My Twenty Two Cents

None of these thougts will be particularly original, but I have to get a few things about the whole Terri Schiavo mess off my chest. First of all, may the Christian conservatives and politicians who, uh, politicized this affair rot in hell. No one has the authority to pass judgment on Terri Schiavo's parents or husband. But now this very personal story that belongs to a family is surrounded by people with life size crucifixes and the federal judges in robes. Shame on everyone involved, even me for addressing the topic.

But, in my defense, my wrath is mostly geared for George Bush. All hail King Hypocrite.

How do I think thee a hypocrite? Let me count the ways.

Let's start with his quote from yesterday in Tuscon, when he applauded congress' bizarre, possibly unconstitutional law that this case be turned over to the federal courts.

This is a complex case with serious issues, but in extraordinary circumstances like this, it is wisest to always err on the side of life.

Really? So this applies to one person in Florida but not the 17,000+ civilians killed in Iraq from Bush's rush to war two years ago (source: www.iraqbodycount.com). Or the 1500+ US troops who have died over there.

It also doesn't apply to the 152 inmates killed on his watch, if not in his haste, while he was governor of Texas. He vetoed a law, as governor, that would have provided funding for basic indigent defense. Bush also opposed legislation banning the execution of people with IQ's less than 65. And have you read this story?. If not, read it. And try and tell me how he has ever "err(ed) on the side of caution" with any of the 152 people that were executed with his approval.

And then there is the whole ridiculous bit about state's rights and small, non-intervening governments that Republicans like Bush claim to endorse.

And, lastly, there is this gem, the 1999 Advance Directive's Act that Bush signed into law as governor of Texas. What was that footwear reference the GOP loved to slap on Kerry? Sandal? Teva? I forget.

How Terri Schiavo's life ends is none of my business. Professional sports and reality TV is a much healthier way to get emotional about the lives of complete strangers. But I do take exception to how her family is being exploited and judged by people of all politcal persuasions. And I also think George Bush is too much of a hypocrite to be thought of as a straight-talking Texan.

So I'd rather close with a few lines from a true-to-life straight talking Texan, Ray Wylie Hubbard, from his song "Conversation with the Devil."

He said, "Come on over here son, let me show you around
Over there's where we put the preachers, I never liked those clowns
They're always blaming me for everything wrong under the sun
It aint harder to what's right, it's just maybe not as much fun
Then the walk around thinking they're better than me and you
Then they get caught in a motel room doing what they said not to do.

Now the murderers and the rapists they go in this firey lake
As well as most of the politician and the cops on the take
And all the mothers that wait to get to KMart to spank their kids
Instead of showing what to do what's right, they just hit 'em for what they did
And all the daddy's who run off and abandon their daughters and sons
Oh anybody that hurts a child is gonna burn until it's done."

"Everybody is down here," I said, "Who's up in Heaven with God and the Son?"
"Oh some saints and mystics and students of metaphysics 101
People who care and share and love and try to do what's right
Beautiful old souls who read a little stories to their babies every night
What you won't find up in Heaven are Christian Coalition Right Wing Conservatives,
Country program directors, and Nashville record executives."