US House of Rep. in an Extraordinary Sunday night Session [Schiavo] (Bush Signs Schiavo bill)

[FoxPro]

This is an unprecedented session. The Congress is meeting to save one persons life (in real time).

The only reason the Democrats are agreeing to this is that they don’t want to be known as the party that killed Terri.

This is American history happening before your eyes.

[northernlightsII]

They were denied oxygen to the brain a long time ago,yet they are still eating drinking and sadly talking...

[Petronski]

To suspend the rules and pass.

[MarMema]

Thank you, God.

[Jeff Head]

218 must vote. That number is what they need of they get the requistie number of votes. I believe they will get them.

Sink, It is too bad the US Congress has had to step in,m that it has come to this...but thank God we have a President and House and Senate leadership who have been willing to do something, who are unwilling to let this atrocity occur in America on their watch.

The danger of letting this stand, far outwiegh, IMHO, the dagner of this ruling being some sort of precedent setting overreach by Congress. IMHO, it is not that at all. They are saving a life, and the bill is very specific in that regard.

[don-o]

My teenager walked into the room and asked if he had any teeth!!!!*G*

Same here - but, mine said, "What is the matter with him?"

[Thanatos]

"OK. SOMEBODY please set the record straight! Do we need a simple majority or 2/3???

2/3'rds is needed because of the speeded up vote. When a vote and debate is requested like this one, 2/3rds of those present must vote FOR the bill for it to pass..

It will pass.. the numbers are already past the 2/3's point and going up. Since the Senate has already passed the bill.. within minutes, the bill will be in the White House and I suspect will be signed in about 30 minutes from now.

[longtermmemmory]

C-span must have no screeners. there are OBVIOUS seminar callers saying they long time reps calling saying they are disappointed (can you say Dashel) in their party. Caller now is saying republicans are invading the bedroom. (?)

Tommorrow Rush will be invaded by seminar callers.

[2nd amendment mama]

So far 235 votes.....more than enough. 183 Yea and 52 Nay....YIPEE!!!!!

[pnz1]

Not watching TV, so what happens now?

[BladeLWS]

This latest caller is saying shes republican and will be changing parties over this. Yea...

[hipaatwo]

hey mo your up too! msnbc has 189/52!

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

"I have each name written down of those who spoke. If anyone wants it later."


...that would be worth a thread of its own, if you can find the transcripts (although be careful to excerpt if required) Thanks!

[Tree of Liberty]

218 needs to vote that there's a quarum present. If there's not quarum, there can't be a vote on the actual bill.

[Judith Anne]

Lots of seminar callers on C-Span, saying "I'm a Republican, and I'm thinking of changing parties because of this vote.."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! bs, pure and simple. Probably DUers.

[MarMema]

me too. Thanks be to God!!!

[Cboldt]

OK -- got it. Quorum number of total votes required. 2/3 majority required because it is an expedited vote.

[DBeers]

I noted that Pope John Paull II was quoted by a Republican during the debate and thought I would offer additional information for any that might be interested. The Catholic Church teaches that all living humans inherently created in God's image possess dignity that is recognized and respected immutably. Thus, to suggest one could provide the dying 'dignity' by facilitating their death to circumvent suffering or hardship would be but errant morally relative argument. Additionally, the Church teaches that artificial nutrition and hydration is not extraordinary care and as such removal of artificial nutrition and hydration would be tantamount to "procuring death" (murder) rather than "permitting death":

Here are some linked documents that can answer any questions:

Declaration on Euthanasia

Respect for the dignity of the dying

The approach to the gravely ill and the dying must therefore be inspired by the respect for the life and the dignity of the person. It should pursue the aim of making proportionate treatment available but without engaging in any form of "overzealous treatment" (cf. CCC, n. 2278). One should accept the patient's wishes when it is a matter of extraordinary or risky therapy which he is not morally obliged to accept. One must always provide ordinary care (including artificial nutrition and hydration), palliative treatment, especially the proper therapy for pain, in a dialogue with the patient which keeps him informed.

At the approach of death, which appears inevitable, "it is permitted in conscience to take the decision to refuse forms of treatment that would only secure a precarious and burdensome prolongation of life" (cf. Declaration on Euthanasia, part IV) because there is a major ethical difference between "procuring death" and "permitting death": the former attitude rejects and denies life, while the latter accepts its natural conclusion.

International Congress: Life-Sustaining Treatments and Vegetative State: Scientific Advances and Ethical Dilemmas

[topher]

During the debate, most of the speakers sounded like they were from the Afro-American Caucus. I can't see any vulnerable Democrat coming out and supporting Barney Frank.

It was a Red state Democratic Senator that supported in the Senate, so there may be folks [on the Democratic side] concerned about siding with Barney Frank...

[Deo volente]

Caller is upset, saying the Repubs are "putting themselves into the bedroom between husband and wife"

WHAT???!!!

Michael's been in Jodi's bedroom for most of thhe past decade!!!

IDIOT!