Beginning of the End or End of the Beginning?

In ten years, we'll be able to say whether or not the Terri Schiavo debacle was the catalyst to the downfall of the conservative movement in America. Right now, it certainly looks that way. These poll numbers not only show wide-ranging condemnation for Congress intervening in the sensitive case (by 82% to 13%), but a significant drag on Congressional approval ratings (now down to an anemic 34%). Four more sets of courts have agreed with the 19 Florida state courts, buttressing Michael Schiavo's view that the feeding tube should be removed and Terri should be allowed to die with dignity. This has been more adjudicated than practically any medical case in history. We're a nation of laws, and at some point, there has to be an end to the process. And the American people recognize and understand that with far more sophistication than CNN or Fox.

This is an incredibly sensitive case that Republicans have inserted themselves into with nothing but insensitivity, demagoguery, and disrespect for the separation of powers and the rule of law. Democrats have remained largely silent, although Barney Frank and other have been eloquent about the implications for Federalism. But you now what, fine with me. The best way to deal with exploitation and sensationalism is to NOT EXPLOIT. Some of us in the blogosphere who have written so forcefully about this have done so out of shock at the exploitation, the overrun of the Constitution, and the overreach of the Christian right. Americans are seeing the true face of today's Republican Party in all its naked glory.

But it's a long way from any election cycle, and it's important that Democrats don't get the impression that staying out of the business of government is a good policy. It's time to press the advantage and continue to expose the corruption, lying, and exploitation rampant in the GOP. For example:

Fox News host Sean Hannity and MSNBC host Joe Scarborough both promoted Dr. William Hammesfahr's false claim that he is a Nobel Prize nominee.

Hammesfahr, a Florida neurologist disciplined in 2003 by the Florida Board of Medicine who claims he can help Terri Schiavo, testified during an October 2002 court hearing on the Schiavo case that his claim to be a Nobel nominee is based on a letter written by Rep. Mike Bilirakis (R-FL) recommending him for the prize. But Bilirakis is not qualified to make a valid nomination under the Nobel rules.

Number two

(Sen. Bill) Frist wrote a book in 1989 called Transplant where he advocated changing the definition of "brain dead" to include anencephalic babies. Anencephalic babies are in the same state as Terri Schiavo except that she suffered a physical trauma that put her into a vegetative state while the anencephalic babies are born that way.

"Near the end of the book, for example, Frist suggests changing the legal definition of 'brain death' to include anencephalic babies, who are born with a fatal neurological disorder but show just the slightest hint of brain-stem activity. Such a change would make it possible to harvest their organs for transplant--something the Catholic Church and pro-life groups oppose. 'Three thousand anencephalic babies were born a year, enough to solve our demand many times over--but we never used them.'" [The New Republic, 1/27/03]

Well, that's enugh for now. David Sirota is claiming that this is a missed opportunity for Democrats. I'm not so sure. By NOT politicizing this, Democrats gave Republicans all the rope they needed to hang themselves. Democrats have ended up caving on bankruptcy, class action, and a host of cabinet nominations, and I agree with Sirota on this. But this political football should not be attempted to be caught.