Could somebody PLEASE tell Biden to shut up

[DavidS]

Border Patrol ordered NOT to wear masks to protect from Mexican Swine flu.

Thank you for posting this. HOLY SHIT. This is absolutely CRAZY STUPID.

 

[WillowTree]

Too chicken to admit you were wrong?

are they wearing masks???

this is likely more a case of a low level supervisor reading the rules too strictly
and not some massive edict from on high

we'll see,, if they start wearing masks..

 

[DiveCon]

I bet if all the border patrol's called in sick and tired of this shit, somebody would get up off their ass and do something.. see, American lives mean zip to these people.

not everything is an (R) vs (D) issue
stop jumping to such asinine conclusions

I didn't jump to any assinine conclusion.. I've been listenting to them tell us we can all die.. for their principles.. didn't you hear it?

see post #39

 

[Xenophon]

I tell people to avoid Joe Biden, as he makes me sick.

 

[Ravi]

You forgot to quote the WHOLE article.

Homeland Security: No Orders to Border, Airport Agents to Not Wear Masks

Homeland Security: No Orders to Border, Airport Agents to Not Wear Masks - Presidential Politics | Political News - FOXNews.com


A different administration official told FOX News earlier that agents at the U.S. border and at airports have been told not to wear surgical masks until they are needed despite possible exposure to individuals infected with swine flu.
The official said the "science indicates" no need for the masks at this time.

"Masks should be used in high-risk situations, such as when an employee comes into contact with a person or traveler who appears to be ill," the official said..

"If an employee at (an airport) or (on the border) comes into contact with someone who appears to be ill, it is strongly recommended and encouraged that both of them put on masks and gloves immediately," the official continued, adding that "the safety of employees is of the utmost importance."

Asked why an agent shouldn't be allowed to wear a mask if it makes him or her more comfortable and doesn't affect performance, the official said only that "science indicates" masks are not needed now.


Conflicting reports on this issue from the current administration...say it isn't so..

Damage control perhaps?

Since it's an unnamed official I'm guessing FOX is covering it's ass...they probably reported differently before this article.

 

[WillowTree]

are they wearing masks???

 

[Shadow]

You forgot to quote the WHOLE article.

Homeland Security: No Orders to Border, Airport Agents to Not Wear Masks

Homeland Security: No Orders to Border, Airport Agents to Not Wear Masks - Presidential Politics | Political News - FOXNews.com


A different administration official told FOX News earlier that agents at the U.S. border and at airports have been told not to wear surgical masks until they are needed despite possible exposure to individuals infected with swine flu.
The official said the "science indicates" no need for the masks at this time.

"Masks should be used in high-risk situations, such as when an employee comes into contact with a person or traveler who appears to be ill," the official said..

"If an employee at (an airport) or (on the border) comes into contact with someone who appears to be ill, it is strongly recommended and encouraged that both of them put on masks and gloves immediately," the official continued, adding that "the safety of employees is of the utmost importance."

Asked why an agent shouldn't be allowed to wear a mask if it makes him or her more comfortable and doesn't affect performance, the official said only that "science indicates" masks are not needed now.


Conflicting reports on this issue from the current administration...say it isn't so..

Damage control perhaps?

Since it's an unnamed official I'm guessing FOX is covering it's ass...they probably reported differently before this article.

Sure. Since ABC said the same thing...that MUST be it.....not.

More likely the admin officials are covering THEIR asses.

 

[WillowTree]

WH saying now that's not what gaffe meant,, he meant don't get on airplane if anyone in family is sick....



hook,, line,,, sinker...










and they laugh at President Bush..

 

[The BKP]

In yet another case of his candor and off-the-cuff remarks coming back to haunt him, Vice President Joe Biden has inadvertently tossed fuel on the growing fires of fear sweeping the globe far faster than the swine flu pandemic that sparked the emotional firestorm in the first place.

Speaking on NBC's "Today" show this morning, when asked about whether he would advise family members to take public transportation, Biden replied, "I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places now."

Biden appeared on the morning news-talk show the day after public health officials confirmed the first domestic - though alien - death from the flu that has now spread to 10 states nationally.

The perpetually-verbose VP went on to tell show host Matt Lauer, "I would tell members of my family, and I have, I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places now. It's not that it's going to Mexico, it's you're in a confined aircraft when one person sneezes it goes all the way through the aircraft. That's me. I would not be, at this point, if they had another way of transportation suggesting they ride the subway. "

As tens of thousands of children were off from school in the wake of isolated outbreaks in New York, Texas, California and other states, the Vice President implied more widespread school closures may be necessary in the near future.

"If you're out in the middle of a field and someone sneezes that's one thing. If you're in a closed aircraft or a closed container or closed car or closed classroom it's a different thing."

Borrowing a line from the Vice President's beguilingly bespectacled Republican counterpart in the fall campaign, "Say it ain't so, Joe."

However unintentional it may have been, Biden's comments added to a growing sense of anxiety and fear sweeping across the nation; particularly in large metropolitan areas where public mass transit is an integral part of daily life. While his office later issued a clarification of his remarks, the damage had already been done. Sort of like closing the gate after the swine has already gotten out of the pen, as it were.

Though I am admittedly the farthest thing from a public health expert you'll find and don't have an MD after my name, I'm going to go out on a limb and write you a prescription for a prophylactic in response to the spreading contagion of virulent fear.

Take one healthy dose of perspective and supplement it with frequent applications of common sense. Repeat daily until symptoms subside, panic and paranoia passes and the press moves on to the next big headline-grabbing crisis.

Being a good physician, I'll be more than happy to give you a couple of free samples before I send you on your merry and hopefully healthful way. Here goes....

- In 2007, there were 5,488 work-related deaths in the US. That works out to 15 a day.

- In an average year, 13,322 Americans die from falls of one sort or another. Those are accidental, not intentional and suicidal, mind you. That's 36 a day. And be sure to watch your step on your way out.

- Each year, more than 40,000 of our fellow countrymen die in car accidents. In 2005, 43,443 were killed on our highways, byways, sundry roads and thoroughfares. That's 119 a day.

Those unfortunate 119 souls that will die in auto accidents today outnumber the total amount of currently confirmed cases of swine flu across the country.

Let me repeat that, just to be sure we're all on the same page.

More people will die today in car accidents than there are total confirmed cases of the dreaded, fear-inspiring swine flu in our nation of over 300 million. Moreover, out of those more than 300 million happy souls, not a single American citizen - either born or naturalized - has died in the US. The lone death on American soil was a Mexican infant visiting relatives in Texas.

But the World Health Organization (WHO) says we're on the verge of a global pandemic, you say! They've raised their pandemic alert level to Phase 5!

Fair enough. WHO has indeed raised the pandemic alert level to Phase 5. But what really is the threshold for this? Let's take a look at both Phase 5 and Phase 6, shall we?

WHO's site states -

Phase 5 is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.

Phase 6, the pandemic phase, is characterized by community level outbreaks in at least one other country in a different WHO region in addition to the criteria defined in Phase 5. Designation of this phase will indicate that a global pandemic is under way.

Using WHO's own exceedingly low threshold criteria with confirmed cases of swine flu in 11 countries worldwide, we are either in or on the verge of a pandemic. The key here, however, is the low threshold that triggers this designation.

From that pool of 11 countries with confirmed infections, there is a total of 257 officially reported cases. Granted, the US has the largest share with 109. Yet, to put this into an even broader context, WHO currently places the global death toll at seven - yes, seven out of a total global population of 6 billion-plus. All of those seven either occurred in or can be traced back to Mexico.

Is it possible the virus may mutate into a true global menace, resulting in thousands or even tens of thousands of deaths, of course. Bear in mind, though, on average more than 30,000 Americans die each year from the flu strain de jour.

So, take your daily dose of perspective, apply common sense liberally, wash your hands thoroughly with hot water and anti-bacterial soap and go about your daily routine. And rest assured, there'll be something else the media wants you to loose sleep over next week. Don't worry, though. Just give me a call and I'll be more than happy to refill your prescription and adjust your meds as needed.

Don't forget to stop by the payment window on your way out, faithful readers. We accept all major insurance plans and credit cards; no checks, though, please.

Stay tuned for further updates as events warrant and Vice President Biden performs a guest quadruple bypass and kidney transplant after successfully separating conjoined twins on the next episode of "The Doctors".

 

[Zoom-boing]

Rx for Joe Biden: Open mouth, insert left foot, insert right foot, repeat as necessary.

 

[Ravi]

It sounded like good advice to me to begin with...if there is really a danger of dying of swine flu.

You people amaze me. On the one hand you cry crocodile tears about a made up story about the border patrol not being allowed to wear masks and on the other hand you try to smack Biden around for advising prudent action to stop the spread of swine flu.

Sounds like your talking points are colliding again.

 

[DiveCon]

It sounded like good advice to me to begin with...if there is really a danger of dying of swine flu.

You people amaze me. On the one hand you cry crocodile tears about a made up story about the border patrol not being allowed to wear masks and on the other hand you try to smack Biden around for advising prudent action to stop the spread of swine flu.

Sounds like your talking points are colliding again.

only in YOUR mind

 

[Maple]

do, he is a blowhard and exagerates to the point of lying. He is walking around Washington ready to blow at any second, it is his nature and there is no shutting that man up.

 

[Maple]

The good news is no-one would ever need to waterboard Biden he couldn't keep a secret if it killed him, he would give it all up in a second.

 

[DiveCon]

The good news is no-one would ever need to waterboard Biden he couldn't keep a secret if it killed him, he would give it all up in a second.

just give him a few drinks and he would start singing

 

[WillowTree]

well he's good for sumpin, he 's the one talked old Spector into crossing over! on the train ride??? train??? closed in???? crowded????

 

[Indiana Oracle]

That enforcement/military people are of marginal value in the total scheme of things outside of political expediency is, of course, nothing at all new in Washington or in other countries.

One just gets the sense this time of something like an underlying phobia. Similar thing happened with the peanut farmer and when the boy president first took office. It may pass.

Usually does when our knuckle dragging patriots are suddenly needed by the citizenry for something; when cocktail parties, stealing from the public, or acing an interview on NBC stop being immediate priorities. The mood after 9/11 in the Congress and the membership's (both parties) reaction to intelligence briefings on terror detainees is a pretty good example .

 

[American Horse]

The President said that it would do no good to close the border now because the Swine Flue is already in the U.S.
Janet Napolitano quoted him, saying that it’s like closing the barn door when the horse has already gotten out of the barn.

Hunhhh….!!!?

So there seems to be no possibility of getting new cases into the South Western U.S. or elsewhere from travelers from the source of where the outbreak is concentrated? People in Mexico seem to be taking it seriously; everyone in public, at least on TV, seems to be wearing blue face masks. Might it be a good time to flee across the border if you planned to do that anyway?

And meanwhile, per this thread, V.P. Biden says he would stay off planes, the New York City Subway, class rooms and other places where you would come into confined or close quarters with others.

It seems to me this is just another distraction and they know well that there's nothing to worry about, or they are idiots of another kind.

 

[Zook]

lol Its Just The Flu People Get Over It. It happens

 

[WillowTree]

The President said that it would do no good to close the border now because the Swine Flue is already in the U.S.
Janet Napolitano quoted him, saying that it’s like closing the barn door when the horse has already gotten out of the barn.

Hunhhh….!!!?

So there seems to be no possibility of getting new cases into the South Western U.S. or elsewhere from travelers from the source of where the outbreak is concentrated? People in Mexico seem to be taking it seriously; everyone in public, at least on TV, seems to be wearing blue face masks. Might it be a good time to flee across the border if you planned to do that anyway?

And meanwhile, per this thread, V.P. Biden says he would stay off planes, the New York City Subway, class rooms and other places where you would come into confined or close quarters with others.

It seems to me this is just another distraction and they know well that there's nothing to worry about, or they are idiots of another kind.

they were pissed that the Republicans made them take their money outta the porkulus bill,, so "never waste a good emergency" seemed like a good idea.. see? were asking for a paltry 1.9 billion dollars? now is that too much to ask??