http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/12/23/california-sues-over-epa-waiver/ 

Why is it that Republicans trumpet “states’ rights” until it actually benefits the states?

Why indeed. Seriously people, conservatives are at their roots for small government while liberals (not a dirty word you well marketed-to lemmings)  are for big government programs that help the people. If they are not acting like this, then they are belonging to a different faction (neo cons for example, which are for an enormous government, unquestioned spending, lower taxes which in the end puts us in another recession)  that may cross party boundaries and do not benefit you. They have different motives, different plans, and I don’t like them.

Crooks and Liars » Mark Geragos takes the case of Nataline Sarkisyan

Not for lack of coverage either, they are going for manslaughter/murder.

ElAssoWipo:

Not to mention that he seems to not know the definition of murder.

Whatever chance this family had of getting a settlement will be seriously compromised. The honest way to win this one would be simply to demonstrate the patient was in fact entitled to receive the funds necessary for the transplant. If she did, based on her insurance contract, they win.

Now he has to demonstrate that this insurance company murdered a patient.

To demonstrate this, he has to demonstrate a malicious intent on the part of the insurance company and prove that she would not have died if she had received the transplant. Murder is manslaughter + malicious intent.

If he accuses the insurance company of manslaughter, he has to demonstrate that the insurance company caused her illness. Or, that she would have lived with the transplant. I think the success rate mentionned in some articles for such an operation was around 50%.

He could win a case of criminal incompetence (if she was in fact entitled to receive the funds), but murder or manslaughter is REALLY pushing it. And the settlement, if he wins, won’t be much different.

I think he’s only trying to promote himself in all of this. This will be a uselessly complicated case that can take many years. Demonstrating incompetence or breach of contract could be done in 6 months or even less.

Fair enough.

EPA was pressured to weaken toxic report rules | Chron.com – Houston Chronicle

…one animal extinction at a time that we eat or that is food for what we eat.

Bali climate meeting update: limits out, mitigation aid in

The Bali negotiations, meant to lay the groundwork for a successor to the Kyoto Protocols, are nearing their end, and the picture of what will emerge has become more clear. Despite an impassioned plea by the Secretary-General of the UN and strong backing from the nations of the European Union, the US and China have succeeded in preventing any agreements on hard targets for future carbon reductions. Progress has been made, however, in addressing some of the concerns of the developing world.

Think Progress » FACT CHECK: U.S. Health Care Resources Not Burdened By Undocumented Immigrants

Prostate disease, Soy and the Western/Eastern diet

Hmm, maybe the correlation is obvious?