And the award for Scumbag of the Year goes to Michael Schiavo, a reprehensible man that may be the very person responsible for his wife, Terry, being in the state she is in today.
Ask yourself these questions...
1) Why won't Michael Schiavo divorce Terry and let her parents take care of her?
2) Why does Michael Schiavo care so much about Terry now when he is with another woman? You would think his current mistress would be jealous of all the attention Terry is getting.
3) Could it be that Michael Schiavo is actually a wife beater who is responsible for Terry being in the state she is in?
Runner's up for Scumbag of the year include Democrats Jerrold Nadler, Henry Waxman and the other few dozen in Congress who voted to kill Terry Schiavo. These people have absolutely no conscience and have no place in public service. Were these people not supported by taxpayer dollars, they would not even qualify for burger flipping... and my apologies to burger flippers.
These are the same people that claim they are for the underground, the down-trodden in society. And these are the people that in reality step all over the downtrodden to serve their own evil gains. That's right, the people are evil.
The whole thing makes me sick... This culture of death. I hope Americans continue to be heard, and I hope Democrats keep thumping the same old drum. 2008 will come along and they will become even more irrelevent. See, there is a bright side!
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
March 22, 2005 02:37 AM
Over 70% of all Americans opposed Congressional involvement.
By a 2-1 margin in a Fox poll, Republicans said they sided with Michael Schiavo.
A plurality of evangelical Christians said they sided with Michael Schiavo.
Not that you would care, but it's called libel to falsely accuse someone of attempted murder.
Three of five court-appointed neurologists said Terri Schiavo is in a persistent vegetative state.
By an overwhelming margin, Americans say Congressional Republicans were motivated by politics rather than by compassion for Terri Schiavo.
March 22, 2005 10:23 AM
Well, this is a hard one for me to call. I have worked in group homes with mentally retarded people, very severely retarded people I may add, and many with g-tubes, and it is a very sad thing to experience. However, these people have more to offer the world than many may realize. But the problem in this instance is that in a country of FREEDOM, Terry should have the right to decide if she wants to live or die. But without a living will it is a hard call. Did Michael have something to gain from staying with her this way. Probably. MONEY. Perhaps a large life insurance settlement if she dies. But can we really prove that he had something to do with her situation? That is the crux of the issue. It is a hard situation. By the way, just an aside here. I sometimes listen to Michael Savage on the radio and was annoyed to hear is views on this issue. He screams about freedom and how liberals are communists and mentally ill, and he stands up for Terry Schiavo. This is a good thing, standing up for her. But he hates geigh people so bad that if she were geigh, a member of his "geigh mafia", he would probably be the first one screaming for her death. What an fat, bloated hypocrite. This is an issue that bridges the gap between liberals and conservatives. There ARE many liberals who want to see her live. Yet on Savage's site he proclaims "Liberals Kill Terry Schiavo." GIVE ME A BREAK! Again, the world is not always about Liberals Vs. Conservatives. Those who think so need to wake up, smell the coffee, and GET A LIFE!!!
March 22, 2005 03:03 PM
Savage is definitely on the "harsh" side. He comes down on homosexuals in a very unloving way. I agree that they should not shove their agenda on the rest of America, and there are the militant groups that do need to shut up, but I have homosexual friends and do not hate them. Michael needs to learn a few things, just as we all do.
Majority on this issue means absolutely nothing unless you are a moral relativist. Schiavo is a scumbag. Terry should have the right to live and not be STARVED to death. Food is NOT life support.
March 22, 2005 03:53 PM
I have reserved judgment on the Terri Schiavo case because I have questions about proof of persistent vegetative state.
However, I consider it highly moral and ethical for an individual to write a living will that provides that feeding tubes will not be employed if a person is found by competent neurologists to be in a persistent vegetative state. That is what my living will provides and I am absolutely confident that that is what God wants for my life.
Joel, is there anything other than hatred that occupies your soul? I've rarely come across anyone who is so consistently, persistently filled with venom and vitriol. Might I suggest that you spend a little more time examining your own probably substantial moral failings?
March 22, 2005 04:54 PM
Terry does not have a living will. She is being starved to death by her husband. Basically, he is killing a handicapped woman. How compassionate and loving.
I don't know why you insist on saying I am full of hatred. Perhaps it is nothing more than transference on your part.
Do I HATE Michael Schiavo? No. He is made in God's image. Am I disgusted by him? Am I able to judge his actions? Yes, I believe there are legitimate reasons to be disgusted at Michael Schiavo and those politicians who are conspiring to kill a handicapped woman. It's not my job to help you see it.
As for my moral failings, they are plentiful. And I am the first to say so!
March 22, 2005 04:56 PM
Also, the accusations of Michael Schiavo beating his wife did not come from me. His family suspects this. I asked "Could it be?"
Joel, have you seen the video of Terry? I can't imagine any thinking person viewing it and supporting her starvation. Why hasn't the judge allowed these videos in court? Why aren't we seeing them on television? Should I ask further questions that my 10-year old could answer correctly?
March 22, 2005 07:23 PM
Joel, I think you hit the nail on the head here. The whole issue would be much less complicated if the idea of starvation was not being used. However, the alternative to removing the tube would be to actually use active euthanasia, such as lethal injection, which most would find much more emotionally charged. That is probably why they are removing the tube. But the fact remains that she did not have a living will. Then things would be much more clear. As it is, I think she deserves to live. Michael Schiavo is pushing too hard when he has been out of her life for too long previously. It is very suspicious. However, Joel, a question. If Terry did have a living will that specifically said that she wanted to die if her quality of life was so bad, would you be in support of her choice to die? Do you think that she would be comitting a sin if she wanted to give up? A question we should probably all ask ourselves.
March 22, 2005 08:35 PM
Well, Joel, I'm one of those absolutely against what Congress did, so you are obviously, by extension, calling me evil. Not just wrong. But lacking any conscience whatsoever.
I've watched the video. Numerous neurologists have said that people in persistent vegetative states often continue to smile or grimace, but that that is not evidence of higher brain function.
You also lay all the blame on Democrats. But Republicans in several polls said they side with Michael Schiavo. Where's your condemnation of Republicans as evil?
March 22, 2005 10:07 PM
Robert, if Terri had a living will that instructed the doctors what to do in this case, it would be legitimate. Is it a sin? No clue. In this case, it didn't happen. Michael is tried to kill his handicapped wife.
Joel, we ought to err on the side of life. You don't KNOW that she is in a "vegetative" state. The videos certainly lend credibility to the theories that she may be attempting to communicate. It is foolish to assume otherwise when a life is at stake. And yes, I would call that approach "evil". It assumes that death is the best thing.
There are several Republicans that sided with the 50 or so Democrats in congress (I applaud the Democrats that stood for common sense and life). I would lump those Republicans in the same bunch as the Democrats. No partisanship on this issue as far as I am concerned.
I recommend listening to the interview with Bobby Schindler. The rabbit hole goes much deeper than one might suspect...
March 23, 2005 12:17 AM
Joel, I can certainly appreciate your view that certain things are evil. But to go beyond that and claim that I lack a conscience is beyond your ability to know or reason.
March 23, 2005 01:48 AM
C'mon Joel, I never said YOU didn't have a conscience. I said the people who are determined to see Terri dead don't. You might agree with what they are doing, but you aren't PURSUING it. Big difference. Lighten up, Francis. ;-)
March 23, 2005 02:56 AM
Joel,
I would have voted not to send this to the federal courts had I been in Congress. So the fact that I'm not in Congress gives me a conscience?
I see a big difference between wanting Terri dead and standing up for the principle of state's rights. Republcians have come to be the party of big government just as much as the Democrats. This was not a federal issue.
Is Francis still around? I haven't read your site much recently because you've been posting more on things that don't interest me -- not that there's anything wrong with what you post -- just that it's not for me.
March 23, 2005 01:39 PM
The question I would ask myself is : - if it was my wife, and she no longer had enjoyment or quality of life, what would I do?
Is being hooked up to a machine, being unable to communicate, unable to interact with what is around her, enjoyable or quality life?
Some say she smiles, so do new born babies - usually because they have gas. Some say she tries to communicate. Who really knows? Me? Certainly not. The experts? Much more likely.
Can I give her life back? No.
Should this be a political issue? No.
Should this be a public moral issue? No.
Should anyone but her immediate family, including her husband have any involvement? No.
Death is inevitable. She may still have something left for this world, but who knows what it is. Not me, not you, and as I am a Taoist, I don't think "god" does either.
Let her die with dignity. Let the family get on with their life. Does Michael Schiavo have a secret agenda? Everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt. His motives may be honorable, until he proves otherwise, how dare we judge him.
I just ask that I never be put into the position of having to make a similar decision or that any of my loved ones have to do the same for me.
March 26, 2005 12:42 AM
I understand someone is talking about making a
movie of this tragic event,(Terri Schiavo's death)
and Michael is saying Terri would want him to get 5 million dollars for the rights to it .
I am posting this without personal comments.
March 29, 2005 06:09 PM
I don't know how this Joel Comm person is but it's for sure he's one of the idiots spreading bull sh*t. Reading this commentary certainly has convinced me to never visit this site again.
To bad people like Joel wastes his time on this crap...and I waste my time responding to it!!!
March 29, 2005 06:09 PM
I don't know how this Joel Comm person is but it's for sure he's one of the idiots spreading bull sh*t. Reading this commentary certainly has convinced me to never visit this site again.
To bad people like Joel wastes his time on this crap...and I waste my time responding to it!!!
March 31, 2005 07:31 PM
I agree totally with Joel.Michael Schiavo has no business starving this woman to death.I can't understand why Mr. Schiavo didn't give custody of Terry to her parents, it just doesn't make sense.This man began to date women a year and a half after his wife went into a PVS.He has had a girlfriend for the past 10 years and has even had two children with her.This whole situation disgusts me...but we must remember every dog has his day....Michael Schiavo Scumbag of the Year!!!
June 7, 2005 05:18 PM
The Shindlers didn't really want to take care of Terri. They wanted the taxpayers to do it.