KOS Diary: Schiavo background story -- EXCELLENT!

[priller]

This is a fantastic diary that uncovered the report by the Jeb Bush-appointed GAL (Guardian ad Litem). It paints a very different -- and very positive -- picture of Michael Schiavo and all his efforts over the years to help his wife. It shouldn't surprise us that Tom DeLay and Randall Terry are smearing Michael with lies, but it's amazing to read JUST HOW BLATANT the lies are. Go read it for the FACTS:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/3/22/194615/400


Excerpts:

Theresa’s husband, Michael Schiavo and her mother, Mary Schindler, were virtual partners in their care of and dedication to Theresa. There is no question but that complete trust, mutual caring, explicit love and a common goal of caring for and rehabilitating Theresa, were the shared intentions of Michael Shiavo and the Schindlers.

His demanding concern for her well being and meticulous care by the nursing home earned him the characterization by the administrator as “a nursing home administrator’s nightmare”. It is notable that through more than thirteen years after Theresa’s collapse, she has never had a bedsore.

[flordehinojos]

1. thanks for posting this FACT filled link.

There is nothing better for stopping a tsunami wave of anxiety leashed upon anyone, than a good dose of fact learning.

every television station, and every newspaper, ought to be making use of this link right now... I think I'll send up to the CNN propaganda machine and the hardball loud mouthed chris matthews.

[ronnykmarshall]

4. Randi Rhodes read this on Monday

She's been flowing this story back when she was in Florida.

Does the "liberal" media cover this?? HELL NO! :grr:

[rocktivity]

2. We are sitting on a GOLD MINE here...

As another DU-er suggested, Terri COULD turn out to be our Monica Lewinsky!

:headbang:
rocknation

[DemoTex]

3. Let's stake out the moral, ethical, and theological high ground on this.

Evidently the GOP is imploding over this Schiavo travesty. Politically, I tend to think that the Democrats would do best to hold their counsel on this explosive issue. However, that will be very hard to do, because it is a "gold mine." If we attempt to mine the political gold, it should be done purely at the GOP's expense; not Terri Schiavo's or her family.

Morally, however, I think we are obliged to answer any and all assertions of Bu$h's putative reverence for "the sanctity of life." To that end, here is our talking point of the week: This is an artificial block to the natural dying process. So said a man of the cloth on the evening news yesterday. Unlike most GOP talking points, this talking point is true and it cuts right to the heart of the moral, ethical, and theological questions germane to Terri Schiavo's end days.


GOP's moral bankruptcy Bill.

[ronnykmarshall]

5. I agree

We don't need to exploit this.

[Eloriel]

13. I think your talking point fails big time

Food is a natural block to death by starvation; liquids are a natural block to death by dehydration.

Everyone above the age of about 6 knows this. Some people don't care about the difference, some do.

[SillyGoose]

17. I disagree...."This is an artificial block to the natural dying process."

that argument doesn't sit too well with me. By all accounts, Terri Schiavo is not terminal and could live for years if her feeding tube was left in place. Terri Schiavo would not be in the active process of physically dying at this moment if her feeding tube had not been removed.

[smoogatz]

6. Please. This story is no gold mine.

It's the Schiavos' very real, very sad and very personal tragedy. Trying to make political hay of the Republican response would make us look just as bad as them. We should all take a deep breath, calm down, and wish Theresa a peaceful, happy journey into the next world. And let it go at that.

[mac56]

7. I see your point, and it's a good one, but...

the part of this that is about Theresa's husband and his efforts to protect her rights and wishes is a gold mine.

[smoogatz]

9. Nah...

The decent, respectful thing to do would be to turn the cameras off and button our lips and let these people alone. The only thing they symbolize is yet another instance in which fundie nutballs insist that magical thinking will somehow overcome physical reality, if we'd all just hold our mouths right. The whole thing is pathetic, and it makes me angry and disgusted at the professional rightwing bloviators who are all rushing to exploit this poor woman for some kind of sick notion of personal or political gain. I'd hate to see any otherwise decent progressive soil him/herself in the same way.

[RedEarth]

8. Excellent link........thanks for the post

[caligirl]

10. so the parents have said they would never do what Terri wants.

This was eye opening. The parents would subject her to extreme measures even knowing it isn't what their daughter wanted and that those extreme measures would never improve her status.

[BrklynLiberal]

11. It is excellent...and is something that anyone interested in FACTS, should

read. Thanks for posting.

[OneTwentyoNine]

12. Gee....the Schindlers urged Michael to move on romantically....

"During all this, for nearly two years, Michael lived with the Schindlers. It was during that time that they even brought Terri home for a period and tried to give her around the clock care with family taking shifts. This proved unworkable and after a couple of months, Terri went back to the skilled nursing facility. Michael struggled with moving on. In fact, it was the Schindlers, Terri’s parents, that urged him to move on romantically:

It took Michael a long time to consider the prospect of getting on with his life – something he was actively encouraged to do by the Schindlers, long before enmity tore them apart. He was even encouraged by the Schindlers to date, and introduced his in-law family to women he was dating."

My,my...kind of goes against the constant charge of ADULTERER,which is another attack that the RW fanatic's have used over and over.

[Eloriel]

14. How so?

Michael's marriage vows were with Terri, not her parents. Her parents didn't have the right to encourage him to be unfaithful to her. I personally think it's normal for him to want to move on with his life, but he should have divorced her and MOVED ON with his life. I don't think it was fair to Terri, OR to his new common law wife and their two kids for him to retain technical legal ties. It also makes him an adulterer (or bigamist), whether you like that charge or not.

[MADem]

15. I think she was the love of his life

...and he was determined to honor HER wishes. The courts have decided that he is the one to speak for her. They've agreed that her wishes are best expressed by him. Beyond that, I agree with the poster who said turn off the cameras and leave them in peace.

[OneTwentyoNine]

16. Maybe because he didn't want to relinquish Terri to what we now see...

Also as it said in the text her parents weren't able to care for her in the home,they tried it and sent her back to nursing care later,he wanted to stay in the loop and make sure she had care.

Her parents didn't have the right to encourage him to be unfaithful to her? What is that,a RW,GOP,Bush law? While it may not fit ethics they have every right to encourage him to see another woman.

I think adulterer is a hell of a stretch for a woman who has been brain dead and hasn't talked,held,made love etc...to Schiavo in 15 years. Of course I'm not buying into that RW "Michael is a MONSTER" bullshit either.