Still Hating America.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by sebastian_dangerfield
Yes, indeed, John Edwards is quite the Horatio Alger story. I could see our Founding Fathers shedding tears at his glorious work.

Did I say that? No. But you underestimate his achievments.

There is a tendency among corporate law types (a group that includes me) to pooh-pooh successful plaintiffs' lawyers. You've done this -- oh, just give me a case like that and I'd be rich too.

And it's bullshit. Sure, there is a lot of luck involved in that success -- but there's a lot of luck involved in any success (how many lawyers do you know scored a good client because in-house counsel attended their country club, knew their father, or knew someone who knew them through some random connection?)

And, as in any success, there is a lot of work and skill involved, too. Edwards scared the shit out of the defense bar when he was practicing. You don't get that rep by being lucky, or dumb, or lazy, or just having shit handed to you.

It reminds me of friends from college who were "serious" artists. They "chose" to be struggling to write fiction that appeared in a journal that seven people read, or to make films (never movies) that appeared in a festival attended by the same seven people. They could easily sit down and write a best-seller like Stephen King, or make a hit action movie. Again, bullshit.

I have no idea if Edwards was born rich or not. But he appears to have been very successful at what he did. Unlike, say, Bush. But what amuses me is the way Slave and other Rs get all incensed any time a Democrat makes money. The Rs just can't figure out whether we're all supposed to be limousine liberals or welfare queens, but either alternative fuels The Righteous Outrage.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
So, the big announcement was that nothing has changed.

Except for the fact that this prick is now trying to garnish the sympathy vote.

Loverly.

On this, I've gotta agree.

Sidd(not an Edwards supporter)Finch

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
I almost wrote this. You can tell how few of this people have any experience in actual government service.

You should've read ahead to Wonk's dotted line comment before you wrote it.

Can you identify a few instances, oh great experienced one, where an AUSA has been retained to investigate misconduct by the US Attorney?

[Gattigap]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
On this, I've gotta agree.

Sidd(not an Edwards supporter)Finch

I didn't watch it, but FWIW, Sullivan saw something different.

• What I saw in this press conference was the reality of family values - not the rhetoric, not the divisiveness, not the politics, just the reality of an actual family dealing with real issues. We all face such issues. Cancer survivors and their families know it all too well. So do those of us who live with HIV, diabetes, Parkinsons and many other diseases that patients can now live with, rather than die from. In this, John Edwards is doing a public service. He was admirably candid about his wife's cancer being treatable, if not curable. That paradigm is increasingly common - and it's affirming to see someone in public life live through it so positively, so admirably and so passionately. She shouldn't give in to it. One key to surviving serious illness is to live positively and candidly while you treat it. With HIV, I learned to repeat to myself a triad that was essential to surviving any serious medical condition: Own it, face it, beat it. That's what the Edwardses did today, and they will help a lot of people through their example.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by ltl/fb
It's against the natural order for someone who can afford that huge spread to be a D.

Not true--you forgot about limousine liberals. They're so rich that the higher taxes necessary for increased government spending are irrelevant to their personal fortune.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Gattigap

• What I saw in this press conference was the reality of family values - not the rhetoric, not the divisiveness, not the politics, just the reality of an actual family dealing with real issues. We all face such issues. Cancer survivors and their families know it all too well. So do those of us who live with HIV, diabetes, Parkinsons and many other diseases that patients can now live with, rather than die from. In this, John Edwards is doing a public service. He was admirably candid about his wife's cancer being treatable, if not curable. e.

So why doesn't she host an event or do a speech talking about it herself? If it's important, isn't important independent of his candidacy?

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Not true--you forgot about limousine liberals. They're so rich that the higher taxes necessary for increased government spending are irrelevant to their personal fortune.

I don't think that slave etc. are really comfortable with that. The LLs really OUGHT to be Rs, and the sniping about them is sort of post-hoc-y.

[SlaveNoMore]

Sidd Finch
But what amuses me is the way Slave and other Rs get all incensed any time a Democrat makes money. The Rs just can't figure out whether we're all supposed to be limousine liberals or welfare queens, but either alternative fuels The Righteous Outrage.

Did I say this? Not even close.

I love when people make money. I prefer when I make money, but I'm equally as happy for other people when they make money.

However, what I find odious is this "capitalism is evil - the rich are evil" meme that runs in Democrats veins.

Edwards - wealthier than 99% of the country will ever be - runs on a platform that tragically tries to wedge this country into 2 sectors: the "Haves" and "Have Nots". He pretends to be some champion of these Have Nots, while not ever pretending to shield his ridiculously opulent lifestyle.

Hell, Warren Buffet - with his Omaha diner dinners and his JC Penny suits - is a better spokesman for the "Have Nots" than this clown.

[SlaveNoMore]

Gattigap
I didn't watch it, but FWIW, Sullivan saw something different.

• What I saw in this press conference was the reality of family values - not the rhetoric, not the divisiveness, not the politics, just the reality of an actual family dealing with real issues. We all face such issues. Cancer survivors and their families know it all too well. So do those of us who live with HIV, diabetes, Parkinsons and many other diseases that patients can now live with, rather than die from. In this, John Edwards is doing a public service. He was admirably candid about his wife's cancer being treatable, if not curable. That paradigm is increasingly common - and it's affirming to see someone in public life live through it so positively, so admirably and so passionately. She shouldn't give in to it. One key to surviving serious illness is to live positively and candidly while you treat it. With HIV, I learned to repeat to myself a triad that was essential to surviving any serious medical condition: Own it, face it, beat it. That's what the Edwardses did today, and they will help a lot of people through their example.

In other words, what Sullivan saw today was another opportunity to talk about Andrew Sullivan.

[Gattigap]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
So why doesn't she host an event or do a speech talking about it herself? If it's important, isn't important independent of his candidacy?

Good question. I dunno.

I read somewhere that Edwards proclaimed he would only run after his wife got a clean bill of health. Maybe that makes the two issues intertwined enough to address it in the context of his candidacy.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
You should've read ahead to Wonk's dotted line comment before you wrote it.

Can you identify a few instances, oh great experienced one, where an AUSA has been retained to investigate misconduct by the US Attorney?

the way you phrase the question evidences such a fundamental misunderstanding of several basic tenets that I do not believe there is any reason to try to explain this to you.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
On this, I've gotta agree.

Sidd(not an Edwards supporter)Finch

I don't love Edwards, but I didn't see any sign that he was milking this. Others did, but him?

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
Did I say that? No. But you underestimate his achievments.

There is a tendency among corporate law types (a group that includes me) to pooh-pooh successful plaintiffs' lawyers. You've done this -- oh, just give me a case like that and I'd be rich too.

And it's bullshit. Sure, there is a lot of luck involved in that success -- but there's a lot of luck involved in any success (how many lawyers do you know scored a good client because in-house counsel attended their country club, knew their father, or knew someone who knew them through some random connection?)

And, as in any success, there is a lot of work and skill involved, too. Edwards scared the shit out of the defense bar when he was practicing. You don't get that rep by being lucky, or dumb, or lazy, or just having shit handed to you.

It reminds me of friends from college who were "serious" artists. They "chose" to be struggling to write fiction that appeared in a journal that seven people read, or to make films (never movies) that appeared in a festival attended by the same seven people. They could easily sit down and write a best-seller like Stephen King, or make a hit action movie. Again, bullshit.

I have no idea if Edwards was born rich or not. But he appears to have been very successful at what he did. Unlike, say, Bush. But what amuses me is the way Slave and other Rs get all incensed any time a Democrat makes money. The Rs just can't figure out whether we're all supposed to be limousine liberals or welfare queens, but either alternative fuels The Righteous Outrage.

Without giving away outable info, lets just say I've "dabbled" in PI (largely a form of Commercial Lit Plaintiff's work, but some rear and collision stuff). I've hit the 7 figure settlement thing a few times.

I won't besmirch a man making a living however he can stomach doing so, but the hardcore PI stuff I saw was pretty gross. It's a filthy industry and requires a load of self-delusion.

John Edwards deserves huge credit for being good at what he did. Whether what he did is something we ought to get behind is another matter entirely.

But then, most of what we all do in litigation is a soft lying by another name, so he deserves some credit for moving to the most lucrative area of the Lying Industry.

And you're absolutely right - commercial lawyers hate PI and Class Action lawyers because those guys make bank that puts the highest paid buffoon at [insert massive multinational here] to shame.

Still, I don't want Edward's tainted money. The self-delusion and perversity of thought those guys engage to do what they do isn’t worth any amount of cash.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Gattigap

I read somewhere that Edwards proclaimed he would only run after his wife got a clean bill of health. Maybe that makes the two issues intertwined enough to address it in the context of his candidacy.

So that takes you right back to Slave's point. Or it means that he's flip flopping on either what a clean bill of health is or whether he'll run without one.

Free TV time!

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Gattigap
I didn't watch it, but FWIW, Sullivan saw something different.

• What I saw in this press conference was the reality of family values - not the rhetoric, not the divisiveness, not the politics, just the reality of an actual family dealing with real issues. We all face such issues. Cancer survivors and their families know it all too well. So do those of us who live with HIV, diabetes, Parkinsons and many other diseases that patients can now live with, rather than die from. In this, John Edwards is doing a public service. He was admirably candid about his wife's cancer being treatable, if not curable. That paradigm is increasingly common - and it's affirming to see someone in public life live through it so positively, so admirably and so passionately. She shouldn't give in to it. One key to surviving serious illness is to live positively and candidly while you treat it. With HIV, I learned to repeat to myself a triad that was essential to surviving any serious medical condition: Own it, face it, beat it. That's what the Edwardses did today, and they will help a lot of people through their example.

Now you guys are posting HIV people here? Can I catch it from reading this?