gdp's Comments

Big Government : Trial Lawyers Prep for War on Perry

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:59:18 +0000

Of course, the lady is right; I'd be a little irritated that he'd wasted my time, but I would politely explain that tort law only provides compensation when you've been injured by someone else's mistake. For every McD's hot coffee case, there are (no exaggeration here at all) millions of claims made that completely escape the attention of the media. The vast majority are settled before being filed, of the ones that are filed the vast majority are settled before trial. Judgments are a rarity, multimillion dollar judgments are very rare amongst the judgments that are rendered; rarer still are the multimillion dollar judgments that survive the various levels of appeal. Yet the media has somehow convinced America that McDonald's cases happen every day; it is laughable how we conservatives distrust the MSM on almost every point except this one. The vast majority of lawyers I know are simply trying, day by day, to solve the multitude of problems that people come to them with. Why do we focus on the lawyers and not the plaintiff in the McD's case? Why on the lawyers and not the jurors who rendered their decision? Why on the lawyers and not the judges -- who may or may not be lawyers -- who instruct the jury and then get to decide whether or not to reduce the award made by the juries? The MSM has a love/hate relationship with lawyers. Ask yourself why, and I think you'll begin to see things a little differently.

Big Government : Trial Lawyers Prep for War on Perry

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:38:29 +0000

As a trial lawyer, I certainly hope I would make it in your 10% that should avoid the noose. But I'm curious, since lawyers only make arguments to judges and juries, and it is the judges and juries that make the actual decisions (like the McDonald's case), would you be in favor of hanging 90% of the judges and jurors as well?

Big Government : Trial Lawyers Prep for War on Perry

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:25:23 +0000

I very much like Rick Perry, and of the declared candidates, he is the only one I really, truly want to vote for in the primaries. His tort reform record does not concern me in the least; his immigration record bears some scrutiny, but he clearly has the best record of executive experience in the field, and he is dead on with issues near and dear to my heart like abortion, the Second Amendment and drilling for our own oil (particularly in the Gulf!). I'm a Christian, as well as a very conservative, rock-ribbed Tea Partier and Republican. I can add to my bona fides the fact that I'm a longtime Rush 24/7 member, and have read every book by Ann Coulter and most of her columns. Need I go on? Okay, I'll also point out that I'm currently working on helping to pass I-26, an amendment to the Mississippi constitution that will, in effect, permanently ban abortion in a great Roe v. Wade workaround. Oh yeah, I'm also one of the two attorney's who have filed Mississippi's class action case against Obamacare in federal court. I could go on, but I think that's probably enough establishing of my conservative bona fides for this discussion. Let me go on the record as saying that I heartily disagree that national tort reform would help the economy at all. Tort reform has done nothing to benefit the public or doctors; it has helped some insurance companies, though only marginally. It sounds like a good idea on the surface, but in reality, it's a bust. Plus, national tort reform is antithetical to our constitutional values. If any state wants to "reform" their tort laws, I'm okay with that, as long as I get a chance in my state to take part in the discussion and cast my votes accordingly. But on a national level? Listen, we're trying our best to stop the biggest federal power-grab in history with Obamacare, and ya'll want to go one further by imposing federal dictates with regard to state tort laws too? Tell me, which section of the constitution allows THAT? I'll continue to support Rick Perry, and hope that other trial lawyers will too. But I also want to caution my fellow conservatives from falling into the trap of thinking that tort reform is a conservative value; it is not.

Big Hollywood : Sneak Peek at 'Sarah Palin's Alaska': Definitely Not PETA Approved

Sat, 4 Dec 2010 23:39:24 +0000

PETA's collective head would really explode here in Mississippi. My son is eight, and disappointed that he missed his first shot at a deer. I know six year olds who have bagged a buck. A few minutes ago my son was watching some touchy feely cartoon where a big, evil hunter shot charging rhino (while talking on a cell phone), and the rhino fell dead and slid to a stop a foot or two from the hunter. My son's response? "Cool." I love Mississippi!

Big Hollywood : Trailer: Mel Gibson's 'The Beaver'

Sat, 4 Dec 2010 23:32:52 +0000

If forced to sit through this movie I will not hesitate to gouge out my eyes and rupture my eardrums.

Big Government : Will Roe v. Wade Sink Obamacare? Mississippi Is Set to Find Out

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:39:56 +0000

Here's the link to the last doc, which was re-filed this morning: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/63098000/Response-by-...

Big Government : Will Roe v. Wade Sink Obamacare? Mississippi Is Set to Find Out

Sun, 21 Nov 2010 20:44:29 +0000

Ask and ye shall receive. Here are links to every substantive filing except Lt. Gov. Bryant's separate brief (relating to 10th Amendment issues), which will be filed tomorrow: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/62938757/Amended-Peti... http://www.docstoc.com/docs/62938629/Motion-to-Di... http://www.docstoc.com/docs/62024879/Mississippi-... http://www.docstoc.com/docs/62939597/Exhibit-1-to... http://www.docstoc.com/docs/62939759/Exhibit-2-in... http://www.docstoc.com/docs/57464296/Florida-PPAC...

Big Government : Will Roe v. Wade Sink Obamacare? Mississippi Is Set to Find Out

Sun, 21 Nov 2010 17:00:28 +0000

Roe wasn't wrong to find a right of privacy, but was wrong to not look at unborn children as human beings who are endowed with the right to life and to equal protection of the law (specifically the laws against murder). I too would like to revisit that particular issue with the Court.

Big Government : Will Roe v. Wade Sink Obamacare? Mississippi Is Set to Find Out

Sun, 21 Nov 2010 16:57:40 +0000

Amen!

Big Government : Will Roe v. Wade Sink Obamacare? Mississippi Is Set to Find Out

Sun, 21 Nov 2010 16:56:10 +0000

Bingo.

Big Government : Will Roe v. Wade Sink Obamacare? Mississippi Is Set to Find Out

Sun, 21 Nov 2010 16:53:52 +0000

Nice try, but under the Commerce Clause, Congress may only regulate commercial ACTIVITY. The mandate regulates INACTIVITY. Never before has Congress tried to compel a person to engage in commercial activity by way of a penalty (our brief, see link above, proves this much). The govt's argument in a nutshell is that Congress has the right to regulate any economic decision, and is not confined to regulating mere "activities." Thus they would say that Congress has the right to get in a commercial truck and take it across state lines whether you want to or not. If Congress has to power to regulate every economic decision (or even an economic indecision), then it's power under the Commerce Clause is completely without any boundaries whatsoever. Since the Constitution says that Congress's powers are NOT without boundaries, the mandate is clearly unconstitutional.

Big Government : Will Roe v. Wade Sink Obamacare? Mississippi Is Set to Find Out

Sun, 21 Nov 2010 16:44:30 +0000

If I apply for Medicare, it will be because governmental intrusion into the health insurance marketplace has left me no other choice. However, at least it would be matter of choice, instead of being because the government has forced me to do so. Before Obamacare, people could (and frequently have) opted not to have health insurance partly or wholly because of privacy concerns. I do not have a number, but so what? Does the principle not count for something? Our founding fathers would be ashamed to see so many people so willing to give up their rights so easily to a government that was designed first and foremost to protect individual liberty.

Big Journalism : Obama to Guest-Star on Discovery Channel's 'Swamp Loggers'

Thu, 5 Aug 2010 17:18:06 +0000

The Husky 365 is pretty sweet; me, I have the Rancher: http://www.husqvarna.com/us/homeowner/products/ch...

Big Government : Thursday Open Thread: PACTO Edition

Thu, 5 Aug 2010 14:36:13 +0000

Then again, he does have a point: Bush was never, ever, EVER a Conservative. Neither was his father before him. A great deal of the problems that we face today are because of the incredible level of control that George HW Bush's "blue blood" wing has had on the GOP. Ronald Reagan was never accepted by the elitist blue bloods in the GOP, and they foisted George HW on him, which led eventually to the Clinton presidency, then the George W presidency. I'm no fan of any president who has been elected since Ronald Reagan left office. They have all been statists, not one Conservative. In eight years Ronald Reagan did more for our country than all Presidents combined had done in the previous 50, and in the 22 years since we have only experienced a decline. In 2012, it'll finally be time again for the first truly conservative President since the 1980s.

Big Journalism : How a Creationist Wins Love From the L.A. Times: Trash Breitbart

Tue, 3 Aug 2010 17:53:51 +0000

I've written a few articles for Big Government, and I'm a big fan of Andrew Breitbart. I've read up on him, and have seen nothing to indicate that he's anything but a stand-up guy. From what I've read, heard and seen, he is eminently ethical and works diligently to ensure the accuracy of his reporting. I'm not sure what Mr. Klinghoffer's motives truly are, but he is certainly dancing with the devil by joining forces with the LA Times to attack conservatives. Then again, who said that Mr. Klinghoffer has ever been a "Conservative" in the first place? It is wrong to assume that being a proponent of Intelligent Design makes one a big-C "Conservative" at all. In fact, it seems like his article was written straight out of the Liberal playbook -- dividing conservatives into "neocons" and others, lamenting the good 'ole days when a Conservative was a curiosity of sorts that no one really took very seriously, and when we all trusted the network news to tell us how things truly were, etc. Mr. Klinghoffer certainly can offer Conservative credentials, but I wonder if these credentials amount to a hill of beans. I challenge him to come forward and respond to this article, and explain whether or not he is a Conservative, and then to explain how his LA Times article could conceivably be construed as a positive thing for the Conservative movement. Maybe he could also tell us just what in Hades he was thinking.

Big Government : Playboy: Confessions of a Tea Party Consultant

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:50:30 +0000

Next great quote: "Remember, guys, the enemy is to the left." It is infuriating that so many old-style Republicans are eager, as Ann Coulter puts it, to "leave men in the field." This is why I prefer to call Ronald Reagan and others of his ilk -- and myself -- conservatives. It is also something that we must change about Republicans. In order to fight an enemy, we have to stick together. In order to stick together, we have to set ourselves apart from the enemy, which means we have to identify the enemy. So, remember guys, your friends are to the right, and your enemy is to the left. AND, of course, support Big Gov and its sister sites, and the people who take a lot of time out of their lives to do the research and work necessary to write the articles that this site depends upon.

Big Government : Playboy: Confessions of a Tea Party Consultant

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:42:02 +0000

I love this quote: "We are tremendously plugged in to BigGovernment.com and its stable of writers. Our news cycle is measured in minutes, not days. Combine the DNA of a flash mob, a news addict and a conservative who feels betrayed by the spending excesses of George W. Bush, sprinkle in some anxiety and you’ve got my people." I'm not getting in on the debate about whether the article is "legit," but I can say that this paragraph certainly describes "my people" as well.

Big Journalism : Ambush Journalists at Mediaite Wonder If Assault on Student Makes Congressman a 'Hero'

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:27:06 +0000

In a sense, I do believe that Andrew Breitbart is responsible for this video, and I'm sure that he's bubbling over with pride over these young citizen reporters. I think James O'Keefe, Hannah, and Andrew have inspired an untold multitude of like-minded young people to rebel against the powers that be -- which isn't a good thing, it's a GREAT thing. In the past, I've asked myself and others, "when will young people wake up and realize that the stifling conformity they labor under is coming from the LEFT?" James and Hannah gave me hope that the awakening had begun; the Etheridge video is exciting proof that a 21st century youth rebellion against stifling leftist conformity -- and for liberty -- has finally begun. There was a time in our history when young men were asked to pick up their guns and rebel against the tyrannical powers that enslaved us all; nowadays, they are being asked to pick up their video cameras instead. Either way, it's a RIGHTEOUS rebellion, and well overdue.

Big Journalism : MSM Reporting of Congressman Etheridge Video Shows Much About Media Bias

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:16:12 +0000

" Well the college students didn’t state their viewpoint, so how was their question partisan? Are you a mind-reader?" In fact, the only question posed was "Do you fully support the Obama agenda?" An extremely broad question, to be sure, but one that on its face could be asked by an Obama supporter. Of course, the question was politely asked by a fairly clean-cut young man in a navy blue suit instead of being screamed by a smelly hippy, so I guess that maybe the Congressman had a right to assume that the questioner was "partisan."

Big Government : Your Tool-Kit for Dealing with Tea Party 'Crashers'

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 20:27:53 +0000

Favorite quote of the day: "Apple-Dumpling-Gang levels of stupidity"