This is a bit off topic, but all of us do have some interest in end of
life issues, perhaps more so than the general population.  Although we
may not live in a state allowing physician assisted suicide, we should
be concerned about the fact that the administration also insists the DEA
can monitor the use of drugs to treat pain, particularly for patients
who are dying.  Many physicians are reluctant to prescribe adequate pain
relief in such circumstances either because they fear being accused of
promoting addiction or they fear being accused of euthanaisa.

Note that Alito is well on his way to being confirmed.  This vote was 6
to 3, with Scalia, Thomas, and Roberts (Bush's first appointee)
supporting the Bush administration's position and dissenting from the
majority.  Since Alito is even more in the mold preferred by Bush than
Roberts, it is safe to assume that the next time such a vote is taken,
it will be 5 to 4.  If Bush or a similar conservative is still
president, and conservative Republicans still control the Senate, then
the next time there is such a vote, the conservatives will prevail on
this issue.  Personally, I hope that doesn't happen before I need pain
relief in such a circumstance, but I'm afraid it will.

Note that this isn't purely a Republican/Democrat issue nor even a
conservative/liberal issue.   Many Republicans and conservatives think
that people should have a right to decide such matters themselves and
that the government should not be interfering.  After all, only two of
the current eight members of the supreme Court were appointed by a
Democratic president.  But some social conservatives believe that
assisted suicide is wrong and also that life must be maintained at all
costs whatever the costs to the patient.  Bush clearly has tilted to
that side in his policies and judicial appointments.

I have tremendous respect for most of the members of the current administration, but have never liked Ashcroft.  His behavior, in my experience is equal to that of a pompous a.s.

And, while my faith rails against suicide and all who resort to it, I cannot, for the life of me, find anything in the Constitution that allows any branch of the federal government to govern it.  

   -- of course that might be said about 2/3rds of the federal laws currently on the books....

 Quoting a January 17 Associated Press story:

 "The Supreme Court, with Chief Justice John Roberts dissenting, 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."

 Regards,

 Steve J

 --
 PSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46
 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c
 RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins
 PSA  .1  .1  .1  .27  .37  .75
 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47
 PSA  .34 .22 .15 .21 .32
 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05, 5/05, 10/05
 PSA  .07 .05 .06 .05 .08
 Non Illegitimi Carborundum