FEMA 2: Son of FEMA

[Troubleshooter]

http://www.alternet.org/story/28141/

Germ Boys and Yes Men

By Jeremy Scahill, The Nation. Posted November 14, 2005.

The man Bush appointed to handle federal response to a flu pandemic or bioterror attack is just a well-connected Republican lawyer with zero medical expertise.

In early November, George W. Bush, struggling to claw his way upward in polls that had acquired the consistency of quicksand after two months of blunders and disasters, launched a new PR blitz. The Administration declared it was taking charge of the nation's health and security with an all-out war on the flu (to be conducted with vaccines provided by well-connected pharmaceutical companies).

"Our country has been given fair warning of this danger to our homeland," Bush declared. "It's my responsibility as President to take measures now to protect the American people."

But if Bush hoped to wipe away the stain of Katrina -- and the memory of a hapless Michael Brown steering FEMA in circles while New Orleans drowned -- he should have thought twice about bringing up the specter of a public health emergency, because the man responsible for coordinating the federal response to a flu pandemic or bioterror attack could well be the next Michael Brown.

Meet Stewart Simonson. He's the official charged by Bush with "the protection of the civilian population from acts of bioterrorism and other public health emergencies" -- a well-connected, ideological, ambitious Republican with zero public health management or medical expertise, whose previous job was as a corporate lawyer for Amtrak.

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[xoxoxoBruce]

The consistency of this administration makes me warm and fuzzy.

[busterb]

Well Bruce,Ya do have to give them that. This might should go elsewhere, But the goberment don't know if their jacking off or winding their watch

[Griff]

C'mon guys, seriously what's the worst thing that could happen?

Originally Posted by Griff

C'mon guys, seriously what's the worst thing that could happen?

Ummm... Something like AID's? Ever read And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts? Lack of effective public health response allowed Aids to spread quickly through the gay community in this country and from there, infiltrate the heterosexual one, as well.

Everyone, self included, kind of jokes about the bird flu, but a flu pandemic killed literally millions right after the First World War.

How about the resurgence of TB? We never did figure out a really effective cure for it and the bacillus responsible is still alive and thriving in TB infected people everywhere.

How about a biological warfare 9/11 style attack? I don't know about your town, but in mine, its pathetically easy to take a stroll up to the local water supply and drop a few test tubes of whatever into it.

Modern medicine has made it so that we don't worry about infectous diseases as we once did. When's the last time you saw a lawyer practicing modern medicine?

W. doesn't care. He will be shielded from anything that might come down and to hell with the rest of us.

[Griff]

Originally Posted by Griff

C'mon guys, seriously what's the worst thing that could happen?

This is attempted humor. Read it as such.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

The consistency of this administration makes me warm and fuzzy.

Oops, my mistake. Actually I'm running a fever and covered with fungi.

[Happy Monkey]

[jaguar]

C'mon guys, seriously what's the worst thing that could happen?

another homeland security?