Edwards Under Fire, GOP groups poised to unleash assault... -Time

[Rose Siding]

A new wave of Republican attack ads is coming this week, but this time their target is the No. 2 man on the Democratic ticket, John Edwards. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the November Fund, a new 527 group dedicated to attacking Edwards, a former plaintiffs' lawyer, and "lawsuit abuse," will this week launch an ad campaign that portrays him as a cause of the crisis in the medical system. "Doctors are leaving, hospitals are closing, health care costs are skyrocketing at an alarming rate," says one direct-mail piece. "Tell Senator Kerry and Senator Edwards that it is time to support common sense lawsuit abuse reform." The Chamber is focusing on eight battleground states with a "very aggressive mail, phone and internet campaign," says its national political director Bill Miller. The campaign is aimed at independent women with children, who are presumed to be more receptive to health care issues. Miller declined to say how much it will spend other than "in the millions."

The November Fund, started in August by former GOP Senator Bill Brock and former Ronald Reagan White House aide Craig Fuller, begins running TV ads (which can't, by law, mention Edwards' name) and newspaper and direct-mail pieces (which can) in four states this week. "Kerry's selection of Edwards was such an arrogant act, such an in-your-face thing that we had to do something," says Brock. The Fund won't have to disclose its funding sources or how much it has raised until Friday, but Brock said the group had more than $5 million "last time I looked," starting with $500,000 from the Chamber.

Edwards has always defended his work by saying he stood up for the little guy against big business and doctors who commit malpractice. His clients were almost all sympathetic figures, and he won more than $200 million for them. And thereís no assurance the new ads will turn voters against him. A Gallup poll in July found that 67% thought that Edwards' experience as a trial lawyer would be a strength, not a weakness. But he and his fellow trial lawyers, who have given big to the Kerry campaign, may need all their silver-tongued skills to parry the latest attacks.

http://www.time.com/time/election2004/article/0,18471,713157,00.html?promoid=rss_election

[lancdem]

1. What an idiotic statement

"Kerry's selection of Edwards was such an arrogant act, such an in-your-face thing that we had to do something," says Brock.

[booksenkatz]

20. Yeah, so was stealing the election. nt

[maryallen]

39. Wonder what Brock would call ...

the selection of Cheney by Cheney??

[ClassWarrior]

49. Talk about arrogant.

This scumbag thinks he's so frickin high and mighty that the act of a public figure who doesn't even know him becomes a personal attack on him?? Wow. How pitiful.

23.

[Borgnine]

2. Republicans hate lawyers...

...because they make it harder for them to get away with every evil deed their heart desires.

[wryter2000]

5. Yeah, but

At the first sign of trouble, they lawyer-up like mad bastards. Hypocrites.

[ClintonTyree]

10. They should bring up....................

Dumbya's lawsuit against the Rental Car Company in NYC and Cheney's numerous litigations.

Everyone hates Lawyers until they need one. This crap is disgusting.

[calimary]

27. Like bush indeed did - as soon as the heat was turned up in the Plame

investigation. He had to retain his own attorney because he wasn't allowed to use the White House counsel. If you think lawyers are so bad, why do you want to get near one, yourself? Why aren't you trying to "convert" said attorney out of his evil, lawyering ways? Same thing for your pal, Jim Baker, george dear.

[Seabiscuit]

54. EGGSACTLY! FRIGGIN CHENEYED HYPOCRITES!

[skylarmae]

3. right here and now - hear me say - if I ever get as bad as these mindless

repukes, SOMEBODY SHOOT ME. Please, just put me out of my misery if and when there comes a time when I no longer am able to discern truth and right on its face. If I become so bitter and jaded as to not be able to realize my own folly and err.

[Cha]

28. You Won't...they are genetically

programed to be EVIL BASTARDS!

[wildeyed]

4. If the dems can answer aggressively, this might be a good thing.

Get the focus onto how little BushCo has done to address the health care crisis. I think they learned not to sit passively by after the Swift Boat fiasco.

[0007]

16. They have a perfect counter. Who fought against the 911 victims

and their lawsuits? Hint, (it was the same guy that lobbied the supreme court in the Florida election scam in 2000)

[Seabiscuit]

55. Yup. James Baker. A "fork tongued" lawyer.

The Repukes don't recognize silver - only forks, as in pitchforks. They scurry to Baker every time they worry their evil little heads about anything. And he's a.... WHAT??? a TRIAL LAWYER??? Oh, Sheeeeit!!!

Friggin' hypocrites.

[whistle]

6. After the debate, what cowards.......

[ClintonTyree]

7. They have nothing to run on...................

so they have to make shit up. This administration has been the worst in history, their successful achievements can be listed on the head of a pin. This is why they have to resort to false attacks. They disgust me, they don't deserve the air they breathe.

[Sabriel]

8. Now I'll have to change my bumpersticker

I hate my country AND I fear my country. When will this end?

[aquart]

9. November Fund wouldn't be insurance companies, would it?

Since malpractice rates went up higher in a state with caps than surrounding states without caps, this slander ought to be a piece of cake.

[AP]

11. Good. They'll turn the cameras on Edwards and K-E will go up even more in

polls.

This is how the Republicans lost to Edwards in 1998. Glad to see them taking the bait again.

I can't wait to meet some of the people Edwards represented.

[venus]

12. This will get very nasty.

I remember Kerry saying that Edwards voted for the Patients Bill Of Rights. Did he offer any other defense of his VP choice in response?

[MADem]

34. Not just voted for it, WROTE IT n/t

[ClintonTyree]

13. The freakin' AMA...............

should take some responsibility as well. It's not just the Insurance Companies (although they're the biggest culprits). The AMA KNOWS who these bad Doctors are, yet they DO NOTHING about it.
Doctor's have to practically kill someone with their bare hands to have their license pulled. Usually it's the State the Doctor is in that ends up yanking his/her license, but then they're free to practice in any other State! The AMA is USELESS.
Require them to police their members and malpractice numbers would drop like a rock.

[knitter4democracy]

31. Not quite

There is a national system for licensing doctors, and most states are checking that too to see if they're getting an application from someone who shouldn't practice. This new system is far from perfect, as every doctor I know will attest, but it's something better than what we've had.

The AMA is evil. They never even did an article on Dean when he was running--and he's an internist for crying out loud! My husband is still a member, mostly to keep an eye on them and see if he can work the system from the inside.

[LiberalFighter]

38. There is a database of bad doctors...

but the public is prevented from seeing that list.

[rocktivity]

14. Uhh, they DO realize that the Kerry camp can return fire.

cheney's not so pure. And the fact that the nastiest thing they can say about Edwards is that he sues coroporations speaks for itself. Bring it on!

:headbang:
rocknation

[elehhhhna]

15. James Baker's Grandchild had its guts sucked out by a pool drain--

in a case alost identical to one of Edwards' biggest wins. Go figure. Guess the Bakers will give the $$$ back & tough it out?

[JoFerret]

18. Here's the Graeme Baker story

http://www.poolspanews.com/2003/102/102entrapment.html“The swimming pool and spa industry has been well aware of these risks since the late 1970s,” says Robert T. Hall, an attorney for Nancy and James Baker IV, Graeme’s parents. “Their products are especially hazardous to children. Since the 1980s, there have been at least 147 entrapment incidents documented, resulting in 36 deaths.”

Hall goes on to say that the Bakers plan to hold the industry accountable for the suction entrapment phenomenon.

“We pledge to do all within our power to see that this industry meets its obligation to an unsuspecting public,” he says. “ senseless death should be a wake-up call for this industry to accept responsibility for all such deaths and injuries and be accountable for the decades it has ignored its duties.”>>
<more>
Who you gonna call?




<<

[Branjor]

21. Ugh, how awful....

A few years ago, the same thing happened to a high school girl in my area. She was at an adult chaperoned post prom party and she was caught by suction on a whirlpool drain. She did not live.

[calimary]

30. No kidding?! James Baker's granddaughter?

You'd think this bunch would be more sympathetic to the little guy, particularly if you assume these folks to be like many wingers. Their minds remain narrow until something happens that force-feeds them the consequences of embracing rigid beliefs. Like those who lose a loved one in Iraq. Remember the true, aching agony of Lila Lipscomb in "Fahrenheit 9/11"? She'd supported the war until her son became one of its victims. Just dreadful, such a loss, in ANY event.

Y'know, I'd REALLY like to consider these folks (NOT Lila Lipscomb here. People like James Baker and his power-crowd) as what they truly should be: fellow human beings, with hearts, souls, consciences, who believe in good, noble stuff, and love their families and are proud of their children and many of 'em with content marriages and in Baker's case, undoubtedly proud grandparents. But shit. Then he goes and represents the Saudis against 9/11 families. It belies their humanity. DAMMIT. I wish I could reconcile this stuff. I wish my own heart and soul and conscience could think reasonably about these folks as fellow travelers on this planet and in this plane.

It'd be a whole lot easier to cope if this were Utopia and I was utopian.

[Democat]

17. Campaign finance reform seems to actually transfer power to rich people

Notice how the only people who have to follow campaign finance laws are the little guys?

Rich people don't even bother worrying about the campaign finance laws - they either ignore the laws or just work ways around them.

John McCain must be proud of his work. :(

[displacedtexan]

19. How many trial lawyers did The November Fund hire...

to make sure their ads were just inside the limits of the law?

More than a few, I'll bet, and not a one them with the conscience of a John Grisham protagonist!

[noamnety]

22. Cheney's favorite site debunked this a year ago

"The evidence available to date does not make a strong case that restricting malpractice liability would have a significant effect, either positive or negative, on economic efficiency, ” the CBO said."

... "CBO found no statistically significant difference in per capita health care spending between states with and without limits on malpractice torts."

http://factcheck.org/article.aspx@docID=133

The DNC should hop on this, pointing out that the site recommended by Cheney (in some way that doesn't mention his name of course, if it's an ad) shows their argument to be without any merit whatsoever.

[goforit]

23. Bush hired Olson, the trial lawyer, to hijack the election!!!!!

Hats off to TRIAL LAWYERS!!!!!!!!

[PassingFair]

24. and just what the HELL is this about?

"The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the November Fund, a new 527 group dedicated to attacking Edwards"

"the group had more than $5 million last time I looked, starting with $500,000 from the Chamber."

WTF is with the Chamber of Commerce? I'm in sales and am being pressured to attend chamber "events" around my territory. I have been able to get out of them by attending independent business groups instead, but I do know that I'm missing out on a lot of leads by skipping the chamber functions.

I bitched at work that I didn't think we should be paying dues to a political organization, but my boss just scoffed.

Anyone know what's up with the Chamber and the pukes?

[Democat]

26. They are getting $500,000 donations - so much for Campaign Finance Reform

Corporations continue to make and break the rules as they please.

Where is John McCain now?

[tlcandie]

42. The chamber's head guy has been pushing for * for a LONG time

I don't have any links, but he was out front a LONG time ago about * being the best choice for American CoC's. Nothing new except they are now funding a full frontal attack via advertising.

[Catt03]

46. I sent them a letter weeks ago

as I, too, belong to my local chamber. I was stunned when I first saw their plan to attack Kerry and Edwards or that they would be so publicly involved.

[Dover]

25. Oh like "shock and awe"?

A lot of lies, money spent, innocent people wounded and no victory? Just another GOP assault.

[are_we_united_yet]

29. Message GOP: What have you done for US lately?

[H2O Man]

32. trial lawyers are agents of democracy

I've said this before, and I'll try to be brief. I worked for a mental health clinic, and did "community response" work. One afternoon, returning to my office, a fellow using a cell phone while driving ignored two stop signs and a red light. He hit my vehicle at 55mph on the driver's door, and my vehicle flew into a third. I was taken to an ER taped to a stretcher. I have had extensive surgery and therapy, and will live with chronic pain for the rest of my life.

Before I went to trial, the other fellow's attorney did not deny the cause or extent of my injuries. But he made it a "class" case, so to speak. The fellow who hit me was a local bank VP, and one of the top republicans in the area. I was a mere working class dog. I was treated like shit by insurance companies and by workers comp. They tried to pressure me into taking a small out-of-court settlement by stretching things out. I grew up poor, however, so I don't feel that stick.

I went to court, and my attorney advocated for me in front of a jury of my peers. It was democracy in action. There was no other forum where that bank dick and I were on equal footing.

I hope no other human being has to endure that which I have endured, or that which I continue to endure. But I know that in real life, people do. And I thankful that there are trial lawyers, because it's the only chance injured people have.

[n2mark]

33. This does it---

I really can't afford it but I will sacrifice for awhile. I'm donating a $100.00 to the DNC to fight these ass....... Thank goodness our weathering will be turning soon in Az and my air conditioning money can go toward fighting this crap. Hope it goes toward fighting these nuts.

[coreystone]

35. If the AMA and Corporative America Were More Responsible...

in "cleaning up" their own acts, there probably wouldn't be so much of a need for trial lawyers.

Any award that is given in a medical malpractice suit is primarily based upon the standards of the AMA. If they would work in conjunction with the state professional regulatory agencies to rid society of the high risk members of their profession, then, we might be closer to lowering malpractice insurance rates.

And, corporative America....listen up! An automobile manufacturer decides that it is more expensive to FIX a flaw in their product, as opposed to the legal settlements which are calculated to be less expensive. I mean we are talking DOLLARS! We are NOT talking about being responsible members of the American Society. We are not talking about "family values". We are not talking about human lives....we are talking about BUCKS!

NOW! I realize that there will always be the "trial" lawyer who goes after a fast food company that brews coffee. That a consumer of that coffee has a difficult time understanding that the coffee may be of a temperature to inflict burns if accidentally poured upon that consumer's skin. I detest "fast food restaurants", BUT, this is a frivolous law suit.

Until the vendors of services, medical or otherwise, and, companies, that knowingly produce goods which cause injury and possible death to their consumers, realize that it is their "moral and ethical" responsibility to place the safety of their consumers above the BUCKS, then, there should be a need to have trial lawyers "handy"; for those times when consumers have been damaged by those hiding behind "laissez faire".

[mbperrin]

52. You don't mean that THIS lawsuit is frivolous, do you?

The Actual Facts About
The Mcdonalds' Coffee Case

http://www.lectlaw.com/files/cur78.htm

There is a lot of hype about the McDonalds' scalding coffee case. No
one is in favor of frivolous cases of outlandish results; however, it is
important to understand some points that were not reported in most of
the stories about the case. McDonalds coffee was not only hot, it was
scalding -- capable of almost instantaneous destruction of skin, flesh
and muscle. Here's the whole story.

Stella Liebeck of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was in the passenger seat of
her grandson's car when she was severely burned by McDonalds' coffee in
February 1992. Liebeck, 79 at the time, ordered coffee that was served
in a styrofoam cup at the drivethrough window of a local McDonalds.

After receiving the order, the grandson pulled his car forward and
stopped momentarily so that Liebeck could add cream and sugar to her
coffee. (Critics of civil justice, who have pounced on this case, often
charge that Liebeck was driving the car or that the vehicle was in
motion when she spilled the coffee; neither is true.) Liebeck placed
the cup between her knees and attempted to remove the plastic lid from
the cup. As she removed the lid, the entire contents of the cup spilled
into her lap.

The sweatpants Liebeck was wearing absorbed the coffee and held it next
to her skin. A vascular surgeon determined that Liebeck suffered full
thickness burns (or third-degree burns) over 6 percent of her body,
including her inner thighs, perineum, buttocks, and genital and groin
areas. She was hospitalized for eight days, during which time she
underwent skin grafting. Liebeck, who also underwent debridement
treatments, sought to settle her claim for $20,000, but McDonalds
refused.

(more)

There's lots more here, but expecting to not need skin grafts from purchasing a cup of coffee seems reasonable to me. But what do I know? The doctor who told my dad he had a kidney infection and accused him of being a crybaby is in practice still even though it turned out to be spinal cancer which was fatal and had started in the lower back; would have been treatable at that time, but after 6 months, had entered the lymph system. Heroic measures were taken, but a painful death ensued.

Same doctor gave painkilling shots to a high school quarterback's broken wrist so he could finish a game, resulting in permanent damage to the kid's hand and arm. The doc? Just built a great new office.

Just hoping for him to have a slow and painful death. (Some days I long for there to really be a burning hell like they told me about when I was a kid!)

[coreystone]

66. I stand corrected "mbperrin"!

I thank you for bringing a more in depth, and certainly more accurate, accounting of that case. It is obvious that “The McDonald’s Coffee Case” was an ill chosen example of the type of “frivolous” and “nuisance” suits which do occupy the legal system. As a matter of fact, after clicking on the link, I found myself quite amazed at what was absent in the media coverage; and, I am pretty cynical about the media. Thanks Again!

:-)

[mbperrin]

70. You're more than welcome!

Gosh, all of us just want to get to the truth, and the truth is, the media right now is just a cesspool of misinformation and disinformation generated by their corporate master/owners!

Working in place like this board, we can succeed! Thanks for being part of it, coreystone!

[depakid]

36. and Kerry/Edwards have punted on the issue

doubtlessly due to some STUPID consultant and focus groups.

A HUGE mistake- just as bad as Kerry's answer to Bush'e question about Irag. considering that the evidence overwhelmingly shows tort deform has no effect on insurance rates, but does result in widespread injustice.

[AP]

40. Could be rope a dope. Edwards gained 10 pts in the polls when Repubs

attacked him for this in '98. Edwards brought out his former clients and people fell in love with him.

It could be the dems october surprise to lure Republicans into this strategy.

[depakid]

44. I hope you are right

You've been an Edwards believer all along and have proven me wrong before.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

74. Your problem is that you just don't understand timing,...

...and timing is everything in politics.

You NEVER fire off all of your best ammunition in the opening rounds, and you ALWAYS leave several powerful weapons in reserve. But the real key to using those weapons is WHEN to use them.

IMHO, the Republicans are getting really desperate to use this particular tactic...Edwards will open them up like he's gutting a tuna.

In rebuttal, Edwards should merely ask a few of his former clients to do a testimonial ad. Let them tell their story in their own words. Let them tell the entire country why they had to resort to a lawsuit as a last resort against business owners and doctors who refused to take responsibility for their own negligent actions.

And then finish with Edwards stating why he has taken certain cases over the years.

[msongs]

37. Republican senate guy in Florida is a TRIAL LAWYER and

he was also recently head of the florida state trial lawyers group. Now how does that square with the attacks against EDwards....

and how can this be used AAGAINST THE republicans nationally and in Florida?

when given lemons, make lemonade, yes?

Msongs
Riverside CA

PS - the chamber of commerce is a fascist organization.

[acmavm]

41. They better be careful with this, it may backfire on the BIG TIME

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=114&topic_id=11615

It's not the little guy who's filing all the lawsuits, corporation's file four times the number of lawsuits than we do. And believe me, they don't represent themselves in court.

[crossroads]

43. Edwards has been fighting for those injured by big Corporations!

We need to counter with an ad showing Edwards helping the lil girl hurt by that swimming pool drain! That was a tearjerker.
:dem:

[Q]

45. They don't want to 'reform' the system...

...they want to game it to favor corporations...much like all the rest of the GOP-sponsored legislation.

- These attacks mean nothing in the larger scheme of things. Probably much more important is that the VP is STILL GETTING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS from Halliburton as they make billions of dollars off US taxpayers. This is a conflict of interest taking place right in front of our eyes.

[mhr]

47. Business Files 4 Times As Many Lawsuits As Individual Citizens

This was reported last week and is the simplest and easiest way to diffuse this issue.

U.S.Businesses File Four Times More Lawsuits Than Private Citizens And Are Sanctioned Much More Often for Frivolous Suits

http://www.citizen.org/pressroom/release.cfm?ID=1799

WASHINGTON, D.C. – American businesses file four times as many lawsuits as do individuals represented by trial attorneys, and they are penalized by judges much more often for pursuing frivolous litigation, according to a report issued today by Public Citizen.

The survey of case filings in two states (Arkansas and Mississippi) and two local jurisdictions (Cook County, Ill., and Philadelphia, Pa.) in 2001 found that businesses were 3.3 to 5.8 times more likely to file lawsuits than were individuals. This comes as businesses and politicians are campaigning to limit citizens’ rights to sue over everything from medical malpractice damages to defective products. By way of comparison, the number of American consumers (281 million) outnumbers the number of businesses in America (7 million) by 40 times.

The report also found that businesses and their attorneys were 69 percent more likely than individual tort plaintiffs and their attorneys to be sanctioned by federal judges for filing frivolous claims or defenses. The report, Frequent Filers: Corporate Hypocrisy in Accessing the Courts, is available by clicking here.

“Corporations think America is too litigious only when they are on the receiving end of a lawsuit,” said Joan Claybrook, president of Public Citizen. “But when they feel aggrieved, businesses are far more likely to take their beef to court than are consumers.”

Snip ......

[Catt03]

48. Someone could research those who funded the 527 and chamber members to see

if they have ever filed a law suit....business or personal.

It would be interesting to check all Bush's inner circle also

[CBHagman]

50. What are Kerry-Edwards doing against this?

Folks, the final few weeks of the campaign are going to be dirty. Expect Karl Rove tricks and smears.

We've got to do more than be on the defensive. The GOP IS hypocritical about legal matters (Look at how two of Antonin Scalia's sons and Clarence Thomas's wife were working for George W. Bush in 2000, and yet neither Scalia nor Thomas recused himself when it came time to rule on Bush v. Gore). When is Edwards going to hand them their asses on a platter?

[jmowreader]

51. These guys picked the wrong guy to fuck with

When Edwards ran for Senate, the Faircloth campaign planned to run an ad featuring a kindly old country doctor Edwards put out of business. Edwards called up the Faircloth campaign and said he'd be more than happy to hold a press conference featuring the child that the kindly old country doctor injured (I think his malpractice crippled her for life), causing Edwards to get involved. The ad never aired.

Last week before the VP debate I posted a picture of what the defendant in any case Edwards is advocating for the plaintiff in sees...it was a fairly large tiger. These "November Fund" idiots are about to find out what fucking with Edwards gets you.

John Kerry didn't pick John Edwards because of his youthful good looks. He picked Edwards because John "Iron Fist in a Velvet Glove" Edwards is potentially the most vicious person in the United States, but only to people who really need it. I'm such a sick bastard I'd love to see a Bush-Edwards debate. Edwards would convince Bush to turn himself in to the Hague before the first hour was out.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

73. Great post! They just don't understand who they're dealing with.

[Seabiscuit]

53. What kind of grotesquely biased crapola reporting is this?

"But he and his fellow trial lawyers, who have given big to the Kerry campaign, may need all their silver-tongued skills to parry the latest attacks."

That's not reporting. That's right-wing smear-tactic editorializing.

Friggin' Cheneyed media bastards. BASTARDS! I say!!!

[nostalgicaboutmyfutr]

56. october surprise....fuck the doctors

part of the OCtober surprises...there will be more....

BTW FUCK the doctors when it comes to malpractice...they get sued because the f^&&*k up and someone sues them....you would not believe how many bad doctors are out there and deserve every law suit they are involved in....

why don't they ask the question about the doctor getting sued...you would be surprised how many docs are sued several times over, for the same type incedent...yet they do not lose their license and continue to pay the insurance to cover their sorry asses.

I repeat the second part of my post's title.

[area51]

57. nazi direct-mail piece

The nazi direct-mail piece said "Doctors are leaving....". Oh, yes, Shrub told us how OB-GYNs can't "practice their love".... </sarcasm>

[Dark Jedi]

61. About OB-GYNs...

If they can't practice their love, it will be because fundies such as Robertson and Falwell would like segregation of the sexes like the bible says. LOL

[Dark Jedi]

58. Hypocrites

Hey, don't forget about Rushie Limburger's lawyer! As soon as the s*** hit the fan, he was all lawyered up. Did Rushie ever comment on Edwards? It'd be some nerve. I don't listen to him so I don't know. Anyone here know?

[SoCalDem]

59. A rebuttal ad is so cheap and easy..

picture parents at the bedside of a comatose child..

voice over:

There was an "error" with the anesthesia, and your child will never grow up, or even wake up..

George Bush wants the doctor who did this to get a "pass".. It was an accident, no reason to sue, now IS there??

You're young, the bush admin thinks you should just get over it..and have another child..

[AP]

60. it wouldn't be a rebuttal. It'd be a counter-attack.

[Dark Jedi]

63. Awesome Idea

Wow. You are good! If I were running, I'd hire you in a second!

And yes, fundies do think people should crank children out like crazy. You've got them tagged with that last sentence.

[SoCalDem]

64. Another ad.. same parents....

voice over:

Rush Limbaugh filed suit in federal court when a competing radio network ran a parody of his program. Limbaugh and his producers sued for $15 million. That weighty legal matter was also dismissed. Seems conservatives aren’t very good at the art of jackpot justice.
......

WASHINGTON -- A Virginia jury last night awarded the wife of Sen. Rick Santorum $350,000 in damages after she charged in a lawsuit that a Virginia chiropracter's negligence caused her permanent back pain.
Deliberating more then six hours after a four-day trial in which Santorum, R-Pa., testified, the Fairfax County Circuit Court jury unanimously ruled for Karen Santorum. She had sought $500,000 against Dr. David Dolberg of Virginia, because of pain from his 1996 treatment of her
........

George Bush sued to have vote-counting stopped, making him president

.........

A HalliburtonWatch.org survey of court actions filed by Halliburton and its subsidiaries between 1995 and 2000 -- the period when Cheney was CEO of the company -- found that Halliburton was involved in 151 court claims it filed in 15 states around the nation. On average, Halliburton petitioned America's legal system 30 times per year while Cheney was CEO.
http://www.halliburtonwatch.org/news/cheneylawsuits_099.html

..........

Those suits were merit-worthy because rich people were wronged..



Bush/Cheney think YOUR child's life is a "junk lawsuit"..

[BUSHOUT]

62. As the pukes say at freerepulsive....WHERE IS THE BARF ALERT???

Nice closing:

But he and his fellow trial lawyers, who have given big to the Kerry campaign, may need all their silver-tongued skills to parry the latest attacks.


Yep, Edwards is part of a trial lawyer fraturnity that meets in secret to plot government takeovers and increase earnings for trial lawyers everywhere. Bwaaahahahahaha!

[frogbison]

65. Didn't J. Edwards say,

in his debate with Cheney, that the percentage of costs derived from doctors' insurance because of malpractice suits was but .28 of one percent, or something along that line. The amount was very small....Where is the transcript?

I'll take the guys working for the little person, anytime!

[JoFerret]

68. It was Kerry

.

[CityHall]

67. Cowardly of them to wait till after the VP debate n/t

[OzarkDem]

69. Any Rapid Response yet?

I'd feel a lot more comfortable going on the offensive if we had some sort of strategy from the campaign and the party.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

71. This tactic should expose just how desperate these people really are...

...because, in reality, they are risking everything to try to smear Edwards.

In rebuttal, Edwards should merely ask a few of his former clients to do a testimonial ad. Let them tell their story in their own words. Let them tell the entire country why they had to resort to a lawsuit as a last resort against business owners and doctors who refused to take responsibility for their own negligent actions.

And then finish with Edwards stating why he has taken certain cases over the years.

[Q]

72. The Bushies should ask those fighting and dying in Iraq.....

...how important this issue is.

- The very HEART of our so-called justice system is the ideal of due process and right to counsel. Too many Americans didn't bother to pay attention in school.

- Perhaps it's time to bring up the fact that the highest office in the land in held by two oil men fighting a war for oil?