Not Exactly A Terror Alert...........But same principle

[Independent]

Somebody on this board predicted it. As soon as the indictments came down, as soon as there was dissention on the SCOTUS pick, we would see another "terror" alert. Who wins the fantasy poll?

Well, not quite a terror alert, but Bush stating "US likely to face Bird Flu Pandemic" seems to fall right into his "governing by panic" style of leadership.

While not minimizing the serious harmful potential of the bird flu, does anybody else question the timing of the announcement? Seems to be same old, same old. Numbers are down, democrats threatening to filibuster, moderate republican soccer moms up in arms, Anne Coulter breaking ranks - guess we better throw the nation into a panic to confuse the issues.

Guess I now know what to do with all that plastic sheeting I have. I am going to wrap my house in it, not to keep the terrorists out, but now to keep the birds out.

Is this the real thing and is the nation going to ignore it because of all the previous times our leader has cried wolf?

 

[luvwinnie]

I'm not a big fan of his even though I do tend to lean to the right...but I have to say that if he DID NOT plan ahead for this and it DID happen, well then many of the same people who now accuse him of crying wolf would be blaming him.

 

[momof2inPA]

I'm all for doing something about bird flu, but the timing of making this a headline/panic-the-public story is a little too coincidental.

Like I said, I'm more worried about my gas bill than bird flu.

 

[Independent]

We are going to throw 7.1 billion at the bird flu. How much did we throw at Homeland Security - just to prove that after 4 years of money and planning, it was not worth a hoot?

Guess we better create a new department -the Department of BS -or Bird Security. And who could head it up? Mmmm, let's see - Brownie is out of a job and according to Bush - he was doing such a fine job. AND he knows all about Horses, so birds are not very far removed, are they?

 

[mrsltg]

In case you missed it, the "bird-flu" has been all over the news for the past month (at least). Amazing, really amazing.

Erin

 

[phorsenuf]

So when would have been a convenient time for you for him to address this?
It seems that no matter what he does it always has an ulterior motive. This is getting old.......

 

[Jimbo]

In case you missed it, the "bird-flu" has been all over the news for the past month (at least). Amazing, really amazing.

Erin

And the World Health Organization has plenty to say about it here. Are they in on this little "scam" too?

 

[luvwinnie]

http://healthyamericans.org

Here is a nonpartisan org. very worried about a possible pandemic.

 

[DawnCt1]

This issue has been on the radar screen for about two years. It's only with the increase in frequency of cases outside of Asia that has prompted the plan to move forward.

 

[momof2inPA]

Guess we better create a new department -the Department of BS -or Bird Security.

Good one.

The bird flu has been in the news for the past year, and there has been a ban on imports of birds from certain countries since Nov. 2004. The CDC has been making monthly reports on bird flu, and for several months it has ranked as a serious threat on the World Health Organization's website. It's good that we are paying attention to bird flu, but it's convenient that the government is making this into a huge headline this week.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I'm guessing no matter what the topic of Bush's news conferences this week, there would have been more than a few people calling it a smokescreen. Far be it for the President to address a current concern.

 

[iwantahemi]

I'm not a big fan of his even though I do tend to lean to the right...but I have to say that if he DID NOT plan ahead for this and it DID happen, well then many of the same people who now accuse him of crying wolf would be blaming him.

Yep, you are correct!

 

[Independent]

Oh, I wholeheartedly agree that this is something we should not ignore. And yes, I have been following the news for some time now.

However, when the President addresses the nation just a couple of days after he realizes that maybe his second SCOTUS pick is not going to go over as smoothly as he thought, and using buzz words that one knows will create a panic, a person has to wonder about his timing of the announcement.

If everybody has known this for at least 2 years now, why didn't he announce his BS (bird security) plan a year ago when his popularity was much higher?

I think what I am trying to say is that my biggest fear is that this will be just like the ending of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." That a large number of citizens of this nation are going to actually ignore the warnings because of Bush's now known propensity to issue terror alerts in times of governmental crisis.

 

[DawnCt1]

Good one.

The bird flu has been in the news for the past year, and there has been a ban on imports of birds from certain countries since Nov. 2004. The CDC has been making monthly reports on bird flu, and for several months it has ranked as a serious threat on the World Health Organization's website. It's good that we are paying attention to bird flu, but it's convenient that the government is making this into a huge headline this week.

And when would you have them "roll it out". Most Americans don't know who Scooter Libby is. I will bet that half have never heard of Valerie Plame or if they have, could care less. For the other half, Alito was enough of a "distraction".
We are heading into the typical North American flu season now and the identification of birds in Canada carrying the virus has certainly raised the anxiety of a lot of people. DH has been called by several radio stations and local TV to comment on this concern. President Bush's timing was absolutely fine.

 

[JennyMominRI]

Sorry..Mistake

 

[Mugg Mann]

It's no surprise to those of us who have been paying attention. The administration has specialized in attempted misdirection anytime there's unfavorable news..let's review the timeline from the last couple of days;

Friday 2 PM: Indictments announced
Monday (next business day after friday) 8 AM: Supreme Court Nominee announced
Tuesday AM: Bush warns of Bird Flu pandemic

On a separate note, it's good to see you, DawnCt1. One can't help but notice that after the altered photo of Condi came out, you said on that thread that "There is such visciousness on the left that they will stoop to the lowest form, subliminal suggestion, to advance their agenda."

Then the picture that Fox News deliberated distorted to favor George Bush was posted, and you were asked to make the same accusation about Fox News and/or the right in general with the same viciousness that you attacked the left. Oddly, you haven't been heard from since. Here's another opportunity for you to denounce Fox News and/or the right. After all, you pride yourself on fairness and integrity, right?

If you need a better reminder, here's the link to the thread;

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=944622&page=1&pp=15&highlight=condi

 

[Jimbo]

I think what I am trying to say is that my biggest fear is that this will be just like the ending of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." That a large number of citizens of this nation are going to actually ignore the warnings because of Bush's now known propensity to issue terror alerts in times of governmental crisis.

I think those people will be doing the gene pool a favor, then.

 

[sodaseller]

I will disagree. I have little love for this Administration and believe they have abused terror designations for political purposes in the past, but I don't see that here. The problem with the avian flu is that any prophylactic measures like producing vaccines must be taken now. We cannot wait until we confirm that it has mutated to become transmissible interspecies - by then it will be beyond reasonable containment. My more significant concerns are not that it is being used as a political distraction, but whether the vaccine is truly effective and beneficial, and the probability that the mutation can occur. I have heard conflicting evidence on the latter, and also concerns about vaccines. But if we think it can mutate, the time to take action is now

 

[DawnCt1]

On a separate note, it's good to see you, DawnCt1. One can't help but notice that after the altered photo of Condi came out, you said on that thread that "There is such visciousness on the left that they will stoop to the lowest form, subliminal suggestion, to advance their agenda."

Then the picture that Fox News deliberated distorted to favor George Bush was posted, and you were asked to make the same accusation about Fox News and/or the right in general with the same viciousness that you attacked the left. Oddly, you haven't been heard from since. Here's another opportunity for you to denounce Fox News and/or the right. After all, you pride yourself on fairness and integrity, right?

If you need a better reminder, here's the link to the thread;

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=944622&page=1&pp=15&highlight=condi

Is THAT what you are getting worked up about?? I thought we were talking about bird flu??

 

[Mugg Mann]

Is THAT what you are getting worked up about?? I thought we were talking about bird flu??

I'm happy to have that conversation as well. Your attempted dodge of your obvious contradiction still remains on the table.