Swine Flu: Conservative Republicans Want to Kill You
Swine flu is upon us and our government is responding to the budding crisis with its usual mix of incompetence, quiet inefficiency, and the race to see which official can cover their arse more thoroughly. In this game of bureaucratic musical chairs, the one left standing when the music stops usually ends up getting the blame if anything goes wrong.
Realizing this, our president played golf while his people danced, dodged, and weaved like prize pugilists, trying not to induce panic, but also trying not to sound too blase about the whole thing either. It was a delicate balance that none of them achieved.
At a press conference yesterday, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano — you know, the official in charge of border security who doesn’t think illegally crossing into America is a crime — did her best to cover all the bases as well as her own bureaucratic rear end. She literally spoke out of both sides of her mouth in the same sentence as she tried to explain just what the government meant by a “public health emergency:”
The term “sounds more severe than it really is,” said Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, who called the measure “standard operating procedure,” adding, “I wish we could call it a declaration of emergency preparedness.”
Why don’t we just call it “a declaration of our intent to declare a declaration that would declare a possible public health emergency unless it isn’t”?
One believes that if Napolitano had another side of her mouth through which she could have uttered more nonsense — or perhaps another orifice where noise would have been equally enlightening — she would have also used that.
It’s not really her fault. While our president was duffing his way around the links at Andrews Air Force Base, several people who might have proven to be very useful in this crisis were not present at that White House briefing. The reason they weren’t there is because they don’t exist yet — at least not in the sense that they are on the government payroll and enjoying all the perks to which senior bureaucratic officials have become accustomed.
It seems our president has been spending more time planning for the gala celebration of his 100th day in office than actually doing what we’re paying him to do. Right now, the two major crises facing America — the bank mess and swine flu — are being addressed by executive departments that have a lot of empty offices due to the singular failure of the boss to hire high-level appointees at Treasury and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to assist in dealing with the problems.
There is no HHS secretary yet, as Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius awaits the pleasure of Democrats in the Senate. The president’s first choice, Tom Daschle, withdrew his name after a wee spot of trouble with the tax man, and, as is his fashion, the president went about the task of naming a replacement for him in a leisurely fashion. In fact, given that the top 19 desks at at HHS are currently vacant, it’s no wonder that the administration was caught napping on the magnitude of the swine flu problem:
U.S. public health officials did not know about a growing outbreak of swine flu in Mexico until nearly a week after that country started invoking protective measures, and didn’t learn that the deaths were caused by a rare strain of the influenza until after Canadian officials did.
It may be that our “public health officials” didn’t know because there aren’t too many of them in positions of authority at the moment. We apparently have an “acting director” of the Centers for Disease Control named Richard Besser, which I suppose is meant to inspire confidence. The fact that he has been on the job only since late January doesn’t inspire me at all. He joined Napolitano and White House homeland security adviser John Brennan at the press briefing on Sunday.
“Never let a serious crisis go to waste. What I mean by that is it’s an opportunity to do things you couldn’t do before.” This statement actually came from the lips of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel in November of 2008. Keep this in mind as you continue reading.
The pandemic threat of the swine flu that has broken out in Mexico, with cases that have appeared in the United States is serious and requires prompt reaction by individuals, businesses, charities, and the government. The pandemic of 1918 and the 1976 swine flu outbreak are distant memories for most; however, history will repeat itself at some unknown time in the near or distant future.
With the statement of Emanuel and the dramatic nationalization of many financial and manufacturing institutions having taken place, one item Americans should pay particular attention to during the unfolding events is:
Personal Freedom & Civil Liberties.
Events such as the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, set in motion a wide range of knee jerk legislative initiatives and Executive Orders that gutted some of the most basic civil liberties our forefathers fought for. Using the words of the White House, a potential pandemic presents another opportunity to get things done that you couldn’t do before.
And what will that opportunity be?
Nationalization of health care and another step toward an ever growing and all powerful big brother government that has the ability to read your mail, listen to you phone calls, track you by GPS, control the access to your money in the bank, pensions, and insurance policies, tell your employer who to hire, what to pay, where you should work, and now, how, when, and where to treat you for injury and illness.
The threat of a swine flu pandemic is more than a health threat; it presents another opportunity for those who threaten the fundamental principles of our constitution. Our civil liberties of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are under attack as they were when internment camps were permitted in World War II,
As a nation, we would benefit from a history lesson about the Espionage Act of 1917. During World War I, President Wilson (D), the founder of the League of Nations, restricted publication of foreign language newspapers, censored communications, widely jailed anti-war protesters, deported legal alien residents, and arrested presidential candidate Eugene Debs. We would also benefit from recalling the history of President Franklin Roosevelt (D), who presided over the internment of countless Japanese Americans during World War II. Those who suffer from President Bush (R) derangement over the Iraq War and the loss of civil liberties through the Patriot Act, often and conveniently forget what others have done; which was as bad, if not worse, for personal freedom and civil liberty. Quite simply, take the political party affiliation of a president out of the equation, and the statement by the Chief of Staff of the current Administration (“Never let a serious crisis go to waste.”) is a path that has been taken many times in the past.
By the way, for those who are unfamiliar with the League of Nations, President Wilson was the force behind this inter-governmental organization that came about as a result of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 at the conclusion of World War I. The League of Nations was the forerunner of the United Nations, and sought to uphold and expand the rights of man, begin widespread disarmament, prevent war through collective security, settle disputes between countries through negotiation, diplomacy, world courts, and improve the overall global quality of life. You have to admit, it sure sounds familiar to the statement of the recent past and current Administrations.
Shortly after World War I, fascism took root in countries like Germany, Italy, and Spain, banks and manufacturing concerns were nationalized, and the Axis Powers sought a new world order and global domination. Peace through disarmament didn’t work very well as little Adolph and his brown shirted friends began goose stepping the world to World War II.
And the last really big pandemic occurred in 1918.
Be darn careful of those who say: “Never let a serious crisis go to waste”. Watch what unfolds if the swine flu of 2009 isn’t quickly contained.
Think about it, and don’t react too late.
P.S. Today is the day that the 2009 fiscal year federal budget begins borrowing money, rather than using domestic tax revenue, to pay for all the things that the federal government does. This means that our elected representatives in Washington will borrow money from other nations and future generations to pay for the dramatic and never ending increase in federal spending and debt. Congress has a spending addiction that affects Republicans and Democrats. The duopoly must be broken.
Join the national Modern Whig Party and in Florida, register and join the Florida Whig Party and vote the Republicrats out of office.
A hundred days is a lot of time, three months, going on a third of a year. Congress took a brief break sometime, so our new president had the opportunity to put warm bodies into offices as recess appointments.
Perhaps our new youthful, energetic leader considers his predecessor’s liberal use of that recess privilege “one of those failed policies of the past.” Perhaps, but I think the necessity of sometimes filling in under-experienced temp workers is generally considered the less bad option than leaving vital roles unattended. Perhaps a veteran executive would have thought so. A pity the nation lacks an experienced hand at the top.
Imagine if Bush did this. Can you imagine? They’d be pitchfork liberals surrounding the White House, and I’m just talking about the CNN reporters.
“The message is clear: Conservative Republicans want to kill you, etc.”
Another article by Rick Moron full of fear-inducing phrases, allegations, hyperboles and the usual conservative name calling.
This might be more helpful:
“Recommendations to prevent infection by the virus consist of the standard personal precautions against influenza. This includes frequent washing of hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after being out in public.
People should avoid touching their mouth, nose or eyes with their hands unless they’ve washed their hands. If people do cough, they should either cough into a tissue and throw it in the garbage immediately, cough into their elbow, or, if they cough in their hand, they should wash their hands immediately.
Vaccines that are effective against the current strain are being developed.”
How long does it take to develop a vaccine against a brand-new strain?
Instead of blabbering politics and disease, you should be washing your hands and mouth.
I vote that we call it manbirdpig flu. Tell your friends.
“Damn. Foiled again! And we would’ve gotten away with it if it hadn’t been for you Democrats!”
I’m guessing that’s how the GOP is going to be imagined as saying in the days to come. You can almost hear the 2005 preparedness bill going down the memory hole as I type this.
And speaking of JournoList, some of you might get a kick outta this JournoList transcript.
http://iowahawk.typepad.com/iowahawk/2009/04/one-afternoon-in-a-secret-corner-of-the-internet.html
Classic liberal/left wing: lack of moral clarity and intellectually dishonest.
If Obambi needs more staff, he should consult with the IRS and they will help him find many tax cheats just waiting for the call to duty.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/8018428.stm
The link was on Daily Pundit. It’s the closest thing to real information about ongoing events that I have read.
Maybe if Borat Obama was not partying so much with Jay Leno he could get something done. All that cocain takes it out of a President I bet.
“Of course, the fact that all House Republicans and all but three senators voted against the stimulus bill, where Obey’s proposal was inserted, means that Republicans want all of you to die a horrible death, drowning in your own fluids as you burn up with fever and your loved ones look on in horror and dismay.
Well, they don’t come right out and say it, of course. But that is clearly the message being advanced on major liberal websites and blogs.”
~
Yaknow? I’m getting sick-n-tired of ‘Obey’ acting like the whole country voted for him except for a small handful of whackos. Sorry, ‘obey’ but a good half [probably much more than half] of the country DID NOT vote for you and you aren’t helping things much with your partisan B.S. attacking people who CAN and WILL vote your sorry arse out of the WH despite your cheatin’ ACORN crappola.
BHO, the greatest DIVIDER in the history of the USA.
Thanks, OBEY…
FOR NOTHING.
While I’m not exactly sure of the tenets of the burgeoning political party Mr. Truesdell speaks of, I do agree with him. Partisan warfare has plagued our government for far too long. Instead of serving their constituents, politicians are embroiled in this idea of a permanent campaign. This does nothing but create an inefficient government that is concerned more about mudslinging than governing. Government is great. It’s politics that mucks things up. We in America have been lulled into complacency by our two-party political system. This inhibits us from seeing the obvious change that is needed. We need to create a viable third party to be the conscientious objector to partisan politics. America may not be headed for the revolution that everyone speaks of, but she sure needs a shake up with the way her government is ran. Our “founding fathers” would be ashamed with how ineffective and spiteful our government has become.
Excuse me for asking, but is there anyone in government at the moment who might be like, you know, an expert on the flu?
Well, ex-spurts on “the flu” have been all over the airwaves in the past few daze. Sometimes, conflicting ex-spurt reports confuse more than clarify.
The truth is that there’s not much to do about preventing the flu beyond washing your hands thoroughly after being out and about, not touching your face with hands that might have picked up cooties…etc. If you want a flu shot, your choice, although there is always the problem that the current vaccine may not be a match for the current strain of flu, and, per the CDC, there is not a vaccine specifically for the current swine strain.
We don’t need that lover of abortionists and mild tax cheat, Kathleen Sebelius, sitting in some bureaucratic department, health & human services to know these things. (I think the point of HHS might be to get the government more deeply entrenched in “health” and healthcare rationing, so the longer the Congress dillydallies on confirming Kathleen, the better.)
~signed, cynical ? you betcha
The trouble is that in this age of media hyper-hype and political polarization, we have no real way of knowing the real risk we are at with this current outbreak. We simply cannot trust our information anymore.
What we can count on though is the Democrats exploiting every possible opportunity to increase taxes, their power, and control over our lives.
There really is no other way to say it – they are evil. They truly are evil.
A perfect example of how the Left spins EVERYTHING for it’s political gain is to skip over to the Huffington Post and read their current headline. It’s screaming that there are a lot of HHS posts STILL not filled BECAUSE the GOP continues to filibuster the nomination of Sebelius. What? Could it not be because Carter II hasn’t been on the job filling the positions? Could it not be because he continues to nominate substandard candidate after substandard candidate? Nope! It’s all the GOP’s fault. Heaven forbid ANYTHING be tracked back to Carter II. I’m still waiting for the AirForce I NYC flyover debaucle yesterday to be blamed on Bush. Heaven forbid the new dog takes a crap in the Oval Office. It will be the GOP’s fault somehow. It’s so obvious on it’s face. Another bailout needed? Damn that Bush. Another layoff somewhere? The GOP are behind this! Catholics dare speak out about Carter II? Those conservatives are trying to take over the world!!
In my next life I’m coming back as a Liberal wingnut. Life must be easy for those that find it so easy to pass the buck and blame others no matter what the actual facts say. No personal responsibility required. Yep, the Liberal life would definitely be the easy way out. No call to actually be a patriot. Why bother? You can be patriotic if it suits you one day and hate the US the next. So many options.
Vaccines that are effective against the current strain are being developed.
That’s not true, vivo baby.
Although they are harvesting and stockpiling samples of the current swine virus with the idea of, possibly, developing a vaccine.
Like some of the AIDS related viruses, by the time a treatment comes along, those nasty little viri might have recombined/mutated into new configurations, and the just developed vaccine might be obsolete for the new strain.
It didn’t occur to me to get vaccinated in 1976, either… screw up your nervous system contracting Guillian-Barre as a function of the vaccination.
It can happen, that’s all I’m saying here about vaccinations.
1976: Fear of a great plague
1976 swine flu scare created blacklash
More than 40 million Americans waited in long lines for the vaccinations, but about 500 people are believed to have developed Guillain-Barre syndrome after receiving the vaccine and the pandemic threat was not borne out. It left lingering doubts about government’s abilities to deal with epidemics, the Times said.
I wonder if this will be the Usurper’s Katrina moment?
If the Left blames President Bush for a hurricane, then why shouldn’t the Right blame the alleged Hawaiian for a pandemic?
Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
Originally, I thought swine flu was what you caught if Teddy drunKennedy sneezed in your direction. Turns out, it’s not quite as nasty as having to be within 50 ft. of him, but it’s still pretty bad.
As for the flu shots people recieved within the last year, they’re of no use – against the swine flu, that is; I don’t think there’s a vaccination against Kennedyism.
If only.
Pretty fuuunnnnyyy. You Republicans just can’t catch a break. Leave it to you guys to F up things as innocuous as volcano monitoring and pandemic flu preparedness. And you want to actually RUN things again? Thanks but no thanks. You ever get the feeling that you should just stay in bed? Hey, that’s a good campaign slogan for 2010- “Vote Republican. We promise we won’t touch anything.” Here’s another one for ya – “Republicans in 2010. Snooze alarmists for change.” Really, just stay in the back yard with the kids. Don’t go out front near the traffic. We’ll bring you some chips and soda in a few minutes.
By the way, anyone else a little peeved that the border wasn’t closed early on? Russia is stopping shipments of US beef, Europe is calling for any nonessential US travel be stopped, Mexico is closing schools and yet the US………………did nothing? I have to agree that this lack of urgency on the part of our administration is a bit alarming. I’m still fascinated that during the briefing on Swine Flu to the US, the President was ……………… golfing. This flu outbreak will probably turn out to be nothing, but what if it didn’t? It would be too late already.
backatcha = troll (don’t feed)
See what I mean? No vaccine for stupid, as #21 has thoughtfully demonstrated for us.
21. backatcha:
ROFL…a touch of liberal hysteria for a needed comedy break. Thank you. If you guys stayed that funny you might stop wilting plants you pass by.
I humbly propose the democrat terrorism scare against New York City refutes your claim to competance. Sadly, those shrieks of terror were not the first caused by democrat incompetance. I await your next Carter impersonation : oh wait!? How many days has Iran held an American hostage so far? Are we on , like, day 7?
23. AThinkingPerson: says backatcha = troll (don’t feed) . . . I can smell your fear.
23. AThinkingPerson:
backatcha = troll (don’t feed),
Yep. It’s just our leetle leftard “one of my own” with one of his shiny new monikers. He’s so transparent [in the worst way].
Yep, everything is the GOP’s fault. Even the flu! ACHOO! ‘Scuse me. *sniffle*
And if we are lucky, some of the old strains will also offer at least partial immunity to this one.
One of the theories flying around is that perhaps we in the US have some immunity to swine (due to past flus flying around) that Mexicans don’t have.
Me myself and I might speculate that high density populated mexico city, 22 million or so crammed in, one of the most highly polluted cities in the world (weather inversions) and a history governments (Calderon supposedly better than predecessors) more interested in drug running than public health…might be ripe territory for opportunistic viruses.
4. vivo:
“The message is clear: Conservative Republicans want to kill you, etc.”
Another article by Rick Moron full of fear-inducing phrases, allegations, hyperboles and the usual conservative name calling.
WOW, name calling in the same sentence you decry it. You really have no sense of hypocrisy do you? But I digress.
Here’s the first shot across the bow, exactly as Moran described it:
http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/checker.aspx?v=yd6UkUnz4z
This article isn’t about how to personally combat the swine flu, but to explain just how the left will use it to demagogue their political enemies.
There’s nothing new under the sun, people.
Waaaay back then, a huge fire broke out in a huge city, leaving many dead and homeless. The ruler, rather than assuming responsibility for rebuilding, decided that a weak segment of the populace was to blame for it.
The ruler was Nero. The city was Rome. The “weak” people were early Christians.
Needless to say, lions had their banquet with their flesh while crowds had gory but great entertainment watching them; parties were lighted with their “human torches”; and some people’s houses were decorated with the decapitated heads of those Roman citizens, and roads “enhanced” with the crucified corpses of those non-citizens, who dared to assert that Jesus Christ was Lord, not Nero, and who were blamed for the fire that engulfed Rome.
Based upon the things that have been happening lately, this tales is its own warning…
13. Ashlee:”Government is great. It’s politics that mucks things up. We in America have been lulled into complacency by our two-party political system. This inhibits us from seeing the obvious change that is needed. We need to create a viable third party to be the conscientious objector to partisan politics.”
The way our system is currently set up, with the enormous amount of financial support required for anyone to be a key player in the arena of politics, it’s quite difficult, if not impossible, for a third party to thrive. What might serve to help bring about real change, IMO, is the imposition of term limits for all members of Congress.
Vivo doesn’t know much about biology, let alone virology…cut him some slack.
#28 Delia: You are spot on! Loving the trolls last comment “I smell your fear”. What? Sad when their argument has come to that isn’t it? What a bunch of loonies.
23 Delia says Yep. It’s just our leetle leftard “one of my own” with one of his shiny new monikers.
Not sure who this one of my own is but I’ve seen the reference twice now. Just sos you knows, I stumbled on this reservoir of hate three days ago and have been amazed at the uniformity of thought. I feel it’s my duty to show the other side, the good side. So settle in. I got a lot of ground to cover.
backatcha: “I got a lot of ground to cover.” Geez bub, with your linguistic skills it WILL take a while to get your point across. “I got…” Hilarious!
backatcha…you need to stop skipping class…is that the bell for sixth period? didn’t your mom tell you you’ll never amount to anything if you don’t study?
Moran: You should entitle all of your columns “I hate Obama therefore I will interpret anything that happens from swine flu to pirate attacks as being caused by Obama” Entertaining but weak on logic. Just the kind of fodder the wingnut love to feast on.
Sorry “atcha”, you’re already toast.
Save yer breath, or yer fingers, or something.
Just musing, I have loved going to Mexico most of my life, Mexico City, even, but now things are more than a little dicey, the killing & gang/drug wars in the border towns might make the Mafia blush.
The coasts have lost much of their charm, having been super resorted.
(adios for the nonce)
36. AThinkingPerson:
backatcha: “I got a lot of ground to cover.” Geez bub, with your linguistic skills it WILL take a while to get your point across. “I got…” Hilarious!
You missed a comma. Can you tell me where? Think, but don’t think too hard. Also, your ellipses require spaces.
Not to worry! Doh!Bama will have some of the finest Witch doctors flown in from his homeland of Kenya to do the examinations and make a determination!
This is urgent! (ó¿ò)
Although I won’t give the Democrats and Obama-istas like vivo a complete pass, the hype has been generated by the news media. As Charlie Martin pointed out in a previous article, the death rate for Americans hospitalized for the flu this year was about 18%. The death rate in Mexico for this flu virus has been about 7%. I suspect that the identification rate is equal to the number of people hospitalized and that makes this flu less dangerous then the dominant strain for last year’s flu season. I will cut the Mexican medical reporting system a little slack and credit them with be able to verify 50% of the cases with out hospitalizing the patient. That translates into the normal death rate for the flu. This is a big yawner.
The media hype about the possibility of an H5N1 caused black death-like pandemic confuses people about what a flu pandemic is like. The last flu pandemic occurred in 1968 (the Hong Kong flu) and it killed 32000 Americans which actually was below the annual average for the era. A pandemic is merely the worldwide occurrence of disease regardless of its lethality.
backatcha “reservoir of hate”?
Disgruntled maybe, until a progressive joins the fray and drives the discussion to the gutter.
You write but you don’t say anything. I have alot of liberal friends and am nonplussed by their lack of open mindedness. Whatever you want to say about Bush is immaterial at this point when you look at the level of incompetence in government today (not yesterday). I didn’t vote for Bush and was against the war before I was for it. Deal with reality if you can.
Of course the swine flu is just another Republican plot to take back the Congress, the White House, and the whole damn solar system !! Any fool can see the conspiratorial fingerprints of the evil conservatives lurking in their shadowy hideouts just waiting to spring their devious trap. All Republicans are in on this plot, they have already been inoculated with the antidote. Yes, it won’t be long now, heh, heh, heh.
4. vivo: People should avoid touching their mouth, nose or eyes with their hands unless they’ve washed their hands. If people do cough, they should either cough into a tissue and throw it in the garbage immediately, cough into their elbow, or, if they cough in their hand, they should wash their hands immediately.
Wow, vivo, thank you and the wonderful people running our country for telling us this useful information. It’s not like we haven’t been doing all of this all along to keep from getting the common cold!!!
I think it’s those nasty, dirty liberals that are spreading this!
Good grief, haven’t you ever heard the term “Acting Secretary of This or That”
The office is not “Vacant” in the sense of having no one there to take care of business. There has been an acting secretary since the moment Obama took office.
Apparently someone thought highly enough of this EVIL REPUBLICAN to have him serve until a permanent secretary is named.
===================================================
Acting Secretary U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Charles E. Johnson was appointed by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the United States Senate as Assistant Secretary for Budget, Technology, and Finance at the Department of Health and Human Services in 2005. He previously served in an appointed position as Chief Financial Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency. Mr. Johnson became Acting Secretary of HHS at noon on January 20, 2009, and he will remain in that role until the next Secretary is confirmed by the Senate and sworn in.
Mr. Johnson was President of Huntsman Cancer Foundation and Vice President of Huntsman LLC from 2001 to 2004. From 1997 to 2004, he also served as a member of the Utah State Board of Regents, which oversees all public institutions of higher education in the state of Utah. He served as Chair of the Board of Regents from December 1997 through May 2002.
Prior to joining Huntsman, Mr. Johnson served as Vice Chairman of the Board for Strategic Direction with the Garff-Warner Organization from 1997 to 2001. He served as Chief of Staff to the Governor of the state of Utah from 1992 to 1997. Mr. Johnson also served as Director of the 2000 re-election campaign for Governor Michael O. Leavitt.
Mr. Johnson spent thirty-one years in the practice of public accounting, including service on the Board of Directors of KPMG and as Chairman of its Merger Transition Committee. He retired from KPMG in 1991.
Mr. Johnson has been a member of other various committees and organizations within the state of Utah. In 1995, as Vice President of the Utah Association of Certified Public, Mr. Johnson received the outstanding CPA award. In 1985, Mr. Johnson received the outstanding alumnus award from Brigham Young University School of Accountancy.
Mr. Johnson graduated with honors from Brigham Young University in 1960 with a B.S. degree in accounting. He began his public accounting career in California where he was with another international accounting firm in Los Angeles.
Mr. Johnson is married to the former Susanna Brown. They have six grown children.
http://www.hhs.gov/about/bios/asrtbio.html
Maybe I am naive, but President Obama is either flying all over for photo-ops and a few minutes of speeches, or he’s playing golf.
Exactly when does he do the ‘presidential work’? Aren’t we paying his salary?
Always wrong: You can’t have it both ways – He is destoying the country – or he is spending too much time playing golf – Gees Just like Eisenhower and JFK! Horrors
I found a video of
ONE OF MY OWNer ‘backatchya’:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txqiwrbYGrs
It alllllllll makes sense now.
Awww.
“There is no HHS secretary yet, as Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius awaits the pleasure of Democrats in the Senate.”
Wow – Moran flatly lies and not a single poster calls him out: “GOP Still Filibustering Sebelius Despite Flu Outbreak”
And WHY is the GOP holding up this appointment? becuase Sebelius id pro-choice…
Maybe Republicans can waterboard the flu right outta those swine…
“Maybe I am naive, but President Obama is either flying all over for photo-ops and a few minutes of speeches, or he’s playing golf.”
You’re not naive – you’re wrong…
Why don’t we just call it “a declaration of our intent to declare a declaration that would declare a possible public health emergency unless it isn’t”?
Even better–why don’t we just call it a “nature-caused disaster”? You know, like a terrorist attack or something?
52. A. Nonymous:
“Even better–why don’t we just call it a “nature-caused disaster”? You know, like a terrorist attack or something?”
~
Answer: Because 0bama’s ‘terror threat level yellow’ socks are still in the dirty laundry. He’s stocked up in the ‘red’ socks but let’s hope he never needs to wear ‘em.
There is an interesting article on Salon about the “great swine flu epidemic” of 1976, and how the government and pharmaceutial industry used it to their individual advantages. Evidently the whole “epidemic” fizzled:
http://www.salon.com/env/feature/2009/04/28/1976_swine_flu/
You can also access the article via today’s realclearpolitics.com.
I thought the article interesting coming from a traditionally liberal site.
50/51-
Warpublican…hmm…I kinda like that? When you’re done losing here, may I use it from now on?
backscratcha-
“Just sos you knows, I stumbled on this reservoir of hate three days ago and have been amazed at the uniformity of thought.”
Wow! It only took three day for you to respond? (Look out, guys; they’re getting a little faster each day…soon they’ll be conspicuously wrong on the same day when responding.)
backatcha: “Just sos you knows,….” Interesting wording there bub. Do you ever actually HAVE a point to make or is it always trash talking? I mean really, after 3 days of being here, all you can come up with is that I’ve missed a coma? Sheesh. Talk about your intellectual vacuum. Why don’t you spend more time trying to explain Carter II’s bad judgement (or would that be too taxing)?
#16 AThinkingPerson
In my next life I’m coming back as a Liberal wingnut. Life must be easy for those that find it so easy to pass the buck and blame others no matter what the actual facts say. No personal responsibility required.
~~~~
But hey, they’re soooo unhappy. would you really want to do that to yourself?
latest polls Obama’s in real trouble
Pollster Near
Inauguration Late
March Now Change
Rasmussen 65%-30% 59%-39% 55%-44% -10%/+14%
ABC/WaPo 80%-15% 66%-29% 69%-26% -11%/+11%
Gallup 68%-12% 60%-29% 65%-29% -3%/+17%
Fox 65%-16% 58%-32% 62%-29% -3%/+13%
Pew 70%-18% 61%-26% 63%-26% -7%/+8%
AP/GfK 74%-15% N/A 64%-30% -10%/15
Vaccines that are effective against the current strain are being developed.
~~~
Hey Vivo, do you have ANY idea of how long it takes to produce an effective anti-viral, even with the correct viral strain? how long it takes to turn it into a a vaccine? how long it takes to MASS produce sufficient QUANTITIES to innoculate a population?
honey, you’ve been watching way too many hollywood ‘blockbusters’ if you think it could be done in a timely manner.
that’s what I thought
I wish you people would get off Obama’s back about not having a Secretary of Health and Human Services, a Surgeon General, a Director for the Center for Disease Control, or a Director for the Food and Drug Administration. Don’t you know how long it takes to file amended income tax returns and pay back taxes and penalties? Geesh!!
The Shadow: Thanks for sharing the numbers! Hope you don’t mind if I share one of my favorites…
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics2/53_say_next_president_likely_to_be_a_republican
(Just in case you are too busy crunching more numbers to look at my link, it’s yet another poll that shows 53% of Americans think the next President will be a Republican.)
60. Hotpatch 6:
“I wish you people would get off Obama’s back about not having a Secretary of Health and Human Services, a Surgeon General, a Director for the Center for Disease Control, or a Director for the Food and Drug Administration. Don’t you know how long it takes to file amended income tax returns and pay back taxes and penalties? Geesh!!”
~
ROTFL~ Whoops! *falls off chair laffin’* he-he-he! That was frickin’ hilarious! So true too!
#41. Witch Doctors? All Obambi has to do is to get that Saudi king to have a Fatwa placed on all those bad flue bugs.
What makes you guys think backatcha is one of my own? There are plenty of liberal trolls on the internet, and one of my own isn’t the only one who shows up here.
At least the WHO is competent enough to declare a Pandemic Watch (Level 4 Alert). They’ll probably up it to a Pandemic Warning (Level 5 Alert) later this week.
56. AThinkingPerson:
backatcha: “Just sos you knows,….” Interesting wording there bub. Do you ever actually HAVE a point to make or is it always trash talking? I mean really, after 3 days of being here, all you can come up with is that I’ve missed a coma? Sheesh.
Miss a coma? Nah, I know better than that. You didn’t miss a coma. You’re still in it.
64. myth buster:
“What makes you guys think backatcha is one of my own? There are plenty of liberal trolls on the internet, and one of my own isn’t the only one who shows up here.”
~
OOMO disappeared and *poof* ‘backatcha’ takes his place with almost verbatim verbiage. He’s been known to pull these cutesy little stunts and he’s been busted time and again…so…yeah…chances are…
Unthinkingperson – I love your delusions. Keep up the god work
i ain’t Kanye west but i think Obama hates people
I’ve been sick since i came back from Mexico, it feels different from all the other flu’s i’ve had. fatigue, hacking cough, that doesn’t want to go away, headache. last time i vote republican, maybe i should switch to democrat so i’ll feel better, nah i’ll get better then i’ll feel bad about myself.
26. njcommuter:
” tanstaafl:
Vaccines that are effective against the current strain are being developed.
That’s not true, vivo baby.
With an unknown strain, vaccine development is an open question. Yes, of course they are working on it. But can they have one ready in time? With the less exotic strains, they can give an answer with some certainty. With the exotic strains, it’s harder.”
What did I say?:
How long does it take to develop a vaccine against a brand-new strain?
33. Bear:
“Vivo doesn’t know much about biology, let alone virology…cut him some slack.”
Here’s an understanding guy.
Everyone else, keep washing your hands.
45. Ms. Attitude:
“Wow, vivo, thank you and the wonderful people running our country for telling us this useful information. It’s not like we haven’t been doing all of this all along to keep from getting the common cold!!!”
Have you? What’s wrong with a friendly reminder?
59. ked5:
“Vaccines that are effective against the current strain are being developed.***
Hey Vivo, do you have ANY idea of how long it takes to produce an effective anti-viral, even with the correct viral strain? how long it takes to turn it into a a vaccine?”
*** You stopped reading right there, I wrote:
How long does it take to develop a vaccine against a brand-new strain?
Instead of blabbering politics and disease, you should be washing your hands and mouth.
* People don’t read what I write, they just react to my “name”. Mmmmh, how cute . . .
As we are pork lovers in my house, we have begun referring to this situation as ‘Mohammed Flu’. Now there is a real SWINE!
Yes, conservative Republicans DO want to kill you. Just ask em.
71. backatcha:
“Yes, conservative Republicans DO want to kill you. Just ask em.”
Interesting projection.
On a variety of sites, day after day, month after month the lefties wish death (in specific words) on conservatives, both as individuals and as groups. (Covering ages from pre-born to elderly)
backatcha – no, we don’t want to kill all liberals, just you.
/sarc off
The Liberals sure are a paranoid bunch. Could it be all that marijuana smoking making them that way?
Never let a crisis go to waste: “That damn Swine Flu… we need to ban guns!”… wait fot it.
72 Meryl allow me to introduce 73 robohobo . .. maybe you two can work out who wants to kill who
The republicans might be amused to know that there is a Swine Flu Cake Naming contest out there. The winner gets a chocolate pig. http://apocalypsecakes.wordpress.com/2009/04/27/name-the-swine-flu-cake-win-this-chocolate-pig/
America will have a black man as President when Pigs Fly…….Well Swine Flu(ew).
Sorry, someone had to say this!
Very well put. I suppose responses to things like this are always difficult for the government. No matter what they say, they’re going to upset someone.. They do their best, and try not to commit to anything (at the risk of not following through, I’d imagine), but still, they slip up and make mistakes like this.
Why can’t they just say something safe, like “Everyone stay cautious, we’re doing our best to keep this under control?” That’s equally as nondescript, and doesn’t really let people get upset. At least that way, they seem a bit more concerned..