A new poll from CBS News says the people are not pleased with congressional meddling with Schiavo:
An overwhelming 82 percent of the public believes the Congress and President should stay out of the matter.
Just 13 percent of those polled think Congress intervened in the case out of concern for Schiavo, while 74 percent think it was all about politics. Of those polled, 66 percent said the tube should not be inserted compared to 27 percent who want it restored. The issue has generated strong feelings, with 78 percent of those polled — wheter for either side of the issue — saying they have strong feelings.
Public approval of Congress has suffered as a result; at 34 percent, it is the lowest it has been since 1997, dropping from 41 percent last month. Now at 43 percent, President Bush’s approval rating is also lower than it was a month ago.
One fallout of the President’s new dismal approval rating is the certain death of this Social Security reform proposals. But what’s more important, retirement security for all Americans, or a few more gallons of liquid for one person in a persistent vegetative state?
Bob Barr’s not pleased:
“To simply say that the ‘culture of life,’ or whatever you call it means that we don’t have to pay attention to the principles of federalism or separation of powers is certainly not a conservative viewpoint,” said Barr.
And neither is John Warner:
“That the misfortunes of life vested upon Theresa Marie Schiavo are a human tragedy, no one can deny. I said my prayers, as did many Americans, as we attended religious services this Palm Sunday,” he said. “I believe it unwise for the Congress to take from the state of Florida its constitutional responsibility to resolve the issues in this case.”
Amen to that, brothers and sisters.
You’re quoting polls and Jesus-shouters?
I think it’s important for y’all vegetarians to see how far out of the mainstream you are on this, if for no other reason than to see how it’s hurting the Republican Party.
Somehow I doubt that this newfound respect for states’ rights and decentralized government will carry over to other areas.
For those who believe Schiavo’s case is a matter for the state of Florida, can we expect your support for restoring the Tenth Amendment across the board?
The federal government currently interferes in dozens of areas where the Constitution delegates no power to it: the prohibition of drugs, education, health care, welfare for corporations, welfare for individuals, threatening to withhold funds to induce the states to change their speed limits and drinking ages, etc.
If we want the federal government to intervene in a given area, the only lawful and honest course of action is to amend the Constitution to give it that power.
For instance, I’d support amending the Constitution to give the federal government the power to regulate pollution. By its nature, pollution crosses state borders and no one state can effectively protect us from it. But I would strenuously oppose amending the Constitution to authorize the government to do most of what it does today.
It sure is encouraging to know that all these Democrats want a strictly limited federal government as the Tenth Amendment provides.
P.S. For that matter, there are a hell of a lot of Republicans, including Bush and the Congress, who don’t seem to have read the Tenth Amendment either…
There’s nothing “newfound” about the federalism of people like Warner and Barr and John Derbyshire, or about mine for that matter.
Too funny — the Republican Party could dry up and blow away tomorrow, and I might notice the new name of the party that takes their place. There could never be another public opinion poll from anyone, and I guarantee that I would never notice.
I guess I should go get some ugly Euro brogans and a 3-button suit, too, since that seems to be the mainstream. Good Christ. God forbid there be any independent thought.
What’s this vegetarian stuff?
Whatever his rhetoric, Senator Warner is not a federalist. Like most others in Congress, Dem or Rep, Warner has voted for and spoken in favor of hundreds of programs that the Constitution nowhere authorizes the federal government to undertake. (Not even under a broad reading of what’s “necessary and proper” for the exercise of an expressly delegated power.)
Under Legislation – Health Care, the great federalist John Warner states his support for (1) the federal prescription drug giveaway, (2) federal funding for community health centers, (3) mandating mental-health insurance coverage.
Under Legislation – Technology and Consumer Issues, the great federalist John Warner refers to “home heating costs, or other utility charges,” surely a function of the federal government.
Warner has never respected the 10th Amendment and he’s never sought to keep the federal government within its enumerated powers. So again, he has no credibility when he argues now that Congressional&Presidential intervention in the Schiavo case infringes on states’ rights or local control.
Visit Warner’s website, warner.senate.gov, click “Legislation” and then “Education.” There he states, “Federal funding that goes towards special education, education for disadvantaged children, Head Start, after school programs, higher education, and other important programs is vital.”
Whatever.
Wow, good rejoinder to the substance of my comment, Richard.
But goodness, what a timely response – it only took you what, 14 months to come up with that?