It was wrong to kill her. [JimRob on Terri Schiavo]

FreeRepublic ^ | April 3, 2005 | Jim Robinson

[Future Useless Eater]

Jim Robinson is the founder and operator of FreeRepublic.com. He posted this editorial on Terri Schiavo, Sunday April 3rd.
	I said it was wrong to kill her. That is my opinion. Nothing can change it. No list of "facts" will ever change it. And I put "facts" in quotes because most of the so-called "facts" posted here were in fact "opinion." Whether it was a poster's opinion, a reporter's opinion, her husband's opinion, a relative's opinion, a supporter's opinion, a detractor's opinion, a politician's opinion, a lawyer's opinion, a doctor's opinion, the president's opinion, the governor's opinion, or even the judge's opinion - they were and are all opinions. And none of them are incontrovertible or indisputable fact. In fact, they continue calling in more doctors and more experts to give their opinion even after it's all said and done. In this battle of press, public, politicians, doctors, lawyers and "experts" the side with the most thumbs down votes won and she was killed. What was it, two out of three or three out of five? How about we go for seven out of twelve? How about one "no" vote out of twelve and you don't execute? The last I heard, in this country when you are on trial for your life, if there is one doubtful juror, you don't receive a death sentence. The accused receives the benefit of the doubt. Of course, Terri did not even receive the benefit of a trial much less the benefit of the doubt. She was simply snuffed out per a judge's order based on three out of five expert "opinions." It's a shame and a disgrace and a mockery of justice. 4,413 posted on 04/03/2005 7:18:29 PM EDT by Jim Robinson

[yellowdoghunter]

If you are not totally pro-life, then FR is probably not for you. Hopefully, some of the usual suspects will figure this out.

By the way, LOVE your tag line!

[LauraJean]

I like your tagline. I have been thinking all these past days on Terri's murder. I have no way of knowing this except for the fact it was reported she was praying with Father Pavone. Could it be she was offering up her torture to the poor suffering souls of purgatory? I can't even imagine the suffering she was going through. Not just the lack of food and water, but having to be with Mickey, Felos and the rest of the evil minions.
I only pray I will be as strong as her when I am faced with evil.

[Future Useless Eater]

Since this thread mentions "3 out of 5" medical 'opinions' convicted her, this bears repeating...

Terri was nearsighted and wore glasses or contacts all her life. In the last 15 years she has not been given ANY glasses (unless you count the sunglasses the day michael was showing her off for the cameras outside in a wheelchair for the malpractice jury's benefit)

When the 5 doctors examined her to determine PVS or NOT PVS,
3 spent very little time with her and gave their opinion: PVS
2 spent more time with her and gave their opinion: "NOT PVS"

Only the 1 doctor who spent the MOST time even noted she has trouble with her eyesight. He said she appeared to be nearly blind with a focal length of only 18 inches. It sounds like NONE of the doctors evem KNEW she needs glasses. It must NOT have been written down ANYWHERE in her charts!

THAT probably made her seem even more 'spaced out' for the euthanasia-leaning doctors.

[ruoflaw]

we must not let Terri's death be in vain. We must work hard to stop Judical/State sanctioned murder. Thank you for the post.

[Twinkie]

God bless her. I don't think luck really had anything to do with it. It's all a lot of serendipitous coincidence that she and the Pope passed within seconds (in light of eternity) or nanoseconds really of each other during the season celebrating the resurrection of Christ. I read that the Pope had been apprised of her struggle up to the last minute and that he was upset about what had been done to her as well as having been a staunch supporter of Terri. Felos, Greer, Mikey and a few others are probably slapping themselves on the back right now over their "victory". This is the same thing that the Devil did when Christ died on the cross. Mel Gibson captured the Devil's reaction to His resurrection very well also in his movie "The Passion".

[freepertoo]

I didn't see The Passion (I can't take extreme violence in movies...I find violence of that calibre makes me physically ill. Having seen some of Mel's movies in the past, I knew better than to go in expecting a light touch!)...how did the satan character respond?

[Twinkie]

It was indescribable.

[DoctorMichael]

Deserves repeating:

"The last I heard, in this country when you are on trial for your life, if there is one doubtful juror, you don't receive a death sentence. The accused receives the benefit of the doubt."

[lula]

You're right, evil knows no race, religion nor party lines. Wrong is wrong,plain and simple.

[alcuin]

I see where they have tried to start their own group on Yahoo . . .<<<

Link that puppy.

[GOP_1900AD]

Here is the essence of the problem, as I see it, mileage may vary, caveat emptor and all that. A certain faction of the GOP / Right have witnessed a certain change of core position in terms of the Right to Life issue, the immigration issue and social issues in general. I sometimes have, admittedly, refered to them as the Big Tent faction, and brutally debated them here. With two of them, who left with an opus on the 1st, I admittedly crossed the line into fighting dirty - and even got a couple of suspensions for it. That such fighting has even occurred, is telling. And that the very same folks I've fought, are leaving, is as well. Here's the deal, IMHO - as we start to see rethinking going on at the WH and RNC, regarding what I'd term the classic Big Tent position, now that the election was won, I truly believe that Big Tenters are becoming more distant. It's frustrating to me, because many of them have good positions regarding things like tax reduction, tort reform and other business-unfriendly things, so I'd hate to have them bolt completely from the Right. That said, I won't miss the frustrating exchanges. I wish they would reevaluate their social positions, tolerance of things like CAIR, blindness to the downsides of illegal immigration, kowtow to PRC oriented interests, and tolerance of overblown government spending. It takes two to tango and if there is not tolerance, and an active effort to understand social conservatism on the parts of those who are afraid of it, then it will be a complete impasse.

[Dubya]

Very well said.

[Republic]

I am grateful to you for posting Jim's brief essay.

It kinda sorta lays it out, no?

I don't know exactly when our laws became so corrupted that the horror Terri faced came to fruition, but I do know that I am forever changed by the breathtakingly lack of justice Terri and her family received. I did and still do find it 100% horrifying.

Don't know about most of you, but for 13 long days...I could not lift a glass without thinking about Terri's thirst. Or stand the thought, when it hit me, frequently, that her parents were HELPLESS to PROTECT their beloved, disabled daughter from a henious, in every way, untimely, unjust death. When did our nation become this cruel? IT was unbearable.

I do know that I will do everything I am able to counteract and fight to keep our right to LIFE, LIBERTY and PURSUIT of HAPPINESS front and center....even as Terri, was ROBBED of the basic tenet of our constitution.

Our fearless leader, jim rob, got it RIGHT! ( But........that is just an "opinion"! :^)

[katnip]

:-)

[GOP_1900AD]

FYI:

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/poll?poll=91;results=1

[Irene Adler]

As I write this, my mother-in-law is dying in a hospital of a failing heart and kidneys. Her left foot is septic, and she was told she needed amputation to extend her life for some unknown period of time, but her organs are failing in any case.

She was lucid this morning and discussed the subject with her son, my husband, and her doctor. Her choice is no amputation and sooner death from sepsis rather than later death from heart/kidney failure. Her choice was clear (she already had executed a living will, in any case). There is NO DOUBT at ALL about her clear wishes, and her wishes will be followed. For those who might be concerned about this, she is receiving very effective pain meds.

Terri's case was completely different. She was in no way dying, and her wishes were very unclear with a husband with a huge conflict of interest claiming her wish to die and friends and family claiming otherwise. Terri did not fit any humane model for withholding basic care such as hydration and nutrition. As a matter of fact, my husband is insisting that his mom be kept hydrated till she dies.

I post this to show the clear difference between an appropriate approach to these life-and-death decisions and a horrific one.

[newgeezer]

Today's textbook push poll on the sidebar:

Was it wrong to kill Terri Schiavo?
        Yes 86.9%
        No 7.9%
        Pass 3.0%
        Undecided 2.3%

[Future Useless Eater]

...archiving some of the later interviews done about Terri's RESPONSIVENESS, her WISHES, and her SWALLOWING ability...

---

Schiavo family friend Fran Casler interviewed by Sean Hannity

...for reference, from the EVENING of the day Terri died, on H&C 3/31/2005
starting at 13 minutes into the show... [Randall Terry also spoke later]

This is not the first time Fran Kasler has made statements like these, but Sean was doing the show live from Pinellas park. SOME of her responses were new to me...

Sean: ...and one of Terri's closest friends, Fran Kasler is with us, she also filed a affidavit in this case, Fran, let me just start with you... Sean: You were one of Terri's best friends... Fran: Yes Sean: You were with her the day before this 'collapse' Fran: [nodding yes] Sean: and one of the things you said in this affidavit is that, and this was KEY to this case but was IGNORED by the judge, as to what Terri's wishes were, and this idea that Michael knew... Sean: You testified that on hundreds of occasions, you heard Michael say, he didn't- ... when she first collapsed, he didn't KNOW what her wishes were. And it was only seven years into it, that he said, Oh by the way... Fran: He suddenly remembered... that he knew what Terri's wishes were, but when I was with him, after Terri's collapse, he REPEATEDLY said to me, and everyone else that was within earshot, that he didn't KNOW what Terri's wishes were. Sean: Does it make it hard on you, at this point, harder knowing that THAT became a critical point in the case, and you knew something VERY different? Fran: My heart is just BURSTING. I just want to tell the WORLD what a LIAR Michael Schiavo really is. Sean and Randall T. then discussed the memorial service just concluded. [Alan Colmes asked about conservative mailing lists.] Randall: ...when we get on these shows Alan, you go on these BIZARRE rabbit trails... You should just drink less 'Red Bull' or go see a psychiatrist, but just CALM DOWN, and stay focused on the issues. [Alan shows video of lawyer Felos claiming Bobby got involved in an argument with a law enforcement official, and had to be ejected from the room by a police officer.] Sean: What's your response to that... Charges that Bobby was disruptive and was asked to leave to have more peace in that room, during the final moments? Randall: My response is that George Felos is a LYING MONSTER. Alan: A lying monster? Randall: A lying monster, he's got a bizarre agenda, his book, that we heard read from earlier, is BIZARRE. And the family- ... Look, I think the most unconscionable thing that has happened in the last 48 hours, besides Terri's DEATH, is that the FAMILY was pushed out of the room. THAT woman wanted to be with her SIBLINGS, NOT with Michael! Sean: Thank you both for being with us...

---

FoxNews mis(?)spelled her name "Fran Kesler".
Alternate spellings for cross-reference: Fran Casler, Cassler, Kessler.

[Future Useless Eater]

Sean Hannity and Alan interviewed Schiavo nurses Carla Iyer Sayers and Trudy Capone.

For reference, from the EVENING of the day Terri died... H&C 3/31/2005 starting at 42 minutes into the show...
This is not the first time EITHER nurse has made these statements, but Sean was doing the show live from Pinellas Park. SOME of their answers below may be new information to us...

Carla Iyer Sayers -R.N.: I took care of Terri for 18 months, I interacted with her EVERY day, even up to 16 hours per day. We would even have her at the, you know, nurses station, and she was interacting with the visitors, let alone the nursing staff. Carla: I heard her, and I'd seen her, saying words such as "mommy", "help me", and the word "pain". She would let you know when she was having pain, during her menstrual cycle. Alan: Judge Greer, in his response to these claims, said the claims were incredible, and he said neither in the testimony or in the medical records is there any support for these affidavits, including yours, as they purport to detailed activities and responses of Terri Schiavo. That's what the judge had to say. Carla: Well, in some of the hearings that I went to, Judge Greer would show dis-interest, contempt, for any POSITIVE evidence regarding Terri. He would even be making smalltalk with the attorney, about "what are we going to do this weekend?", instead of focusing on Terri's cognitave abilities. Sean: [pointing to Carla] You took care of Terri for 18 months, and you say she was conscious, alert and aware? Carla: Yes. Sean: [pointing to Trudy] You took care of her for how long Trudy? Trudy Capone -L.P.N.: About 2 and a half years. Sean: And she was conscious, alert and aware? Trudy: Yes. Sean: She was NOT in a persistent vegetative state? Trudy: [large head-shake NO] Sean: You two are both PROFESSIONAL nurses? Both nurses: [nodding] Yes, yes. Sean: NEITHER one of you had contact with the family, except you were taking care of their daughter? Carla: CORRECT. Sean: No AGENDAS? Carla: No. Trudy also shakes head no. Sean: Heidi Law said the same thing... Other doctors have said the same thing. So I guess you are all... to believe ONE person [meaning Michael Schiavo]... you're all liars? It's amazing to me how liberals work. [nurses smile in agreement] Sean: I want to play this tape for you, and this is Bob Schindler brought an audio tape in, and a LOT of people say this PROVES what both of you and other nurses and doctors have said. Lets roll the tape. [the TV screen shows a still photo of Bob Schindler next to the bed of Terri, while the audio plays. Bob is asking Terri where (if anywhere, does she hurt) Bob S. ask "does anything hurt you?", "does your arm hurt?" "does your toes hurt?" "does your mouth hurt?" "does your back hurt?" After most questions, Terri responds with varying unintelligible [to me] sounds. Some sound like "yea", some sound like "no".] Sean: Well the TIMING of her answers is somewhat suspicious. It CONFIRMS what ALL of you professionals have said. Trudy: [nodding] Yes. Sean: What happened here? How did that happen? And with SO MUCH conflicting testimony about her health, did we end up where we are today? Carla: Well I have facts and evidence, I don't have any opinions or judgements. I was there. I would hear Terri communicate. [Trudy nods in agreement] Not JUST with the nursing staff, but with the visitors. Sean: You know something Trudy, you ALSO say in your affidavit Trudy, that you heard Michael early on, say that he didn't know what Terri's wishes were? Trudy: ABSOLUTELY. Several times. I was very close to him. I was his confidant. We went places together. We went to choose clothes together. Sean: And he said it often? Trudy: [nodding yes] Often! He didn't know what to-... He asked me... He followed me to one of my jobs. He sent me flowers. He called me at my job. Over and over again. Sean: Ok, So you're... that's the SECOND person tonight who said, "He said early on..." Sean: [then pointing to Carla] You were the one that said in YOUR signed affidavit, at the risk of PURJURY, that he would say "Has the 'B' died yet?, has she died?" Carla: [nodding] Yes. "When is she gonna die?", "Can't you do ANYTHING to accellerate her death?" Sean: [to Trudy] Did YOU ever hear that? Trudy: I never heard that, but what I couldn't understand was that at a facility where I worked, I worked with Theresa at TWO facilities, he was SET on leaving her in a DARK ROOM, the shades COULDN'T be UP. and we WEREN'T permitted to turn the television set on, because he was concerned that "she would hear something that would upset her". Trudy: And HOW dis-ingenuous is THAT? He doesn't want the television on, Sean, because he's concerned that she might HEAR something! Alan: We're out of time for this segment. We thank you both for being on...

[Future Useless Eater]

Schiavo girlfriend Sheri Payne interviewd by Dan Abrams on day 11 of her starvation

ABRAMS: We‘re joined now by Terri Schiavo‘s friend, Sheri Payne, who first visited with Terri last night. She saw her again two times today. Thanks very much for coming on the program. I know you met Terri just after she married Michael Schiavo, and you‘re really the only friend that‘s been allowed to visit her. So give us a sense from your perspective of what she looks like to you. SHERI PAYNE, TERRI SCHIAVO‘S FRIEND: I think Terri looks well. Each day, it, of course, is going to change, when we‘re going into our 11th day. Last night, I was in late with her. I spoke to her. She was very verbal. I talked to her about things we used to do, going dancing. Both of her arms came up several times when I mentioned the word dancing. When I talked to her about concerts, or just things we used to do together, she got very verbal, more verbal than I‘ve ever heard her of all the times I‘ve been to see her. ABRAMS: You can understand, when you use the term “very verbal,” that even the doctors who are being cited by the Schiavo parents wouldn‘t say in a minimally conscious state that you could be very verbal. PAYNE: Well, she doesn‘t speak, like I‘m speaking right now, of course, but she follows you. Her eyes follow you. If you go to one side of the bed, she follows you. But when I was speaking to her last night about all the good times we used to have together, she lifted her face up to me and she started trying to talk. Her mouth was going. Her eyes were fluttering. And very loud. She was very, very loud, to the point that the police officer came around to the bed and looked at her, and my friend, Fran, was with me, and Fran couldn‘t believe it, either. ABRAMS: And I assume, again—this is just to be fair—that you do not then accept the medical explanation for that, which is that this is just a reaction, that this is very typical of someone in a persistent vegetative state, that they do make noise at times, that they can give the appearance of being alert, but, in fact, that they really don‘t have a very good concept of what is going on around them? PAYNE: Right. I do not agree with it. If your foot were to hit Terri‘s bed, then that is when she really reacts. As far as when you speak to her, she looks at you. She follows you. She tries to speak to you. Last night was unbelievable to me. It was wonderful. I was glad to be able to be with her last night. ABRAMS: But you can understand why some people are very skeptical of hearing the idea because it seems with each day, Terri Schiavo is doing more and more, right? I mean, in 2000, parents were conceding that she was in a persistent vegetative state. And now, you know, your account, which is really remarkable, in conjunction with the Schiavo parents, are now saying that she‘s actually trying to have conversations. It would seem that she‘s come quite a long way, despite the injury remaining about the same, in three years. PAYNE: Well, she has. She has come a long way. And I‘ve been into see her lots of times, and she has always been verbal. I hate to repeat myself, but last night, she was more so. And whenever I spoke to her about dancing, both of her arms would come up, and then they went down. And then I mentioned it again, and both of her arms came up again. And that‘s when she kept trying to speak to me. ABRAMS: Yes. All right. Well, again, you know the doctors would say that‘s just a reaction. It has nothing do with what you‘re saying, that she‘s not responding. But look, you‘re seeing it differently. Very quickly—I don‘t want to forget about who Terri was back then. Very quickly, just tell me about Terri, the woman you knew. PAYNE: When I think of Terri, I think of a fun person. Terri and I had a lot of fun together. We‘d go to clubs. We‘d go to the beach. We‘d go to concerts on the beach. We had lots of dinners together. She was happy. Terri is a happy person. She was always laughing. She loves animals. Terri was a joy to be with and still is. ABRAMS: Well, I wanted an opportunity to show those pictures of Terri as a young woman because it drives me crazy that the only pictures that are out there of Terri are those ones of what she looked like in 2001. So I wanted an opportunity as you spoke to put up some beautiful pictures of Terri. So thank you very much, Sheri Payne, for coming on the program. I appreciate it. PAYNE: Thank you. Thank you.