May 13, 2006

Michael Schiavo returns to the limelight

Via Michelle Malkin, we learn that the man who loved his wife so much he had her starved to death is now blogging at Daily Kos.

Nearly half of Americans (49%) approved of George Bush's job performance before he and other right-wing politicians tried to score political points from my deeply personal family tragedy.

If you believe in polls, the President has never recovered. . . .

See, you thought it was the continued fighting in Iraq, and the mixed-messages about immigration. But no, it was all about Michael Schiavo.

. . . . Since then, these same right-wing leaders in our government have ordered eavesdropping on Americans, compiled the world's largest collection of private information on Americans and released savage personal and political attacks on their opponents.

Believe me; I know what those attacks are like - I have to be among the most investigated men in America. Their attacks on me, Ambassador Joe Wilson and others are equal parts fiction and intensity. They are as relentless as they are baseless. And they have only one aim - discredit those who would question what our government is doing.

Michael Schiavo and Joseph Wilson: birds of a feather.

. . . . That's why I've started TerriPAC - a national political committee dedicated to fighting for our rights and holding the politicians accountable who played politics with my life and would do the same to you.

TerriPAC. Does anyone still doubt what a sleazeball this guy is, regardless of whatever Terri Schiavo's wishes were?

(I wonder if he's retained George Felos as his political advisor. I wonder if Felos is the svengali behind all this and has some kind of political ambition.)

Previous Terri Schiavo posts here.

Judith | 05/13/06 at 08:50 AM | 2 Comments | 2 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

April 01, 2006

The death wish of George Felos

Last year I posted enough about Terri Schiavo to give the issue its own category. The case aroused strong emotions on both sides, and - like the Iraq war - positions cut across political allegiances.

For example, I thought there was no way Terri Schiavo could be classified as anything other than a human being. I was well-aware that to disability activists, her life was a civil rights issue. I'm pro-choice and believe in keeping the government out of our bedrooms. But as a feminist, I appreciate legal structures which can extricate children and other family members from abusive situations; a man does not own his wife or children. Adult humans can be held legally responsible for the life and care of animals. I saw Michael's controlling behavior as of a piece with other husbands who abuse their wives, which put me at odds with the majority of feminists who saw Terri's right to live as a slippery slope which would lead to giving equal weight to the meeting of an egg and a sperm and the woman in whose womb their meeting took place. But I would rather see us address these contradictions than avoid them.

Among many retrospectives on this anniversary of her death, there are books by Terri's parents and her husband Michael. In Michael's book, there is a disturbing account of attorney George Felos indulging his God-complex:

Continue reading "The death wish of George Felos"

Judith | 04/01/06 at 11:29 PM | 2 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

October 05, 2005

Italian Coma Patient Heard Everything

File this in the Terri Schiavo file:

Salvatore Crisafulli, 38, is recovering at home after years spent in what doctors had termed a "near-dead" state.

He is quoted as saying that his "miraculous" recovery proves euthanasia cannot be justified for coma patients.

An Italian ethics body is meanwhile set to recommend the mandatory care of all unconscious patients, reports say....

According to Italian media, Mr Crisafulli claims to have overheard doctors saying he was not conscious.

"I understood everything and I cried in desperation," he said.

Alcibiades | 10/05/05 at 08:21 PM | 0 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

June 15, 2005

The right to eat, cont.

Previous Terri Schiavo entry here, and click back from there to the others.

The autopsy was released today, and the spin machine has gone into action.

Continue reading "The right to eat, cont."

Judith | 06/15/05 at 02:28 PM | 14 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

April 15, 2005

The right to eat

All entries on Terri Schiavo are here.

The disability rights activist group Not Dead Yet lays out Eight things that need to happen to safeguard against non-voluntary euthanasia in the U.S. One of these is

A moratorium on the removal of food and water from people diagnosed in "persistent vegetative state" and "minimally conscious state" in the absence of new diagnostic processes discussed in recent medical journal Neurology, or a written advance directive/power of attorney by the person.

In a recent feeding tube removal case in Queens, NY.

Judge Martin Ritholtz rendered his opinion in a case involving Lee Kahan, 86, an Orthodox Jewish woman. One question was whether Kahan�s �deeply held values as an observant Jew� were being breached by the actions of her daughter, so Ritholtz devoted a portion of his 17-page decision to a discussion of how Orthodox Jewish law regards feeding tubes.

The rest of the article expands on that. Another explanation of halacha and feeding tubes, and more diverse views within the Jewish community, and a critique of that article.

Judith | 04/15/05 at 04:07 PM | 0 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

April 07, 2005

Public policy based on polls?

Some polls show that Republicans are deeply divided over federal power, But the Democrats might want to hold off on celebrating. Intermittant guest poster Catherine Johnson says about Dick Morris' political assessment of the Schiavo case:

Continue reading "Public policy based on polls?"

Judith | 04/07/05 at 02:49 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

April 03, 2005

Afterthoughts and reverberations

All Terri Schiavo entries are here.

Terri Schiavo was cremated today by the wishes of her husband, against the wishes of her family, following an autopsy yesterday (the results to be released in a few weeks). her husband plans to have her ashes buried in Pennsylvania, where neither he nor her blood family lives.

The Schindlers had sought to have independent medical experts observe their daughter's autopsy at the Pinellas County Medical Examiner's office, but the agency refused their request, family attorneys David Gibbs III and Barbara Weller said Saturday. The autopsy was completed Friday, the day after Terri Schiavo died, and results are not expected for several weeks. . . . Over the years, the couple have sought independent investigation of their daughter's condition and what caused it. Abuse complaints to state social workers were ruled unfounded - although one investigation remains open - and the Pinellas state attorney's office did not turn up evidence of abuse in one brief probe of the case.

Official Statement of the Schindler Family on the Passing of Terri Schindler Schiavo.

Continue reading "Afterthoughts and reverberations"

Judith | 04/03/05 at 12:22 AM | 3 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

March 31, 2005

Baruch dayan emet

All Terri Schiavo entries are here.

Terri Sciavo refused to die for a very long time, long enough to enable protestors to work up an enormous amount of outrage, but unfortunately not long enough for one more legal appeal to save her.

So where do we go from here?

"Right to life" activists will use this case as an example of the "slippery slope" that results when we attempt to justify aborting babies-in-the-making. Unfortunately, most of the "pro-choice"/feminist movement cast the Schiavo case as a simple "right to die" case, ignoring all the evidence which didn't support that interpretation, and ignoring the long liberal tradition of supporting women's and minorities' civil rights. They did this because countering the "right to life" movement - whatever the issue - trumps everything else, because to them there is a slippery slope from upholding a severely disabled woman's civil rights to claiming that fetuses have such rights. Thus they fulfilled the fears of the "right to life" movement and weakened their credibility.

Continue reading "Baruch dayan emet"

Judith | 03/31/05 at 02:13 PM | 8 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

Human rights watch, cont

All Terri Schiavo entries are here.

The monk you see on live broadcasts from the Woodside Hospice is a Franciscan Brother of Peace from St Paul, MN:

The legal and moral question of whether she should be kept alive with a feeding tube hit close to home for O'Donnell. He spent more than 12 years caring for Brother Michael Gaworski, the founder of his order, who suffered severe brain damage after being stricken with bacterial pneumonia. Gaworski was "slightly above a vegetative state" and was kept alive with a feeding tube until his death two years ago at the friary, O'Donnell said. Through it all, O'Donnell became what he calls "a self-taught medical advocate for brain-injured persons," speaking on the subject around the country.

O'Donnell met Terri Schiavo's brother, Bobby Schindler, at a national Right to Life event where both were scheduled to speak. Bobby showed the now much-aired video snippet of his disabled sister apparently reacting to her mother. Neurologists say those actions were involuntary, but O'Donnell _ who saw many parallels to his experience with Gaworski _ doesn't believe it. "I saw the videotape of Terri, and I was compelled to get involved and more than just in an ordinary supportive way," he said. "We wanted to be on the forefront of this effort to save her life."

Continue reading "Human rights watch, cont"

Judith | 03/31/05 at 12:05 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

March 30, 2005

Human rights watch, cont.

All Terri Schiavo entries are here.

First I said this case would make a great PD James novel. After finding out more about the New Age Hollywood sleaziness of the Felos couple, I was thinking Raymond Chandler. After hearing Terri's nurses on various TV shows, maybe one of those "true crime" books. Too bad Truman Capote isn't around any more. But if you want to get started on what is sure to be a blockbuster, here's a master list of the cast of characters.

Gerard has been posted more frequently and certainly more eloquently about this than I have. His latest is a must-read.

Andrea Harris on everything you think has something to do with Terri Schiavo and doesn't.

Continue reading "Human rights watch, cont."

Judith | 03/30/05 at 01:27 AM | 5 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

March 29, 2005

Human rights watch, cont.

All Terri Schiavo posts are here.

Unlike David Klinghoffer, I applaud the Seattle Jewish Federation's outreach to gay and lesbian Jews. But I share his impatience with the liberal Jewish community's reaction to the Schiavo case.

Jewish Democrats in Congress and the Florida legislature led the rushed struggle to fend off efforts to save the brain-damaged woman. Meanwhile, I had a chance to personally gauge Jewish sentiment when Seattle's largest Conservative synagogue graciously invited me to speak on an unrelated subject - my new book, Why the Jews Rejected Jesus, which acknowledges the cultural contributions of Christianity.

In the Q&A period, the synagogue's rabbi asked what contributions I had in mind. When I mentioned the campaign by Christians to rescue Terri Schiavo from being killed by her husband Michael, who claimed she'd want it this way, the crowd reacted with a sharp intake of breath, shocked murmurs as if I'd said a kind word about the Spanish Inquisition.

Continue reading "Human rights watch, cont."

Judith | 03/29/05 at 07:38 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

Becki Snow explains it all to you

All Terri Schiavo posts are here.

Via one of my NYC Liberal Hawk homies, we bring you live-blogging from the street in front of Woodside Hospice, which seems to have a Woodstock vibe.

Continue reading "Becki Snow explains it all to you"

Judith | 03/29/05 at 07:03 AM | 3 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

March 28, 2005

Human rights watch: More fishy details

All Terri Schiavo posts are here.

Yet one more disability activist chimes in.

For those of us in the organized disability rights movement, it looks like Terri Schiavo is being put to death for the crime of being disabled. Disability makes many people uncomfortable. How many times have you said, or heard someone say, "I would never want to live like that." Or,"I would rather be dead than be like that."

Continue reading "Human rights watch: More fishy details"

Judith | 03/28/05 at 09:19 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

March 27, 2005

Poskening

All Terri Schiavo posts are here.

I linked to this article in the Jewish Week on halachic opinions on removing Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. Commenter "alcibiades" fisks the article:

Continue reading "Poskening"

Judith | 03/27/05 at 09:25 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

One feminist point of view

All Terri Schiavo posts are here.

More from Catherine Johnson (Watch it, Catherine! Frequent guest postings are a reliable warning sign of starting one's own blog!). Previous guest entries from Catherine here and here and here:

Continue reading "One feminist point of view"

Judith | 03/27/05 at 07:12 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

March 25, 2005

There are no good answers

All Terri Schiavo posts are here. This comment at Ace of Spades deserves its own entry, because it sums up the dilemma:The intellectual libertarian in me demands logical consistency. I've raged at the court's and the left's poorly veiled . . . more »

Judith | 03/25/05 at 04:45 PM | 3 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

Human rights watch, cont.

All Terri Schiavo posts are here. Disability rights lawyer Harriet Johnson expands on her Slate article on NPR and CNN. She is so clear and sensible. Give a listen. . . . more »

Judith | 03/25/05 at 03:25 PM | 3 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

The murky realm of motives

All Terri Schiavo posts are here. I previously gave some guest blog space to Catherine Johnson, co-author with autistic industrial engineer Temple Grandin of Animals in Translation, and the mother of two autistic children. Now Catherine says something just . . . more »

Judith | 03/25/05 at 01:54 PM | 5 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

March 23, 2005

I have a life

I have another Schiavo post coming, with more from Catherine Johnson (her first guest post is here), but I have to do some real life first. Meanwhile, it's snowing here in Manhattan, and Tim Blair has some scathing comments. . . . more »

Judith | 03/23/05 at 03:21 PM | 5 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

March 22, 2005

Guest post

All Terri Schiavo posts are here. Two days ago Catherine Johnson - a writer and regular commenter on Roger Simon's blog - wrote an essay about the Terri Schiavo case. Catherine and I are on an email list together . . . more »

Judith | 03/22/05 at 05:43 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

Pikuach nefesh

All Terri Schiavo posts are here. One of the most important principles of Jewish law is "pikuach nefesh" - saving life. Almost all other laws and all ritual are subordinate to it. At the same time, Jews are sensible . . . more »

Judith | 03/22/05 at 10:12 AM | 17 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

Human rights watch, cont.

All Terri Schiavo posts here. Here is a technical discussion of her CAT scan, by a radiologist with 15 years experience: . . . more »

Judith | 03/22/05 at 08:01 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

March 21, 2005

Human rights watch, cont.

My previous post on Terri Schiavo attempted to scrape away some of the ideological artifacts of culture-war and bring to the surface the human rights dilemma involved. Ross Douthat makes a similar point, that this isn't about Democrats or . . . more »

Judith | 03/21/05 at 10:24 PM | 3 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

March 20, 2005

Human rights watch

All Terri Schiavo posts here. Via the Corner, this historian speaks for me:No, I am not a right to lifer. I am a pro choice absolutist. Moreover, my daughter is so sick of hearing me tell her I do . . . more »

Judith | 03/20/05 at 07:26 PM | 4 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo