Well, it seems Planned Parenthood has sunk to a new low.

http://www.lifenews.com/nat1597.html

Excerpt:

Under a headline “Help Those Affected by the Hurricane,” Planned Parenthood admits that “100% of your tax-deductible contribution will go directly to helping Planned Parenthood affiliates.”

“Your support is particularly important right now because Planned Parenthood is facing a truly tremendous number of challenges in the courtrooms, in Washington, D.C., and in our clinics,” the abortion business says on the hurricane donation page.

Well as many of you know, the Supreme Court recently said that city government can take your land from one private owner and give it to another to get greater tax revenue or other economic benefits. With this is mind, Logan Darrow Clements, CEO of Freestar Media, LLC, faxed a request yesterday to the Code Enforcement Officer in Weare, New Hampshire seeking to start the application process to build a hotel at 34 Cilley Hill Road, the location of Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter’s home.

A quote from the press release about the hotel states:

The proposed development, called “The Lost Liberty Hotel” will feature the “Just Desserts Café” and include a museum, open to the public, featuring a permanent exhibit on the loss of freedom in America. Instead of a Gideon’s Bible each guest will receive a free copy of Ayn Rand’s novel “Atlas Shrugged.”

To read the full press release go here.

Well with everything going on in our lives, I am just now getting around to finishing up our taxes so they can get postmarked by Friday. I hate waiting until the last minute, but for some reason this year it seemed inevitable. And how depressing is it that we always end up having to pay at least one entity, whether it be federal, state or local. Correction, we ALWAYS have to pay local. Local taxes around here are something akin to being raped.

First off, Richard works in another city and we pay their city tax of 2%; however, Lancaster’s tax rate is 1.6%. Now you would THINK we would/should get credit for 2% we are paying to the other city and even if we didn’t get a refund for the .4% difference we would at least not have to pay Lancaster out of our pocket after withholding each year. Not so, says Lancaster, who only allows you to get a credit for 1% of the tax rate you pay to another city.

Now you would think it would be bad enough that we end up having to pay 2.6% local income tax when really we should only have to pay 1.6%, BUT unlike most income tax, Lancaster’s local tax allows you NO exemptions. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. So that .6% extra that we pay is on our gross pay, period. Which makes that .6% more like 1-2%

Oh how I hate the tax system, please, PLEASE can’t we just go to a flat sales tax!!!

So much has gone on in the last week that I am not even going to attempt to catch up. Terri’s death, the Pope’s death and some of my family members being in town has caused me not to be able to post this past week and frankly I am still trying to keep up with it all. However I will pass along the following information about a Zogby poll which I believe shows just how far the public was misled about Terri’s situation. If you listen to the media, the majority of the public supported Michael Schiavo’s efforts to starve his wife. But this recent poll showed that when the question was asked “Michael Schiavo should turn guardianship of Terri over to her parents, considering he has had a girlfriend for 10 years and has two children with her?”, that 56% of the respondents agreed with that statement, while only 35% disagreed (9% didn’t know). I think the media did a lot to mislead the public, casting this man as a devoted loving husband trying to fulfill his wife’s wishes, but when the public is told the truth about the situation the majority of Americans did NOT support Michael Schiavo.

Michael Schiavo is planning to go through with plans to cremate Terri’s body (against her parents wishes and her religious beliefs) and to have the ashes buried secretly in Pennsylvania. He also plans to keep the location of the burial secret from Terri’s family so they won’t even be able to go there to pay their respects. Michael is trying to justify this action by saying that the Schindlers would show up and cause a spectacle, but yet again Michael is putting his wishes over those of Terri whom he claims to act in the best interest of.

“We’ve already said goodbye,” Bobby Schindler said when asked about not knowing where his sister would be buried.

Concerning Michael’s latest decision snubbing his family, Bobby said, “He’s been doing this kind of stuff for 15 years. What would make him stop now?”

On top of everything else, Michael’s attorney recently blasted the Schindlers for basically not being nicer to Michael during this whole 15 year struggle for Terri’s life. And now Michael’s family have come out blasting the Schindlers on Larry King Live last night and saying that the Schindlers need to apologize to Michael because he’s been vilified.

As a backdrop to this situation is the Pope’s health issues which have included the need to have a feeding tube put in (I guess we should starve him instead /sarcasm) and now he’s basically had a heart attack on the very day Terri passed away. Richard and I don’t really believe in stuff like this being a coincidence and we hope that maybe some people will recognize the parallels between the two situations. Perhaps God is trying to send a message, if we can only see it.

Our fear at the moment though is that if the Pope dies, will a more liberal priest become his replacement? Even though we are not catholic, we recognize that the Catholic church has been the leading church in the fight for the Right to Life. If somehow they abandon that plank or put it on the back burner, our fight will be much harder and more and more Terri Schindler Schiavo will be an regular occurrence instead of a one time national disgrace.

As always, check out Life News for more in depth coverage of these events.

I don’t think there’s really much to say today. Terri Schiavo, a woman without an advanced directive, was murdered by her estranged husband and the courts today. Her evil (sorry I call it like I see it) husband even disallowed her parents from being in the room this morning when she passed away-kicking them out 10 minutes before Terri took her last breath. The Schindlers pleaded with the Michael Schiavo, through the police, to be allowed to remain in the room as Terri was about to pass. But Michael told the police to threaten them with arrest if they didn’t leave and even had them escorted clear off the hospice property, not just out of Terri’s room. Less than 10 minutes later, it was reported that Terri had passed away. I’m sure not having her family with her when she died was really what was in the best interest of Terri. *sighs*

Terri hasn’t had food or water now for over 11 days and all I can say is that she has to have an amazing spirit to have lasted as long as she has. That alone should say something about this woman. If she dies (and it’s looking like no one is willing to come to this defenseless woman’s rescue) it seems Michael has heard enough outcry from the family and the public to agree to an autopsy. Originally it was feared that any abuse (broken bones, etc) might be covered up by cremation by Michael, but as of now (and lets face it, that could change) he has agreed to have an autopsy. He also finally gave into the communion request on Sunday. So either he realized that the Schindlers could have pushed the religious rights issue or he’s caving into public pressure. In either case, he finally agreed to give her the same rights someone on death row would have had. I suppose he expects the family and the public to be grateful now and forget about all of the years of abuse. Yeah it’s so easy to be magnanimous now, isn’t it Michael? Now that Terri almost for certain is going to die.

Tomorrow is Easter and time is running out for Terri. Terri has been starved now for over 8 days. You have to notice the irony of the timing and wonder if God is trying to send his people a message….this is what happens when we sit idly by and do nothing.

A favorite quote of mine:

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
Edmund Burke

A judge in Florida has rejected a petition by Govenor Bush to transfer custody of Terri Schiavo from Michael Schiavo to the state. *sighs*

The Supreme Court rejected the appeal by Terri’s parents. Some people are saying Gov. Jeb Bush may still be able to step in but that possibility is likely. Without a miracle, Michael Schiavo will succeed in murdering his wife. Something that many people feel he was trying to do to begin with that landed her in this situation anyway.

Terri has now been starved for almost 7 days…and somewhere I feel God is weeping…

A sentence to death and other headlines:

A federal judge on Tuesday refused to stop Terri Schiavo’s painful starvation death and allow doctors to reinsert the feeding tube that provides her with food and water. The judge said attorneys for Terri Schiavo’s parents had not demonstrated enough of a likelihood that they would succeed in winning their case.

Terri Schaivo’s parents have appealed a Tuesday morning ruling by a federal judge refusing to stop Terri’s painful starvation death. Attorneys for Bob and Mary Schindler have asked the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to issue an immediate injunction allowing Terri’s feeding tube to be reinserted before she dies.

A former nurse for Terri Schiavo who treated the disabled woman in the mid 1990s says Terri would interact with her family and staff and would even say some words in an attempt to communicate.

Carla Sauer Iyer is a registered nurse who provided Terri with care at a convalescence home from April 1995 to August 1996 and told Fox News in an interview that Terri was alert and aware. “Her cognitive abilities including laughing, talking, letting you know she was in pain,” Iyer told FOX News. She said Terri could say words like “mommy,” “help me,” “hi” and “pain.”

To read the full stories go to Life News

Terri has been starved now for 4 days…..

WASHINGTON, March 19 /Christian Wire Service/ — Two-time Emmy winner and New York Times best-selling author Patricia Heaton pled for the life of Terri Schiavo today as Terri’s life-sustaining feeding tube was removed. Heaton serves as Honorary Chair of Feminists for Life of America.

“We must not let Terri Schiavo be starved to death,” said Heaton. “This deliberate and painful destruction of a woman’s life cannot be justified or tolerated. Terri deserves better.”

Fifteen years ago Terri’s husband Michael testified in the medical malpractice suit he filed: “I believe in the vows I took with my wife: through sickness and health, for richer or poor. I married my wife because I love her and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I’m going to do that.”

But after being awarded $800,000 for Terri’s rehabilitation and lifetime care and $640,000 for his loss, Michael had a do-not-resuscitate order placed on his wife’s chart and repeatedly denied her treatment for infections. He now lives with a woman by whom he has fathered children.

The star of Everybody Loves Raymond says she is outraged. “By his actions Michael Schiavo has demonstrated that he should not be the one making the ultimate life or death decisions for a woman who, only in legal terms, remains his wife. His belief that this was Terri’s wish counters the views of Terri’s family who, no doubt, know Terri well. Removal of a feeding tube will result in a slow starvation that is cruel and painful.”

“Feminists have always challenged the idea that married women have no rights of their own,” said Heaton. “A husband should not be granted absolute control over his wife’s fate, especially a disaffected husband with dubious motives.”

“Terri has parents whose unselfish desire is to simply love her, care for her and let her live. She is not in a comatose state and she is not suffering from terminal disease. Terri may no longer be perfect or complete but she has a fundamental right to life. Her feeding tube must be re-inserted.”

The starvation of Terri Schiavo will take at least seven to ten days.

Feminists for Life opposes the killing of a disabled woman under a so-called “right” to die. We believe there is no justification for the deliberate destruction of human life. FFL opposes all forms of violence, including euthanasia, as they are inconsistent with the core feminist principles of justice, nonviolence, and nondiscrimination.

Feminists for Life of America (www.feministsforlife.org) is a nonsectarian, nonpartisan, grassroots, 501(c)3 organization that seeks real solutions to the challenges women face.

Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube has been removed.

LifeNews Article

Peggy Noonan: If Terri Schiavo is killed, Republicans will pay a political price.

Bills designed to protect Terri Schiavo head to the full Florida House and Senate after clearing their final committee hurdles in both chambers. If passed, the could prevent Terri’s estranged husband from starting a painful week-long starvation process that would ultimately kill her.

Committees in both chambers endorsed competing legislation on Tuesday.

“It is a statement of public policy that, in this culture, we don’t starve people to death,” said Rep. Dennis Baxley.

To read more about it to to LifeNews.

It was with tremendous surprise that we learned yesterday of the offer to save the life of our daughter, Terri Schiavo, by Mr. Robert Herring. We learned through news reports that Mr. Herring, through his attorney Gloria Allred, had offered a sum of one million dollars to Michael Schiavo to let Terri live and return her to us - her immediate family.

Written words can simply not express the gratitude our family now feels for Mr. Herring and his most generous offer to save the life of our dear daughter and sister, Terri Schiavo.

We are not at all surprised that Mr. Schiavo’s lawyer, George Felos, will not allow him to entertain such an offer. It seems to us that the case law has become far more important to Mr. Felos than making any attempt to mediate the matter outside of the courts.

It also seems clear to our family that Mr. Schiavo has neither the inclination to discuss the matter with our family – as we have proposed previiously – nor the desire to move on with his own life with his new fammily. After he has denied Terri therapy for so many years and denied our family any opportunity to help her, we can only come to the conclusion that he is not comfortable with the prospects of her regaining her abilities to speak and communicate to us the reasons for her condition.

Clearly, Terri’s situation has touched the hearts of many people. Mr. Herring’s generous offer is surely one of the most incredible we’ve seen, but it is also illustrative of how good people can not sit idle when a grave injustice such as this is taking place.

We thank Mr. Herring sincerely and we regret that the spirit of his charitable proposal has been dismissed out of hand by Mr. Felos and Mr. Schiavo.

A few developments about Terri Schiavo:

Judge Greer
Judge Greer has ruled that the Florida Department of Children and Families can’t investigate the thirty allegations of abuse and neglect it says have come at the hand of Terri’s estranged husband Michael. Greer claims that the request for investigation “appears to be brought for the purpose of circumventing the court’s final judgment … in violation of the separation of powers doctrine.”

On Wednesday, Circuit Court Judge George Greer rejected two motions by Terri Schiavo’s parents. One asked that Terri be given neurological tests prior to her estranged husband Michael starving her to death and another sought to overturn Greer’s initial starvation order.

Congress introduces bill aimed at helping Terri and people like her

Rep. Dave Weldon and Senator Mel Martinez introduced companion measures in the House and Senate on Tuesday that would allow Terri Schiavo’s family to take their case to prevent her starvation death through the federal court system. “This legislation is about due process equal protection for disabled individuals like Terri Schiavo,” Martinez said. “It ensures Terri has the same federal legal protections as convicted murderers.” The bill would allow Terri’s parents to use a “writ of habeas corpus” to take the case out of the Florida state courts and to federal courts.

Michael Schiavo offered $1 million dollars not to kill Terri

Statement from Gloria Allred, Attorney-at-Law, Representing Robert Herring, Sr.:

We are here today to announce that our client, Robert Herring, Sr., is making an offer to Terri Schiavo’s husband, Michael Schiavo, which could save Terri’s life.

Terri Schiavo is currently in a coma in Florida. Michael Schiavo has asked the court for permission to disconnect her feeding tube, which would result in her death. Terri’s parents, Bob and Mary Schiavo, have opposed the request. After a long court battle the court has set March 18, 2005 for the removal of Terri’s feeding tube.

It now appears that the court process is ending, and that the legislative process has failed to stop the removal of the feeding tube.

This situation has deeply moved and distressed our client Mr. Herring who has been observing the case in the media, as millions of others have for about a year.

Mr. Herring is a successful, socially responsible entrepreneur who spent more than 30 years in the electronics industry as the founder and owner of HERCO Technology. In 2000, Mr. Herring sold HERCO Technology to a New York Stock Exchange listed firm.

In 2003, Mr. Herring founded WEALTHTV, a lifestyle and entertainment television channel. He is a supporter of and a believer in stem cell research and the medical breakthrough that are occurring in this area. He is married with 5 children and 19 grandchildren and lives in the San Diego area.

He recognizes that unless something is done immediately, Terri Schiavo is not likely to survive very long after March 18th. Knowing that time is of the essence and realizing that he is fortunate enough to be able to help, he has decided to take action.

He contacted me and retained my law firm to convey the following offer to Terri’s husband. If Mike Schiavo agrees to transfer the legal right to decide all of Terri’s current and future medical discussions to Terri’s parents, then Mr. Herring will pay Mr. Schiavo the amount of 1 million dollars (subject to court approval of Terri’s parents as her conservators or guardians).

The million dollars was deposited into my law firm’s client trust account yesterday and this morning we communicated this million dollar offer in writing to Mr. Schiavo’s attorney.

This offer will remain open until Monday, March 14, 2005 at 5:00 p.m.

Mr. Herring thinks there might be hope for Terri Schiavo and wonders why there is a rush to death, especially in view of the advances being made in medical research. He feels that he couldn’t live with himself if he didn’t make this offer and he sincerely hopes that it will be accepted.

We commend Mr. Herring on his creative and decisive attempt to peacefully resolve this legal dispute over Terri.

We look forward to Mr. Schiavo’s response.

Click here to see the letter of confirmation of the $1M deposit from the National Bank of California

————————–
Statement from Robert Herring, Sr.:

I became interested in the Terri Schiavo story some two years ago, and have followed the ups and downs in this tragic situation closely. After viewing video of Terri on television, I came to the belief that there was hope for her. As events have proceeded in the legal battle, it became clear to me that if something was not done for Terri, that all hope for her would be lost.

It was at this point that I decided to take action to try and bring a positive resolution to a very distressing situation. I therefore have made an offer to Terri’s husband in the amount of $1,000,000 to relinquish his custodial rights to Terri’s parents in an effort to keep the hope for Terri alive.

I believe very strongly that there are medical advances happening around the globe that very shortly could have a positive impact on Terri’s condition. I have seen miraculous recoveries occur through the use of stem cells in patients suffering a variety of conditions.

I decided to contact Gloria Allred to assist me in keeping this hope for Terri alive due to her long history of protecting and being an advocate for those in need of help. I believe that by making this public offer it will encourage people around Mr. Michael Schiavo to help him with a decision that will be most beneficial to Terri. This is a decision that must be made immediately to keep Terri alive.

I have had no contact or association with either Mr. Michael Schiavo or Terri’s parents or family.
I am a neutral party as it relates to any dispute between them. I am not a medical expert, and do not have opinions on her specific condition. I am however aware that her condition, and potential for recovery is in dispute amongst learned medical professionals.

I am not affiliated or associated with any cause or organization. I am a private individual who is looking to bring hope to Terri’s family.

It appears that the court battles may be coming to an end. With a date of March 18th quickly approaching, and no other viable hope for Terri to be able to keep her feeding tube, I felt compelled to act.

Robert Herring
March 10, 2005

Yep, you heard me right. A woman in Mansfield, OH has been arrested for not paying $.96 worth of city income tax in 2001. The city of Mansfield contacted Markeeta Gould for not filing a tax return in 2001. According to Gould, she called the city tax department and told them that she only made $55.00 that year as a nurse’s aide because of pregnancy difficulties and the woman she was talking to told her for that amount of money, not to worry about it.

When Gould reported a break in on the 19th of last month, the officer that came out to investigate the break in informed her that she had a warrant out for her arrest and the police arrested her in front of her children. She had to call her brother to get the kids and she had to bail bail herself out of jail. She pleaded innocent to the charges and a bench trial is set for March 15th.

Finance Director Sandra Converse said the city has a mandatory income tax return filing requirement for working-age residents — whether they earned income or not. “We don’t know what people owe if they do not file,” she said.

Individuals who did not work “can file a zero return, telling us that they made nothing, that they did not work,” Converse said.

“If they owe less than $3, of course they don’t have to pay anything. But they still have to file,” she said.

“I’m a mother and I’m a law abiding citizen. I paid my taxes every year before and I paid my taxes every year after,” she said. “With me getting arrested, I could lose my job.”

To read the full story: http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050304/NEWS01/503040321/1002/NEWS17

I’m sure everyone in Mansfield really think this is the best way to use their tax dollars…to go after a mother for money she doesn’t even owe according to their own policy just because she didn’t file a form. Oh and don’t forget to arrest her in front of her kids. Yep, that’s really where I would want to live.

Long Island, NY (LifeNews.com) — Relatives of a slain Long Island woman say she was murdered because she refused to have an abortion. Susan Ambrosino was shot in the head last week and then shoved into a car trunk. The alleged killer, Steven Schiovone, was the father of Ambrosino’s unborn child.

Ambrosino’s brother, Anthony Napolitano, said at a news conference that Schiovone wanted Ambrosino to have an abortion, an idea that repulsed her.

Go to Life News for the rest of the story.

Judge Greer needs to be taken off the Terri Schiavo case, if not disbarred totally for obstructing justice. Greer recently denied several motions by Terri’s parents without even the due process of a hearing. Furthermore, Judge Greer has stated that he will only consider motions from Terri’s family as they relate to the death process, which include but are not limited to a motion to allow Terri Schiavo to die at home instead of a Hospice facility, a motion for a Florida burial, and a motion allowing her immediate family uninterrupted access to her throughout the death process.

Basically he’s refusing to hear anything that could pertain to Terri being kept alive for any reason.

I swear sometimes I think if Terri started feeding herself and talking, this ‘judge’ would tell her that she should starve to death anyway. It’s a very odd, almost obsessive fixation on being ‘right’ that this woman needs to die. So much so that he continuously refuses to hear anything that could refute the truth that Terri is not in a ‘persistent vegetative state’ and has been denied rehabilitation for years that could have possibly made this discussion about her not being able to feed herself a moot point a long time ago!

Recently the Florida Department of Children and Families have even petitioned the court to stay Terri’s starvation for 60 days while they look into new allegations of possible abuse and neglect. Did Judge Greer comply with the request from the STATE AGENCY? Well of course not! He simply postponed her starvation for 3 more weeks while Terri’s parents pursue some court options, but then HE IS REFUSING TO HEAR some of those same court options he granted the postponement for in the first place!

Judge Greer is denying the Schindlers due process of law and needs to be removed from this case before it’s too late for the Schindlers and too late for Terri.

Well I haven’t posted in a couple of days because I have been consumed with preparations for my Fairfield County Right to Life meeting this morning. We had a lot to cover and not an incredible amount of time to cover it all in and unfortunately I had to rush through the end of the meeting. Over all though I think it went pretty good and we have a solid direction for our next couple of months if not the next couple of years.

I am happy though that Michael Schiavo has not been allowed to starve his ‘wife’ Terri though…..unfortunately I have to end that sentence with the word ‘yet’. Her parents have been granted a stay for a few weeks to pursue some of their appeals one of which is the denial of her religious rights as she is a Catholic and this would be what the Pope calls “euthanasia by omission”. Michael Schiavo maintains that he only has his ‘wife’s’ best interests at heart. I say ‘wife’ as I don’t know if I would consider it much of a marriage when he has lived with another woman for many years and has fathered two children with that woman. It has been said that he is engaged to this woman, so please tell me if these facts as well as the following list sound like someone who has Terri’s best interests at heart:

* Michael has provided Terri with no therapy or rehabilitative treatment since 1991 and no tests since 1993.

* Terri’s teeth have not been cleaned since 1995 and she had 5 teeth extracted in 2004 as a result.

* Terri has been prohibited by Michael from going outdoors since 2000. She is not allowed to have music or flowers and cards and holiday decorations are taken down soon after the Schindler family puts them up.

* Michael has routinely denied Terri’s parents medical information, violating a court order and they were taken off approved visitor lists for a total of 8 months from 2001 through 2004.

* Michael has frequently prohibited a Catholic priest from visiting Terri and offering her a blessing or communion.

* Michael melted down Terri’s wedding ring to have one made for himself and had her cats euthanized even though the Schindlers offered to care for them.

To read more about the Terri Schindler-Schiavo case visit Life News and Terri’s Fight.