Edwards Announcement

[GenuineRisk]

Docicu3, I don't see anything other than generalized, unfounded accusations in your posts about Edwards, while Grits came back with something specific. If you have specifics in Edwards' cases, of how he made his money targeting innocent doctors, then post it. Otherwise, it just comes across as partisan mudslinging, and in light of the sad news about Mrs. Edwards, pretty nasty partisan mudslinging at that.

I should point out, the reason many accident lawyers take 30 percent of the damages is because they don't get anything if they lose the case. That's a lot of unpaid hours to risk. High risk, high reward- isn't that how it goes?

That little girl had her intestines pulled out through her body by a faulty pool drain, is that right, Grits? And will spend the rest of her life hooked up to machines. I'm sorry; I don't remember the specifics all that well.

[GenuineRisk]

Although the thread started out pretty harsh, I wanted to put in what conservative blogger Andrew Sullivan (who is HIV positive) said about the announcement-

<<So, despite earlier reports, Edwards will not suspend his campaign. Good for him. The diagnosis is not as dire as it seemed only a little time ago, it seems. And if anyone did not know of Elizabeth Edwards' extraordinary character before, they do now. 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.

The campaign should go on, as life goes on. The cancer should neither help nor hurt it. But I will say this: Elizabeth Edwards is a truly remarkable human being. And her marriage is an inspiration.>>

Okay, that got me a wee bit weepy. Here's hoping she can keep it treated for many years and see her kids all grow up.