What kind of Republican are you?

[AngryGerbil]

I was thinking about this Terri Schaivo case and it seems to me that it is an opportunity to identify the real threat to the freedoms provided by this country, the religious right.

To me, the most seductive aspect of the Republican party is their supposed advocacy of "small government". Now, I don't always agree with it, for instance, I DO think there should be a social medicine program, but generally speaking I do see where they are comming from and alot of times I even agree with it. Now whether or not they actually practice it as a party is still up in the air, but that's not really what I'm getting at. That being said, their most repulsive aspect is truly their tendency to placte some of their base voters by constantly referring to the bible in the case of civil matters. As much sense as alot of their "small government" talk may make to me, I simply cannot vote for these people while they still think their personal religious beliefs have any business being in the federal government. But anyway...

I've read alot of opinion pieces on this Schaivo case from average citizens. It seems to me that most people are in agreement that the federal government is way out of line by interjecting themselves in a personal family matter. Alot of people simply say "the feds are out of line, case closed." But alot of people say this and also preface it by stating that they have been supporters of the Republican party for years on the basis of thier supposed advocacy of small government and that they are ashamed of what their party is doing in this case. Then you have the Democrat people who say the same thing but also bring God into the equation by saying something like "Even Mrs. Shaivo's personal beliefs on this is between her and her God, the state still has no say in it."

Then you have the true wackos. The ones who praise Bush for signing the bill to make this a federal case. They praise him as an advocate of life and as an instrument of God, as if they even knew what God wanted in the first place. And, it appears to me that Bush is just basking in this "err on the side of life" praise from some of his basest constituents.

This is an opportunity for the rest of us to identify which kind of Republican you are. Are you the political "small government, big business" type of Republican? Or are you a ten-commandments-in-the-courthouse "American (read: Christian) Values" type of Republican (read: Theocrats). If it wasn't for the Republican party currently having a theocrat as their commander in chief, I think this would be an opportunity for them to seperate themselves from the religious wingnuts and possibly shed some of their supposed affiliations to said wingnuts. If they were to manage that, they may once again be able to hold my ear in a political debate. Return the wingnuts back into their little splinter cells, whig parties and cult compounds, get them out of the Republican party, and let the business of true constitutional politics continue in this country. Unfortunately, this cannot happen while Bush is in office because he is one of them.

Alot of people are showing their true colors when voicing their opinions on this case. My sister went beserk when Bush was re-elected, talking mad shit about how she doesn't even want to live here anymore and stuff. I tried to calm her down by reminding her of the political pendulum and how it always has and always will swing back and forth. The right wing currently has the pendulum on their side. They have the power. But I promised her that the American people have historically been able to sense when the pendulum has swung too far and they will push it back the other way. I reminded her that although the right wing may have the power now, that eventually they will go too far and the american people will balk and check them. I see this as an example of that happening. Most people agree, the Bushs' and the right wing controlled federal government have gone too far here.

With any luck W. will do something equally retarded again soon and we'll start to see the pendulum swing back the other way.

[Dintorr]

Is this a rhetorical question?

[Chaotic]

When she dies we will all be better off.

And I don't mean that like an asshole, or like I don't care. I mean christ, this poor women, 15 years. Dozens of doctors, 17(?) judges all say she is a vegetable. Her cortex has filled with spinal fluid. Just because in the 250 + hours of footage you have of her you're able to edit it so her smile seems to coincide with a comment by family, you think shes somehow aware?

I don't know. I just think everyone needs to get past this, it's a tragedy, and it sucks, but this isn't making it better.

My primary feeling would be though -

Legislative, stay the fuck out of judicial decisions. Thanks

[VelMonk]

Here, here, three cheers for the clusterfuck of Separations of Powers this was. Where are you Federalism?

[Ronne]

I don't like seeing anybody like that, because that's what hell must be like. But starving her to death isn't a good choice either.

[Angerz]

Originally posted by BobTheMoron
I don't like seeing anybody like that, because that's what hell must be like. But starving her to death isn't a good choice either.

Well, I think the feeding tube being removed is a way lots of people die every day. What's happening in this case isn't out of the ordinary, except that the government got involved.

Also, I think they talked about it somewhere in the news about the case, that this method of death is pretty painless, they just sort of fade away. I can't imagine it would be an accept method of pulling the plug so to speak if it was the same as if you or I were to starve to death.

[EnigmaticParadigm]

Since this debate will never come to an agreed conclusion, lets make fun of the situation.

[Phoenix]

Hahaha.

Yeah the Federal gov. is fucked up for trying to get involved into a personal problem. George is starting to fuck up even more with the border too.

Atleast the women will finally die after over a decade of nothingness.

[EnigmaticParadigm]

I'm so going to hell, but all these new pics coming out make me lol.

[Barakis Bloodforge]

Ooh god you are going to hell LoL but I guess so am I cause I'm laughing at your pictures.

Her husband said if she was ever to be this way to let her die. They should have went with that from the beginning. Honestly can anyone say that they would want to stay a vegetable?

Well they pulled her feeding tube out and that sucks but what other way are they going to end her life? Double tap to the back of the head? Hell where is Dr. Kovorkian when you need him?

[Shogon]

Originally posted by EnigmaticParadigm
Since this debate will never come to an agreed conclusion, lets make fun of the situation.

O... M... G...

HAHAHAHAHAHA.

That is so fucking mean, but I'm sorry, it's funny.

[Zippygoose]

http://www.politicalcompass.org/

[namon]

Ya I'm a republican, and really I'm on both sides of the issue. I want smaller government, AND I'm for a lot of things people deem as "far right religious extremes".

First up, yes I think the governement is far too out of control big. Yes there are needs for some social programs. Look back at the late 1800s and up until the mid 1900s for your proof. However, as it stands right now, we've veered way too far the other way and things are just getting out of control. There is a happy medium somewhere in there and we as a nation really really have to quit reaching over the lines to just try to take swipes at each other and try to come up with a differant solution.

As far as the religion issues go, I want to able to PRACTICE my religion outside of church and home without fear of being arrested, harassed, or mistreated. No I do NOT want the ten commandments being taught in a public school (or any gov't funded entity), but the 1st Amendment does not say that I absolutely cannot bring a Bible with me to school, or have it seen. It's a very very sticky situation I know, but it's because unfortunately extremes on both sides have really muddled up things. If you are that so offended by even the sight of a Bible or someone praying, man you just need thicker skin and there is nothing that can be done to help your situation other than trampling on the rights of others.

As far as the Schaivo case, I understand the video could be edited and that's a good argument. On the other hand it could very easily be said that they are just exagerating her condition so the Husband can get out of this with money still in tact. If he loses his "guardianship" he loses the cash that is involved in this case. Her condition (I may be wrong) I believe was caused by a medical malpractice that had quite a reward attached to it. Of course he wants her to die, and he sure as hell does not want to sign all that money over to the parents who are more than willing to take care of her by letting them take over. Then you have a very heavy advocate of Euthenasia as a lawyer with is own agenda fighting for the husband. Not only that, as you have said this is a family matter, the problem is two very major portions of her family (her parents which gave her life in the first place, and her husband) are in complete disagreement. How else were they going to settle this?

To me this isn't so much a pro life / pro choice/right to die case as it is much as what standard are we going to be setting for the future. Our entire justice system, and to some extent the legal system (through supreme court challenges) is mostly based on precidences... and I just forsee this case being the first step towards one day having a government telling us when we are to die or not. Basically using the logic they've been shoving down on our throat for why the plug should be pulled on Teri... "Who wants to live like that?". Well, ok.... than we have a severely mentally handicappd person. Who wants to live like that? What is he contributing to society? He's not very productive... ok let's put him to sleep. THAT is what I want to avoid setting up our system to eventually be deciding.

On the Federal Gov't (Congress, Senate, White House) stepping in and trying to interfere... I'm not going to argue one way or the other on this case. The only thing that just bothers me, is I believe our court system is way out of balance and control. We in essance are ruled by nine unelected tyrants in black robes who serve until they die basically. I don't care what side of the isle you are on... that thought is just scary. I can live with a Democrat President and Congress and Senate. Even if it doesn't agree with me, I at least know the majority of the people are represented from their voice being heard in the ballot box. However, if nine men decide they don't like a law passed by the government for the people... they can just scrap it with no real fear of repercussion? I mean lets flip the coin here.

Lets say one day the Supreme Court gets 6 far right wingers that would make Pat Bucannon proud... and they decide it's unconstitional that Christianity is not allowed to be taught in our schools... There is absoultely NOTHING that can be done about that decision short of having another supreme court way way down the line try to reverse the decision. THere are checks in place that congress can use to deam if the courts are out of line to help keep the Court in check. I am really hoping congress starts using those tools to help balance this out. For over 150 years the courts were too far in the other way... CIvil Rights came around far far later than they should have because of the courts as one example. Now they are on another extreme that are in my mind just as unhealthy, and there is absolutely nothing we can do to stop it. To me that has got to change somehow, and someway. It won't be easy at all... nor do I even think it's possible at this point. Maybe we are just too divided as a nation. We can no longer compromise anything to get something done...

[Eomer]

Somebody please own the previous poster, I'm too lazy atm!

[Pest]

I'm too lazy and disinterested to post anything beyond this, but I'm tired of no one bringing it up. You can find sources all over if you google for it.

"Schiavo suffered brain damage in 1990 after her heart stopped because of a chemical imbalance believed to have been brought on by an eating disorder."

She was jamming her finger down her throat and purging what she had eaten. It fucked up the electrolyte balance of her body and caused a heart attack. That's not to say that there wasn't a malpractice suit, google shows that there was, but I'm so disgusted by all the bullshit surrounding this whole mess that I refuse to read up on it.