In 1997, the Texas Legislature enacted what was known as The Futility Law. This Bill stated that a hospital or health care facility could withhold respirators or feeding tubes or extraordinary means to aid survival of a patient for whom there was no hope. Then Governor, George W Bush, with strong support from Right to Life groups, vetoed the Bill.

In 1999, the Texas Legislature once again passed a Futility Bill, only this time a provision was written into it stating that if a hospital or health care facility wanted to terminate their care of a patient, there would be a 10 day grace period during which time the family of the patient would be able to find another facility willing to take their family member.  This Bill had the support of both Right to Life groups and Governor George W Bush, so it became Texas law.

Last week the life of Sun Hudson was terminated under the Texas Futility Law. Sun Hudson was a 6 month old baby born with insurmountable health problems. He could not breathe on his own and was being kept alive with a respirator. There was no hope that Sun would ever be able to survive were he disconnected from machines and that, in fact, his condition would only deteriorate as he grew older. Doctors wanted to end Sun's life. His mother, convinced that Sun was improving, objected and filed a petition with the Texas court to keep Sun alive. Her petition was denied. Her 10 days ran out, and the hospital turned off Sun's respirator. He died a few minutes later.

Sun Hudson did receive national media attention, and parallels were drawn between his case and that of Terri Schiavo. Depending upon one's point of view those parallels may or may not be valid. What does connect the two cases is George W Bush.

I have been appalled by the Republican Party for becoming involved in the Terri Schiavo case. I have followed the Congressional involvement through the weekend, and I was disgusted by Bill Frist and Tom DeLay leading the charge to involve the US Congress in something that is none of their federal business. Everything about Terri Schiavo's case is repugnant to me. This should be a private decision made by her guardian. Instead it has become a political opportunity for Republicans to "secure their base."

Except from what I'm hearing and seeing in the media, the Republican plan seems to be backfiring. Poll after poll indicates that TAP do not believe Congress should have interfered in this case, nor do they believe that Schiavo's feeding tube should be re-inserted. If the polls are indeed indicative of public opinion, and we all know about skewed polls, then the Republicans are not getting the support they anticipated.

Except there is one little item that few media outlets are reporting. George W Bush has been consistent in his behavior on this issue. Other Republicans may have suspect motives, but where the Right to Life issue is involved, Bush has consistently supported his position to err on the side of life. In the Schiavo case what he's doing is giving a little more time for the Schiavo case to be resolved differently.

I don't agree with George W Bush in this case. I think the state of Florida gave sufficient time to the Schiavo case and made its decision. The Federal Government has no business interfering with that. But where George Bush is concerned, once again, a single fact remains clear. What you see is what you get. Many Republicans can be accused of hypocrisy because of this case, but George Bush is not one of those Republicans.

That doesn't change my mind about Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. But it does boost further my opinion of President Bush. He is consistent.