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WASHINGTON-- The Supreme Court upheld Oregon's one-of-a-kind physician-assisted suicide law Tuesday, rejecting a Bush administration attempt to punish doctors who help terminally ill patients die. Justices, on a 6-3 vote, said that a federal drug law does not override the 1997 Oregon law used to end the lives of more than 200 seriously ill people. New Chief Justice John Roberts backed the Bush administration, dissenting for the first time. The administration improperly tried to use a drug law to punish Oregon doctors who prescribe lethal doses of prescription medicines, the court majority said. Congress did not have this far-reaching intent to alter the federal-state balance, Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote for himself, retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and Justices John Paul Stevens, David Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Stephen Breyer. Kennedy is expected to become a more influential swing voter after O'Connor's departure. He is a moderate conservative who sometimes joins the liberal wing of the court in cases involving such things as gay rights and capital punishment. The ruling was a reprimand to former Attorney General John Ashcroft, who in 2001 said that doctor-assisted suicide is not a legitimate medical purpose and that Oregon physicians would be punished for helping people die under the law. Kennedy said the authority claimed by the attorney general is both beyond his expertise and incongruous with the statutory purposes and design. Justice Antonin Scalia, writing for himself, Roberts and Justice Clarence Thomas, said that federal officials have the power to regulate the doling out of medicine. If the term 'legitimate medical purpose' has any meaning, it surely excludes the prescription of drugs to produce death, he wrote. Scalia said the court's ruling is perhaps driven by a feeling that the subject of assisted suicide is none of the federal government's business. It is easy to sympathize with that position. Oregon's law covers only extremely sick people-- those with incurable diseases and who are of sound mind, and after at least two doctors agree they have six months or less to live. For Oregon's physicians and pharmacists, as well as patients and their families, today's ruling confirms that Oregon's law is valid and that they can act under it without fear of federal sanctions, state Solicitor General Mary Williams said. The ruling backed a decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which said Ashcroft's unilateral attempt to regulate general medical practices historically entrusted to state lawmakers interferes with the democratic debate about physician-assisted suicide. Ashcroft had brought the case to the Supreme Court on the day his resignation was announced by the White House in 2004. The Justice Department has continued the case, under the leadership of his successor, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. The court's ruling was not a final say on federal authority to override state doctor-assisted suicide laws-- only a declaration that the current federal scheme did not permit that. However, it could still have ramifications outside of Oregon. This is a disappointing decision that is likely to result in a troubling movement by states to pass their own assisted suicide laws, said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, which backed the administration. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and a supporter of the law, said the ruling has stopped, for now, the administration's attempts to wrest control of decisions rightfully left to the states and individuals. Thomas wrote his own dissent as well, to complain that the court's reasoning was puzzling. Roberts did not write separately. Justices have dealt with end-of-life cases before. In 1990, the Supreme Court ruled that terminally ill people may refuse treatment that would otherwise keep them alive. Then, justices in 1997 unanimously ruled that people have no constitutional right to die, upholding state bans on physician-assisted suicide. That opinion, by then-Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, said individual states could decide to allow the practice. Roberts strongly hinted in October when the case was argued that he would back the administration. O'Connor had seemed ready to support Oregon's law, but her vote would not have counted if the ruling was handed down after she left the court. The case is Gonzales v. Oregon, 04-623.
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Copyright © The Sun-Times Company Oregon Christian Coalition Head Resigns - Family Sexual Abuse If these are *family values* then the right is RIGHT. I'm proud to say I These people get scarier and scarier every day, and I'm keeping my children Christian Coalition head to withdraw from political life 10/10/2005, 5:50 p.m. PT By RUKMINI CALLIMACHI The Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The longtime head of the Christian Coalition of Oregon I am thankful for a family that loves and supports me, and intend to withdraw Beres has denied any criminal misconduct and wrote that he will pursue the Multnomah County District Attorney Michael Schrunk told The Oregonian The three women — now adults — allege they were abused by Beres as preteens. I was molested, one of the women, now in her 50s, told The Oregonian. I was Beres, 70, has blamed personal and political enemies for the complaint. Only one of the three cases appears to fall under Oregon's statute of A nephew of Beres' is standing up for the three women. My family has gone through hell, said Richard Galat, 41, of Oakland, Calif., Lives have been ruined. Those of us who have come forward have been In response to Galat's statements, Beres said on the Christian Coalition web Beres, who did not immediately return a phone message from The Associated Jim Moore, who teaches political science at Pacific University in Forest In fact, under his leadership, the Christian Coalition in Oregon has gone In state legislative races in 2004, for example, Moore said that, we found Oregon Republican Chairman Vance Day said Beres hasn't been much of a factor I don't view this as having any major impact on politics here in Oregon; I The group did support a constitutional amendment against gay marriage that Tim Nashif, the political director of that group, said he has few details Anytime any family goes through anything like this it's a pretty grievous That was beautiful!!! Only Robin Williams! I'm gonna laugh over that for a week!!! Thanks for the post!!! It was not only beautiful... ...it was smart. Just on this board alone, look at the amount of unadulterated, vicious hatred aimed at this man. It's palpable. Someone with hatred like this could easily take these girls' father from them forever. By writing this letter, he leaves behind a piece of himself for them that NONE of his haters can ever take away. Beautiful! Thank you. nm x She's beautiful! (nm) 
What is not beautiful? I do realize a lot of people are sold into the hollywood mold of how women are "supposed" to look, but, I'm not. Michelle has her own unique, natural beauty. Does everybody have to look alike in order to be attractive? She has a beautiful shape to her face, gorgeous eyes, an elegant nose and a somewhat crooked grin - she's beautiful. Beautiful song...sm My favorite part was when she says... 'Let me tell you about hard work.' What a beautiful song! It made me tear up. My granddaughter *caught me* and wanted to know what was wrong. I just told her I heard a very sad song that was unfortunately very true. She wanted to hear it, and I played it for her, as well. Thanks for posting this. Pink is in good company. There are more and more of us every day that he can't/won't walk with. Both are very beautiful women. nm x and she has a beautiful heart to go along with her beautiful self Beautiful, folksy won't cut it Be careful what you wish for, you may get it. Beautiful !! .. Thank you for sharing. nm She's beautiful and looks fantastic... she has a style all her own and she looks great in sleeveless dresses. If anyone was trying to copy Jackie O - it would be Nancy Regan with her little red suits and pillbox hats...... Very beautiful and eloquent What a beautiful picture. He was the most beautiful of the angels part of his allure! beautiful post! nm x that was a beautiful post and right sm on point! Beautiful - O just doesn't get it - nm . B. Bush and her beautiful mind... ...as summed up by Mike Malloy, somewhat akin to the Alien Queen protecting her brood of flesh-incubating pointy-toothed destroyers of humanity and inflicting the horrid spawn gleefully on the rest of us. Beautiful indeed, in a fascinatingly horrible way, that Alien Queen. I think she did a good job and I think they are a beautiful family... wish they did not lean so far to the left. That being said...she is very attractive and articulate and obviously loves her family, and you can't fault someone for that. You are right, both sides have beautiful families sm Obamas/Biden's and McCain/Palin. Though, I don't know how real Cindy McCain is. Shelly, what a beautiful answer! sm It shows you have had time to come to conclusions, not just answering off the cuff like me. Good for you! Beautiful posts and I agree with all of you We need to come together regardless of our personal feelings about the outcome of this election. I believe both candidates are sincere in their desire to do what's best for our country. Something that helps me remember God is ultimately the one in control is to pray "Thy will be done." "Obama and his beautiful family..." He's so dreamy....*swoon* LOL The beautiful thing about America... is that I don't have to support the president any more than democrats had to support Bush. I can dislike him for ANY reason at all. That is a right that my husband fights to protect. What you are stating is something that happens in other countries--which I am a little afraid of happening here. I am VERY patriotic--more than most. I will be having a child alone because my husband is in Iraq right now. I absolutely DO NOT have to support Obama to be patriotic. Very beautiful, very classy lady. (nm) 
Knowledge is a beautiful thing...and can be eery too.sm OMG, the coincidental things especially in the introduction were bone chilling. And the intimidation of witnesses who didn't corraborate the the Boeing 77 in the Pentagon. How about the rep. for the steel engineering company (the company that makes the steel for the Boeings) being fired after saying that it would take 3000 degree heat for it to poof go up in air without a trace. Thank you, thank you for posting this. I've always felt in my gut that there was more to this story. I'm not saying that islamic terrorist weren't involved, but it wouldn't be the first time that our government has worked with them. It's a beautiful thing to see dems out in force nm They were all so perfect. Warm, beautiful, proud. nm Beautiful psalm, written by David This is a beautiful psalm, written by David, not by G-d, and therefore, is not part of Jewish law. Beautiful birds...thank you very much. But, make it Mr. Peacock, will you? The females aren't as gorgeous, and the males don't go around laying eggs. Oh dear. I cracked myself up. See, you can't insult me, dearie. I've been insulted by experts - and you're an amateur. Beautiful speech made a long time ago No, this isn't a Ron Paul speech but he brought this speech to the attention of Congress, trying to make a point to their greedy sorry behinds. Just take the time to read it..... it is still true today.
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/articles/1111/not-yours-to-give/ no matter how you feel about her... How beautiful is the Palin family! Just saw them all at the RNC sitting there, so beautiful! Not sure about Cindy McCain's outfit, but she's also soooo classy, did anyone notice how she sat next to the middle daughter who was holding the baby and Cindy was stroking the baby's head and watching him soooo sweetly. Real people, I love it :) PS this isn't meant to be a political post, so hopefully nobody gets distressed... it was just an American Family I was saying was nice looking and it's nice to see in all the crap going around you know... Divert attention from the facts - look at the beautiful exterior of the car (sm) Don't bother looking under the hood or at the past maintenance records - if the customer gets distracted with things like that, or how much the payments are, etc., just do a little song and dance and say things about how the customer obviously doesn't like blue cars. If that doesn't work, flinch and wiggle til they are so frustrated they want to buy the car just to get you to go away!! That's the ticket! Blah, blah, one can certainly decide if a person is beautiful or not..nm nm |
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