Love, Death and Politics

Houston: Do you think euthenasia should be allowed in America? I have a very sick relative who wants to die, but I'm not sure if this is morally or religiously the right thing to do.
There are laws against euthanasia. The closest we've gotten as a society to allowing people to choose to die is the Oregon Death with Dignity Act. It was challenged in the courts and in the Congress, but it is in place -- and allows people with a diagnosis of six months or less to live to obtain a prescription for a lethal dose of drugs. Many people get the prescription and never use it, but knowing it is there offers peace of mind. The law has not been abused as its critics charged it would be. Still, it is controversial enough that no other state has followed Oregon's example.

Los Angeles: Ms. Clift, thank you for sharing your personal and intimate story. You mentioned the show Six Feet Under in your book. Were you a regular watcher? Did Tom watch as well? Do you think this show helped Americans be a little more frank about life and death?
We watched "Six Feet Under" together, and I credit the show in my book for opening up lines of conversation that we might not otherwise have had. On the day Tom died and the van arrived to pick up his body, I half expected David to emerge. The scene was familiar because I had seen it on television many times. I think the show helped lift the curtain on death and dying -- we were big fans

Anonymous: as someone who follows politics half-heartedly, but respects your opinion on this topic-- what do you think about the mudslinging going on bet hillary and obama. aren't people right to say this bickering is only damaging the dem chance come november?
After listening to conference calls with each of the campaigns, I feel like taking a shower. The only saving grace is that nothing is being thrown that won't be used in November -- and if Obama can't handle it, better to know now than October. Activists on both sides are getting bitter, but polls show regular voters still have high regard for both Democrats -- and I think Hillary still has a right to remain in the race even tho her path to the nomination is narrow. She's an insurance policy if Obama implodes -- with or without her help. I remember a Saturday Night Live skit with Nancy Pelosi cautioning Democrats it's a long time til November -- We can still lose

Cleveland: I was so glad to read the snippet of your book in Newsweek and want to buy it now. I remember when my husband died, that I immediately went out and worked in the garden. Some of my neighbors thought it was crazy, but it was just my way of getting through the grief. Thank you for sharing your story
Work helped me. When I'm writing a column, I can't think about anything else. I suspect digging in the garden would be a great release -- I'll bet you did it with enough vigor you could have gotten all the way to China.

Anonymous: Who will take the Democratic nomination?
Obama has the better hand but I don't think it's a done deal. If Hillary wins Pennsylvania by a big margin and then wins somewhere where he's expected to win -- North Carolina, Oregon, Indiana -- then the race gets re-set once again -- and she has a case to make to the super delegates. Right now, she's trying to hold the uncommitted super delegates in place while the Obama campaign is pushing for an early decision to avoid the bloodletting. I suspect the race goes on into May and possibly June

Washington, D.C.: Do you think the Democrats will retain control of the House and the Senate this fall? No one is focusing on that yet.
The Democrats are poised to increase their majorities in both Houses. There have been 29 Republican retirements in the House, opening up possibilities for Dems -- they could pick up 20-plus seats. In the Senate, they're looking at 4-5 maybe even more pickups which would not get them to the magical 60 filibuster-proof seats, but close enough that they can pull over the handful of Republican moderates and actually function as a legislative body especially if there's a Democrat in the White House.