Free Republic

Just when it seemed that every liberal commentator on the Terri Schiavo case was starting to sound like Barney Frank, the great Joan Didion published a long and remarkable article on the case in the quite far left New York Review of Books of June 9. Frank, of course, took the occasion of last week's Schiavo autopsy results as yet another opportunity to denounce Republicans as "this fanatical party willing to impose its own views on people." For those of you still somehow unaware, "imposing their views" is a semiofficial Democratic meme or code phrase meaning "religious people who vote...

Correct me if I'm wrong .. but when the Terri Schiavo matter was consuming front pages and broadcast news, wasn't the issue whether or not she was reacting to her parents and watching that balloon floating around her room? She should not be allowed to die, people said, because with rehab she would improve and then her family could take her to malls and birthday parties and such. Well, the autopsy results are in. [full autopsy pdf] There was no way that Terri Schiavo could benefit in any way from rehabilitation therapy. What's more, she had no cognitive abilities. In...

The Pinellas County medical examiner's office in Florida plans to release its autopsy report tomorrow on Terri Schiavo – findings her family hopes will shed light on the cause of the collapse that left her severely brain-damaged 15 years ago. Schiavo, 41, died March 31, nearly two weeks after the feeding tube that had kept her alive was removed under a court order obtained by her husband, Michael Schiavo. Her death ended a bitter legal battle between Michael Schiavo, who said his wife did not want to be kept alive artificially, and her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler. Both Michael...

We all watched Terri Schiavo die. Now former LAPD homicide detective and New York Times bestselling author Mark Furhman investigates to find out what really happened. Later this month, Furhman's newest book, Silent Witness: The Untold Story of Terri Schiavo's Death, will be released. It will prove the controversy over Terry Schiavo's death is far from over. And it's not over yet. Despite her death, the controversy lingers. In Silent Witness, Mark Fuhrman applies his highly respected investigative skills to examine the medical evidence, legal case files, and police records. [NewsMax will have among the first copies.] With the complete...

A federal judge who declined to review the lawsuit Terri Schaivo's parents filed to prevent her painful 13 day starvation death may have had a conflict of interest. Federal District Court Judge James Whittemore of Tampa was charged by Congress to take up the case and issue a temporary restraining order preventing Terri's death. He refused. However, it appears Judge Whittemore, who became the subject of condemnation from Congressional leaders after his decision, possible should have recused himself from the case. Whittemore served in the 13th Circuit Court of Hillsborough County, Florida from 1990 to 1999. According to a report...

MIAMI (AP) - The family of a severely brain-damaged woman who died after her feeding tube was removed in March said Friday they still have not been told where her remains will be laid to rest. Terri Schiavo's parents and siblings, who waged a lengthy court battle over her end-of-life wishes, said on Fox's "Hannity & Colmes" show that her husband is keeping her remains from them. "They were supposed to tell us, and we still have not heard from ... Michael Schiavo where Terri's been laid," said Terri Schiavo's brother, Bobby Schindler. "Our family expected this. Michael has disobeyed...

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- A firefighter brain-damaged in a 1995 roof collapse had an "amazing" weekend, recognizing and speaking with his four sons and other family and friends for the first time in years, a family spokesman said Monday. "I want to talk to my wife," Donald Herbert said out of the blue Saturday at the skilled nursing facility where he has lived for more than seven years. Staff members put Linda Herbert on the telephone. It was the first of many conversations he had during a 14-hour stretch, Herbert's uncle, Simon Manka said. "How long have I been away?"...

Today is a catch-22 day -- the 22nd of February. And this is a vain story based on the facts of the NY Times story on Chief Justice Rehnquist versus a helpless young lady in Florida. I consider the NY Times sensationalizing the story on Rehnquist as to be a means of aiding in the murder of Terri Schiavo in Florida. They could have devoted print and Front Page to that story. The NY Times knows full well what is going in Florida. But are they aiding Michael Schiavo kill his wife Terri Schiavo by dispensing old news. I call...

"Miss Centonze loves her fiancé very much," said her lawyer, "but I'm sure she's not the only person in this country who would not want to give him power of attorney should she ever become incapacitated and be on a feeding tube."

Wake up America . . . the alarm clock just went off and we keep turning over and going back to sleep. There's an "uprisin' on the horizon" and we refuse to face it. Sleeping through it might make it easier, but the end result will be devastating. We've had a lightning bolt cut through the very core of our foundation forming a crack so deep we could topple by our weight of indifference. This ship is listing badly; so tilted we may never be uprighted again. Our love affair with America is "breaking apart" because our foundation is cracking....

For decades, neuroscientists have recognized that the brain has three distinct systems. One is derived from primitive reptiles that were adept at survival strategies. Another includes the limbic system – often called the “seat of emotions.” The third includes the neocortex and prefrontal lobes (comprising the right and left hemispheres of the brain) that account for thinking, verbal abilities and other “higher” functions. My theory is that Terri’s putative husband Michael, his attorney George J. Felos, and Judge George Greer – who ruled for years against Terri’s right to life – have highly developed reptilian brains and prefrontal lobes, but...

National Disgrace The coverage of the Terri Schiavo tragedy by the cable news channels was a national disgrace. They provided a national megaphone for fanatics to make wild and unsubstantiated — and, in some cases, previously discredited — allegations about Michael Schiavo and Florida Circuit Judge George Greer. Their feverish greed for sensationalism caused them to disregard the truth. One falsehood repeated by many people, including some who should have known better, was that Mrs. Schiavo's wish not to be kept alive was decided on the basis of "hearsay." That is untrue. The legal term "hearsay" refers to a situation...

Michael Schiavo's Insurance Company Contributed to "Death with Dignity" Bill Supporter CLEARWATER, Florida, April 5, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Jerger & Centonze Insurnace (sic) Agency, a company that lists its address as 2807 Marrie Court - Michael Schiavo's address - and has as a co-founder, Michael's girlfriend/fiancé Jody Centonze, was a contributor to the campaign of death-with-dignity bill champion Florida Senator Jim King. "Conflicts of interest among key players in the Terri Schiavo controversy could give the United Nations oil-for-food investigation a run for its money," wrote canadafreepress.com Editor Judi McLeod. "Campaign contributors to the political campaign of district 8...

Fearing an attempt on his life, Michael Schiavo, who last week tortured his estranged wife to death is under police protection and is even unable to see his mistress and their illegitimate children. Anger at Mr Schiavo's actions has been fuelled by the revelation that a court order from a county judge, George Greer, who repeatedly refused the Schindlers' pleas to let their daughter live, will allow him to have her cremated and her ashes interred in Pennsylvania. The Schindlers' request for a share of the ashes or even a lock of their daughter's hair has also been refused. The...

Zogby Poll: Americans Not in Favor of Starving Terri Schiavo Polls leading up to the death of Terri Schiavo made it appear Americans had formed a consensus in favor of ending her life. However, a new Zogby poll with fairer questions shows the nation clearly supporting Terri and her parents and wanting to protect the lives of other disabled patients. The Zogby poll found that, if a person becomes incapacitated and has not expressed their preference for medical treatment, as in Terri's case, 43 percent say "the law presume that the person wants to live, even if the person is...

The execution of Terri Schiavo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: April 4, 2005 1:00 a.m. Eastern © 2005 Creators Syndicate, Inc. Terri Schiavo is dead. She did not die a natural death, unless you believe a court order to cut off food and water to a disabled woman until she dies of starvation and thirst is natural. No, Terri Schiavo was executed by the state of Florida. Her crime? She was so mentally disabled as to be unworthy of life in the judgment of Judge George Greer. The execution was carried out at Woodside Hospice. An autopsy will reveal that Terri's vital organs...

Terri Schiavo autopsy completed Her parents, husband planning separate funeral arrangements Saturday, April 2, 2005 Posted: 1540 GMT (2340 HKT) http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/04/02/schiavo.ap TAMPA, Florida (AP) -- The autopsy of Terri Schiavo has been completed, and the body is ready for release to her husband, who plans to cremate her remains and bury the ashes in an unspecified family plot. Results from the autopsy, which was completed Friday, will not be released for several weeks, according to the medical examiner's office. Michael Schiavo has said he hopes the autopsy will settle questions about his wife's medical condition, but experts differ on whether...

"The essence of civilization is that the strong have a duty to protect the weak. In cases where there are serious doubts and questions, the presumption should be in the favor of life." "I urge all those who honor Terri Schiavo to continue to work to build a culture of life where all Americans are welcomed and valued and protected, especially those who live at the mercy of others.” – President George Bush The crime is complete, the deed is done, and the long battle is over. Terri Schiavo is dead. Terri’s so-called wishes if she was ever dramatically injured...

CBS is rushing a Terri Schiavo TV movie into production so that it can air the biopic during the May ratings sweeps. There is no word on whether the network has secured the cooperation of either the Schindler family, Terri's parents and siblings, or Michael Schiavo, her estranged husband. There are reports Michael Schiavo is entertaining offers of book, movie and TV deals for Terri's story. Industry sources say Schiavo is likely to be offered up to $2 million for a book deal and up to $2 million for a movie or TV deal. CBS' Terri story reportedly will feature...

A toxicology test comes back negative, but officials still aren't sure what caused five puncture marks on her arms. CLEARWATER - Terri Schiavo returned to her assisted living home Tuesday after a hurried round of hospital tests were conducted to determine the cause of five puncture marks found on her arms. A toxicology test came back negative, meaning there's no evidence that Schiavo, 40, was secretly injected with a foreign substance. Clearwater police "have found no evidence of a crime and no evidence of an attempted crime," said spokesman Wayne Shelor. And Schiavo's personal doctor, summoned to her bed in...