Obama declares national emergency to counter new flu

Sunday 25th October, 06:28 AM JST

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FromEurope at 08:32 PM JST - 25th October

"The Swine Flu news stories must bring to mind the previous ad campaign to sell Tamiflu (with which D. Rumsfeld has a huge benefit).

This virus is being made to sound mysterious because the diagnoses are being made in scattered areas. This should merely highlight the fact that tens or hundreds of thousands of people with bad colds might have this same virus, are getting better and what we really need to do is wash our hands, get rest, stay well-hydrated and stay calm. Trying selling that idea!"

Jay Gordon - Pediatrician
RomeoRamenII at 09:43 PM JST - 25th October

More slight of hand from Obama. Time for another national emergency. The last one was when he called for congressional approval of Porkulus Maximus just before he jetted off for a long weekend vacation in Chicago.
Klein2 at 10:54 PM JST - 25th October

"Administration officials said the declaration was a pre-emptive move designed to make decisions easier when they need to be made. Officials said the move was not in response to any single development.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius now has authority to bypass federal rules when opening alternative care sites, such as offsite hospital centers at schools or community centers if hospitals seek permission."

As the article says, it is an administrative measure that allows the US government to do things that it otherwise cannot. I am the odd bird posting here. I am in favor of vaccination and in favor of universal health care. Rejecting vaccination and then using tamiflu is just about as anti-social an act as I can imagine.

When a government is forced by legislation to declare a national emergency merely to have the authority to protect its people from some health menace, something is screwed up. Moreover, creating a panic over the death of about 1000 people, which I think is not too far off from numbers of regular flu each year, well, seems to be odd. If executive authority is that hamstrung over what amounts to, well, a vaccination program...

Then maybe the US is becoming ungovernable. People ought to calm down and let administrators administer, as they do in other countries. If only hasty government action had been better avoided from 2001--2008, there would not have to be so many legislative hurdles keeping the Executive from actually doing something good for America. In short, the last president fixed it so that Katrinas will keep happening.
USNinJapan2 at 12:34 AM JST - 26th October

smithinjapan

The man is saying that he's putting others before his own family as President...

I know you're a big fan but now you're just romanticizing this. Symbolic or not (and it's a pretty corny message), if Obama really opted not to have his family innoculated out of principle that's just nothing more than sheer stupidity. The President, his family, and anyone that lives or works in the White House should receive any vaccination first and should be required to as a matter of national security. If medical personnel aren't given a choice in whether or not they get vaccinated then the same should be true (X10) for the President, his family, and staff.
Badsey at 02:55 AM JST - 26th October
We must stop these new terrorists and the people that harbor them!
1. The nasal vaccine has a live form of H1N1 but is preferred and would be my choice.
2. Innoculation - dead form, but very small chance of guillain-barre. Maybe better for people with compromised immune systems.
Viruses change and mutate. -The h1n1 in Japan maybe a weaker form than other places. -but that could quickly change.
JoeBigs at 08:10 AM JST - 26th October

RomeoRamenII at 01:40 PM JST - 25th October If this is such a "national emergency", then why did Obama's administration give away 10 percent of our swine flu vaccines to other countries? Heh, and this is the same guy who thinks he should be running our healthcare.

Keep telling yourself it is not an emergency and when the vaccine is available do not take it because it is really a mind control drug.

Yeah, that's is, it is a President Obama mind control drug that will true you into a "COMMUNIST ACORN ACTIVIST"! OOOOooooOOOOooo ahhhhhhh do not take it because it is a plot by the far left socialist!!!!LOL

You far right wingers crack me up.....LOL

Midnightpromise at 12:52 PM JST - 25th October Over 1,000 dead, wow. Wonder when ,if ever, this administration will be called upon to start answering some tough questions.

You guys are sooooooo funny, yeah President Obama should stand trial because he is warning the U.S. of this virus...LOL You guys are really funny....Tin cap anyone!LOL

OOOOOooooOOOoooo I must be a plant from the socialist brainwashing commity also....LOL

You guys keep thinking the way you think and the only healthy people left will be the sane ones....Hm that may not be a bad idea, thinning the herd....OOOOOooooOOOOoo
JoeBigs at 08:23 AM JST - 26th October

RomeoRamenII at 09:43 PM JST - 25th October More slight of hand from Obama. Time for another national emergency. The last one was when he called for congressional approval of Porkulus Maximus just before he jetted off for a long weekend vacation in Chicago.

Please do tell the last national emergency? I am trying to figure out if you have a secret decoder ring that tells you exactly what is on the mind of our government. Or maybe, just maybe you just do not get it.

I find it so funny these days that we have a Democrat in office the far right wingers are questioning everything he says. But when we had the last boob in office you far righters bent over and said,"may I have another".

You guys just do not get the fact that the government is trying to keep this flu from spreading do you?

This flu is a nasty little bugger that changes shapes as quick as you change your ideas.

How many will have to die before you guys get a clue?
JoeBigs at 08:34 AM JST - 26th October

FromEurope at 08:32 PM JST - 25th October Jay Gordon - Pediatrician

Since you bring up the good doctor, let us present a bit about the good doctor.

Dr. Jay Gordon is a pediatrician to a particular subculture of pseudoscientific celebrities, such as Jenny McCarthy. He lends his MD cred to this community. He also appears, in my opinion, to be a shameless self-promoter – one of those pop professionals (Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil) who has sold his soul for some easy celebrity.

http://skepfeeds.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/more-nonsense-from-dr-jay-gordon/

Just because someone has the word "DOCTOR" in his name does not mean he is not in it for the fame and the cash...

http://www.rationalmoms.com/2009/09/23/dr-jay-gordons-letter-to-the-masses/comment-page-1/

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=2101

If you want to be like the stars, then do not worry about the swine flu. Take your Doctor Jay pills and have fun.....LOL
FromEurope at 09:33 AM JST - 26th October

JoeBigs : Even if what you say is true, it doesn't mean that he is wrong. You know, in European countries, there are too many vaccins, because the people don't want it. In France, for example, 65% of the population don't intend to be vaccinated. There was a research on the new vaccin by the independent scientist, and the result was very annoying. The vaccin could be effective for H1N1 flu, but at the same time, it may cause the side effect disease which could be as dangerous as the virus itself. There are many articles in french, but I couldn't find in english. That's why I put that Dr. J. Gordon's article, who has the similar point of view as the european doctors.
FromEurope at 09:37 AM JST - 26th October

And I'm not going to be vaccinated, like most of my friends. I don't know a single person around me whe wants to be vaccinated.
Noliving at 10:14 AM JST - 26th October

except perhaps in the future everyone will have access instead of people being left out in the cold like some 45 million are now

Everyone currently does have access to it, just because someone doesn't have health insurance doesn't mean you can't get health care, most flu shots cost anywhere between $10-20 bucks if you are uninsured. So prove to me that 45 million are left in the cold when considering how affordable it is.
Noliving at 10:26 AM JST - 26th October

If you get the flu mist which is the naval spray it costs around $40 bucks.

Other vaccine shots though for other viruses can cost more such as for example hepatitis A is around 40 bucks or the hpv cancer vaccine for girls is three doses of $120 bucks each for $360 bucks grand total.

But flu shots are definitely affordable and there are many places that give it away for free.
adaydream at 12:56 PM JST - 26th October

Yes and when given adequate time to prepare for the flu pandemic the republicans stripped flu preparations out of the stimulus package. We could be a little more prepared, but we kept that little bit out so Sen Collins would sign on.

Damn this little tidbit is from FoxNews. < :-)

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/04/28/swine-flu-outbreak-triggers-capitol-hill-finger-pointing-stimulus-funding/
Altria at 01:06 PM JST - 26th October

Apparently Obama and his team are engaged in diplomatic talks with the virus.
USNinJapan2 at 01:43 PM JST - 26th October

Altria

They're probably hard at work trying to figure out which beer to serve...