl Ford:

From Cheryl Ford:



PRESS RELEASE:
MARCH 18. 2005
2:00 PM EASTERN TIME

ATTORNEY BARBARA WELLER TOLD TERRI THAT THEY WERE GOING TO REMOVE HER FEEDING TUBE , TERRI BEGAN TO CRY AND TRIED TO SAY "I WANT TO LIVE" ATTORNEY WELLER SAID SHE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME CALMING TERRI DOWN.

WE NEED PEOPLE TO SURROUND HOSPICE IN PROTEST TO JUDGE GREER'S RULING STATING HE WILL OVER RIDE FEDERAL SUBPOENA AND WILL REMOVE TERRI'S FEEDING TUBE IMMEDIATELY.

FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT COME TO FLORIDA...PLEASE CALL YOUR SENATORS. PLEASE DO NOT STOP YOUR CALLS.

ACTION BY THE PEOPLE MUST TAKE PLACE TO SAVE TERRI FROM JUDICIAL HOMICIDE.

JUDGE GREER IS WRONG AND IS NOT LISTENING TO CONGRESS.



1,678 posted on 03/18/2005 12:22:19 PM MST by Chocolate Rose (FOR HONEST NEWS REPORTING GET THE SCOOP HERE : www.theEmpireJournal.com/)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1365111/posts?q=1&&page=1601

[bushisanidiot]

33. God has been trying to call Terri home. Let her go home!

I cannot believe the selfishness of the repukes who are keeping her alive for political purposes.

[nadinbrzezinski]

35. And while yuo are all distracted

frist thanks you, nuclear option boys!

We have an all clear...

[brooklynite]

37. Congress tripped over its own cleverness

The doctors are not planning to "kill" Terry, they're planning to remove her feeding tube. By claiming that Terry had any capability to respons to a subpoena, Congress had to assume she's equally capable of feeding herself. Hence, the doctor's action would be "interference" with a subpoenaed witness.

[SharonRB]

38. Florida Judge Lifts Stay Blocking Feeding Tube Removal

MIAMI (Reuters) - A Florida court on Friday cleared the way for the feeding tube to be removed from a severely brain-damaged woman at the center of a fierce right-to-die dispute.

Following a flurry of legal activity in the courts and in the U.S. Congress, Pinellas Circuit Court Judge George Greer reinstated his order that Terri Schiavo's food and water be stopped.


<snip>


"Judge Greer held a hearing on the congressional committee's motion to intervene in the case. He denied it and reinstated the order (to remove Schiavo's feeding tube)," said Ron Stuart, a spokesman for the Pinellas Circuit Court.


Although the Pinellas court cleared the way, it was not immediately clear if the feeding tube would be removed.

<snip>


http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=615&u=/nm/20050318/pl_nm/rights_schiavo_dc&printer=1

Edited to add link.

[DesEtoiles]

39. Here's Phone, Fax and Web site for all FL Reps and Senators

Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL)
billnelson.senate.gov
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL)
martinez.senate.gov
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
?
Representative Jeff Miller (R-FL 1st)
jeffmiller.house.gov
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
?
Representative F. Allen Boyd, Jr. (D-FL 2nd)
www.house.gov/boyd
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Representative Corrine Brown (D-FL 3rd)
www.house.gov/corrinebrown
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
?
Representative Ander Crenshaw (R-FL 4th)
crenshaw.house.gov
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
?
Representative Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL 5th)
www.house.gov/brown-waite
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Representative Cliff Stearns (R-FL 6th)
www.house.gov/stearns
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
?
Representative John Mica (R-FL 7th)
www.house.gov/mica
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Representative Ric Keller (R-FL 8th)
keller.house.gov
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
?
Representative Michael Bilirakis (R-FL 9th)
www.house.gov/bilirakis
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
?
Representative C.W. Bill Young (R-FL 10th)
www.house.gov/young
hone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
?
Representative Jim Davis (D-FL 11th)
www.house.gov/jimdavis
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
?
Representative Adam Putnam (R-FL 12th)
www.house.gov/putnam
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
?
Representative Katherine Harris (R-FL 13th)
harris.house.gov
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
?
Representative Connie Mack (R-FL 14th)
www.house.gov/mack
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
?
Representative Dave Weldon (R-FL 15th)
www.house.gov/weldon
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
?
Representative Mark Foley (R-FL 16th)
www.house.gov/foley
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
?
Representative Kendrick B. Meek (D-FL 17th)
kendrickmeek.house.gov
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
?
Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL 18th)
www.house.gov/ros-lehtinen
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
?
Representative Robert I. Wexler (D-FL 19th)
www.house.gov/wexler
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
?
Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL 20th)
www.house.gov/wasserman-schultz
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL 21st)
diaz-balart.house.gov
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
?
Representative E. Clay Shaw, Jr. (R-FL 22nd)
shaw.house.gov
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
?
Representative Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL 23rd)
www.alceehastings.house.gov
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
?
Representative Tom Feeney (R-FL 24th)
www.house.gov/feeney
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
?
Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL 25th)
www.house.gov/mariodiaz-balart
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[displacedtexan]

40. You know what's really sad about this whole GOP circus?

When this "severely brain-damaged woman" finally dies, the GOP will drop her persona like a hot potato and go looking for another one to exploit.

And the judge who's finally accused of "killing" the woman will be the local GOP target until s/he moves far away.

[SharonRB]

41. The whole thing just appalls me

I was so upset this morning when I heard about the subpoena -- this is none of Congress' damn business. I'm repeating what I wrote on another thread, but once the court issued their ruling, that should have been the end of it. I'm sure she doesn't want to stay alive another 30-40 years in the state she's in. What is it that Congress doesn't understand about checks and balances -- that's why we have a legislative branch and a judicial branch. This is in the purview of the judicial branch, not the legislative. Besides, it's a state issue, not a federal issue. The Supreme Court even rejected the parents' plea.

I can't believe they'll actually force her to appear before Congress. They've totally abused their power (so what else is new?). I could go on and on, but you get the point. I'm so pissed I could scream (actually, I did scream this morning when I heard this before I left for work). My husband thought I was nuts.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

42. You nailed it

It's a state issue, not a Federal issue.

That's what the Supreme Court forgot in 2000, when they anointed Ratface as President over what the Florida courts had ruled.

In fact, it's a family issue, isn't it? And it's between a wife and her husband.

I've sent out about fifty Health Care Powers Of Attorney today, after offering them - with instructions - to fellow DUers in another Terri Schiavo thread last night. It's good to know something positive is coming out of this hideously tragic episode.

Michael Schiavo is a hero.

[displacedtexan]

43. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry!

I've pretty much stayed out of this debate until today.

Calling this brain dead person to testify before curious politicians is just beyond the pale, in my opinion!

While I respect every DUer's right to an opinion on this issue, I've dealt with 3 family members wasting away, and I can't imagine anyone having the power to keep a brain dead person alive.

I can tell you that these people are not aware that they are starving to death: They are already gone.

When major portions of the brain die, there's no bringing you back.

Our physicians explained the whole brain death process to us and showed us the rapid changes in the xrays every step of the way before we made the decision to stop the forced feeding.

Unless you've ever dealt with this personally, it's difficult to believe that your loved one is already gone.

That's why I can't condemn anyone else's opinion on this issue.

[steve2470]

44. Judge blocks removal of feeding tube from Schiavo

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A Florida judge on Friday temporarily blocked removal of a brain-damaged woman's feeding tube, a lobbyist on behalf of the woman's parents said.

The court action came moments before a deadline approached to allow Terri Schiavo's husband to ask for the removal of the tube.

The order followed congressional subpoenas as the latest steps in a contentious family saga that began 15 years ago, when Schiavo collapsed from heart failure that resulted in severe brain damage.

<snip>

http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/03/18/schiavo.brain-damaged/index.html

[sinkingfeeling]

45. Been overriden already! http://www.cnn.com/

[Mithras61]

46. This is old news...

Here's the update...

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=615&u=/nm/20050318/pl_nm/rights_schiavo_dc&printer=1

Florida Judge Lifts Stay Blocking Feeding Tube Removal

26 minutes ago

MIAMI (Reuters) - A Florida court on Friday cleared the way for the feeding tube to be removed from a severely brain-damaged woman at the center of a fierce right-to-die dispute.


Following a flurry of legal activity in the courts and in the U.S. Congress, Pinellas Circuit Court Judge George Greer reinstated his order that Terri Schiavo's food and water be stopped.

Earlier on Friday, U.S. House leaders issued subpoenas for Schiavo and the Senate called her as a witness to congressional hearings in late bids to stave off the removal of her feeding tube.

<snip>

[asthmaticeog]

47. Hmmmm...

Earlier on Friday, U.S. House leaders issued subpoenas for Schiavo and the Senate called her as a witness to congressional hearings in late bids to stave off the removal of her feeding tube.

Given that she has no brain left, perhaps the POTUS will step in, feeling an affinity for his Anencephalic-American sista.

[teach1st]

48. Pinellas Park News Alert

[email protected] (Pinellas Park)
to subscribers

More options 2:59pm (1 minute ago)

Family spokesperson: Schiavo's feeding tube removed.

Tune in to BN9 for more.
Unsubscribe at BayNews9.com

http://www.baynews9.com/content/74/2005/3/18/74931.html

[deek]

50. ..listening to all the shouts of glee......

hooray.

I propose MS authorize videotaping of her final week of life.

[question everything]

49. If it were not sad it would have been hilarious n/t

[Mr_Spock]

51. 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.