# Let the poor woman die already! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 17, 2005, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029 "2005-03-17T19:11:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/221 "2005-03-20T10:59:18Z")
Let me state for the record that if Plastics Make It Possible™ for me to eat, shit and breathe, or if Hilary Swank can win an Oscar portraying me in the sequel to Million Dollar Baby (called Asshole With $9.56 in His Checking Account), please pull the plug and let me go. And if [John McDougall](http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050320/NEWS01/503200500/1075) shows up to “save me,” please take that goat-felcher and fuck him in the ass with a tree. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/222 "2005-03-20T11:00:55Z")
But, I have to point out again, that’s a totally moot point, because Michael is not the one that made the decision to remove her tube. It was made by a COURT RULING which found that her interests and wishes were not to be maintained. Now that that ruling is in effect, it makes no difference at all what Michael has to say about removing the tube. Doctors are bound by law to respect that finding and to cease artificial life support. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/223 "2005-03-20T11:04:33Z")
Hey, given that putting water and bread in her mouth would have killed her from either asphixiation or aspiration pneumonia, maybe he had a change of heart and was trying to put her out of her misery. Or maybe he is just like most of the other screaming retards in this case, and doesn’t know the first thing about the actual situation other than what Hannity told em’. Here’s an emabarrasing paper quote about our Congress: “Members in both chambers were clearly not familiar with all details of the case. They mispronounced her name. They proclaimed she was not in a vegetative state, even though experts say she is and a court agreed. They claimed she did not receive certain brain scans when she had. They wrongly claimed no judge had even(r?) granted a family member removal of a feeding tube.” Republican members of our Congress have also now walked in public and basically demonstrated their complete ignorance of such basic legal principles as “you can’t make laws retroactive” and “you can’t make laws that specifically target a single individual.” Wonderful! ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/224 "2005-03-20T11:50:56Z")
Peace, **Derleth** --and thanks for the explanation. 🙂 Does anyone else have the feeling that we have stepped into a John Irving novel? The world according to Garp/GOP? heh. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/225 "2005-03-20T12:04:04Z")
I’ve followed this thread the last couple days after my self-imposed ban from posting. So I’ll tread very carefully here to try and keep myself in the spirit of debate and not emotional content. First, before anyone blames the GOP for this, can you show the vote of the full House and Senate on it? I’m interested in seeing how many Dems voted in favor Of course then I’ll want answers from the left-wingers on why they aren’t to blame. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/226 "2005-03-20T12:18:49Z")
I am not a left winger, but this does seem to be a more of a right handed issue. It’s got yer religious groups who tend to vote republican. Bo Gritz is more right than left. Most of the politicians that have spoken out (Jeb and George Bush, Tom Delay) have their elephant tattoos. I’ll let you imagine where those tattoos are. 😉 As far as the vote goes, I don’t care. Bad enough that they’re involved in this in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![furlibusea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@furlibusea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furlibusea)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/227 "2005-03-20T12:20:03Z")
\*\*duffer \*\* > [@](#): > > First, before anyone blames the GOP for this, can you show the vote of the full House and Senate on it? I’m interested in seeing how many Dems voted in favor Of course then I’ll want answers from the left-wingers on why they aren’t to blame. I don’t think I am a left winger, financialy i am slightly to the right of center, socialy i guess resonably far left. So maybe it isn’t me you are looking for, but it puts me pretty firmly in the center of the Democratic party. I haven’t followed what congress did exactly except to see that it was a bi-partisan comprimise. I can not begin to tell you how angry I am at any Democrat that was involved and caved to this bullshit. The Republicans are at least pandering to some portion of their constituancy, God only knows what the dems think they are doing. So as an answer to your question, I am not any madder at the Republicans than I normaly am. The Dems however have completly infuriated me. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/228 "2005-03-20T12:21:06Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > First, before anyone blames the GOP for this, can you show the vote of the full House and Senate on it? I’m interested in seeing how many Dems voted in favor Of course then I’ll want answers from the left-wingers on why they aren’t to blame. There hasn’t been a vote yet, it may come up in a special session today or tomorrow. There has been an [agreement on pending legislation](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=3&u=/ap/20050320/ap_on_re_us/brain_damaged_woman) between House and Senate Republican leaders; they hold all the cards, so they are the ones responsible for this travesty. For the record, some courageous Democratic Congressmen have vowed to fight this legislation: > [@](#): > > Rep. Robert Wexler (news, bio, voting record), D-Fla., issued a statement late Saturday saying he will make an objection that would stop the vote Sunday. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (news, bio, voting record), D-Ore., said he was trying to gather enough votes to defeat the bill Monday. > > “This bill would have the federal government intrude into the most private, personal and painful family decision,” Blumenauer said. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/229 "2005-03-20T13:36:56Z")
From a [memo sent only to Congressional Republicans](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=3&u=/ap/20050320/ap_on_re_us/brain_damaged_woman) > [@](#): > > In a memo distributed only to Republican senators, the Schiavo case was characterized as “a great political issue” that could pay dividends with Christian conservatives, whose support is essential in midterm elections such as those coming up in 2006. Is there any further doubt this is just a Republican political strategy? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/230 "2005-03-20T15:58:06Z")
> [@Apos](#): > > Hey, given that putting water and bread in her mouth would have killed her from either asphixiation or aspiration pneumonia, maybe he had a change of heart and was trying to put her out of her misery. GQ hijack: If they had gotten to her and she had choked to death, would that have been murder? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/231 "2005-03-20T16:12:18Z")
> [@Apos](#): > > “Members in both chambers were clearly not familiar with all details of the case. **They mispronounced her name**. They proclaimed she was not in a vegetative state, even though experts say she is and a court agreed. They claimed she did not receive certain brain scans when she had. They wrongly claimed no judge had even(r?) granted a family member removal of a feeding tube.” I’ve received most of my news about this issue from the internet and from newspapers, so i haven’t heard her name pronounced very often. I had always presumed it was something like: skee-AH-vo or SKYA-vo But yesterday, on CSpan, the congressworms speaking about the issue pronounced it: SHAI-vo or SHAY-vo Anyown know the correct pronunciation? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/232 "2005-03-20T16:18:15Z")
The only pronunciation I’ve heard is SHY-vo. That doesn’t mean it’s right, though. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/233 "2005-03-20T16:47:11Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > From a [memo sent only to Congressional Republicans](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=3&u=/ap/20050320/ap_on_re_us/brain_damaged_woman) > > > [@](#): > > > > In a memo distributed only to Republican senators, the Schiavo case was characterized as “a great political issue” that could pay dividends with Christian conservatives, whose support is essential in midterm elections such as those coming up in 2006. > > Is there any further doubt this is just a Republican political strategy? Sorry, **Fear Itself** , I can’t find your quoted sentence in the cite you linked. Could be me, but may I trouble you to point me to the specific paragraph? Or post a different link. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/234 "2005-03-20T16:52:38Z")
> [@](#): > > First, before anyone blames the GOP for this, can you show the vote of the full House and Senate on it? I’m interested in seeing how many Dems voted in favor Of course then I’ll want answers from the left-wingers on why they aren’t to blame. It has clearly been flogged by the right-wing media, and the GOP leadership of both chambers. Republicans have been the ringmasters in the Cirque du Horseshit in the Florida legislature and executive branch. That said, you’re right about one thing–the Dems get to share the blame, because even if they’re not taking the lead, they’re not standing up against it. > [@](#): > > Anyown know the correct pronunciation? I met a lawyer who consulted on the case a while back, and he said it was SHY-vo. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/235 "2005-03-20T16:54:43Z")
I’ve heard SHY-vo from all the lawyers involved. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/236 "2005-03-20T17:41:02Z")
> [@Rusalka](#): > > Can someone please explain to me why you think Terry’s husband would be more interested in her best interests than her parents? I don’t know that either party is necessarily more interested in her best interests than the other, more that they disagree on what her best interests are. I do, however, think that he’s in a far better position to determine what her best interests are for the simple fact that he’s her husband. He’s her next of kin, not through the happenstance of biology, but through her own free and conscious choice. He’s the one with whom she shared a bond and a level of understanding you can never share with your parents, no matter how close and loving your relationship with them may be. Your parents and siblings love you because you’re family. Your spouse is family because he or she loves you. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/237 "2005-03-20T23:40:53Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Sorry, **Fear Itself** , I can’t find your quoted sentence in the cite you linked. Could be me, but may I trouble you to point me to the specific paragraph? Or post a different link. Not sure what happened to that quote, it was there. [Here is another article about it,](http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002213728_memo20.html?syndication=rss) with more detail: > [@](#): > > The one-page memo, distributed to Republican senators by party leaders, called the debate over Schiavo legislation “a great political issue” that would appeal to the party’s base, or core, supporters. The memo singled out Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., who is up for re-election next year. > > “This is an important moral issue, and the pro-life base will be excited that the Senate is debating this important issue,” said the memo, reported by ABC News and later given to The Washington Post. “This is a great political issue, because Senator Nelson of Florida has already refused to become a co-sponsor and this is a tough issue for Democrats.” ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/238 "2005-03-20T23:53:53Z")
> [@Rusalka](#): > > Can someone please explain to me why you think Terry’s husband would be more interested in her best interests than her parents? That makes perfect sense to me, but I can see that it’s a matter of opinion. I could quite easily see my mother, whom i love, feeling as if she would know what is best for me. My wife on the other hand, knows me far far better than my mother ever has or will. I keep large portions of my life unknown to my mother so as to not sit around constantly debating our differences. My wife has no such gap in her knowledge. True, she doesn’t know everything about me, but she certainly knows far more than anyone else aside from myself. I can quite easily see that as being the case for the majority of the folks out there. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/239 "2005-03-21T02:00:01Z")
[Yay for bitpartisanship](http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=7953363). > [@](#): > > The U.S. Senate on Sunday unanimously passed legislation aimed at prolonging the life of a brain-damaged woman, Terri Schiavo, in an extraordinary intervention by Congress to move the Florida case into the jurisdiction of federal courts. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/240 "2005-03-21T02:39:05Z")
> [@DoctorJ](#): > > Does this make anyone else think “Ellen James Society”? Nah. I doubt that any of them would actually stave themselves to death, which they’d have to do to equal Ellen James’ supporters. They’re not as hardcore deluded as the EJS people were. Not quite. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029.md?page=13)