| Subject's name? | Elian Gonzalez | Terri Schiavo |
| Dispute taking place in Florida? | yes | yes |
| Much emotional press coverage? | yes | yes |
| Maudlin essay by Peggy Noonan? | yes | not yet |
Is dispute over uncharted legal/ethical terrain,
or is the process for resolution well established? | well established | well established |
| Is this about the right of a family member to decide what's best? | yes | yes |
| Legal guardian of subject? | male head of household | male head of household |
| Did court rule in favor of legal guardian? | yes | yes |
| Why? | primacy of nuclear family
over extended family's wishes | primacy of nuclear family
over extended family's wishes |
| Are conservative busybodies trying to intervene? | yes | yes |
| They are weakening the institution of? | the family | the family |
| Their motivation is? | political and religious | religious |
| Posturing (or worse) by Republicans? | yes | yes |
| Diane Sawyer crawling on the floor with subject? | yes Good Morning America (27 Mar 00) | not unless Terri rolls off the hospital bed |
