WHAT HE SAID: “I know nothing about the Schiavo matter, and despite that have no opinion.”

Tom Maguire, on the other hand, notes that not everyone is emulating this approach.

[LATER: Mark Kleiman emails that Tom is doing him an injustice.]

UPDATE: Chris Nolan says it’s a made-for-TV movie: “No good is going to come of this; none at all.”

ANOTHER UPDATE: Reader Jerry Lawson thinks it’s Chandra Levy all over again:

You know what I’m reminded of?

I’m looking at the media and the things they’re obsessing about, and I’m reminded of the period right before 9/11. Everything was pretty stable, or so we thought, and there were daily media obsessions about stuff which a few days later would be forgotten completely. Hell, I remember vhemnently arguing on a newsgroup about something in the news which seemed vitally important … and three and a half years later I don’t remember a thing about the argument other than that we were arguing. Must have been damned important to be so memorable.

But right now, media attention’s on Schiavo. Why? Because it’s an easy story to cover. Nobody’s shooting at the reporters. It’s got human interest. It’s got politicians jumping through hoops. It pulls a lot of emotions, in all sorts of directions. It’s a distraction from the Iraq war, where the media scripts are NOT playing out to the ‘proper’ conclusion. It’s got everything you could want but cute animals. And ultimately – this story’s about as meaningful long-term as any tabloid material you’re likely to see at the checkout stand. Only the long-term ramifications by lawmakers who desperately need to be perceived as ‘Doing Something’ will be, IMHO, detrimental in the long run.

Before some recent hernia surgery, my wife and I talked briefly about what would happen if… and we’ve also got wills, and she’s got my durable medical power of attorney. As she’s a nurse I figure she’ll know what needs to be done, when and if – so I’m covered there. My opinion on the Schiavo case… basically, I’ve got no opinion. It doesn’t concern me, one way or another. I’ve seen arguments for both sides, I’ve seen arguments against both sides – and I’m not going to go one way or another on this except to point out just how very obsessive the coverage is on this…

And wonder if we’re in the calm before another storm hits.

I hope not.