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Joe Nixon: Tennessee-to-Texas medical migration holds many lessons for lawsuit-happy states
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Jun 14, 2007 1:00 AM (3 days ago)
by Joe Nixon, The Examiner
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Texas Rep. Warren Chisum watches during an evening session in the Texas House of Representatives.
(AP)
Texas Rep. Warren Chisum watches during an evening session in the Texas House of Representatives.

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Tennessee has sent Texas two famous leaders in Sam Houston and Davy Crockett and is now sending its doctors. Sixty-three Tennessee doctors are currently asking to be licensed in the Lone Star State because of liability protections Texas passed in 2003.

Before 2003, Texas faced a medical-liability crisis, just like the one Tennessee now faces. With thousands of unnecessary claims against doctors, insurance rates were skyrocketing. Pre-reform, 86 percent of claims against Texas doctors resulted in no payment to the patient. But the doctors still had to pay heavy defense costs, which raised insurance rates for all, even those who had never been sued.

Doctors were spending too much time in depositions and at the courthouse and not enough time caring for patients. Many doctors were retiring early, restricting their practices, or simply leaving Texas.

Three-fifths of Texas counties lacked a single obstetrician. Half didn’t have a pediatrician. San Antonio did not have enough neurosurgeons for one to be on call around the clock, and there were no neurosurgeons south of Corpus Christi. Texas had rightly earned the moniker of a “judicial hellhole” when it came to suing doctors. Medical malpractice insurers were also leaving.

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Their numbers dropped from 17 in 2000 to four by 2003. One of the remaining four was the insurer of last resort funded by Texas taxpayers. The lack of medical malpractice insurers was also problematic because doctors cannot practice legally without insurance. When given the choice between limited access to health care or limited damages in lawsuits, Texans chose better health care.

In 2003, the Texas legislature passed sweeping common-sense lawsuit reforms that included requiring plaintiffs’ medical experts to practice medicine in the same field as the doctor being sued, reports to be filed at the beginning of a suit establishing how the doctor actually erred, and limiting non-economic damages, such as impossible to quantify pain and suffering, to $250,000. These reforms produced enormous dividends.

Suits against Texas’s doctors have been cut in half. Not surprisingly, malpractice insurance premiums have plummeted by as much as 42 percent. Thirty new malpractice insurers are competing for business, up from just four before the 2003 reforms.

Texas Medical Liability Trust, the largest insurer of doctors, has reduced rates and given dividends amounting to more than $138 million in savings for their insured physicians. A record number of physicians have also moved to Texas.

Each month, the Texas Medical Board processes a new record number of applicants. Texas has moved from 47th worst in the ratio of citizens per doctor to 41st in just three years. Experienced doctors are coming from all over the country, with the worst litigation states sending the most doctors. Tennessee has sent 250 physicians so far, with 63 more applications on file.

Access to health care has improved dramatically. The physician growth rate in San Antonio is a whopping 52 percent. Doctors are even moving to those counties that had the worst lawsuit-happy reputations.

Since 2003, 128 physicians, including neurosurgeons and obstetricians, have moved to Hidalgo and Cameron Counties. Texas has added 7,000 physicians since 2003, especially in rural, previously underserved areas, and in high-risk specialties.

In contrast, the American Bar Association reports that Texas plaintiff lawyers are leaving medical-liability litigation “in droves” and many are fleeing the state. These positive results were obtained through meaningful lawsuit reform.

Texans decided they would rather have more health care and fewer lawsuits. They wanted doctors to stay in Texas and stay in practice. What was not anticipated was the number of physicians who would choose to relocate to Texas.

Other states should learn from Texas. If Tennessee does not adopt similar common-sense reforms, look for another wave of “Gone to Texas” signs being posted in the Volunteer State — this time at the local medical center.

Joe Nixon is Senior Fellow in Civil Justice Studies at the Pacific Research Institute and a former member of the Texas House of Representatives.

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11:10 AM MST on Fri., Jun. 15, 2007 re: "John Sweeney and Joslyn Williams: Workers need protection in Employee Free Choice Act"

 Examiner Reader said:
I was a very strong advocate for employees at the previous place I worked. I have almost been gone for a year now; now working at a non-union place. I took advantage of every class, was elected as a delegate; was an exemplary employee for the whole six years the casino was opened, and the very first thing they could get on me, they ran with it, fired me, went to arbitration. Prior to that, they offered me a buy-out, substantial sums of money to just get me to go away. I refused and lost at my arbitration. I still believe in myself and will never regret fighting for the rights of wrongs to the employees. However, I will never work in a unionized environment again. They went for my jugglar and won. Sorry, but that's the choice I want to be able to have. I am treated so much better now where I work and I absolutely love it here and how I am treated. Michigan female-anonymous.

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11:10 AM MST on Fri., Jun. 15, 2007 re: "John Sweeney and Joslyn Williams: Workers need protection in Employee Free Choice Act"

 Examiner Reader said:
I was a very strong advocate for employees at the previous place I worked. I have almost been gone for a year now; now working at a non-union place. I took advantage of every class, was elected as a delegate; was an exemplary employee for the whole six years the casino was opened, and the very first thing they could get on me, they ran with it, fired me, went to arbitration. Prior to that, they offered me a buy-out, substantial sums of money to just get me to go away. I refused and lost at my arbitration. I still believe in myself and will never regret fighting for the rights of wrongs to the employees. However, I will never work in a unionized environment again. They went for my jugglar and won. Sorry, but that's the choice I want to be able to have. I am treated so much better now where I work and I absolutely love it here and how I am treated. Michigan female-anonymous.

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7:53 PM MST on Thu., Jun. 14, 2007 re: "Sherman Joyce: Judge Pearson, we will buy you a new suit"

 Examiner Reader said:
This is crazy!!! Who is representing him?..Their nuts too. and explain how he can live with himself after he ruins two lives of hard working people..How could he enjoy that money!!!?? He's so wrong.

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1:43 PM MST on Tue., Jun. 12, 2007 re: "Melanie Scarborough: Recruiting for the dole will bankrupt taxpayers"

 Examiner Reader in Alexandria said:
Safety nets that are created to help those most in need also bring back much to local economies. A hungry worker is less productive; a can of tuna or serving of brown rice supports food and grocery industries; and a nutritious meal will support a young mind in school. The equation of helping the working poor to eat with some supplemental food assistance program makes good economic sense and the long term impact often goes undervalued. Those who are privileged are often too quick to criticize the safety net that is to support those with less. Food scarcity is a real problem in the US and the definition of poverty is more than just an economic percentile. For those legislators who have taken on the Food Stamp challenge of living on a minimal allotment I applaud their efforts for a week. However, long term and generational poverty is more than being hungry for a week. America's safety net is a strategy for breaking the cycle of long term poverty and supporting local economies.

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12:13 PM MST on Tue., Jun. 12, 2007 re: "Angela Logomasini: �Silent Spring� was wrong, Sen. Coburn is right"

 Examiner Reader said:
Angela Logomasini neglects to mention that, at the time Silent Spring was published, malaria eradication efforts had already run into a major obstacle -- insecticide resistance. Starting in the early 1950s with Anopheles Sacharovi in Greece, species after species of malaria-transmitting mosquito developed resistance to DDT, thwarting the efforts of public health agencies worldwide. Studies showed that insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor residual spraying were far more effective methods of vector control than the blanket application of DDT had ever been -- but these only work if the insects have not already developed resistance. DDT has never been banned for antimalarial use, so it is false to claim that Rachel Carson (or anyone else) somehow caused malaria deaths. On the contrary: the ban on agricultural use has preserved DDT's effectiveness against malaria, and saved many lives. Not that we would ever learn that from the Competitive Enterprise Institute.

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10:30 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 7, 2007 re: "Jeralyn Merritt: Rough days ahead for Scooter Libby"

 Mike said:
Jeralyn Merritt may claim to be a defense lawyer, but he obviously has contempt for an honest judical system. No one with any integrity would believe in the prosecution of someone like Scooter Libby - given a full airing of all the information. The Special Prosecutor KNEW before he asked Libby any questions who leaked Valarie Plame's name (Armitage). The Special Prosecutor KNEW (or should have known) that Valarie Plame was not a "covered agent", and leaking her name would not be criminal. GAME/SET/MATCH. For the investigation to continue at this point was a fraud on the public (funding it) and anyone "snared" in possible memory lapses. I am sure Mr. Merritt wouldn't like prosecutors routinely interviewing public citizens for any reason, and then prosecuting them for error in memory (or even mis-statements) - when there was no underlying crime. But when Bill Clinton goes free after deliberate lying (no memory lapses), and Sandy Burger goes free - but Libby goes to jail. BAD!

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8:28 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 7, 2007 re: "Robert Cox: Make room on Mount Rushmore for another face"

 MJN said:
I applaud Robert Cox for showing us that despite 150 years of difference between the events he describes and those of today, human beings have changed not one iota. Those with the courage to act, to stand out and do what is right, are always targets from those with small minds and smaller principles. Good for you, Mr. Cox.

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5:58 PM MST on Wed., Jun. 6, 2007 re: "La Shawn Barber: Local liberals learning new lessons on �diversity�"

 Examiner Reader said:
It is coming to pass just as I say it would. The Quakers are learning the lessons of life again, just as they did in the 1750's. See Allen W. Eckert's book - Wilderness Emipre.

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6:44 AM MST on Wed., Jun. 6, 2007 re: "Robert Cox: Make room on Mount Rushmore for another face"

 Robert Cox said:
It is not that I do not understand full well the views of those like yourself who are opponents of President and/or were against going into Iraq in the first place, it is just that I do not care because I believe you were wrong and remain wrong today. You are "smearing" ME by associating my personal views with people with whom you disagree - Limbaugh, the "right wing", now Barnes - AS IF that is a meaningful analysis of my Op-Ed. You have written three comments so far and not a single one has addressed the substance of my piece - that relentless criticism of the President in times of great moment are nothing new and the existence of such criticism is a separate issue from whether the decision to go to war in Iraq in 2003 or remain there today is right. You also fail to note that my piece is addressed to those who supported the President's decision to go to war in 2003 calling on them not to be cowed by what passed for the "conventional wisdom" inside the beltway.

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4:11 PM MST on Tue., Jun. 5, 2007 re: "Robert Cox: Make room on Mount Rushmore for another face"

 Examiner Reader said:
Who I am smearing. Bush? If the truth smears, he is bespotted. How much of your hyperbole is that you feel jilted? If I say Bush is incompetent, I am repetitious. However, that is truth, truth that has made it into our national psyche. When I saw Rove's picture of Bush making his tardy flight over New Orleans, I thought this is it. He has shown himself to be what I knew he is and has always been. Simply stated, Bush lacks and the competence to be president. Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Truman all had "down times," but they were always qualified. By disposition, by his completed lack of intellectual curiosity, by his inability to empathize, by his unwillingness to compromise, Bush was never presidential. Is that stale rhetoric or is it simply conventional wisdom? I tend to think the latter. You seem to be the Fred Barnes of the blogosphere, too smart to believe what you are writing, but too pained not to write it.

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1:35 PM MST on Tue., Jun. 5, 2007 re: "Robert Cox: Make room on Mount Rushmore for another face"

 Robert Cox said:
Read my comment SLOWLY. I do not care what Rush Limbaugh thinks. I do not care what people on the "right wing" think. My thoughts are my own. If you don't agree with them that's fine but do not associate my piece with people with whom you disagree as some sort of half-ass "critique". If you have some original thoughts I'd be fascinated to hear them but so far all I see is stale rhetoric and smear tactics.

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12:49 PM MST on Tue., Jun. 5, 2007 re: "Robert Cox: Make room on Mount Rushmore for another face"

 Examiner Reader said:
The fact that you bothered to respond, Mr. Cox, might tend to indicate that you do care what others think of your views. It is a human characteristic. And, I still think that we have to deal with the overwhelming incompetence that has capsized the Bush Administration. The botched Occupation is only one manifestation of that incompetence. I'm not sure that perception is overcome, even with the cleansing quality of history. There is little doubt in my mind that Bush will forever me remembered as the Great Bungler, unless the increasingly tawdry quality of the Administration overtakes that.

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9:26 AM MST on Tue., Jun. 5, 2007 re: "Robert Cox: Make room on Mount Rushmore for another face"

 Robert Cox said:
I am not putting forward a "Right Wing" theme - from Rush Limbaugh or anyone else. I am not "arguing" that history will vindicate Bush. These are my own views and I could not care less what anyone else thinks about them. What I am doing in the piece is reminding those who supported the invasion of Iraq in 2002-03 how the press, political opponents and even supporters of Lincoln denounced him during the Civil War - even after the Emancipation Proclamation, even after putting Grant in charge of the Army of the Potomac. Point being that what is happening today with Bush is nothing new - these are the same types of criticisms that were leveled against Lincoln or, for that matter, against Washington, against Reagan, against FDR. While Bush's critics may some day be proven right, that these criticisms have become the "conventional wisdom" among the political and media elite means absolutely nothing.

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9:25 AM MST on Tue., Jun. 5, 2007 re: "Sherman Joyce: Judge Pearson, we will buy you a new suit"

 Chung Defense said:
Update: $67 Million Dry Cleaning Case On May 31, 2007, D.C. Administrative Law Judge, Roy L. Pearson, filed a Pre-Trial Brief in the Pearson v. Chung dry cleaner case. In the brief, Pearson shifts the focus of his claims from his allegedly lost pants to claims related to signage in the Chungs� store. One sign reads �Satisfaction Guaranteed� and another reads �Same Day Service.� Pearson claims the signs are somehow misleading and apparently continues to seek over $54,000,000 in damages from the Chungs. Pearson had previously sought $67,000,000 in compensation from the Chungs. Christopher Manning, of the law firm Manning & Sossamon in Washington D.C., represents the Chungs and made the following statement in response to Pearson's recent actions: "Although it is always encouraging to see claims withdrawn, it is simply baffling that Mr. Pearson continues to assert that he is entitled to tens of millions of dollars as a result of two completely harmless, completely straight-f

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8:24 AM MST on Tue., Jun. 5, 2007 re: "Robert Cox: Make room on Mount Rushmore for another face"

 Examiner Reader said:
I know this is a popular Right Wing theme these days, history will vindicate Bush. Until recently, the biggest proponent of the theory was Limbaugh. I suppose even that may be changing. I really don't see this happening in this instance. If only the Occupation had been botched, perhaps, but we can point to such an immense variety of bone-headed and ham-handed policies and practices. I really do believe Bush will become even a bigger laughing-stock when his terms ends and the deluge begins. Virtually every appointee will be writing "tell alls" to try to redeem themselves, to distance themselves. We will have an anthology of all the poor decisions, all the sloopy execution we have all endured for the last 6+ years, meticulously documented and foot-noted. Who will write a favorable memoir? Fredo? That would be the nail that seals the coffin. The Lincoln comparison, even a Truman comparison, doesn't work. The record is just to exhaustive and too documented.

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7:20 PM MST on Sun., Jun. 3, 2007 re: "La Shawn Barber: Local liberals learning new lessons on �diversity�"

 Examiner Reader said:
You are motivated by nativist hate. You encourage discrimination and prejudice. Every wave of immigration has been met with similar hatred but that in no way validates this. It only means that your judgments are not new. Do not be selfish. Do not see yourself as so different or as better than any immigrant. Do not forget that human migration is the reason you are here. Plus do not assume you know the immigration status of any one person by looking at them.

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3:35 PM MST on Sun., Jun. 3, 2007 re: "James Kirchick: Here�s what Rep. Ron Paul meant and why he�s wrong"

 Examiner Reader said:
So, in other words America should always create other countries laws and enforce "american morality" all over the world. Sounds like the British Empire to me. Ron Paul 2008

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7:25 AM MST on Sat., Jun. 2, 2007 re: "La Shawn Barber: Local liberals learning new lessons on �diversity�"

 Examiner Reader said:
The average salary for a Mexican living in Mexico is 1/10 that of the average US citizen. There are 4 billion people in the world living at a standard of living less than the average Mexican. What are we going to do when they all come here as well? No, I am not a NAZIS, a NATIVIST, a RACIST, or any of the other labels you liberals love to brand people with that have a different view than you have. I just don't want to deal with millions of poor people with a third world culture moving next door to me. It is about time you liberals get a taste of the problems you are causing to others with your perpetual liberal googooism. If we are to survive as a nation we all need to work together and eliminate the problems caused by 40 years of unbridaled liberal stupidity. If it takes another 10 million criminal aliens moving into the big liberal cities to make them grow up, so be it. It is time for you to grow up now and act like adults for a change. Grow up! Save your country already.

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4:47 AM MST on Sat., Jun. 2, 2007 re: "La Shawn Barber: Local liberals learning new lessons on �diversity�"

 Examiner Reader said:
my wife & i just spent 5 uncomfortable years in new mexico these people bring with them a third world mentality & third world ways that in my opinion , taken in too large a dose (20 million ?) , will be catastrophic where is the discussion concerning quality of life ? why is more always better ? we must stop this politicians with the mindset that this rate of growth is inevitable or manageable need a reality check we as a nation have become astonishingly stupid

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1:15 AM MST on Sat., Jun. 2, 2007 re: "La Shawn Barber: Local liberals learning new lessons on �diversity�"

 Examiner Reader said:
Informative article. It is coming, the realization. In L.A. where I live most Hispanics I've spoken to do not want illegals to stay here because they are suffering with low wages kept down by illegals and the high cost of living.

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11:07 AM MST on Fri., Jun. 1, 2007 re: "La Shawn Barber: Local liberals learning new lessons on �diversity�"

 Examiner Reader said:
My son lives next to a house just like the one you described, in Lake Forest, Ca. The house sold in January for over $800,000. Now 8-10 illegal aliens live there and they have 8-10 cars. They have wild parties until 3:30 in the morning. He has reported these incedents to the city and nothing can be done. He has three college age girls to protect. The family that bought the house does not live there. they must charge each illegal $500 to $1000 a month to pay the payments of over $4000 (plus taxes). What a mess! Oh wait we are being "racists" and "nativists". The neighborhood is ruined. The price of the homes will be going down when people move out and other house "pimps" take over.

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10:38 AM MST on Fri., Jun. 1, 2007 re: "La Shawn Barber: Local liberals learning new lessons on �diversity�"

 Examiner Reader said:
Well written La Shawn, too bad the political elite won't ever side with us. I used to live a block away from a day labor camp in Austin, TX. The city council didn't have any sympathy for the legal residents whose property values declined as a result of their decision to place said camp in a residential area. When I went to sell my house, a shooting incident in the over crowded illegal alien apartment complex down the street cost me $40,000 on my house when the buyer backed out as a result. It took me 6 more months and 40k less on the house to finally sell it after that. Thanks Feds!

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10:35 AM MST on Fri., Jun. 1, 2007 re: "La Shawn Barber: Local liberals learning new lessons on �diversity�"

 Examiner Reader said:
So the question is, are these "local liberals" complaints that the people are illegal aliens, or that they are overcrowding in houses, littering and urinating in public? Frankly if people were doing that in my neighborhood, I'd want them out of there whether they were legal residents or not!

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9:11 AM MST on Fri., Jun. 1, 2007 re: "Jay Ambrose: Could PBS host Bill Moyers be any more out of touch?"

 Examiner Reader said:
"Industries that produce armaments without which America could not begin to defend itself ..." Unfortunately, they produce little else. Reminds me of the radio editorial during the first Gulf War: President Geo. H.W. Bush visited a Patriot missile factory & a flag factory; maybe he should've visited a consumer electronics factory, while he could still find one. Mr. Ambrose's diversionary tactics are all too transparent: like a clever realtor, he doesn't deny there's a leaky roof or poor plumbing in our house; he just points to the pool in the yard & the close proximity to upscale shops. How quaint.

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8:56 AM MST on Fri., Jun. 1, 2007 re: "La Shawn Barber: Local liberals learning new lessons on �diversity�"

 Examiner Reader said:
Don't you know that all problems in democratic areas are caused by white rural farmers in places like Idaho and Utah. Democratic Ideas only produce Utopian places like New York City and New Orleans.

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8:25 AM MST on Fri., Jun. 1, 2007 re: "La Shawn Barber: Local liberals learning new lessons on �diversity�"

 Examiner Reader said:
What is very unfortunate is that these "liberal" democrats are just beginning to experience first hand what those of us in border states have had to experience for years because of the current and last administration's policies. I hope they are prepared for what's on the way!!

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7:05 AM MST on Fri., Jun. 1, 2007 re: "La Shawn Barber: Local liberals learning new lessons on �diversity�"

 Examiner Reader said:
The cliche used to be "My favorite definition of a conservative is a liberal who just got robbed". In this case its the country getting robbed. I shouldnt get what they deserve, but the illegal problem is a result of republican and democrat alike. I have seen a lot of people showing disgust at how Bush is selling out America and acting like the democrat Bill Clinton could only wished he could have been in office.

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5:41 AM MST on Fri., Jun. 1, 2007 re: "La Shawn Barber: Local liberals learning new lessons on �diversity�"

 Laurie Davis said:
Isn't that always the way - - liberals promote agendas that effect everyone else, not them. Like the old adage, 'it depends on whose ox is being gored'.

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8:11 PM MST on Thu., May. 31, 2007 re: "La Shawn Barber: Local liberals learning new lessons on �diversity�"

 Rod Stanton said:
It seems the limousine liberals of the 60's to 80's have mover to the GOP. Great report!

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6:09 PM MST on Wed., May. 30, 2007 re: "Doug Bandow: It�s time to plug congressional security holes on Capitol Hill"

 William said:
Leakers should be found, and punished accordingly. If what they have leaked is vital national defense information, they should be executed. Every time one of the elected idiots in Congress leaks national defense information, soldiers are placed in more harm than usual, or they are killed in battle because of the leak. Death to leakers. Sounds fair, doesn't it?

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4:30 AM MST on Tue., May. 29, 2007 re: "Patrick Ostronic: A conservatarian view of Maryland politics"

 Mr. Mirth Alert said:
As long as Mr. Ostronic wastes media with his silly allusions to stereotypes & obsessions with blogs & blogger alliances, there is nothing conservative about his ideology. He's like everybody else that fancies him- or herself a professional spokesperson: right wing social democrat. Pass.

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9:39 AM MST on Mon., May. 28, 2007 re: "Angela Logomasini: �Silent Spring� was wrong, Sen. Coburn is right"

 Thomas Grahame said:
"Silent Spring," Rachel Carson's history-changing book, was correct in its analysis, contrary to Logomasini's May 28 column. Widespread DDT use on U.S. farms (1950s/60s) led to thinning of egg-shells of many birds. Populations of Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Brown Pelican, and other birds plummeted: their eggs broke and reproduction stopped. I've gone back to the original scientific literature: in study after study showed, ingestion of DDT led to thinning. DDT's causal mechanisms were identified. However, far smaller applications of DDT on the inside of rural African homes unquestionably prevents malaria by keeping mosquitos out. Such applications don't appear to harm wildlife or people: the amounts of DDT are many thousand-fold less. The dose makes the poison, as always. Groups such as CEI harm their credibility when they needlessly attack established science. People will accept DDT to fight malaria if they are given good information, not if they are mislead.

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3:14 PM MST on Sun., May. 27, 2007 re: "James Kirchick: Here�s what Rep. Ron Paul meant and why he�s wrong"

 Edward Cox said:
To clarify/expand my previous statement for the "voting" public. Regardless of how you feel about the editorial, or Ron Paul's stance on the issue, it would serve you well to go to youtube and view/review what was actually said by reading a transcript, or go to youtube.

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3:00 PM MST on Sun., May. 27, 2007 re: "James Kirchick: Here�s what Rep. Ron Paul meant and why he�s wrong"

 Edward Cox said:
James Kirchick editorial is wrong on multiple fronts. Most importantly, and irresponsibly, he's being untrue to what Ron Paul actually said. I encourage anyone to lookup the video youtube and watch what actually was said.

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8:41 PM MST on Fri., May. 25, 2007 re: "Lorie Byrd: Al Qaeda mastered media manipulation in Iraq"

 Sean Bos said:
This is correct. We are not losing the war in Iraq. What we are losing is the media war to the liberal elites

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4:35 PM MST on Fri., May. 25, 2007 re: "Lorie Byrd: Al Qaeda mastered media manipulation in Iraq"

 Examiner Reader said:
So true. 60 Minutes, however, did an entire story from Northern Iraq's Kurdish region. It was portrayed as a huge success. Good for them.

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8:57 AM MST on Fri., May. 25, 2007 re: "Lorie Byrd: Al Qaeda mastered media manipulation in Iraq"

 Examiner Reader said:
Journalism is easy. Basket weaving is hard. Thus spoke Joe Namath.

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8:32 AM MST on Fri., May. 25, 2007 re: "James Jay Carafano: Visa-waiver reform can make America more secure"

 Examiner Reader-visa waiver reform said:
Sorry but Carafano's visa waiver objections are wrong. The program should be abolished because it removes a step in the vetting of entrants into the US. People wanting to visit should be vetted by US Immigration, not some foreigner. This isn't the Europe of thirty years ago. Many of the inhabitants come from areas that sanction religious and racial bigotry, slavery and 7th century type laws. Right now they can attempt entry into the US by just presenting a pasport. They already have an advocate in the US airlines who pressure immigration to process these people at a rate that barely allows immigration oficers anytime to interview them. Other than being totally wrong the article ranked very high in the feel good area.

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7:54 AM MST on Fri., May. 25, 2007 re: "Lorie Byrd: Al Qaeda mastered media manipulation in Iraq"

 Examiner Reader said:
No-one "manipulates" U.S. broadcast and print media. From publishers like the scrofulous Pinch Sulzberger to columnists at the LAT, Strib, WaPo (you name it), a greasy black fog of hate-America, fringe-Left propaganda writes itself. Anything Bush or Israeli is caricatured, demonized by conspiricists of every stripe-- yet Islam's barbarous terrorists, child-murderers and bigots in thrall to a nihilistic creed espousing violence and hate, are lauded by Luddite ignoramuses masquerading as "reporters". No facts or principles intrude on media satraps. Locked arm-in-arm, fringe-Left elitists pump fists against democracy, self-defense, free-market prosperity on every level. Dishonorable intentions preclude rational debate, as if representative government under rule of law was a mere talking points. Franklin warned us, but could not foresee that America's own citizenry would turn viciously on fundamental underpinnings. "We brought this on ourselves"?-- speak for yourself, wretch.

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12:52 PM MST on Thu., May. 24, 2007 re: "Mark Tapscott: America needs a transpartisan citizens political movement"

 Nelson Lee Walker of tenurecorrupts.com said:
The "transpartisan citizens movement" needs to be alerted that the Supreme Court has already allowed Congress to ignore Article V of the Constitution, see links article5.org and foavc.org Mark Tapscott should write another article to spread this message which has been buried by the main stream media. This has truly become a crisis which may demand armed revolution.

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9:02 AM MST on Thu., May. 24, 2007 re: "Lorie Byrd: Al Qaeda mastered media manipulation in Iraq"

 Examiner Reader said:
I wrote to the AP so many times they put my email addy on a rejectrion list and wouldn't accept it. They were played for fools by Al Sistani and Al Sadr, with their propaganda. It is also a fact that has been proven of the lying and misrepresentation of photo's so don't give me that crap! Read your Bible and learn the truth! Galatins Chapter four verse 30 states: Cast out the bondswoman and her sons for the free woman and her sons shall inherit. This whole thing goes back to Abraham, his wife Sari and her slave woman Haggar and the LOrd need not explain because if you have any knowledge of the Arabic culture you know they pride themselves in deceit. Sometimes I think our press is so stupid, it is unbelieveably yet you continue to believe them so what does that say for you? The story starts in Gensis the first book of the Bible.

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4:49 AM MST on Thu., May. 24, 2007 re: "Lorie Byrd: Al Qaeda mastered media manipulation in Iraq"

 Mr. Mirth Alert said:
Ms. Byrd's column on al-Qaida manipulation of media is yet another stellar example of how people with unlimited access to the public take advantage of public ignorance: ignorance fueled by media. The sad fact is that U.S. forces ignored looting, chaos, & mayhem in the streets of Baghdad for a month after they entered: there was no al-Qaida in Iraq before they slipped in while the generals in charge were making old Saddam palaces comfy. If al-Qaida manipulates media, it's with aid & abetting from American armed forces. & Those Iraqi security forces? What our media never reported was the folks that now comprise them were basically sent home (with weapons!) after Saddam was toppled: after our officers in charge discovered an insurgency (made up in part of displaced Iraqi cops & soldiers), suddenly they were recruiting. The Iraq caper was a disaster from the beginning, & whining about al-Qaida's sassy steps with media is another detour around what's now our version of Northern Ireland.

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12:37 PM MST on Wed., May. 23, 2007 re: "Melanie Scarborough: Social Security provides tax-paid golden disability for job slackers"

 Examiner Reader said:
Melanie Scarborough is a moron. I hope that any family and friends that she may have disowns her or dies and that she is struck with an illness that leaves her permanently disabled so she can wait the few years that most legitimately disabled persons do for her SSD benefits. What a joke. While billions of tax dollars disappear in Iraq and subsidizing corporations an idiot like her finds fault with a program that only grants benefits to those too young to have worked and those who have paid into the system for years who have LEGITIMATE medical problems. Maybe allowing her contributions is the Examiner's way of employing the mentally disabled.

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7:26 AM MST on Wed., May. 23, 2007 re: "Mark Tapscott: America needs a transpartisan citizens political movement"

 Examiner Reader said:
Mr. Tapscott is correct that America needs a transpartisan citizens movement and in fact it is getting one. Evidence can be seen across the country and on many issues including civil liberties, organic agriculture/co-ops, natural medicine, post industrial education, military interventionism and spending issues. Two groups among many that are working in a transpartisan fasion are Reuniting America and the Liberty Coalition. Michael Ostrolenk

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10:04 AM MST on Tue., May. 22, 2007 re: "Mark Tapscott: America needs a transpartisan citizens political movement"

 Anthony (Los Angeles) said:
Mark, have you read Article 5 lately? The states can amend the constitution by calling a constitutional convention, which can then do anything it wants. And that "anything" then becomes law on a 3/4ths vote of the convention. They could re-write the whole system of government if they wanted. Do you really think the problems with congress requires this political nuke?

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9:51 AM MST on Mon., May. 21, 2007 re: "Trevor Bothwell: Maryland smoking ban�s hazy logic"

 Examiner Reader said:
If Non-Smokers have no rights then neither do Smokers. I'll feel free to dump a drink on any smoker I see thats equally offensive and they can foot the dry cleaning bill.

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3:54 PM MST on Wed., May. 16, 2007 re: "Timothy P. Carney: Sweeping Boeing�s bank under the rug"

 Examiner Reader said:
THis artilce is pathetic, I can't even begin to count all the factual errors - do a little research Tim, just a little, before spreading all these errors around.

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4:58 AM MST on Wed., May. 16, 2007 re: "Michael W. Thompson: A long-range transportation plan is needed now for Virginia�s future"

 Examiner Reader said:
I hope VA elected officials read this...

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10:08 PM MST on Tue., May. 15, 2007 re: "Sherman Joyce: Judge Pearson, we will buy you a new suit"

 Examiner Reader said:
This incident made an article in a national newspaper in Japan. Now it is a world-wide matter of mirth, what a shame!

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9:11 AM MST on Mon., May. 14, 2007 re: "Jay Ambrose: Newsweek magazine misses the Bush-as-Truman parallels"

 Examiner Reader said:
Bush is Trumanesque? Oh please.

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