Goon Squad

Rule of Law need not apply here. Knight-Ridder, via Detroit Free Press (03.26.05):

"Hours after a judge ordered Wednesday that Terri Schiavo wasn't to be removed from her hospice, a team of Florida law-enforcement agents were en route to seize her -- but they stopped short when local police told them they would enforce the judge's order, the Miami Herald reported. For a brief period Thursday morning, local police, who have officers around the hospice to keep protesters out, prepared for what sources called a showdown. In the end, the state agents and the Department of Children and Families backed down, apparently concerned about confronting local police at the hospice." Local cops say state came for Schiavo

QOTD, from "an official with the Pinellas Park police who requested anonymity": "'We told them that unless they had the judge with them when they came, they were not going to get in.'" The judge would be Pinellas County Circuit Judge George Greer who had "signed an order Wednesday afternoon forbidding the (Florida Department of Children and Families) from 'taking possession of Theresa Marie Schiavo or removing her' from the hospice." "On Friday, state officials vigorously denied the notion that any showdown occurred." Jed? That you? About this 2008 presidential thing; you just kissed any chance you may have had good-bye. And about your political career? We'll get back to you on that.