Politics: Onward from New Hampshire

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Dude, took one this morning. But it's worn off, so I'm done. I commend to anyone interested The Antitrust Paradox by Robert Bork.

You still have my proxy.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

James Webb, Sec'y of the Navy during the Reagan Administration, in USA Today:

• Bush arguably has committed the greatest strategic blunder in modern memory. To put it bluntly, he attacked the wrong target. While he boasts of removing Saddam Hussein from power, he did far more than that. He decapitated the government of a country that was not directly threatening the United States and, in so doing, bogged down a huge percentage of our military in a region that never has known peace. Our military is being forced to trade away its maneuverability in the wider war against terrorism while being placed on the defensive in a single country that never will fully accept its presence.
  There is no historical precedent for taking such action when our country was not being directly threatened. The reckless course that Bush and his advisers have set will affect the economic and military energy of our nation for decades. It is only the tactical competence of our military that, to this point, has protected him from the harsh judgment that he deserves.

via Tapped, since I don't read USA Today....

[Not Me]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
And they may also engage in price discrimination, as when they charge some consumers higher prices than others (e.g., US vs. Canada, insured vs. uninsured).

They aren't voluntarily engaging in price discrimination when they charge lower prices in the countries with socialized medicine. That is forced on them by those countries.

Unlike the US, those countries don't have just compensation clauses in their constitutions (some don't even have constitutions at all). They have single payer health care systems in which the single payer is the goverment and also can legislate the patent rights. If the drug companies won't give the socialized medicine countries the drugs at the prices they want to pay, the countries can issue compulsory licenses on their patents to generic companies to manufacturer the drugs at an acceptable price. Essentially, by law they allow the generic companies to infringe the patents so that there can be no monopoly pricing.

That leaves the drug companies only with the US market to recoup their R&D costs.

The problem isn't the drug companies. The problem is that the rest of the world wants the US consumer to pay for drug development.

BTW - if you want to get angry about monopoly pricing, vent your anger at Microsoft. At least the drug companies sell products that actually work.

[Secret_Agent_Man]

"WHAT CLARK NEVER SAID. It's been taken for granted that Wesley Clark helped set off certain now-debunked rumors about John Kerry. Clark was "reported" by Matt Drudge to have told a group of reporters that "Kerry will implode over an intern issue" during an off-the-record conversation. But The New Republic's Ryan Lizza was among those reporters, and says Clark never made any such statement. Lizza says he's checked with the others who were there, and they concur. Which makes sense; the whole thing was out of character for Clark in the first place. Lizza's post deserves wide attention, lest this particular mythlet live on. "

Links are in the original posting on the "Tapped" site -- available through Ty's link. [Or go here and scroll down. -- T.S.] Makes one wonder where this story about Clark's statement originated. This whole thing did briefly hurt Kerry (at least in the Wisconsin race)-- when one's support is premised largely on the candidate's "electability" -- it raises the question of the depth of that support.

S_A_M

BTW -- Some of you may find this amusing. I was out with the Mrs. last night for a special occasion -- and went to a restaurant known for its cartoon/caricature decorating motif.

We were fortunate enough to be seated along a political wall, and I spent the evening with a portrait of our 43rd President smiling confidently at me over my wife's right shoulder. Mrs. Bush was over her left shoulder. Averting my eyes to the left brought into view a smirking Vice-President, with Lynn next door.

Ah well. It was a lovely meal anyway.

[sgtclub]

Drudge is reporting that Nader will announce his run this Sunday on meet the press.

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
BTW -- Some of you may find this amusing. I was out with the Mrs. last night for a special occasion -- and went to a restaurant known for its cartoon/caricature decorating motif.

FYI - big mistake. No matter what she actually told you, great memories of that special anniversary night out are not made at Chuck E. Cheese's. Listen to her subtext and not just the words next time.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man

We were fortunate enough to be seated along a political wall, and I spent the evening with a portrait of our 43rd President smiling confidently at me over my wife's right shoulder. Mrs. Bush was over her left shoulder. Averting my eyes to the left brought into view a smirking Vice-President, with Lynn next door.

Your failure to request a different table is telling. Welcome.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Dude, took one this morning. But it's worn off, so I'm done. I commend to anyone interested The Antitrust Paradox by Robert Bork.

Burger you're not an antitrust lawyer, are you?
I believe 2 of the 3 worst moments in my professional career occured when my client made me consult a DC antitrust firm about whether a lawsuit we wanted to bring was advisable. They won't commit to anything- everything is scary risky- "pay me $500 perhour to tell you maybe you shouldn't do anything, because there is a long shot chance something bad could happen."

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
Burger you're not an antitrust lawyer, are you?
I believe 2 of the 3 worst moments in my professional career occured when my client made me consult a DC antitrust firm about whether a lawsuit we wanted to bring was advisable. They won't commit to anything- everything is scary risky- "pay me $500 perhour to tell you maybe you shouldn't do anything, because there is a long shot chance something bad could happen."

I hope you went with a cheap firm that was willing to tell you exactly how the courts would apply the antitrust laws.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Tyrone_Slothrop
I hope you went with a cheap firm that was willing to tell you exactly how the courts would apply the antitrust laws.

I'm sure they promised a Big Cash Settlement, regardless of the claim.

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by sgtclub
Drudge is reporting that Nader will announce his run this Sunday on meet the press.

If he does, I say we have him killed.

S_A_M

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Tyrone_Slothrop
I hope you went with a cheap firm that was willing to tell you exactly how the courts would apply the antitrust laws.

we just needed clearance to file a patent lawsuit, and the client wanted to be absolutely sure it wasn't violating any antitrust issue.
these guys didn't tell us anything they just kept spinning possible scenarios. if your point is that any good antitrust lawyer should say "can't say for sure- you could get in trouble if you sue- or not"

I'd be cool with that, ceptin I coulda told em that.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
If he does, I say we have him killed.

S_A_M

careful. thats how Ashcroft lost a senate seat.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
Burger you're not an antitrust lawyer, are you?

Isn't the Antitrust Paradox pretty standard reading in any law school antitrust class?

It's actually probably not the best on the subject matter we discussed. I'd be more inclined to propose an intermediate microecon text, but I'm not sure amazon sells those. Or surely some paper or 20 exists . . .

But it's time to go running for the shelter of my little dead horse helper.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Isn't the Antitrust Paradox pretty standard reading in any law school antitrust class?

It's actually probably not the best on the subject matter we discussed. I'd be more inclined to propose an intermediate microecon text, but I'm not sure amazon sells those. Or surely some paper or 20 exists . . .

But it's time to go running for the shelter of my little dead horse helper.

Well remember, its got to be written in simple language, and not be all complicated. I have trouble understanding the posts you guys write, and that isn't as complex as antitrust.