Is it real, is it a fraud or is it damage control - all burners red hot with smoke and mirrors working overtime.   It was bad enough for the wingnuts to actually interfere in the Schiavo Case, and now they are trying to make it look like the dems originated the memos, even though their motives were clearly transparent (use schiavo to gain political capitol).   We are so indoctrinated by their lies and spin that all they have to do is throw it up in the air and the neocon wolf pack devours it for reality.   They needed something to take the heat off of DeLay and this issue turns the tables on them right back to his corruption and by association, the corruption of the entire republican party.   This all falling in with the potus' declining numbers in the polls and the ire of the little people about social security, homeland defense (militia doing the gov's job of patrolling our borders) and not to mention: the econmy, jobs, health care and personal freedoms (constitutional breaches in legal rights stemming from the Patriot Act).   The stench in Washington is spreading all across this great country and finally people are waking up to the reality that there are no morals and ethics in this administration to be proud of.   It took long enough...   Much too long, in my opinion.

GOP Talking Points on Terri Schiavo • the actual memo (pdf) • abc news • 03.21.05

• S. 529, The Incapacitated Person's Legal Protection Act
• Teri (sic) Schiavo is subject to an order that her feeding tubes will be disconnected on March 18, 2005 at 1p.m.

• The Senate needs to act this week, before the Budget Act is pending business, or Terri's family will not have a remedy in federal court.

• This is an important moral issue and the pro-life base will be excited that the Senate is debating this important issue.

• This is a great political issue, because Senator Nelson of Florida has already refused to become a cosponsor and this is a tough issue for Democrats.

• The bill is very limited and defines custody as "those parties authorized or directed by a court order to withdraw or withhold food, fluids, or medical treatment."

• There is an exemption for a proceeding "which no party disputes, and the court finds, that the incapacitated person while having capacity, had executed a written advance directive valid under applicably law that clearly authorized the withholding or or (sic) withdrawl (sic) of food and fluids or medical treatment in the applicable circumstances."

• Incapacitated persons are defined as those "presently incapable of making relevant decisions concerning the provision, withholding or withdrawl (sic) of food fluids or medical treatment under applicable state law."

• This legislation ensures that individuals like Terri Schiavo are guaranteed the same legal protections as convicted murderers like Ted Bundy.