There's something ironic about Cheney and the other Rebublicans who try to make trial lawyers in general, and Edwards in particular, into Boogeymen who will raise healthcare costs.

It's true that Edwards hasn't been in the senate long, but one piece of legislation that he did play a major part in shaping was an amendment to the prescription drug bill he cowrote (with a republican colleague), back in 2002. If the bill had passed into law, it would have severely limited the ability of brand-name drug companies to bring frivolous lawsuits against the makers of generics.

The brandname companies have gotten into the habit of bringing suits against the generic manufacterers for patant infringement, even though they know the suits have no legal merit, because each time they do, the courts have to put a two-year stay on the release of the generic drug.

BTW, the bill (S812) passed the senate 78-21, but the drug company lobbyists got to their representatives in the House, and there it died.

So, do I trust a trial lawyer, well-schooled in making sure laws are obeyed, over a corporate executive, well-schooled in playing with loopholes? You bet I do!