Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Schiavo goes to Musgrave


Michael Schiavo, center, delivers a letter to the office of Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Colo., on Wednesday, July 12, 2006, in Loveland. (AP / Loveland Reporter-Herald)

Michael Schiavo and Angie Paccione went to Marilyn Musgrave's Loveland office today. Michael delivered a letter about Marilyn's loony speech last year.
Text of Michael Schiavo’s Letter to Marilyn Musgrave

Dear Congresswoman Musgrave,

I had hoped to meet with you today to ask you a few questions about your past actions and words regarding myself and my family. I am hand-delivering this letter to your office because you and some of your colleagues have gone too far in your attempts to infringe upon the rights of and violate the privacy of Americans.

Your outspoken and misguided attempts to have Congress overrule the legal courts and overturn the private medical decisions made by my family and my wife, Terri, were entirely inappropriate.

Why do you and Tom Delay think it is a national priority to inject yourselves into the private lives of Americans, as you did with your disgraceful behavior around Terri’s tragic situation?

Last year you said you were “offended” by discussion of Terri’s state. Well, Ms. Musgrave, I’m offended by your lack of respect for my rights and my family’s rights. On the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, you dared to render a medical opinion on Terri’s condition, even though you had never met her, and despite your admitted ignorance of medical science and of the law. Ms. Musgrave, I am offended that you would attack others out of ignorance.

You ignored Terri’s wishes, the expertise of countless doctors, the authority of the law, and the principles of our nation. I am offended by such indifference. I continue to believe that you took advantage of my family’s situation for political gain without regard for who you hurt. While I sought only dignity for Terri, you played to the camera, and you played to a waiting crowd of political extremists.

I’ve heard you claim to be for less government. But how is it less government when you misuse the power of Congress to place your own opinions ahead of the actions of my family?

Simply put, Ms. Musgrave, who gave you the authority to speak for me, my wife or my family, and to play politics with such a tragic situation?

Don’t you think it is time for you and other members of Congress to promote family values by protecting the rights of American families instead of trampling on them? Would you not agree, Ms. Musgrave, that enough is enough?

I await your response.

Sincerely,

Michael Schiavo

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Marilyn's Muffs

Musgrave Watch has got it right:
After chuckling and then reading each of the Dirty Dozens...it sobered me up a little bit and I had to reflect on them.

You've got to take a minute and read through them...then wonder how we as voters let this happen...

See what he means.

Michael Schiavo and Angie Paccione team up for privacy

A Daily Kos post says that Angie Paccione and Michael Schiavo are going to pay Marilyn Musgrave's office a visit!
On Wednesday, June 12th, Michael Schiavo, the husband of Terri Schiavo, along with Colorado Congressional District 4 candidate Angie Paccione, will deliver a letter to the main Colorado office of Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave in Loveland.

Michael will hand out copies of his letter and along with Angie Paccione, discuss Musgrave's interference in his private life at a press conference at 10:30 a.m. in Denver that same day.

Just like when she tried to stand in the way of stem cell research, remember when Musgrave joined that salivating angry bandwagon last year?

Mr. Speaker, there are doctors in this Chamber, there are lawyers in this Chamber, there are judges in this Chamber. I am none of those, but I am an elected Member of Congress. I am also a mother. Tonight in this gallery my daughter sits. I think of my daughter, I think of my other three children, and I think of the day they were born. I think of the milestones in their lives and the love that I have for them. I think of the lengths that I would go to protect my children as adults even if they had an injury. I think of the lengths that I would go to, to care for my children. I would die for my children. I would do anything for them.

My heart is raw when I hear the things about Terri Schiavo and her mother and her father and her siblings, because I just lost my brother in November. I think of how my life changed in an instant and all the lives of those who cared for him. We talk about a family decision. What about Terri's mom and dad? What about her siblings? What about the people who cared for her and nurtured her as she was growing up? Do you not think they know what Terri wants?

When we talk about a permanent vegetative state, I am offended by that. Terri smiles and acknowledges the people that love her when they come to see her. She cries when they leave. How heartless are we to call somebody like Terri Schiavo a vegetable? What are we thinking?

When we think about this case, we need to think about the message that we are sending to our children and our grandchildren. What we do in this Chamber tonight is as important as anything we have done in defending our Nation, in doing the things that we do as Members of Congress. When we react to the Terri Schiavo case, when we think about this legislation tonight, we need to think about the future and the message we are sending to our children and our grandchildren. (March 20, 2005, 109th Congress, 1st Session,151 Cong Rec H 1700)

More holy than you!

What a phony!

No Kolorado for You!

The one and only Muskrat Hunter finds the Klan is in Colorado, having a wonderful time. Wonder why they feel so comfy?

Kenney got busted

Musgrave Watch got Musgrave campaign manager Shaun Kenney to agree to an email interview. Then Kenney got busted by a higher power. You bastards!

Sunday, July 09, 2006

Gunny Marilyn

Musgrave Watch links to the New York Times's smackdown on Marilyn Musgrave:
The rate of firearm death for children 14 years and under is almost 12 times higher in this country than in 25 other industrialized nations combined, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yet there was the law-and-order majority caving in to the gun lobby.
Representative Marilyn Musgrave, the Colorado Republican who dared to put this proposal on the floor, offered a shabby logic: Locks on weapons don't stop the slaying and maiming of children, they only make "personal protection more costly."
She drew 42 Democrats to join 188 Republicans in the majority with an argument that summoned an old skit about a sleazy toy dealer peddling lethal toys to children.
Here's another editorial smackdown:
The competition is stiff, but Rep. Marilyn Musgrave may have earned the dubious distinction of introducing the most inane measure on Capitol Hill this year -- and offering up the most inane rationale for it.
Ouch.
According to Musgrave, the trigger law is "burdensome" and drives up the cost of guns. "Lawn mowers can be dangerous," she argued -- out loud -- on the House floor. "Should we mandate that all lawn mowers be sold with a blade lock?"

Shamefully, the majority of her colleagues found her silly argument -- bolstered, as always, by fond memories of campaign donations from the gun industry -- persuasive.
So proud.