If they had a strong principled stand against this legislation, they should all state clearly that they will fight it and each one say why they will. This delay is the act of a bunch of cowardly weasels.

Voters will remember this. You might object to the legislation, but to watch Democrats get their jollies off this matter trying to score political points should be offensive to all concerned.

What I got out of that video is
A) Dems just want to take Sunday off.
B) Find their job as an annoyance
C) Think that someones death is a joking matter
D) Are Unprofessional
E) Barney Frank is very annoying
F) All of them apperaing in the confrence should be removed from Congress
G) Don't know the constitution... Death by starvation is a cruel and unusual punishment prohibited by the constitution.

This was truly disgusting the dems rambled on, but didn't make sense. They also didn't mention her stand up husband probably abused her, and wants her dead, which is murder.

I'm a Florida MD and a staunch Republican, but I'm with the Dems on this one. So are 89% of the other staff at Woodside Hospice where Terri resides.

I watched the press conference and not surprisingly, the legislation is being completely misrepresented. The Congress is not legislating that Schiavo remain alive, only that the Federal COurts have the power to review the decision of the Florida courts. The issue is whether Schiavo is being deprived of her federal Consitutional rights, which is a federal question. It is interesting that liberals seem to have no issue when a similar review is conducted when a state courts sentences someone to the death penalty. Not sure why that situation requires a more detailed review than the death sentence declared by the Florida court in this situation.

Terri's husband suddenly remembered, after about 7 years (according to Terri's brother) that she had once told him she would never want to be 'kept alive by artificial means'. That phrase, "artificial means" keeps popping up.

Since when are food and water "artificial"? When I think of 'artificial means' I think of a respirator mechanically inflating and deflating the lungs, but not basic nutrition.

Quite simply, this entire approach to this woman's condition is barbaric.

Her husband got a large settlement specifically for the purpose of caring for her and providing therapy and rehabilitation. She never recieved any of these things, but as soon as her husband got the money he conveniently 'remembered' that she didn't really want to live, after all.

I don't mind the Dems---as a party---committing suicide, but murder is another matter. I view this as murder, by a cruel and inhumane process, and doubt that many will forget this cold-hearted and cold-blooded stance of the Democrats.

I'm a Florida MD and a staunch Republican,

Why do you feel it necessary to tell us about your political party? Didn't you think your claim of being a Doctor would impress us enough? Of course, the topic of this thread is the disgraceful behavior on the part of the Democrats - laughing and joking before they realized they were on camera - not about what should and should not be the outcome in the Schiavo case. Which, by the way, is now a legal issue, so your creds mean little.

but I'm with the Dems on this one.

You could have knocked me over with a feather.

So are 89% of the other staff at Woodside Hospice where Terri resides.

89 percent? Not 88.2465 percent? Are the "staff" at the hospice qualified in law and the U.S. Constitution? Why would we care about their uninformed opinion? Or yours?

Scar, i think the party affiliation is somewhat relevant because this issue has been largely adopted by the pro-life movement.

after this case, there is probably going to have to be a distinction made between pro-life and anti-abortion.

Matt,

I'm more interested in how he found out that 89% of the staff is in favor of killing Terri...

Now let me see, isn't the Democrats that say they are for the people? They push for killing unborn babies, they push for teens to be able to get an abortion or birth control without their parents knowledge, and they seem to encourage assisted Suicide, laugh at the institute of Marriage whether by their votes or actions, and appears now they want to have the right to kill anyone that is handicapped. And they are taking jobs away from hard working people and giving them to other countries. Who do they work for exactly? It isn't the wonderful people of the United States of America. They have an agenda and it has something to do with greed and power but nothing to do with building America and freedom and protecting the individual rights of each single person.

All of you who are interested in this case, especially those of you leaning to the side of Michael Schiavo, I suggest you visit this site and learn of all the corruption that has gone on in this case:

The Empire Journal

Michael Schiavo Admits to Larry King that he didn't know what Terri Wanted

Terri Schiavo, 41, sustained serious brain damage in mysterious circumstances at her home in 1990. At a jury trial in 1993 in a medical malpractice claim, Schiavo testified he would take care of his wife for the rest of his life and as a result of his testimony, over $1 million was awarded to him with $750,000 earmarked for Terri�s therapy and rehabilitation. He never mentioned during the trial that she would not want to be kept alive by a feeding tube.

However, as soon as he received the money, he ordered that all rehabilitation for Terri be stopped. He then petitioned the court for an order to end her life and in January, 2000, for the first time, suddenly remembered that she had allegedly made a comment some 15 years prior in 1984 while watching a movie that she would not want to be kept alive by artificial means.

Although such self-serving hearsay is inadmissible in Florida courts, Greer said Schiavo�s hearsay constituted �clear and convincing evidence� of her death wish and he ordered her death by starvation and dehydration.

Unlawfulness, Not Emotion Key Issue in Schiavo Case

2. The "judge" based his death ruling on inadmissible hearsay which is barred by Florida Statutes.

Michael Schiavo ONLY �remembered� what Terri supposedly said AFTER the malpractice money was given to him. Money that was to be for her care and therapy which he then refused her. Instead, Judge Greer allowed Terri�s rehabilitation money to be used for Michael� to pay lawyers to kill her by removing her feeding tube.

Michael,

Heard during the debate tonight that Michael Schiavo only "remembered" that Terri wanted to die after FL allowed for hearsay evidence to be entered in such cases. Apparently, Judge Greer considered Michael's uncorroborated testimony of a supposed mid-80's statement by Terri to be sufficient.

Remind me never to get sick in Florida....

Mark - I have been saying from the beginning that this case revolves around Michael Schiavo, not the PVS of Terri Schiavo. The whole basis for having Terri die stems from Michael's testimony that Terri would not have wanted to live like this. If that is a lie, this whole case blows up in the face of both Judge Greer and Michael Schiavo. This needs to be spread around the public like wildfire. If Michael is shown to have lied about Terri's wishes, this case is turned upside down.

"Since when are food and water "artificial"? When I think of 'artificial means' I think of a respirator mechanically inflating and deflating the lungs, but not basic nutrition.

Almiranta - This may shed a little light on this issue you have brought up:

SCHIAVO HOSPICE BOARD MEMBER ON HB 701 COMMITTEE IN HOUSE

Bilirakis, however, is a member of the board of directors of Hospice of Florida Suncoast, the non-profit organization which operates the Woodside Hospice in Pinellas Park where Terri Schiavo resides.

Bilirakis was instrumental in the passage of the 1999 amendment which amended Section 765 of Florida Statutes to change the definition of "life prolonging procedures" to add "including artifically provided sustenance and hydration which sustains, restores or supplants a spntaneous vital function.

Committee member Bilikaris was also a campaign contributor to Judge George W. Greer who has issued the death order for the removal of the feeding tube of Terri Schiavo, voted to change the law to make [food] and water "artificial" life support. Were it not for this change in law, helped to be promulgated by Bilikaris, the assisted feeding tube of Terri Schiavo would not be removed by court order as it would not have constituted artificial life support. The bill had been sponsored by Rep. Nancy Argenziano, Citrus County, and co-sponsored by Heyman, Sobel, Reddick, Fiorentino, Bilirakis, Littlefield, Kosmas, Bitner, Jacobs, Levine and Bloom.

"Their arguments are exceptionally hypocritical;..."

If this is their stance here, that this issue should be left to the States, then I want Roe v Wade overturned and I want the legality of abortion left up to the States as well.

I also want them to stop their bitching about the 13 states who have voted for a Defense of Marriage Amendment to their State Constitutions. We should call the Democrats on their hypocrisy here. If things like this should be state issues, then Traditional Marriage and Abortion should be State issues as well.

If someone starved & refused to give a dog water, they would be arrested & charged with animal cruelty - Yet a human being can receive that kind of cruel, inhumane treatment based upon the hearsay of another person that has ulterior motives & obviously does not love Terri. Why has he denied her therapy? Is he afraid she will be able to talk one day? Is he afraid of what Terri will have to say?

(He wants to marry the "women" he has sired 2 children with in the Catholic Church. I question what kind of people they both are.)

Hearsay evidence to legally murder another is a gross miscarrage of justice. Since when is food & water life support? We do live in The United States Don't we? Murderers & rapests are treated better than Terri is & receive more consideration & constitutional rights.

Dr. Jack Kovorkian is in a jail cell for humanely helping people who asked & signed documents to get help to die sits in jail - Yet the courts & democrats allow this cruel & inhumane treatment of another human being on the questionable words of Mr. Schaivo - It's disgraceful!

Democrats is the party of death. How quaint, considering they are a party that is dying.

I wonder if any of our news media has printed what a lot of the other countries are saying about this case? My husband who is overseas at the moment has e-mailed me their comments. They are shocked at our barbaric behavior and name Terri Schiavo and also talk about our horrible abortion practices of partial birth abortion. We are being shamed for our outrageous inhumane behavior in every country. But here in the States we are expected to accept these things as the 'right thing to do'.

I believe michaels lawyer.... a renouned "right to die" advocate has a financial link to the "hospice" that terry is imprisoned in.

Why does this young woman belong in a hospice any how??
maybe because there they are good at killing "terminally" ill patients with out drawing to much attention.

Oh please dont impress us little peons with your credentials - joanne.
Your statement about how you and your staff support the KILLING of this lady by STARVATION is ample reason to shut down this "little death camp".

The medical profession has INTENTIONALLY killed more people than stalin or hitler.

FOURTY MILLION through abortion alone. Then of course dr death kavorkian himself - now through the right to die by hearsay.

So please dont lecture us on this subject!!!