It should come as absolutely no surprise, that not one single GOP politician or conservative commentar has mentioned the baby who, thanks to Bush,
was taken off of life support, last week in Texas.
The baby was removed against the wishes of it's parent, at the insistence of the hospital. This can happen in Texas, because of a bill Bush signed into law in 1999. The bill includes a provision, that hospitals can take the cost of life support into consideration.
So, here's what the Democrats in DC or Texas should do: while this is still hot, introduce a bill. Call it "Guardians for Life", and aim it specifically at the Texas law Bush signed.
The Dem proposal should state that invalids should not be removed from life support, against their parent's or guardian's wishes, merely because hospitals want to cut costs.
How can anyone argue that?
Can I get a witness? Is there a Democratic or Independent staffer in DC or Texas reading this?
And whether it's passed or falied, or even hits the floor of congress, it will SHAFT Bush and his ilk three ways - a) point to their rabid pro-lifer base that Bush is a total hypocrite, b) reveal the pro-lifers as hypocrites if they do nothing,
and c) shift the debate context towards insane health care costs.
The GOP are wide open with this. They have finally disgusted their truly conservative base. Their tenuous lip-service of 'state's rights' stands revealed as nonsense.
The Dems have been handed an incredible opportunity by a power-drunk, imploding GOP. Now is the time to strike.
Update [2005-3-26 12:31:48 by jbeach]: This originally had a typo in the title, stating "Schiavo" as "Schiazo". this has now been corrected.