Sunday, March 20, 2005

Terri Schiavo, and the overpowering reek of right-wing hypocrisy.


And just when you think you've heard it all, and read it all, and just can't take any more revolting right-wing hypocrisy and double standards because you've got your "Republican Hypocrisy Accommodation Meter" pegged all the way to 10, well ... that's where your humble correspondent comes in since, like Nigel, mine goes to 11.

Appreciate, of course, the hypocrisy of conservative wingnuts wailing and moaning about the "sanctity" of marriage, then insisting that husband Michael Schiavo has no right to make decisions on behalf of his wife. Revel in the cognitive dissonance of those who constantly howl for smaller, less intrusive government, then turn around and demand the right to interfere in the most private decision that anyone will ever have to make. Witness the stunning inconsistency of those who bleat about how every life is "sacred", then cheer on the death penalty and the massive and wide-ranging bombing of Iraq that has killed tens of thousands of non-combatants. And, now, prepare yourself for a whole new level of hypocritical duplicity. (That's "duplicity", Jinx -- you can look it up here.)

From this article over at Faux News, we have the fine folks in Congress, weeping crocodile tears, prepared to intervene in the Schiavo case:

Lawmakers Mull Bills Deciding Schiavo's Fate

Working on at least four fronts, lawmakers and lawyers in Florida and in Washington raced to prevent the removal of a brain-damaged Terri Schiavo's (search) feeding tube, but their options appeared to dwindle Thursday as the hours slipped away...

As part of the last-minute flurry of activity, Congress was considering legislation to keep the feeding tube in place, ...

All of which makes this recent news piece just a little nauseating (thanks to Atrios for the link):

Hospitals can end life support

Decision hinges on patient's ability to pay, prognosis

A patient's inability to pay for medical care
combined with a prognosis that renders further care futile are two reasons a hospital might suggest cutting off life support, the chief medical officer at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital said Monday.

Dr. David Pate's comments came as the family of Spiro Nikolouzos fights to keep St. Luke's from turning off the ventilator and artificial feedings keeping the 68-year-old grandfather alive.

St. Luke's notified Jannette Nikolouzos in a March 1 letter that it would withdraw life-sustaining care of her husband of 34 years in 10 days, which would be Friday. Mario Caba-llero, the attorney representing the family, said he is seeking a two-week extension, at minimum, to give the man more time to improve and to give his family more time to find an alternative facility.

So ... the same folks who are beating their breasts and weeping fake tears about the sad, sad situation that is Terri Schiavo have no problem with legislation in Texas (which was, according to Atrios, signed into law by none other than George W. Bush) which allows hospitals to disconnect and dismiss patients who are, in many cases, more medically viable than Schiavo, primarily because those patients have the misfortune to be poor.

Hey, Jinx. You plan on singing Amazing Grace for this guy, too? Before your right-wing, "compassionate conservative" buddies yank his plug? Just asking.

THOROUGHLY NAUSEATING UPDATE: Thanks to John over at AmericaBlog for this link. Jeezus Christ, how pathetic can people get?

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