Comments on Into My Own: Progressives' Silence Doomed Edwards

I do know something about his cases --that he was...

2008-02-02T13:36:00.000-05:00

I do know something about his cases --that he was a specialist on birth defects that turn out to not be caused by doctors.

I also know about ambulance- chasing lawyers first hand --and I know that ALL the cases I know about which always attempted to sue several care-providers and hospitals at once, were either thrown out --or settled for a small amount to make them go away before the litigants lost in court. 80% of malpractice cases are decided in favor of the doctors --but not before exorbitant amounts of money are paid to lawyers for bringing or defending the cases. The cases that win for the patient in court are often settled for such extreme amounts because of imperfect medical results --or some infraction of procedure --which may or may not have justified a multi-million dollar settlement that makes medical costs for everyone go up.

there are many lawyers hoping to be multi-millionaries on doctors' backs --as Edwards is. What I say about his role in causing a doctor shortage in his state at one point is true. Torte reform is something hard to get from legislators who are attorneys in the pockets of the trial lawyers ass'n --but we need it if we would like to see less costly practice of "defensive medicine." The extreme waste of clerical time brought by malpractice is costing all of us. Also the ridiculous extent of privacy laws --which all came to the forefront because of the paranoia of people with HIV who didn't want anyone to know. We have to go to such great lengths to call back EVERY patient, being careful about messages and other family members answering the phone, etc. Just in case the patient didn't want his family to know he went to the doctor or had a test. Most families are open with each other --but nowdays, there is so much dysfunction and behavior and conditions which patients want to hide --that we all pay more for the extra security.

Barb, I suspect you don't really know anything abo...

2008-02-02T10:13:00.000-05:00

Barb, I suspect you don't really know anything about Edwards' cases, because if you found yourself in the same situation as Edwards' clients, I have no doubt you would exactly as they did, and I have no doubt you would seek a lawyer as skilled and agressive as John Edwards.

People like you and Robert Bork love to trash lawyers, until you need one.

John Edwards --lost badly in his own state because...

2008-02-01T22:34:00.000-05:00

John Edwards --lost badly in his own state because they know it was he and lawyers like him who made their millions on the backs of doctors --suing them for, in his case, disabilities now known to be caused in the 1st trimester. The malpractice insurance in his state went up so much that doctors left there in droves. This makes him an unlikely leader for national health care reduction in costs. If it weren't for exorbitant and unfair lawsuits on doctors, he wouldn't be the rich man he is today.

His own neighbors who had a road side store/filling station? --complained of his snobbery and his desire to put them out of business because their place didn't look nice enough for the Edwards.

His house is a big fuel guzzler, yet he is one of those who calls on everyone else to be energy conserving.

With his $400 ? haircut, he would make a good GOP target --but then, i think all 3 of the Dems are vulnerable for talking a better line than how they have lived. The other two have scandal smoke in their history and of course, are too liberal for many of us.

I like a lot of things about both Hill and Obama. ...

2008-01-31T23:48:00.000-05:00

I like a lot of things about both Hill and Obama.

But the idea that so many important progressives stayed silent throughout this really bothers me.

I'm glad you posted this, Dave. It's about time so...

2008-01-31T14:07:00.000-05:00

I'm glad you posted this, Dave. It's about time somebody says what they're thinking and feeling, as you've pointed out so beautifully.

The msm is doing what they do, whether anyone listens or not. Their attention to only 2 candidates was infuriating.

Bloggers, such as Kos, have said that they don't want to influence their readers. Don't they think their readers have minds of their own?

If they honestly hadn't made up their minds, that's fine. But if they had, and were withholding their opinions, why? Why not prod a few good debates out of their commenters?

I'm over at Cliff Schecter's site and have (gently) pushed for Edwards. I have no influence on anyone, but if I did, I wouldn't have shied away from saying what I thought.

After all, isn't that what we bloggers do?

Clinton? Yikes, LR!ohdave - I disagree with your ...

2008-01-31T00:50:00.000-05:00

Clinton? Yikes, LR!

ohdave - I disagree with your characterization of Kennedy's endorsement. I don't think he ever intended to endorse, as many have reported, but did so after the Clintons turned wild on Obama. Had that not happened, imo, the endorsement yesterday would not have occurred, period.

As for the rest, I do agree. Some corners of blogdom were just quiet, others picked on one or two candidates, without advocating for another. It's odd how this works around here, and maybe a good part of it is keeping the powder keg dry.

I supported Edwards, at times it felt as if there ...

2008-01-30T23:53:00.000-05:00

I supported Edwards, at times it felt as if there were very few of us that most of the blogosphere was for Obama with a few for Clinton.

It is disappointing and now with the decision between the two, I doubt I'll be on the Obama side.