Edwards will really say anything to get elected, won't he? 4 years ago, he was a moderate talking of hope, now he's a far left extremist talking about fighting.

I'm a lifelong Democrat, but I don't think I could vote for Edwards in a general election.

Edwards may be getting some support for his get tough on corporation discourse, but some people who think realize that corporations are made up of thousands of people who invest their money in them, with the hope of making a profit. All of our pension plans, and individual retirement accounts are tied up in the stock markets. If anything Edwards should modify his discourse to talk about working with Congress to do something about the immense payouts to corporate heads, and the possibility of increasing the amount of return on small stock holders investments. That would sound more practical, albeit least likely to happen, than blasting away on this "bring em down to size" bull crap. Obama's approach is the most plausible one, and is least likely to alienate involved parties.

It's great that the former vice presidential nominee once was a trial lawyer who amassed a fortune winning cases, but obviously those experiences have not taught Edwards anything about tempering his language in such a way that the appeal to emotion does not die down the minute people stop and think with their heads.

Well I would say at least he is acknowledging the FACT that our form of gov is NOT democratic it is capitalistic feudalism. The folks who are living in "Richistan" could careless whether or not the US sinks or swims all their money is safe off shore. Mike, wake up! Edwards has my vote.

Edwards is the only candidate
"man enough" to recognize publically that Bush,Inc. has sold America to the corporations. In no way are these mega-orgs acting in any interest but their own. Teddy Roosevelt faced the same problem and brought them down. Edwards has the tools to do the same ... Justice Dept investigations, federal reg agencies, Congressional action if both the President and Congress are both Democratic. The corporations won't fold up and bring the economy down. They'll just realize the game is up and modify their behaviors accordingly. To quote Michael Corleone in The Godfather, "it's not personal. It's business."

Big oil companies boosts the oil price, which benefits the countries like Venezuala and Russia.

Way to go BRECK GIRL!

Thanks to you and your brother-hood of slip-and-fall-lawyers across America, our insurance premiums are at an all time high!

How does one spell scum....E-D-W-A-R-D-S!!!

Paulo

Ah yes, the two Americas according to a man that spends $400 on one haircut. Now, he is the torch bearer of the poor. Those people that he avoided during his meteoric rise to wealth by suing doctors and getting big insurance payouts.

John Edwards: Man of tremendous contradiction, just a hair short of hypocrisy.

Anyone that doesn't see this is a fool.

How does one spell scum....E-D-W-A-R-D-S!!!
Paulo

Posted by: Paulo | December 31, 2007 12:40 AM

Paulo,

The more I read your posts, the more I believe that you really are a socio-path.

Son, you are doing more to help the Democrats win in 08 than anyone else who comments on this blog but somehow I get the feeling that you don't have the mental capacity to understand what I mean by that.

As a person I worry about you, as a Democrat I thank you.

John Edwards is demonstrating the kind of logically inconsistent thinking that can’t be tolerated in the White House.

On the one hand, he proposes the same “personal mandate” system of universal health care that Hillary Clinton has proposed. That system requires every financially able person to purchase their own health insurance. Short of a massive takeover by the government, corporate insurance and pharmaceutical companies would have to cooperate in that plan to make it viable, much less affordable, for Americans.

On the other hand, from the noises he’s been making, it seems as though Edwards is bent on busting those same corporate interests in the chops. To me, at least, it is difficult to imagine how Edwards could expect the kind of needed cooperation from those interests if he remains hostile toward them. It is, however, easy to conceive of those same interests doing everything in their power to save their bottom line, even if it means torpedoing Edwards’ plans in the process.

Someone needs to tell Edwards that battlefields aren’t good places to find business partners. That is, someone ought to tell him this after he loses the nomination.

As far as politicians are concerned, Jean Paul Sartre was right: Hell is other people. Edwards is proof of this.

"Short of a massive takeover by the government, corporate insurance and pharmaceutical companies would have to cooperate in that plan to make it viable, much less affordable, for Americans."

Exactly right. There is absolutely no need for insurance to be part of the health care formula. By cutting 'insurance' out of the equation, we'll save billions and make corporate America more competitive in a single stroke.

Thank you for making Edwards point: By eliminating the insurance middleman, we'll have not only better healthcare, but cheaper as well.

John Edwards is a hypocrite. He runs as the working family candidate while living in a 28,000 square foor home. Also, he owns a 3,000 square foot beach house.
He started his campaign identifying with the poor in New Orleans where he kicked off his campaign.
Yet, he worked for and invested in a hedge fund that foreclosed on 34 New Orleans homes.
Every speech is like a trial lawyers final pitch to the jury. No surprise it's being a trial lawyer that gave him the money to live in a 28,000 square foot home.Jerry White, Springfield, IL

I should also point out that 96% of every Medicare dollar is spent on health care vs. on 85% of every dollar when insurance is involved.

It's time to join the rest of the civilized world and make equal access to health care a fundamental right. Go Edwards, go!

John Edwards is a hypocrite. He runs as the working family candidate while living in a 28,000 square foor home. Also, he owns a 3,000 square foot beach house.

Speaking of sociopaths!

Jerry,please put down your white sheet for a minute and tell us everything you know about how your greedy little Prez lives and how he made his money.

Your answer or lack there of will show your lack of knowledge or truthfulness.

Paulo,Terry,Brucie,and little johnny still favor the BIG insurance over the average joe.

Hundreds honor girl who needed liver transplant
By Dana Bartholomew, Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 12/28/2007 11:34:23 PM PST

Click photo to enlargeFarther Kirkor Sarkisyan is hug by a friends after... (Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News)«12»GLENDALE - She had sparkling blue eyes, a captivating smile and a strong will to live despite her struggle with leukemia.

Nataline Sarkisyan, the 17-year-old Northridge girl whose death last week sparked a renewed call for health-care reform after she was twice denied a prescribed liver transplant, was buried Friday after a tear-streaked funeral.

"Though she is no longer with us physically, she is now resting peacefully in the presence of God," said Archbishop Mousbegh Mardirossian, western prelate for the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, who presided over her funeral.

"She is the foundation and hope for tomorrow."

Nataline died Thursday just hours after her insurance company, Philadelphia-based Cigna HealthCare, reversed two prior decisions to deny her a liver transplant despite the pleadings of doctors.

The insurance company, which deemed the surgery experimental, stated it would pay for the procedure "in this rare and unusual case" after loud public protest.

Nataline's case drew national attention among health advocates and Armenian groups calling for reform.

"What happened here is a glaring example of what happens when you let the insurance companies decide who lives and who dies," said Geri Jenkins, co-president of the California Nurses Association, before she attended the funeral.

"We've put the insurance companies in the driver's seat - and that needs to change."

"We're here because

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of an insurance failure, not being able to get a patient in time," added Berdj Kasbarian, president of the Hye Riders Motorcycle Club, among two dozen Armenian bikers attending the service.
"We should change the health-care system to a European system, where everybody is covered."

More than 800 mourners in black packed the ornate St. Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church in Glendale to hail Nataline's zest for life.

They wore ribbons of pink, her favorite color.

And they wiped their eyes before the white and gold casket bearing the Granada Hills Charter High School student.

Priests waved chalices of incense as family members recalled the curly haired teen who'd contracted leukemia at age 14, seen it duck into remission, then strike again with a vengeance last summer.

The day before Thanksgiving, her brother Bedig had donated his bone marrow. But because of her failing liver, doctors recommended a transplant.

On Dec. 11, Cigna denied a liver transplant for the girl, despite the pleadings of physicians at UCLA Medical Center where she was treated.

The Sarkisyan family has retained celebrity attorney Mark Geragos for an expected lawsuit.

"The last 3 1/2 years were extremely difficult, filled with doctors visits, hospitals and pain," said Jeanette Sabonjian, the girl's aunt. "(Yet) she had elegance, beauty and strength. She had wisdom and life and courage.

"She never forgot how to live."

Friends said they'd never seen Nataline without a smile.

Despite being forced to study at home, she loved high fashion and dance. On her bracelet, she'd worn a pair of ballet shoes.

And despite her condition, she always found the time to bake cupcakes or dazzle diners with such dishes as artichokes with peas, infused with garlic and lemon.

Last year, she'd planned a Sweet 16 party for 300 guests, including a dipping fountain for chocolate strawberries.

"She was so big-hearted," said Raffi Ganoumian, her cousin. "In the condition she was going through, she always put everybody first."

But despite her charm, she bore a deep inner sadness, according to her statements written three years ago and published for the funeral.

"At this moment my life has changed," she writes. "No wonder I cry day after day, I am lonely without a friend, I feel locked up in a den, life is tragic I don't know why."

Outside, friends and family gathered beneath gray skies to proceed to her burial at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, followed by an Armenian meal in remembrance.

* * * * *

Thank you for making Edwards point: By eliminating the insurance middleman, we'll have not only better healthcare, but cheaper as well.

Posted by: weinerdog43 | December 31, 2007 8:09 AM

weinerdog43:

Your point would be well take if Edwards intended to eliminate insurance companies from the health care “fix” and adopt a universal single-payer system. But, he hasn’t done so. He plans to keep insurance companies in the mix, and then harass them. “Stupid” and/or “insane” appear to be the best words to describe his thinking on this issue.

If I were you, I would at least back someone whose ideas are consistent and logical. Edwards’ plans, if implemented the way he proposes, would beat themselves and everyone along with them into the dust – precisely because reason eludes him. His schizophrenic ideas about government and market forces (e.g. let’s destroy what we need to make our plans work) are entirely self-defeating. THAT was the point of my post.

So, don’t be so happy when he comes up with a conclusion with which you agree – because his good ideas are likely to be unintended. I wouldn’t vote for someone who arrives at what appears to be a logical conclusion in spite of himself. The next time around, his pretzel logic might result in “the” big recipe for disaster.

HR 676:
For church goers: less money to insur. companies and more to the church- lots more.
Srs on Medicare: save way over $100/wk. Because no more medigap, long term care & dental insur. needed. No more drug bills.

"“Stupid” and/or “insane” appear to be the best words to describe his thinking on this issue."

No, stupid and/or insane is to continue doing what we're doing right now. The very definition of insane is to keep doing what you're doing and expecting different results. The system is broken, and is getting worse every day. To the best of my knowledge, every other candidate is offering LESS in terms of fixing the system than Edwards. I'm not exactly certain of Mr. Recht's point, but HR Bill 676 sounds like an excellent idea.

Care to point me to a 'better' approach than Edwards? Thanks.

Some food for thought:

http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/29518/americans_call_for_universal_health_care

http://prorev.com/2007/12/top-three-democrats-push-nixons-health.html

Senator John Edwards has crossed the line. A discussion on the role of profit in health care -- that's legitimate. A debate over whether there should even be health insurance companies -- that's legitimate. Saying "these people" shouldn't be allowed in the presence of the president of the United States -- and by implication, all Americans -- that's descending to Nixonian rhetoric that is unseemly in a candidate of Senator Edwards' (former) stature.

The #1 cause of injury, disability, and DEATH in America is, Health Care. More people die now from contact with the American Medical Health Care system than from any other cause of death. More than from Cancer, Heart disease, or Stroke. More than any other country in the world. Many times more than any other people in the world. Contact with the American medical health care system is the #1 risk factor now for injury, disability, and premature DEATH in America. This fact is a catastrophic indictment of the entire US Health Care System.

Driven by greed. And a rush to profit. Thousands of Americans are killed, and injured daily in America. By compromised health care. Cutting corners. Over, and under treatments. And poisonings with all manor of toxic, poisonous pharmaceuticals. Especially the children. America only makes up 2-4% of the world population. But Americans buy, and consume 50% of all pharmaceuticals world wide.

This is an emergency. America is in a crisis. And more Americans have died from this health care crisis than have died in all the wars in US history.

But the tide has turned. And the message is getting out. And taking hold about the fact that we have a very serious, and major health care crisis going on in America. Hurting everyone. Especially our precious little children. Rich, and poor alike. And most all Americans seem to understand now that "HR 676 Not For Profit Single Payer Universal National Health Care For All (Medicare For All)" is the way to go. Like all the other developed countries have done. Americans want government managed, tax payer supported health care Now. Medicare for all. Like other developed countries have. And like older Americans have now. Accept no substitute.

I am sick and tired of hearing how the candidates, and politicians health care plans are going to protect, and preserve the private for profit health insurance companies that have been killing, and ripping off the American people. And now the politicians want to mandate (require) that every American has to support the private for profit insurance company's that have been killing, and ripping you off. Or you will be fined, and PENALIZED. Thats right. PENALIZED. Ridiculous! The politicians really think you are all detached idiots. CASH COWS! To lead to the slaughter. Don't put up with that.

Just look at what is already happening with Massachusetts insurance mandates. It's a catastrophe. Financially, and medically for all the people of Massachusetts. And the private insurance companies just raised their rates by as much as 16%. And everyone has to pay now. It's a slaughter.

It's NOW TIME to bring out the BIG GUNS!! The BIG GUNS!! are you. The American people. And anyone else that wants to help. From now until HR 676 is passed into law. I want every person to reach out and touch their fellow Americans every day if you can. I want you to take a phone book. And call at least one of your fellow Americans every day. And ask them to pickup the sword of HR 676 Single Payer Not For Profit Universal Health Care For All (Medicare For All).

Call more than one each day if you can. And ask them to do the same as you are doing if they can. And also to put maximum pressure on their politicians to get HR 676 done. And to make sure their politicians support HR 676. Accept no substitute. HR 676 is a no-brainer. It's the best way to go on health care. It's the only moral, and ethical way to go. That is why every other developed country has done it. Most did it years ago. See sickocure.org, and http://www.house.gov/conyers/news_hr676.htm

I know that many of you have been doing a fabulous job of spreading the word by talking it up with family, friends, and co-workers. And putting pressure on the politicians to get HR 676 done ASAP. The phone calls to your fellow Americans will increase the pressure. And increase momentum for HR 676 at an astonishing, and exponential rate. And I know many of you have been wanting to do something more to help. The phone calls to your fellow Americans is something you can do every day to help.

Trust me. It will be something to see. But you have to keep the focus, and pressure on getting HR 676 passed pronto. They will try to distract you. With all manor of other crises, and catastrophes. And other plans. Don't be distracted. HR 676 Single Payer Not For Profit Universal Health Care is the #1 concern of the American people. Thousands of Americans are dieing daily now. And you or your loved ones could be next.

There is no good reason HR 676 cannot be passed into law well before the coming elections. And SCHIP should have been passed by now. Even if it was for 3x the 35 billion congress ask for. Do not tolerate delays. If it is not passed before the coming elections. All America will know which politicians are on the side of the American people. And which are not when they vote. Well before the elections. This is supposed to be a democracy. And well over the majority of Americans want tax payer supported single payer government managed health care for free for all Americans as a right. Many of the politicians will be soliciting your financial, and political support for the coming elections. Make sure you send a note telling them that you expect them to support HR 676 if they expect you to support them.

Everyone can do this. Most of you are well informed about HR 676. This truly is one of those no-brainer's. Be considerate of your fellow Americans when you call. But be comfortable about calling. These are your fellow Americans. Some will be receptive. And some will not be. Some maybe rude, and mean. Just thank them, and move on to the next. Most will be with you. And if you get a call from one of your fellow Americans about HR 676. Let them know you are already on board. And thank them for calling. Build them up. And keep them strong. They are fighting for all of us.

Keep fighting. Pickup that phone, and call your fellow Americans. It's the right thing to do. It's time to start swinging your political sledge hammers. Until your government gets the message you want HR 676 NOW! And nothing else. No more insurance mandate bait, and switch. Or hokey tax deduction open market lunacy, and lies. Market solutions don't work. That is what we have now. You cant seek the low bid for your child's brain surgery.

Start using all your powers Now. There are at least 250-300 million of you that want HR 676. The insurance, and medical industry want to keep our disgraceful system as it is. And force you through mandates to continue to pay them to rip you off, and KILL you, and your loved ones.

Everyone knows the true story now. If we continue to let them get away with this through our politicians, and our corrupted political system. The American people will be known as the worlds biggest bunch of lazy chumps, and dummy's. Don't let that happen. Start swinging your political sledge hammers with all your might until HR 676 is law. That is the only way we can have the best Universal Health Care system in the world. Bless you all... KEEP FIGHTING!!!!! Be creative. Your doing great!