Culture of Life
I'm really hoping that this sudden left-field posturing over the fate of Terri Schiavo bites the Republicans in the ass. ABC news received some of the talking points that were being passed around for Senators to use in their debate for the vote to subpeona Ms. Schiavo in an attempt to prevent the unhooking of the feeding tube.

ABC News obtained talking points circulated among Senate Republicans explaining why they should vote to intervene in the Schiavo case. Among them, that it is an important moral issue and the "pro-life base will be excited," and that it is a "great political issue -- this is a tough issue for Democrats." When asked about these talking points on "Good Morning America," DeLay said, "I don't know where those talking points come from, and I think they're disgusting." In this case, the Republican's political wrangling in the Schiavo case does not seem to reflect the majority of American's opinions. According to an ABC News poll released earlier this week, 87 percent of those surveyed said they would not want to be kept alive if in Terri Schiavo's condition, and 65 percent said a spouse should have the final say in what happens to a patient, as opposed to parents.

I think Joseph Welch's famous quote during the McCarthy communist witch-hunt says it best:

You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last?  Have you left no sense of decency?

Maybe folks will start to see the Republicans for the straw men they really are; I leave you with my pal Ward's new cartoon from next week's Village Voice: