From The Kalamazoo Gazette, 6/24/05:
http://www.mlive.com/news/kzgazette/index.ssf?/base/columns-1/1119626545294090.xml
What on earth is Jeb Bush doing?
One has to wonder what has motivated Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to become
further involved in the Terri Schiavo case.
If Bush is thinking about succeeding his brother in the White House --
which he has consistently denied -- his meddling would seem to raise a
lot of eyebrows among voters, even fellow Republicans.
The governor has requested reopening what has been an exhausting
investigation into this tragic situation, which should have ended with
Schiavo's death on March 31 at age 41.
The case has been reviewed repeatedly in Florida courts.
It became political in the Florida Legislature, and was in the U.S.
Supreme Court six times.
Bush's ostensible reason for asking a state prosecutor last week to
proceed further involves the time frame between Schiavo's collapse 15
years ago, and when her husband Michael Schiavo called 911.
Bush offered a lame comment to the effect that it's a significant
question that, during the entire ordeal, the 911-call question was
never raised.
Schiavo's husband has taken vigorous exception to that notion.
He described the governor's recent involvement as "sickening," and
insisted that he called 911 promptly.
There has been no evidence to suggest otherwise.
Recently, an autopsy result indicated that Schiavo had massive and
irreversible brain damage, and that there had been no indication that
she had been abused by her husband -- or anyone else -- during her
long years in a vegetative state.
In fact, doctors reported on national TV that Schiavo's brain was
about half the normal size when she died.
According to the Pinellas County medical examiner, she could not eat,
and she was blind.
The case repeatedly had been in the courts, which finally authorized
the removal of a feeding tube.
In terms of medical, moral, ethical and religious standards, it has
become apparent that most Americans believe that, finally, the right
decision was made.
The question that remains, however, is what is Bush's motive in his
foolish and ill-conceived action.
Does he really believe that Schiavo might have had something to do
with his wife's condition that led to her death?
Bottom line:
If Jeb Bush doesn't have much to go on, he'd be wise to back off
quickly.
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I'd rather he didn't back off. I'd rather see him crash and burn.
Harry
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