Lied

On Tuesday, Ann Coulter (snap!) spoke at the University of Kansas's Lied Center. Anyone else find that venue name funny? Naturally she was heckled by some protestors as reported here.

Folks, there's a time and a place for everything. If an argument is logical, it should be heard. If it is simply an ad hominem attack, it will reveal itself as such. But those who drown out speakers only make themselves look small and their side petty by default. At least give the speaker a chance to make herself look like a fascist by her words, not her crowd control.

The Schindler "spokesman"

More from Randall Terry's piehole here.

Terry played the macho card and challenged Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to "Be a man. Put politics aside." Funny coming from someone who doesn't hesitate to involve himself in political matters when they benefit his causes. Whose bright idea was it to invite him?

Guest post - Carlos on Terri

There are enough opinions on the Terri Schiavo case, but let me add one more - hopefully with a little different spin to it. I am not going to argue about the court case, or about the relationship between Terri and her husband. I am concerned about the future of folks like Terri. Terri, if she lives, may never get better, but for as long as she is alive, there is always a chance. When she is dead, there is no longer an opportunity for her to recover. Death is the only state that is not reversible. My argument here is for the possibility. If, for every time a person becomes brain damaged, we kill them, there is never any hope of making the condition better. Science will never advance and victims will continue to be treated in the same fashion. If people decided to lop off the head of everyone that became near or far sighted, the idea of glasses and correcting sight wouldn't have been invented. 50 years ago when solders were maimed in battle we let them live their lives. Because of that and because of the population of folks that are physically handicapped, science and inventors came up with prosthetic limbs. It is the invention that is important. Unfortunately, only demand of these items creates them. In the case of Terri we have a family that wants to help her and is willing to pay money for rehab and for any other technology that might help their daughter. It is unfortunate that Terri and everyone like her may never get the chance to be better.

Last dance?

Terri Schiavo continues to go downhill as I post this. As expected, Gov. Jeb Bush is expected to try to take physical custody of Terri before the end of the week. How? Oh, I don't know. Maybe an emergency evacuation of the hospice. Bomb scare? Anthrax? Terrorist threat? He'll think of something.

Spent last weekend reading blog after blog on Terri, her life, her marriage, and her condition.

Two blogs with Terri's family side:

here

and

here

...and one article about a changed perspective after reading up on Michael Schiavo and little nagging details that question whether he is the best choice to be a "guardian":

here

One different perspective from a bioethicist about what's at the end of the line (not Terri-specific):

here

(not the bioethicist/neurologist hired by Jeb Bush who "concluded" Terri was not in a PVS after observing her for an hour but not actually examining her. A doctor who just happens to be avidly against mercy killings, asisted suicides, and the like.)

Curious question: Why don't we have a Terri-cam?
> We could see if she's SUFFERING while being starved to death.
> We could see if she laughs, smiles, grimaces, nods and moves her eyes when family members aren't in the room.

Running out of time, folks.

Terri's world

"Yet in instances like this one, where there are serious questions and substantial doubts, our society, our laws and our courts should have a presumption in favor of life. Those who live at the mercy of others deserve our special care and concern."

Is this:
A. George Bush talking about Terri Schiavo?
or
B. George Bush talking about possibly innocent people on Texas's death row?

Just kidding. A.
========================================
...from the Schiavo family attorney:
"The family is prayerfully excited about their daughter going before the
United States Congress for the whole world to see how alive she is."

Right. Even if she does "travel" - and would that be by plane, train or automobile - what would her "testimony" be? Like Commodore Pike in Star Trek, who can only beep once for yes and twice for no? We're not even at that scientific stage yet. This is crazy talk, and yes, designed solely to get her out of having her tube removed. All I can picture is Republicans lining up for their campaign money shots, posing with Terri. Shame!

Peggy Noonan writes a forceful op-ed piece in WSJ's Opinion Journal

here

Yet, Noonan glosses over differences between "coma" and "persistive vegetative state" among other things. One is "brain there" and one is "brain probably not all there." She paints a battle of good (all Patriots) vs. evil (Michael Schiavo and a few nut case professors/ACLU members). But that's too simple.

HOUSE...doesn't that scare you?

So let me get this straight...the House Government Reform Committee issued subpoenas to someone who wouldn't testify other than essentially reading his Fifth Amendright rights (Mark McGwire) and then someone who is incapable of testifying (Terri Schiavo). Your government in action.

Lebanon and "interference"

BEIRUT (AP) 03/15/05 - About 2,000 pro-Syria demonstrators denouncing what they said was American interference in Lebanon marched toward the U.S. Embassy in a Beirut suburb Tuesday, and scores of riot police and soldiers used barbed wire to block the approaches to the compound. The protesters, waving Lebanese flags and chanting, "Ambassador get out! Leave my country free!" stopped at the barbed wire blocking the road about 500 yards from the fortified hilltop compound. The crowd did not try to break through.

So, apparently there's no problem with having 14,000 Syrian troops in your country, but 1 American ambassador? Now THAT'S interference.

R.I.P. Dave Allen

The Irish comedian died in his sleep Thursday. He was 68.

I was lucky enough to have my local PBS affiliate carry Dave Allen At Large in the 70s and early 80s - he was a riot! Most of the shows had skits featuring Dave, usually poking gentle fun at the Catholic Church. He'd come out and sit on his stool, with a drink and a cigarette. Google him and you'll see what I mean.

I always preferred him to Benny Hill, who also used sex in his skits, but in a less cerebral way.

"Good night, and may your God go with you."

yo! make yourself at home!

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