Comments on: The medical elephant in Specter’s room (Updated) http://www.pa2012.com/2010/02/the-medical-elephant-in-specters-room/ Your destination for PA's Big 2012 Election Races Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:20:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bill Greenlawhttp://www.pa2012.com/2010/02/the-medical-elephant-in-specters-room/comment-page-1/#comment-9884 Bill Greenlaw Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:53:06 +0000 http://www.pa2010.com/?p=5866#comment-9884 Beyond all the problems listed above, the statistical underpinning of this opinion piece is inappropriate.Survival rates can not be extrapolated as the writer suggests. Once someone survives for a number of years with Hodgkin Lymphoma their survival rate is actually quite high for their remaining years. To put this another way, most deaths due to Hodgkin Lymphoma occur within the first few years after diagnosis.Specter is a survivor. He is likely to continue to survive. Let's decide this on the issues, not some falsely construed statistical argument. Beyond all the problems listed above, the statistical underpinning of this opinion piece is inappropriate.

Survival rates can not be extrapolated as the writer suggests. Once someone survives for a number of years with Hodgkin Lymphoma their survival rate is actually quite high for their remaining years. To put this another way, most deaths due to Hodgkin Lymphoma occur within the first few years after diagnosis.

Specter is a survivor. He is likely to continue to survive. Let’s decide this on the issues, not some falsely construed statistical argument.

]]> By: sharonsjhttp://www.pa2012.com/2010/02/the-medical-elephant-in-specters-room/comment-page-1/#comment-9844 sharonsj Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:54:18 +0000 http://www.pa2010.com/?p=5866#comment-9844 I do not care about Specter's health. I want to know where he and Sestak stand on issues--and that's how I'll decide to vote. And either of them is better than looney Toomey. I do not care about Specter’s health. I want to know where he and Sestak stand on issues–and that’s how I’ll decide to vote. And either of them is better than looney Toomey.

]]> By: Son of Tommyhttp://www.pa2012.com/2010/02/the-medical-elephant-in-specters-room/comment-page-1/#comment-9774 Son of Tommy Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:56:29 +0000 http://www.pa2010.com/?p=5866#comment-9774 The Good Doctor Scoles raises an issue of debate, regardless of its genesis or his motive. Senator Specter is old, and sick. The issue deserves to be discussed and aired and the people may consider it when they vote. I like Joe. I like Arlen. I am worried about who can beat Toomey. I am not sure either can. Too many Dems have been raised their whole life to hate and beat Specter. Why are we supporting him now? Hoeffel got like 48% against him six years ago...Why are we now supposed to hold our noses and vote for him? If he is the nominee at the top of the ticket, what base does he excite or mobilize? the Republicans that always carried him won't vote for him and the Spectercrats are too few. The real liberal base of our party will unfortunately stay home in November, helping Corbett, Meehan and all the other republiclowns and teabaggers. I don't think Sestak is the greatest in the world, but he stands a better chance of getting the liberal base and hte moderate dems and moderate repubs a clear choice against toomey, and also some down ticket help. Just some thoughts. The Good Doctor Scoles raises an issue of debate, regardless of its genesis or his motive. Senator Specter is old, and sick. The issue deserves to be discussed and aired and the people may consider it when they vote.
I like Joe. I like Arlen. I am worried about who can beat Toomey. I am not sure either can. Too many Dems have been raised their whole life to hate and beat Specter. Why are we supporting him now? Hoeffel got like 48% against him six years ago…Why are we now supposed to hold our noses and vote for him? If he is the nominee at the top of the ticket, what base does he excite or mobilize? the Republicans that always carried him won’t vote for him and the Spectercrats are too few. The real liberal base of our party will unfortunately stay home in November, helping Corbett, Meehan and all the other republiclowns and teabaggers.
I don’t think Sestak is the greatest in the world, but he stands a better chance of getting the liberal base and hte moderate dems and moderate repubs a clear choice against toomey, and also some down ticket help.
Just some thoughts.

]]> By: Taj Magruderhttp://www.pa2012.com/2010/02/the-medical-elephant-in-specters-room/comment-page-1/#comment-9758 Taj Magruder Wed, 10 Feb 2010 04:46:37 +0000 http://www.pa2010.com/?p=5866#comment-9758 I'm a volunteer/campus coordinator/intern with the Sestak campaign, and I support Joe because he is a true Democrat -- not because Specter is eldery and ill. All of us can die at any moment, whether from disease, car accident, etc.That being said, I don't understand some of the objections raised about Sestak's morals and work ethic here. By running against Specter, he is clearly putting principle before politics. Moreover, he is the most productive member of his legislative class, and he has traveled to EVERY SINGLE county in the state already. In a single day, he does dozens of events, interviews, etc. I’m a volunteer/campus coordinator/intern with the Sestak campaign, and I support Joe because he is a true Democrat — not because Specter is eldery and ill. All of us can die at any moment, whether from disease, car accident, etc.

That being said, I don’t understand some of the objections raised about Sestak’s morals and work ethic here. By running against Specter, he is clearly putting principle before politics. Moreover, he is the most productive member of his legislative class, and he has traveled to EVERY SINGLE county in the state already. In a single day, he does dozens of events, interviews, etc.

]]> By: Jack K.http://www.pa2012.com/2010/02/the-medical-elephant-in-specters-room/comment-page-1/#comment-9756 Jack K. Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:37:03 +0000 http://www.pa2010.com/?p=5866#comment-9756 A disgusting piece of commentary from Dr. Scoles. There is such a thing as the Hippocratic Oath, yes? Maybe a glance back at it would humanize you again, sir.I'm a registered independent, leaning toward Mr. Toomey, and these types of puerile, disgusting antics only confirm my decision to go with the most upstanding, principled candidate in the race. A disgusting piece of commentary from Dr. Scoles. There is such a thing as the Hippocratic Oath, yes? Maybe a glance back at it would humanize you again, sir.

I’m a registered independent, leaning toward Mr. Toomey, and these types of puerile, disgusting antics only confirm my decision to go with the most upstanding, principled candidate in the race.

]]> By: chesco dem comm personhttp://www.pa2012.com/2010/02/the-medical-elephant-in-specters-room/comment-page-1/#comment-9755 chesco dem comm person Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:30:16 +0000 http://www.pa2010.com/?p=5866#comment-9755 As a committee person, we as a group never made an issue of it. No where does anybody say your health wasn't brought up. The locals here know you are close to Rich Sestak and find it hard to believe that you didn't talk with him about it. We all know there is a chance of Specter dieing. Does that mean Minnesota should have voted out Wellstone because he may die? Or Murtha? Or Leo Ryan? No when it is ones time to go, maybe it is, we cannot dictate when a politician may die. Under your "dumb logic" WV would have dumped Robert Byrd years ago and gave up everything he has done over the past 10 to 15 years. As a committee person, we as a group never made an issue of it. No where does anybody say your health wasn’t brought up. The locals here know you are close to Rich Sestak and find it hard to believe that you didn’t talk with him about it. We all know there is a chance of Specter dieing. Does that mean Minnesota should have voted out Wellstone because he may die? Or Murtha? Or Leo Ryan? No when it is ones time to go, maybe it is, we cannot dictate when a politician may die. Under your “dumb logic” WV would have dumped Robert Byrd years ago and gave up everything he has done over the past 10 to 15 years.

]]> By: 95 Southhttp://www.pa2012.com/2010/02/the-medical-elephant-in-specters-room/comment-page-1/#comment-9748 95 South Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:42:14 +0000 http://www.pa2010.com/?p=5866#comment-9748 Pat Toomey, he's tanned, rested, healty and ready, and Oh, also ahead in the polls!!!! Pat Toomey, he’s tanned, rested, healty and ready, and Oh, also ahead in the polls!!!!

]]> By: Sestak needs to make Specter’s age and medical condition an issue?… | GrassrootsPAhttp://www.pa2012.com/2010/02/the-medical-elephant-in-specters-room/comment-page-1/#comment-9744 Sestak needs to make Specter’s age and medical condition an issue?… | GrassrootsPA Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:55:38 +0000 http://www.pa2010.com/?p=5866#comment-9744 [...] Sestak needs to make Specter’s age and medical condition an issue?… [...] [...] Sestak needs to make Specter’s age and medical condition an issue?… [...]

]]> By: Paul Scoleshttp://www.pa2012.com/2010/02/the-medical-elephant-in-specters-room/comment-page-1/#comment-9738 Paul Scoles Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:02:40 +0000 http://www.pa2010.com/?p=5866#comment-9738 I think it's telling that none of the objections to the op/ed addressed the issue at hand preferring to focus on whether the Sestak campaign was consulted (it was not); whether this provides the other party with ammunition for the general election (none they didn't already have, NCI SEER statistics are not exactly private) and even chastising me with the charge that my health was never made an issue in my brief campaign (it was; the DELCO Times worked it into the virtually every story, and Curt Weldon's only comment in the campaign was on the issue). The statistics remain unchallenged, and the question remains the same:whether the health of an 80 year old with recurrent lymphatic cancer is a legitimate issue for concern in a critical Senate race. I believe it is. I think it’s telling that none of the objections to the op/ed addressed the issue at hand preferring to focus on whether the Sestak campaign was consulted (it was not); whether this provides the other party with ammunition for the general election (none they didn’t already have, NCI SEER statistics are not exactly private) and even chastising me with the charge that my health was never made an issue in my brief campaign (it was; the DELCO Times worked it into the virtually every story, and Curt Weldon’s only comment in the campaign was on the issue). The statistics remain unchallenged, and the question remains the same:whether the health of an 80 year old with recurrent lymphatic cancer is a legitimate issue for concern in a critical Senate race. I believe it is.

]]> By: Barry OConnellhttp://www.pa2012.com/2010/02/the-medical-elephant-in-specters-room/comment-page-1/#comment-9695 Barry OConnell Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:23:04 +0000 http://www.pa2010.com/?p=5866#comment-9695 With the choice between Arlen's health and Sestak's morals and work ethic, I am 100 percent fo Arlen Specter. This article is a disgrace and so is Paul Scoles. With disdain, Barry OConnell Lycoming County With the choice between Arlen’s health and Sestak’s morals and work ethic, I am 100 percent fo Arlen Specter. This article is a disgrace and so is Paul Scoles.
With disdain,
Barry OConnell
Lycoming County

]]>