THE SCHIAVO MATTER

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 this context the finding means that Terri could not engage in any conscious intellectual activity.  She could not participate in or understand conversations.  She could not communicate.  She never did try to say "I want to live."  She had no awareness or understanding of the state she was in, or of the controversy surrounding her.  She could not see, so that rules out those stories of her watching that Mickey Mouse balloon floating around her room.  It's safe to say that she was not aware of her own existence on any conscious level.

And what about those beatings that we were all-but assured that Michael Schiavo delivered to Terri Schiavo?    A few months ago we were being told that Terri had been strangled by her husband.  The autopsy showed no indication whatsoever of any abuse or neglect.  We were being told that she had multiple broken bones ... a sure sign that she had been abused, possibly beaten.  The autopsy showed no broken bones.  The language of the autopsy is clear ... "no fractures." 

So ... where did that leave those who were fighting so hard to keep the life form that used to be Terri Schiavo alive?  Judging from the coverage of yesterday's events, they have nothing to dwell on now except for the question of how she got into this tragic state in the first place.  There must be some way to continue the demonization of Michael Schiavo ... so let's concentrate on what happened to Terri Schiavo in 1990.  The autopsy says that she didn't have a heart attack.  The autopsy also says that there was no evidence of bulimia.  I've heard some commentators say "We now know that it wasn't bulimia."  Sorry, that's incorrect.  We don't know that.  We just know that there was no evidence of bulimia.  But we are left with the question of just what happened to cause Terri's collapse.  Since the autopsy couldn't tell us, the new story line must be that it was somehow  Michael's fault.  Terri Schiavo's brother was calling for more questioning of Michael Schiavo yesterday.  We at the Boortz show were getting emails saying that the autopsy "proved" that Michael abused Terri.  Amazing.

Look .. I understand the emotionalism behind this.  I understand that tens of thousands of Americans who have invested themselves so heavily in the anti-choice movement placed the cause of Terri Schiavo at the center of their universe.   I also understand that thousands more truly believed that Terri was communicating with her parents and watching balloons float around.  They earnestly felt that with rehab treatment Terri would soon return to some semblance of a normal life.  They were sure that Terri was aware that the courts were considering whether or not to remove her feeding tube, and somewhere inside she was pleading to be allowed to live.  It's tough to admit that you were wrong.  Been there many times.  You believe something so strongly, only to find out that you were profoundly mistaken.  You find out that Terri Schiavo's brain was reduced to half its normal size.  She had no cognitive abilities.  She was not aware of her own existence.  She didn't even know she was alive, and therefore couldn't know that death was a possibility.  She wasn't there.  All that was left was the remains of the body that once had been Terri Schiavo .. clinging to the last threads of life.

I cannot relate to those who wanted to use artificial means to prolong the life functions of this otherwise useless body for decades more, but I can understand their dedication to life.   Yesterday on the show we heard from some people who, in light of the autopsy findings, have changed their minds.  They now understand that allowing her body to continue the process of dying was the humane and right thing to do.  Others are not emotionally strong enough to accept this reality, and they'll now focus their efforts on Michael Schiavo.  They'll now concentrate on trying to prove that he was abusive, though there is no evidence to support that claim.

TIME TO CASH IN

Not only Jennifer Wilbanks, but her fiance John Mason are now cashing in on the fame they acquired during Jennifer's little episode last April.  A book is in the works, and a movie is being pushed.  Now maybe we understand why Mason is hanging around.  Money talks, Jennifer walks.  It's easy to slam Wilbanks and Mason for cashing in on her actions .. and her lies ... but let's not forget to look at ourselves here.  Perhaps the real blame here should lie with the disgusting celebrity culture that permeates our society.  The average American is more interested in just who Brad Pitt cheated with on Jennifer Anniston than they are who represents them in the congress.  My hope for the runaway bride and her now-fiance?  May you flop .. and may the both of you one day return to the anonymity you so richly deserve. 

PLAYING THE NAZI CARD

The Democrats in the Senate continue to come unhinged, but this time they're not attacking politicians.  The target is now the United States Military.  It's no secret that a large portion of the Democratic party (as Bill Clinton once wrote) loathes the Military.  To them, the whole idea of maintaining a national defense is as waste of time.

On Tuesday,  Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois took to the floor of the Senate and had this to say, speaking about FBI accounts of what allegedly took place at the Islamic terrorist prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba:

"If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime--Pol Pot or others--that had no concern for human beings. Sadly, that is not the case. This was the action of Americans in the treatment of their prisoners."

That's right...a United States Senator has just compared our men and women in uniform to Nazis, Soviets running a gulag and even Pol Pot.  This makes what Amnesty International said look tame.

But we shouldn't be surprised.  It's all part of the Democratic party template.  If they don't agree with something, at some point in the debate, they're going to call you a Nazi.  It's just how it works these days.

Durbin is refusing to apologize.  Good.  Just like Howard Dean, he's representing his party quite well.

REDNECK SCRAP BOOK

Sometimes even we here at the Boortz Show see a tattoo and think to ourselves, now that's classy. Oh yeah, there's much more in the Redneck Scrap Book.

READING ASSIGNMENTS

Ann Coulter responds to those who want Gitmo shut down.  She suggests shipping all of the Islamic terrorists out to the Neverland Ranch.  Hey..not a bad idea!

The president of Texas A&M university has forcefully responded to Dr. Morgan Reynolds' suggestion that the World Trade Center was blown up.

Here we go...the Runaway Bride has signed up with an agent to pitch a movie.  Will people be stupid enough to pay money to go see such a film?  Of course.  On the other hand, somebody who does deserve to cash in just signed a book deal.

200 illegal aliens were arrested in a sweep of New England by immigration officials.  It's about time, but they're still running several million short.

The Republican party is cutting and running on Social Security.  That's too bad.  So much for private accounts, or any other kind of meaningful reform.

Terry McAuliffe has weighed in on Howard Dean...criticizing his recent remarks.  Can it be long now?

The tax on the stupid known as the lottery is about to get even bigger.  California is poised to join the Mega Millions multi state lottery.  This means the jackpot could grow to $500 million!!  Of course, there's a greater chance of being struck by lightning than winning.  Twice.  On Sunday.

The race for 2008 is beginning to heat up.  On the left, we have Hillary Clinton.  But who will carry the banner for the Republicans?  Robert Novak says Mitt Romney is running.

The Army is having problems bringing aboard new recruits.  What should they do?  Max Boot has a very controversial solution.

The sky is blue, the Earth is round and the mainstream media is still covering for Kofi Annan.  The Media Research Center reports.

George Will has some interests facts and figures on the current war on drugs, beginning with the latest price tag: $35 billion a year.

Teen running from the law finds himself impaled on a fence.

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