Keeping On-July 7, 2004

Terri’s Law Arguments by Governor Bush — To bring some of you up-to-date, here in Florida a lady has been in consistent vegatative state for well over six years. Her husband has been, for most of that time, attempting to have her artificial feeding tube removed to allow her to die. Her deranged, but politically connected, parents managed to get the Jeb Bush to push through the legislature a law, allowing the Governor to make the final determination about the removal of her feeding tube. This was in response to the courts finally declaring, after six years of review, the husband had the final say (duhhh). In the first challenge to Terri’s Law, the court declared the law unconstitutional (again, duhhh). However, the Governor has appealed (using up who knows how much of the State’s money), and his attorney is arguing that Terri’s wishes about whether to be kept alive by artificial means could have changed recently because of a statement issued by the Pope saying that no one in her state should be denied food. (Terri was raised Catholic.) Its interesting that Jeb wants to follow the dictates of the Catholic Church in this case, but whoa, when it comes to Capital Punishment, which the Pope also opposes, he and his brother pretty much disregard the Vatican. Anyone besides me see an incongruity here?

War On Pornography — Did you know that “pornography is more addictive than alcohol, cigarettes or illicit drugs?” Or that “one in five children ages 10 to 17 has received sexual solicitations while on the Internet” – and that, by extension, pornography per se is equivalent to pedophilia? Or that “over 80% of Americans are in favor of clamping down on Internet Pornography?” Neither did I. Nor can we find any sources to back up most of the claims made by an alliance of “several U.S. and Canadian organizations” that announced a “War on Pornography” campaign in Utah yesterday. I can’t say I’m in favor of pornography, but if an adult wants to look, go ahead. However, I do get concerned that today, groups like this (and the current Bush Administration), don’t seem to care whether or not their “facts” are really facts at all.

Mobile Phones May Damage Sperm? — First its brain tumors, now low sperm counts. I say we get rid of cell phones alltogether. “The prolonged use of cell phones may have a negative effect on (sperm production) and male fertility,” Dr. Imre Fejes, of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Szeged said in a summary of the study. Maybe we should just give everyone who looks at porn on-line a cell phone?

Kerry’s Running Mate — Edwards has looked like the most likely choice for several weeks now. It certainly didn’t surprise RNC operatives who immediately released a lengthy dossier (which makes the Clinton memoirs seem concise) asking the question: Who is John Edwards? They answer their own question by explaining that: “John Edwards is a disingenuous, unaccomplished liberal and friend to personal injury trial lawyers.” You really want to know who John Edwards is? He is the man who will not take the bait being thrown out there by the RNC. He is the man who will keep his campaign optimistic. He certainly lacks a certain level of experience (none of his former employers are doing business in Iraq) and gravitas (he has yet to drop an F-bomb on the Senate floor), but what he brings is great campaigning and unbridled positivism. So how can the Bush team help? They can hammer home the fact that they are disgusted by Edwards’ history of standing up for the little guy in personal injury cases at a time when patients have lost their right to sue HMOs and the Bush Medicare plan has actually resulted in an increase in drug prices. Opps…already done. (Is Karl Rove losing his touch?)