THE RIGHT TO DIE

I think that I am about the only radio talk show host in the nation that thinks that nature should be allowed to take its course and Terri Schiavo should be allowed to die. Expect an absolute media frenzy today as the time approaches for Schiavo's feeding tube to be removed.  The demonstrators are already gathering outside of the nursing facility.  Republicans in the congress are getting in on the act.  Republican Mike Enzi of Wyoming, the chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pension committee,  says that he is going to issue a subpoena today to Terri Schiavo ... a subpoena to testify before the committee.  This illustrates the absurdity of this situation as nothing else can.  Congress will subpoena a woman in a persistent vegetative state to testify.  All we need now is for some sort of special arrangement to allow West Virginia's Robert Byrd to question her.  

At the center of the Terri Schiavo tragedy is America's anti-abortion movement.  Notice, please, the presence of Randall Terry.  The fact is that the anti-abortion movement has seized Terri Schiavo ... figuratively kidnapped her .. and they intend to use this woman to further their anti-abortion agenda.  They will entomb the soul of Terri Schiavo  in her now-useless body as long as it suits their agenda.  

The language of those who would continue the imprisonment of Terri Schiavo is odd, if not amusing.  She's referred to as disabled, in a coma or just brain damaged.  She is not "disabled" in the normal context of the word.  Her body is, for all practical purposes, dead ... being kept alive solely through extraordinary artificial means.   She's not in a coma.  People recover from comas.  Her condition is diagnosed as a "persistent vegetative state."   There is no medical record of someone  recovering from a persistent vegetative state.  This is not a state of brain damage.  It is, for all practical purposes, brain death.  

The absurdities of this case would be funny if they weren't so pathetic.  Terri's family said last year that they wanted to take her to the mall, and for other field trips.  Of course, those trips never happened; just as Terri will never testify before a congressional committee.  We also have the blatant attempts to turn the attention away from Terri's condition and to her husband.  His crime?  He says, and the courts have agreed, that he is merely carrying out wishes expressed to him by his wife.  Listen to the Schiavo family and you will hear that her husband her condition was caused by a beating at the hands of her husband.  It wasn't.  You'll hear that her husband stands to rack up huge piles of money as soon as Terri dies.  He won't.  

Now put yourself in this position. You're watching TV with your spouse one night and see a show about someone on life support. You tell your husband or wife that you don't want to ever be in that state, and would they please pull the plug should you ever become incapacitated. However, you don't write it down, and apparently don't tell your parents. Tragedy strikes, and only your spouse knows your true wishes. Should your spouse be ignored in favor of your parents who want to keep you alive at all costs?

Michael Schiavo has turned down $10 million to terminate his rights in this case. He says he just wants to do what Terry wanted. Who's right? Doesn't the spouse come before the parents in any marriage? Time for everybody to write down what their wishes are, so this doesn't happen to you. 

I'm sure that there is no shortage of people who think that I'm possessed by some evil spirit.  No.  I'm just sad that Terri's spirit or soul .. whatever you want to call it ... is trapped in this useless body.  Her parents' love has clouded their judgment.  This can be understood and excused.  What can't be excused is the cruelty of the so-called "right to life" movement that will allow this woman to continue to suffer s long as their own needs are met.

Now, a question.  How many of you can honestly say that you would like to be kept alive, for 20, 40, 50 years or more like this? If you wouldn't want this for yourself, why do so many of you work so hard to force this reality on Terri Schiavo?  Oh .. I forgot.  You're pro-life.  Well isn't that special. 

There's one more element to the Schiavo case.  This is a Florida matter, not a federal matter.  The courts of the State of Florida have made their rulings.  The U.S. Congress has no role to play here.  This is a blatant attempt on the part of the Congress to usurp bona fide state's rights in order to please a particular political constituency. 

WE WILL NEVER REDUCE THE SIZE OR COST OF OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.   

Never.  It just isn't going to happen. 

President Bush's budget for fiscal year 2006 included cuts to Medicaid (welfare for states,) community development and school aid. The cuts were miniscule.  Spending in these areas had been growing at record rates for the first four years of the Bush administration.  Now cuts are proposed that amount to less than one-half of one percent in some cases, and only cuts in projected spending increases in others ... and the Senate, the Republican controlled Senate, just couldn't go along.  The Senate passed a $2.6 trillion budget yesterday that removed the cuts. The budget was approved by a vote of 51 to 49. 

This just goes to show you that when it comes to spending by the Imperial Federal Government in this country, we have reached a point where there is no difference between Democrats and Republicans. Each wants to spend essentially the same amount of money, neither will cut entitlements and both have absolutely no political will to ever balance the current budget.  Both sides want big government.  Both sides want government to grow.  We've reached government critical mass, and there will be no turning back. 

On the plus side, the Senate did approve some additional tax cuts. That is apparently the only way to ultimately cut spending: starve the beast. 

TAKE ME OUT TO THE CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS.

The hearings in the House of Representatives looking into steroid use got underway yesterday, and it was quite the spectacle. A number of players testified, including Jose Canseco, Frank Thomas, Mark McGuire, Curt Schilling and Rafael Palmeiro.

For the most part, it was what you would expect. But there was one interesting omission from Mark McGwire. Most of the others players, except for Canseco (obviously) were willing to say under oath, under threat of perjury, that they had never used steroids. They left absolutely no room for any misunderstanding. Yet, when it came to McGuire, we had no such statement.

McGuire had said on other occasions that he never used steroids. Yet, under oath, he punted. No such statements were made, meaning the only reasonable explanation for why he would not deny it is because he did indeed use steroids. Just so that's out there.

Of note: to a player, they all said they would support Olympic-style testing for steroids in Major League Baseball. If that's the case, then why didn't they adopt it? The only reasonable explanation has to be because they were hiding something.

Oh, and where were Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi yesterday? They were excused, because of their involvement in a federal investigation of a company that provided steroids to athletes. 

Now we know that Mark McGuire was juiced up on steroids when he hit 70 home runs.  Did he admit it before that congressional committee yesterday?  No, he didn't.  He took the Fifth, as is his privilege.  He steadfastly refused to answer questions about the past.  Sorry, but this leaves only one logical conclusion.  Steroids were coursing through McGuire's system every time he stepped to the plate in 1998.  Nice going.  Now ...let's get on with either removing him from the record books or putting a nifty little asterisk next to his name in the record books;  something like " * juiced on drugs."  Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig says "No asterisks."  Fine.  The nation's sportswriters will take care of matters.  McGuire can kiss off any hopes of ever being in the Hall of Fame.  Loser.  

OK .. SINCE YOU BEGGED

Just a few emails for today.  I'm running a bit late, so I didn't bother to edit or correct misspelled words.  Have fun! Also, don't forget that we include listener emails in most Boortz Blast newsletters. Why aren't you getting it?

• Only one thing worse than a left wing crack pot like al Frankin is a right wing crak pit like you. You really suck man. Richard.
  
• Just to let you know Mr. Boortz that I disagree with your reaction to the Terri Schiavo case. I listen to the AM station most of the day from 8am till about 4pm and you are the only host who's opinion differs completely from the others. Why is that? I've listened to you way before this particular topic was aired and have respected your views agreeing with most of the things you talk about, but now I see you in a completely different perspective. I am not alleiging that you are being banished from my listening ears; I just want you to give the matter more concideration regarding Terri Schiavo's situation, that she deserves to live regardless to her lack of quality of life. Sylvain Daly
  
• I just wanted to drop you an email and say that I love your show. It's fabulous. I agree with about half of what you say, and about 15% of the rest really pisses me off - But that's not always a bad thing! I think that getting irked is what keeps our blood flowing, afterall.  So, I'm sure you get about a thousand of these 'love your show' emails a day, but what might set this one apart from the rest is that I just so happen to be one of those over-educated, pussy-footed 'socialist' liberals. I also happen to be a 25 year old female, as well (a demographic I don't often hear from on your show). Nonetheless, I still think you are the patron saint of expression. It's just damned nice to see someone finally using some of their freedoms, in my opinion - Even if we don't always see eye to eye!  Keep up the great work, and consider yourself loved by a liberal... You might want to wash off those liberal-germs now.  Adria
  
• I enjoy your disturbing rants very much but for crying out loud if you are going to try and describe the vagina monologue to your listeners would you please use better words than Blank Blank and Blank. What the hell does that blank mean in the first place? If you going to use cuss words then may I suggest you use "@!#?%" on the radio, this would clarify it much better.  Eric.
  
• I am 55 and will not be able to privatize any of my SS. Therefore, I view my role as a myth destroyer and encourager to those younger (and older) than me. Neal, why do other seniors think the whole system is going private? My mother-in-law (83 years old) actually thought she would have to invest all of her SS and she would not receive her check. I think we have convinced her she will see no change. My normally intelligent sister-in-law (56 year old) had the same fears. How can the average citizen who is not a news junky be informed. Help!  Kathy

THE CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE

Over the past few weeks there have been over 20 murders in Philadelphia.  Nobody seems to understand just why.  City officials are taking the predictable route.  They're asking for more gun control laws.  At a time when violence in Philadelphia is at a high, politicians want to make it harder for citizens to arm themselves for their own protection.  The mayor wants a moratorium on new gun permits.  There is no evidence that one of these 20+ murders in the past few weeks was committed by anyone with a gun permit.  Not one.  So the Mayor's solution is ... no more gun permits.  I saw Mayor John Street on CNN this morning.  He made the idiotic statement that "If you have a gun, you're going to use it."  Is John Street really this ignorant?  Study after study shows that the more law abiding people you have carrying permitted concealed weapons for self defense,  the lower the crime rate.  The harder it is to get permission to own or carry a gun, the higher the crime rate.

Someone needs to educate the Mayor of Philadelphia.  If, that is, he is teachable.

READING ASSIGNMENTS

When it comes to ending politics as we know it and reducing our dependence on foreign oil, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is getting it done. Dick Morris wonders if the rest of the nation will follow his example.

The Larry Summers affair shows that liberals have their own code of speech, conduct and thought. David Limbaugh says what's going on at Harvard is a disgrace.

If you want something changed in this country, you usually go see your friendly neighborhood Congressman. With the decision in the Roper v. Simmons case, that's all changed...now the Supreme Court of the United States is becoming the most powerful law-making body. 

President Bush has been vindicated in his policy to spread democracy and freedom throughout the Middle East. According to the left, people in the Arab world didn't want to be free. Charles Krauthammer says events are proving otherwise.

The United Nations passed a resolution 6 months ago demanding that Syria withdraw from Lebanon and they're doing it. They're doing it not because they fear the UN, but because they fear what the US might do.  It's

really a shame we ousted Saddam, isn't it?  

In all the talk over Iran's proposed nuclear program, Oliver North describes something else that's going on....and that's a military build-up in Venezuela. Why is the Bush administration ignoring it?

The Euro-weenies are at it again.....this time Spain is paying a ransom to free a hostage. Always nice when the surrender monkeys are financing the opposition. It makes our job so much easier.

Now this is what you call a true ally: Australia's John Howard has offered to replace the Italian troops that are surrendering (oops..."pulling out") of Iraq. This should be something we don't forget.

The mainstream media continues to be the lapdog of the Democratic party. This time they're opposing private accounts for Social Security, and even ignoring public support of them. The Media Research Center reports.

Ashley Smith is now rightfully and correctly going to receive all of the reward money in the Brian Nichols case.  This is just the beginning.

A man left his wife for another woman after she gave him a kidney.  His wife ... not the other woman.

Morning Sickness: A former police officer charged with flashing his banana.

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