Jeb Bush could wind up being America's next president.  That's a statement that my fingers would actually refuse to type for several other Republicans, just because attempting to substitute "Donald Trump" or "Carly Fiorina" in that sentence would be so downright laughable. 

Anybody who thinks that Jeb Bush would provide a less radical alternative to the likes of Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee should just think back to a decade ago, when Bush was at the center of one of the most egregious government intrusions into private lives in recent memory, a macabre cause célèbre that sickened people across the country but delighted the right wing. 

We need to be educated properly so that we can ensure that our loved ones and we ourselves are cared for in the manner we want.  We need to have choices in how we and those we care for are treated, particularly as we near the end of our life. 

The pundits will be predicting doom and gloom for sure.  Not only did we fail to win the House back in a good Democratic year, they will remind us, but in the sixth year of a presidency the president's party almost always loses seats. 

National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) falls conveniently every April 16 so you can deal with the difficult matters of death and taxes all in one week.  NHDD is one day when we're asked to put our own discomfort aside and think about the loved ones we leave behind. 

The greatest gift you can give to your family, is letting them know what your wishes are regarding how you want your body treated as you near the end of your life.  So, in addition to preparing your tax return, take the time to prepare your advance directive. 

As evidenced by the budget showdown that took place last week in Washington, the Republican Party is doing everything in its power to ensure that there are more abortions than ever in the years to come. 

More than ever, we need Congress to take end-of-life care seriously.  We still need legislation that will encourage physicians to take the time to talk to patients about the choices that are available to them. 

As Congress convenes today to pass health reform, I'm reminded of one of the last times we voted on a Sunday: March 2005, when Republicans forced an extraordinary vote to intervene in the case of Terri Schiavo. 

If one believes that the prevention of suffering may sometimes justify the withdrawal or withholding of care, then the very fact that Houben was conscious for twenty-three years might call more convincingly for such action.