Ebola and Fear: Obama Is Losing
That was dumb. It won’t satisfy his critics. It won’t satisfy the American people. And it’s a perfect example of how Obama is losing the information campaign.
From the point of view of the man on the street, the administration keeps saying I have nothing to fear from Ebola. If that’s true, then why am I afraid? Don’t tell me I’m being irrational. I know me, and as far as I’m concerned I’m perfectly rational. If the only thing I have to fear is fear itself, you should be helping me understand why. That’s what FDR did.
Okay, appointing an Ebola Czar was a good idea, but why did it take this long? Why did it have to be John McCain’s idea? And why the hell isn’t he a medical doctor or a public health specialist? Why is he just another rich white guy financial industry liberal? A rich white guy financial industry liberal who worked for Al Gore — a man the Right loves to hate? And why is he reporting to Susan Rice, of all people — isn’t she the one who screwed the pooch on Benghazi?
Are you trying to be tone-deaf, Mr. President, or does it just come naturally?
Bottom line: The way we talk about the political world is often more important than the things we’re talking about when we talk about the political world. And time and time-again, the Obama administration has fumbled the rhetorical ball, ceding the rhetorical advantage to Republicans. Not only does the administration seem unable to speak coherently about issues, it seems hardly able to speak honestly about them.
In 1916, there was a polio panic that started in New York. The parallels to Ebola are striking. No one understood how you got polio. Because the epidemic broke out in Pigtown, a heavily immigrant community in Brooklyn, foreigners were blamed. Stop the ships! No more international connections! Then, when good, solid white folks in parts of New York removed from Brooklyn started getting polio, cats were blamed. In 1916, 70,000 feral cats were destroyed by the city of New York in an attempt to “stop” polio. Blueberries, milk, sugar — all became suspect.
Yet when polio returned in the 1930s and ’40s, the public coped admirably. Why? The government talked — and talked in a way Americans could understand. In July 1948 Dr. Howard A. Rusk, a prominent New York physician and public health leader at NYU, wrote in the New York Times that the key difference between the panic of 1916 and the rational response of the 1940s was the government’s public education program, which helped prevent a return to the “bewildered and frantic population in the epidemic area” of 1916.
You don’t just tell Americans, “Oh, there’s really nothing to worry about.” Americans don’t want to be told there’s nothing to worry about. We want to know what you’re doing to make us stop worrying — after all, if there was nothing to worry about, we wouldn’t be worrying! As the late Chicago newsman Mike Royko used to say, American politics is about answering the question, “What have you done for me lately?” From many people’s points of view, Obama’s answer seems inevitably to be, “Not much.” Obamacare? Ending the Bush recession? That was then, this is now. What have you done for me lately?
Much as I disagree with his politics, I have no end of admiration for Frank Luntz, the conservative messaging Wunderkind who taught Republicans how to talk. When I’ve taught American politics, my mantra has always been: voters don’t decide on the basis of the objective facts; they decide on the basis of their subjective interpretations of what those facts mean. This doesn’t mean voters are stupid. It doesn’t mean they are “sheeple.” It means they have limited time and limited information. It means we engage in what the social scientist Herbert Simon called “satisficing” — we conduct just enough of an information search as we need to feel we have a “pretty good” sense of what’s going on. And that pretty good sense is usually one that fits comfortably in our pre-existing belief system. And the only way we can judge whether it fits comfortably is by the way it sounds — by the way the thing is spoken about.
Facts have to be packaged in a way that makes people feel they have a pretty good sense of what’s going on, in a way that appeals to the subjective, not the objective. You do that be defining by what something means. Luntz understood that. So the estate tax became the “death tax.” Relatively few Americans leave an estate big enough to be taxed, yet they support tax cuts because of the estate tax. That was the point. Because most Americans don’t leave taxable estates, they don’t really know what estates are — but tell them Big Government is “taxing death” and obviously things have gone too far.
Here’s the kicker: once the issue is successfully defined, you can’t push back against it with “facts.” Don’t bother trying to explain to people they won’t leave an estate big enough to tax. After all, if this isn’t “really” a big deal, why would I think it’s a big deal? What — are you saying I’m stupid or something?
The motto of the elite commandos of the British Special Air Service is, “Who Dares, Wins.” In today’s complex, highly partisan information/media environment, a politician’s motto has to be, “Who Defines, Wins.” Define an issue in terms favorable to you, and you force your adversary to fight on your terms. Half the battle is won, because the battle is about you say the issue means. And you seldom get more than one shot at defining what an issue means for the electorate.
Obama seems determined to give Republicans the ball and let them take that shot.
That’s why it’s so incredibly tone-deaf to have Ron Klain report to Susan Rice. I can hear it now: “Oh, so the woman who lied about Benghazi is now the boss of the guy who’s supposed to protect me from Ebola? No thank you, Mr. President. I’ll take my chances and dig a pandemic shelter in my back yard.”
By most estimates, Republicans have a 6 in 10 shot at taking the Senate this November. If that happens, Obama will have no one to blame but himself, because he long ago gave up the information initiative. The two cruelest of mistresses, the calendar and the clock, are inexorably bringing the midterm election closer. Will it be the “Ebola Election?” That depends on how the issue is defined.
The political scientist Richard Neustadt famously said the real power of the presidency is the power to persuade. By that standard, Obama is nearly powerless. Persuade us, Mr. President. Talk — talk or get out of the way and let your political opponents speak for you. Because that’s what’s going to happen. And it looks like many Americans are willing to listen to them. Don’t believe me? Ask them if they’re bothered by the death tax.
Click here for reuse options!Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: Russ Burgos
Interested in foreign affairs, global conflict, and political narratives and discourses
122 responses to Ebola and Fear: Obama Is Losing
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OldLefty October 17th, 2014 at 15:51
Washington Post poll, 62 percent of respondents said they were very confident or
somewhat confident in the government’s ability to respond to an Ebola outbreak.
Among Democrats, the number was 76 percent, while among Republicans it was a
still-healthy 54 percent. A Pew Research Center
poll taken two weeks ago found something similar: 69
percent of Democrats said they had a great deal or fair amount of confidence in
the government’s ability to handle Ebola, while 48 percent of Republicans
agreed. Pew pointed out that in 2005, when George W. Bush was president, the
same question was asked about bird flu and the numbers were reversed (with
Democrats then expressing even less confidence than Republicans do now).
From Kaiser;
10/17/2014
Which do you think is more likely:
Ebola will spread and there will be a widespread outbreak in the U.S.; or Ebola
will be contained to a small number of cases in the U.S.?
Ebola will be contained: 73
There will be a widespread
outbreak: 22
ChrisVosburg October 17th, 2014 at 18:11
Apparently Kaiser failed to talk to the same “man on the street” that Russell hears in his head. :-)
greenfloyd October 18th, 2014 at 01:12
22%, that’s scary.
Obewon October 18th, 2014 at 01:23
Those 22% equal 9 out of ten remaining registered republicans today among GOParanoia’s 24% share of registered voters today.
greenfloyd October 18th, 2014 at 04:14
And that’s even scarier…:)
OldLefty October 18th, 2014 at 07:43
What do we expect?
The impact of Bush linking 9/11 and Iraq
American attitudes about a connection have changed, firming up the case for war.
By Linda Feldmann, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor MARCH 14, 2003
Polling data show that right after Sept. 11, 2001, when Americans were asked open-ended questions about who was behind the attacks, only 3 percent mentioned Iraq or Hussein. But by January of this year, attitudes had been transformed. In a Knight Ridder poll, 44 percent of Americans reported that either “most” or “some” of the Sept. 11 hijackers were Iraqi citizens. The answer is zero.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0314/p02s01-woiq.html
People believe whatever the panic du jour tells them to believe, especially if they are already predisposed.
greenfloyd October 18th, 2014 at 10:45
The opposite of Bush. An honest and candid President who operates on the advice of the best and brightest scientific, public health advisers the world has to offer. Like those presenting in the recent CSPAN Ebola Panels
OldLefty October 18th, 2014 at 10:54
That is what we HAVE git.
greenfloyd October 18th, 2014 at 11:23
You appear a bit defensive. Would you like an Ebola joke?
OldLefty October 18th, 2014 at 11:39
Why defensive?
I worked in healthcare, my husband and most of his friends are doc, (one infectious disease guy who just came back from the conference in Philly, (http://www.mdlinx.com/infectious-disease/conference-details.cfm/34048/)
I take my lead from them.
Ebola joke, sure.
greenfloyd October 18th, 2014 at 12:05
git
[ git ]
noun
noun: git · plural noun: gits
an unpleasant or contemptible person.
There isn’t one.
OldLefty October 18th, 2014 at 12:44
That’s why I said that I don’t know why I wrote “git”.
I think it was a typo, That’s why I posted;
WOW!!! I was going to ask what in the world this (git) means, and who wrote it, and I saw it was MY comment.
OldLefty October 17th, 2014 at 15:51
Washington Post poll, 62 percent of respondents said they were very confident or
somewhat confident in the government’s ability to respond to an Ebola outbreak.
Among Democrats, the number was 76 percent, while among Republicans it was a
still-healthy 54 percent. A Pew Research Center
poll taken two weeks ago found something similar: 69
percent of Democrats said they had a great deal or fair amount of confidence in
the government’s ability to handle Ebola, while 48 percent of Republicans
agreed. Pew pointed out that in 2005, when George W. Bush was president, the
same question was asked about bird flu and the numbers were reversed (with
Democrats then expressing even less confidence than Republicans do now).
From Kaiser;
10/17/2014
Which do you think is more likely:
Ebola will spread and there will be a widespread outbreak in the U.S.; or Ebola
will be contained to a small number of cases in the U.S.?
Ebola will be contained: 73
There will be a widespread
outbreak: 22
ChrisVosburg October 17th, 2014 at 18:11
Apparently Kaiser failed to talk to the same “man on the street” that Russell hears in his head. :-)
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org October 18th, 2014 at 01:12
22%, that’s scary.
Obewon October 18th, 2014 at 01:23
Those 22% equal 9 out of ten remaining registered republicans today among GOParanoia’s 24% share of registered voters today. It’s the old 80/20 rule where the 1/5th minority violently beat their chests, trying to appear louder and more significant, than the well informed and better adjusted to factbased reality 4/5th majority.
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org October 18th, 2014 at 04:14
And that’s even scarier…:)
OldLefty October 18th, 2014 at 07:43
What do we expect?
The impact of Bush linking 9/11 and Iraq
American attitudes about a connection have changed, firming up the case for war.
By Linda Feldmann, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor MARCH 14, 2003
Polling data show that right after Sept. 11, 2001, when Americans were asked open-ended questions about who was behind the attacks, only 3 percent mentioned Iraq or Hussein. But by January of this year, attitudes had been transformed. In a Knight Ridder poll, 44 percent of Americans reported that either “most” or “some” of the Sept. 11 hijackers were Iraqi citizens. The answer is zero.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0314/p02s01-woiq.html
People believe whatever the panic du jour tells them to believe, especially if they are already predisposed.
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org October 18th, 2014 at 10:45
The opposite of Bush. An honest and candid President who operates on the advice of the best and brightest scientific, public health advisers the world has to offer. Like those presenting in the recent CSPAN Ebola Panels
OldLefty October 18th, 2014 at 10:54
That is what we HAVE git.
________
WOW!!! I was going to ask what in the world this (git) means, and I saw it was MY comment.
I have now idea what “git” means and why I wrote it.
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org October 18th, 2014 at 11:23
You appear a bit defensive. Would you like an Ebola joke?
OldLefty October 18th, 2014 at 11:39
Why defensive?
I worked in healthcare, my husband and most of his friends are doc, (one infectious disease guy who just came back from the conference in Philly, (http://www.mdlinx.com/infectious-disease/conference-details.cfm/34048/)
I take my lead from them.
Ebola joke, sure.
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org October 18th, 2014 at 12:05
git
[ git ]
noun
noun: git · plural noun: gits
an unpleasant or contemptible person.
There isn’t one.
OldLefty October 18th, 2014 at 12:44
That’s why I said that I don’t know why I wrote “git”.
I think it was a typo, That’s why I posted;
WOW!!! I was going to ask what in the world this (git) means, and who wrote it, and I saw it was MY comment.
Ayn Awnemus October 17th, 2014 at 15:53
No one is to blame for not being completely prepared for Ebola because it actually would have been fiscally irresponsible to be completely prepared for this 100% of the time.
We can learn from this though, for one we can do away with the airborne vs contact classification of contagious diseases as Ebola falls somewhere in between and it’s misleading to say otherwise.
And I agree, appointing a “Czar” does nothing.
OldLefty October 17th, 2014 at 16:00
And I agree, appointing a “Czar” does nothing.
_______
I disagree.
They communicate action and advice between all the different agencies, and act as a public spokesman.
tracey marie October 17th, 2014 at 16:46
A manager making sure everyone is communicating the same thing.
eyelashviper October 17th, 2014 at 18:37
Agree with much of what you said, but as to the airborne vs contact, it is not airborne. That term applies to a very specific scientific and medical description in which a pathogen travels through the air on it’s own, and enters the lungs via breathing. Contact means contact, and that includes aerosolization of body fluids, generally via a sneeze or cough, which are droplets that are sent into the air for a limited area, and must be absorbed by a recipient, generally through mucus membranes or the eyes.
There is an airborne version of Ebola, the Reston strain, but it is not transmittable to humans.
For airborne pathogens, a complete level 4 suit is required, which includes an airtight suit and helmet, complete with a respirator.
greenfloyd October 18th, 2014 at 01:07
From what I have gathered so far the science is unsettled, incomplete and conflicted. That means we are required to error on the side of caution and admit there is reason to fear, but not panic.
greenfloyd October 18th, 2014 at 13:19
There’s no doubt about it. Transmission of Ebola to America was airborne! This “czar” comes from the Biden team, they have a lot of experience at damage control over there.
Ayn Awnemus October 17th, 2014 at 15:53
No one is to blame for not being completely prepared for Ebola because it actually would have been fiscally irresponsible to be completely prepared for this 100% of the time.
We can learn from this though, for one we can do away with the airborne vs contact classification of contagious diseases as Ebola falls somewhere in between and it’s misleading to say otherwise.
And I agree, appointing a “Czar” does nothing.
OldLefty October 17th, 2014 at 16:00
And I agree, appointing a “Czar” does nothing.
_______
I disagree.
They communicate action and advice between all the different agencies, and act as a public spokesman.
tracey marie October 17th, 2014 at 16:46
A manager making sure everyone is communicating the same thing.
eyelashviper October 17th, 2014 at 18:37
Agree with much of what you said, but as to the airborne vs contact, it is not airborne. That term applies to a very specific scientific and medical description in which a pathogen travels through the air on it’s own, and enters the lungs via breathing. Contact means contact, and that includes aerosolization of body fluids, generally via a sneeze or cough, which are droplets that are sent into the air for a limited area, and must be absorbed by a recipient, generally through mucus membranes or the eyes.
There is an airborne version of Ebola, the Reston strain, but it is not transmittable to humans.
For airborne pathogens, a complete level 4 suit is required, which includes an airtight suit and helmet, complete with a respirator.
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org October 18th, 2014 at 01:07
From what I have gathered so far the science is unsettled, incomplete and conflicted. That means we are required to error on the side of caution and admit there is reason to fear, but not panic.
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org October 18th, 2014 at 13:19
There’s no doubt about it. Transmission of Ebola to America was airborne! This “czar” comes from the Biden team, they have a lot of experience at damage control over there.
BillTheCat45 October 17th, 2014 at 16:09
The writer of this article is a fear mongering moron. Congrats, Alan, for running non-liberal articles on allegedly one of the most liberal-friendly sites on the web. /golfclap
forpeace October 17th, 2014 at 17:26
Russell Burgos is the writer of this article and he describes himself as “Just a good Christian conservative.”
I do agree with you that he is fear mongering, plus there are too many discrepancies in this article.
ChrisVosburg October 17th, 2014 at 19:40
Yeah, I couldn’t figure out what this article was doing here either. Perhaps in running this lower tier World Net Daily style piece, Alan is just checking to see if we’re paying attention; or maybe he lost a poker bet.
BillTheCat45 October 17th, 2014 at 16:09
The writer of this article is a fear mongering moron. Congrats, Alan, for running non-liberal articles on allegedly one of the most liberal-friendly sites on the web. /golfclap
forpeace October 17th, 2014 at 17:26
Russell Burgos is the writer of this article and he describes himself as “Just a good Christian conservative.”
I do agree with you that he is fear mongering, plus there are too many discrepancies in this article.
ChrisVosburg October 17th, 2014 at 19:40
Yeah, I couldn’t figure out what this article was doing here either. Perhaps in running this lower tier World Net Daily style piece, Alan is just checking to see if we’re paying attention; or maybe he lost a poker bet.
R.J. Carter October 17th, 2014 at 16:27
I would have expected that if an Ebola Czar were going to be appointed, he or she would at least have enough medical knowledge to dispense Motrin to sick children.
tracey marie October 17th, 2014 at 16:45
in the real world this appointment is management not medical…but that is not your world
R.J. Carter October 17th, 2014 at 16:47
Well, medicine is always best applied when administered by someone with absolutely no knowledge of it.
tracey marie October 17th, 2014 at 16:48
lol,not medicine, managing all the diffrent people, places and angency’s. See the diffrence?
OldLefty October 17th, 2014 at 17:03
That is not the job.
tracey marie October 17th, 2014 at 17:04
lol, at what point did you start to believe or lie about this guys job being a medical one and not a managerial one?
Chinese Democracy October 17th, 2014 at 20:06
in other words.. its like appointing carl rove as Bush’s anthrax czar. Fox and friends has some real geniuses on the panel.
bashing Obama for his choice of anything and everything didnt help America so far and I hope it doesnt help conservatives this time. Politicizing Ebola is well… sick
Lets talk about how conservatives gutted funding so there is no ebola vaccine
R.J. Carter October 18th, 2014 at 11:23
Oh, let’s do. You start. Bring up the Ebola bill that was defunded please.
Chinese Democracy October 18th, 2014 at 13:22
“The NIH director, Dr. Francis Collins, told The Huffington Post on Friday that an Ebola vaccine would be ready by now if it were not for budget cuts over the past 10 years.”
take it up with him.. let me know how it goes
R.J. Carter October 18th, 2014 at 13:41
Dr. Collins should know that most of those numbers and budgets are publicly available. (Most, not all.) And that sequestration wasn’t entirely a Republican idea.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2014/oct/17/was-ebola-vaccine-research-hindered-nih-funding-cu/
Chinese Democracy October 18th, 2014 at 14:10
“Clearly the biggest drop was in 2013 — following the sequester, which forced the NIH to shrink their budget ” ..
“it was the Republicans who passed the Budget Control Act of 2011 in the House, with 218 of them voting yes. So even if administration officials proposed it, it would have remained just a proposal if those 218 Republicans hadn’t supported it (no House Democrats backed it)”
http://goo.gl/lkbVW
OldLefty October 17th, 2014 at 17:03
Why?
Ceo’s of Hospitals are not doctors, they are hospital administrators.
An “Ebola Czar” is not making medical or public health policy.
StoneyCurtisll October 17th, 2014 at 20:23
Exactly~!
greenfloyd October 18th, 2014 at 05:16
“Why?” Exactly! Why appoint a doctor or scientist to do damage control?
greenfloyd October 18th, 2014 at 05:12
Would you like an Ebola joke?
R.J. Carter October 17th, 2014 at 16:27
I would have expected that if an Ebola Czar were going to be appointed, he or she would at least have enough medical knowledge to dispense Motrin to sick children.
tracey marie October 17th, 2014 at 16:45
in the real world this appointment is management not medical…but that is not your world
R.J. Carter October 17th, 2014 at 16:47
Well, medicine is always best applied when administered by someone with absolutely no knowledge of it.
tracey marie October 17th, 2014 at 16:48
lol,not medicine, managing all the diffrent people, places and angency’s. See the diffrence?
OldLefty October 17th, 2014 at 17:03
That is not the job.
tracey marie October 17th, 2014 at 17:04
lol, at what point did you start to believe or lie about this guys job being a medical one and not a managerial one?
Chinese Democracy October 17th, 2014 at 20:06
in other words.. its like appointing carl rove as Bush’s anthrax czar. Fox and friends has some real geniuses on the panel.
bashing Obama for his choice of anything and everything didnt help America so far and I hope it doesnt help conservatives this time. Politicizing Ebola is well… sick
Lets talk about how conservatives gutted funding so there is no ebola vaccine
R.J. Carter October 18th, 2014 at 11:23
Oh, let’s do. You start. Bring up the Ebola bill that was defunded please.
Chinese Democracy October 18th, 2014 at 13:22
“The NIH director, Dr. Francis Collins, told The Huffington Post on Friday that an Ebola vaccine would be ready by now if it were not for budget cuts over the past 10 years.”
take it up with him.. let me know how it goes
R.J. Carter October 18th, 2014 at 13:41
Dr. Collins should know that most of those numbers and budgets are publicly available. (Most, not all.) And that sequestration wasn’t entirely a Republican idea.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2014/oct/17/was-ebola-vaccine-research-hindered-nih-funding-cu/
Chinese Democracy October 18th, 2014 at 14:10
“Clearly the biggest drop was in 2013 — following the sequester, which forced the NIH to shrink their budget ” ..
“it was the Republicans who passed the Budget Control Act of 2011 in the House, with 218 of them voting yes. So even if administration officials proposed it, it would have remained just a proposal if those 218 Republicans hadn’t supported it (no House Democrats backed it)”
http://goo.gl/lkbVW
OldLefty October 17th, 2014 at 17:03
Why?
Ceo’s of Hospitals are not doctors, they are hospital administrators.
An “Ebola Czar” is not making medical or public health policy.
StoneyCurtisll October 17th, 2014 at 20:23
Exactly~!
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org October 18th, 2014 at 05:16
“Why?” Exactly! Why appoint a doctor or scientist to do damage control?
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org October 18th, 2014 at 05:12
Would you like an Ebola joke?
forpeace October 17th, 2014 at 17:20
I’m outspoken and straight forward, so I will post my opinion about this article.
Is “Liberaland” changing its course? This is the second article by Russell Burgos being published on this site which does not belong on a liberal website. With articles like this one who needs to listen to Fox News?
I have limited my commenting on “ForwardProgressive” after seeing this article by “Manny Schewitz“: “Liberals Need To Leave Conservative Women Alone, Seriously.” http://www.forwardprogressives.com/liberals-need-to-leave-conservative-women-alone-seriously/
And now “ Ebola and Fear: Obama Is Losing.“is what I need to see on a “liberal” website!! There were also other articles by Russell Burgos on this site:
“Presidential Salutes: Just Don’t Do It.” – President Obama did in fact disrespect the military when he saluted with a coffee cup in his hands. He should apologize. And then he should stop saluting — and none of his successors should start again. http://www.alan.com/2014/09/24/presidential-salutes-just-dont-do-it/
These are couple of his tweets:
— Russell Burgos @DrRussellBurgos – Oct 15
Just a good Christian conservative, standing up for traditional family & rule of law……..
— Russell Burgos @DrRussellBurgos- Sep 25
Can’t say I’m sorry to see #EricHolder go. Just 1 example (of too many) of @WhiteHouse own-goals, like #Obamacare rollout & #LatteSalute.
https://twitter.com/@DrRussellBurgos
Ayn Awnemus October 17th, 2014 at 17:59
Alan does not hold back criticism simply because someone is of the same ideology or in the same party. I think that is a very respectable trait
eyelashviper October 17th, 2014 at 18:31
Thank you.. It is ironic that the article describes how important it is to “define” an issue, and that is exactly what this author is doing, and of course, it is his bias.
Your examples of his tweets make his views abundantly clear.
forpeace October 17th, 2014 at 19:36
You’re welcome, I have read his other articles as well, and I wasn’t that surprised when he demanded that President Obama should apologize!! sigh
forpeace October 17th, 2014 at 17:20
I’m outspoken and straight forward, so I will post my opinion about this article.
Is “Liberaland” changing its course? This is the second article by Russell Burgos being published on this site which does not belong on a liberal website. With articles like this one who needs to listen to Fox News?
I have limited my commenting on “ForwardProgressive” after seeing this article by “Manny Schewitz“: “Liberals Need To Leave Conservative Women Alone, Seriously.” http://www.forwardprogressives.com/liberals-need-to-leave-conservative-women-alone-seriously/
And now “ Ebola and Fear: Obama Is Losing.“is what I need to see on a “liberal” website!! There were also other articles by Russell Burgos on this site:
“Presidential Salutes: Just Don’t Do It.” – President Obama did in fact disrespect the military when he saluted with a coffee cup in his hands. He should apologize. And then he should stop saluting — and none of his successors should start again. http://www.alan.com/2014/09/24/presidential-salutes-just-dont-do-it/
These are couple of his tweets:
— Russell Burgos @DrRussellBurgos – Oct 15
Just a good Christian conservative, standing up for traditional family & rule of law……..
— Russell Burgos @DrRussellBurgos- Sep 25
Can’t say I’m sorry to see #EricHolder go. Just 1 example (of too many) of @WhiteHouse own-goals, like #Obamacare rollout & #LatteSalute.
https://twitter.com/@DrRussellBurgos
Ayn Awnemus October 17th, 2014 at 17:59
Alan does not hold back criticism simply because someone is of the same ideology or in the same party. I think that is a very respectable trait
eyelashviper October 17th, 2014 at 18:31
Thank you.. It is ironic that the article describes how important it is to “define” an issue, and that is exactly what this author is doing, and of course, it is his bias.
Your examples of his tweets make his views abundantly clear.
forpeace October 17th, 2014 at 19:36
You’re welcome, I have read his other articles as well, and I wasn’t that surprised when he demanded that President Obama should apologize!! sigh
ChrisVosburg October 17th, 2014 at 18:01
I note you managed to bring Benghazi into this, no surprise there. But again, you can’t bring it up without lying about it, with the claim that Susan Rice “lied” about it. She didn’t, and that’s been sorted for some time now.
The rest is pretty much conservative boilerplate, with the usual trail mix of intangibles like leadership and persuasiveness, distributed at random like bread crumbs for conservative pigeons to peck at.
And I’d like to know why you think that a man who has just selected a man known for his managerial skills as point man for the dissemination of information about Ebola both in and out of the US, is losing the “information campaign” which also frankly disgusts me for its naked appeal to those soulless monsters like yourself who think this is all some sort of damn game.
And last, I’d like to know at what point in your history you first presented with symptoms of this rationality-resistant strain of fright-based pathogens, and encourage you to get that seen to at your first opportunity, before you spread your silly hysteria to others.
Ridiculous!
tracey marie October 17th, 2014 at 20:53
very good
ChrisVosburg October 17th, 2014 at 23:47
Thanks, and apologies for all the mean things I said about Texans last week–
–Bless Their Hearts. :-)
ChrisVosburg October 17th, 2014 at 18:01
I note you managed to bring Benghazi into this, no surprise there. But again, you can’t bring it up without lying about it, with the claim that Susan Rice “lied” about it. She didn’t, and that’s been sorted for some time now.
The rest is pretty much conservative boilerplate, with the usual trail mix of intangibles like leadership and persuasiveness, distributed at random like bread crumbs for conservative pigeons to peck at.
And I’d like to know why you think that a man who has just selected a man known for his managerial skills as point man for the dissemination of information about Ebola both in and out of the US, is losing the “information campaign” which also frankly disgusts me for its naked appeal to those soulless monsters like yourself who think this is all some sort of damn game.
And last, I’d like to know at what point in your history you first presented with symptoms of this rationality-resistant strain of fright-based pathogens, and encourage you to get that seen to at your first opportunity, before you spread your silly hysteria to others.
Ridiculous!
tracey marie October 17th, 2014 at 20:53
very good
ChrisVosburg October 17th, 2014 at 23:47
Thanks, and apologies for all the mean things I said about Texans last week–
–Bless Their Hearts. :-)
StoneyCurtisll October 17th, 2014 at 20:20
Obama bows to pressure from Republicans and picks a point man (“czar”) to be the go to man for Ebola response…
And republicans dont like who he appoints..
What a shocker…:)
Chinese Democracy October 17th, 2014 at 20:27
i sense a weeeee bit of sarcasm hehe
StoneyCurtisll October 17th, 2014 at 20:20
Obama bows to pressure from Republicans and picks a point man (“czar”) to be the go to man for Ebola response…
And republicans dont like who he appoints..
What a shocker…:)
Chinese Democracy October 17th, 2014 at 20:27
i sense a weeeee bit of sarcasm hehe
StoneyCurtisll October 17th, 2014 at 22:15
This has to be a sophomoric attempt at satire..
This diatribe by Russell Burgos can be easily written by anyone who watches Fox “news” or listens to their local hate right wing radio station.
All one has to do is listen, watch, rinse and repeat..
StoneyCurtisll October 17th, 2014 at 22:15
This has to be a sophomoric attempt at satire..
This diatribe by Russell Burgos can be easily written by anyone who watches Fox “news” or listens to their local hate right wing radio station.
All one has to do is listen, watch, rinse and repeat..
Red Mann October 17th, 2014 at 23:21
Is this Liberaland’s attempt at “Fair and Balanced”?
Red Mann October 17th, 2014 at 23:21
Is this Liberaland’s attempt at “Fair and Balanced”?
greenfloyd October 18th, 2014 at 04:01
Editorial content like this is why I love LL, testing our cherished preconceptions. Intelligent dissent keeps people honest and often opens new horizons, elevating our understanding of things like Ebola.
I share Mr. Burgos’ ill-ease over Obama’s apparent lack of understanding Ebola science based on World Health Organization’s 40+ years experience dealing with this ancient pestilence. Europe and the Middle East have had travel restrictions in place for weeks and many airlines have discontinued regular service to W.H.O. “hot zones.”
The analogy to Reagan’s homophobic HIV policies and Obama’s “no travel ban/restrictions” policies has already been made, they are both senseless policy. So we should also remember Reagan appointed a “czar.” The nation’s first “Drug Czar,” William Bennett. Charged with creating “A drug-free America.” We can all see how well that’s worked out!
I don’t mean any disrespect toward Ron Klain and his sudden promotion to Ebola Czar. He not only faces an epic virus freshly arrived in America and scaring everyone, as well as a battle-cum-damage control, to avoid a political disaster for Democrats on Nov. 4. Republicans are already smelling fresh meat. RW extremist orgasmic.
I think it’s clear Obama needs to announce immediate “travel restrictions” to silence his benevolent and hostile critics alike. It’s politically sound with wide support, it’s public health intelligent, it has little economic impact and to most people it will be seen as the right thing to do.
Obewon October 18th, 2014 at 08:07
GOP Sunday talking heads prediction: ‘Ebola Czar finally, but took too long ( 3 weeks)… And we’re bothered by Obama’s Ebola death tax…’ ‘Ebola victim Duncan flew Sept 19th a day before symptoms appeared.’
4 reasons why travel bans won’t work. 1. It will prevent health officials from being able to effectively track people with symptoms: “(WHO) has said that the failure to effectively track patients has been one of the biggest reasons that Liberia hasn’t been able to contain Ebola, this is not a direction we want to go in.”
2. It will only delay the inevitable spread of Ebola while the outbreak continues in West African countries: “Sealing off the countries affected by the Ebola outbreak would actually make it more difficult to address the virus at its source.” & “A 90% (travel) reduction would delay (Ebola into the USA) for another month or so. “We’re a little safer for a finite amount of time, but then you are not really solving the problem.”
3. It will become a logistical nightmare: “Doctors Without Borders say that the current scarcity of flights is already impeding their work as they coordinate with 240 international staff members currently in West Africa. “We need the flights to operate. That’s the bottom line.”
4. It could destabilize the countries at the heart of the outbreak: For instance, in 2006, the World Bank estimated that a potential international flu pandemic could lead to a $1.5 trillion reduction in global gross domestic product — and 2/3 of that number represents the cost of people restricting their movements and avoiding traveling to infected countries. WHO’s estimate is higher. And travel Bans won’t contain Ebola. http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/10/16/3580494/travel-ban-wont-solve-ebola/
greenfloyd October 18th, 2014 at 10:20
What the American public see now are 3 cases of Ebola, a stumbling CDC, a media feeding frenzy and Obama defending an Ebola Gateway into the country while the rest of the world follows the science and for the most part is Ebola free.
OldLefty October 18th, 2014 at 10:40
Also, what IS real, (whether or not America sees it) is that everyone who was treated here EXCEPT Mr Duncan, who’s treatment was delayed), is doing well;
Dr. Rick Sacra said at a news
conference that he was cleared of the Ebola virus , Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol Have Recovered,
Ashoka Mukpo in Nebraska is doing very well.
1 of 5 died.
greenfloyd October 18th, 2014 at 11:01
And let’s keep our fingers crossed that will be the end of it. However I don’t think the odds are very good that we’ve seen the last case of Ebola in America, rather related to Duncan or someone else meanwhile getting in with the virus. Americans are convinced our health care system can cope with Ebola, and they appear just about equally convinced we need travel restrictions.
OldLefty October 18th, 2014 at 11:09
Americans are in more danger fro gunshots, influenza and death from car accidents than they are from ebola, and people from all over the world are free to travel back and forth all over the world, so if Americans want to feel safe with travel restrictions, they better shut down ALL travel, in and out of the US.
greenfloyd October 18th, 2014 at 11:46
You are falling into the same trap the OP describes, with Ebola, rational or not, it’s more about perception.than facts on their own.
OldLefty October 18th, 2014 at 11:49
That’s why I blame the media.
Obewon October 18th, 2014 at 10:50
You cite very good reasons why many in the US no longer watch TV.
greenfloyd October 18th, 2014 at 12:50
Now you are grasping at straws, demonstrating why most people have tuned-out partisan politics and, for better or worse, seek out their own information.
Obewon October 18th, 2014 at 14:03
On the issues there’s absolutely not a singe reason to ever vote GOParanoids. Even 2/3 of M/Billioaniares agree and
Support Warren Buffett’s 32% minimum Tax on the Rich. http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2011/10/27/most-millionaires-support-warren-buffetts-tax-on-the-rich/ Repubs only offer the low information fools an alibi for selfish greed and racism. You’re more likely to be struck by lightning than Ebola.
greenfloyd October 18th, 2014 at 23:32
In another re-hash of a re-hash… tick-tick-tick. Save you foolish lament for the hundreds of people waiting-out Ebola incubation time because the Obama administration screwed-up and isn’t willing to cop to it!
Obewon October 19th, 2014 at 05:11
The lone U.S. Ebola victim flew in from Belgium to Dulles, VA and into Dallas where his symptoms developed.
CDC/NIH no longer allows community hospital Ebola treatment as failure screwups were admitted by: -Dallas Presbyterian on 4 major F-ups infecting staff because in Dallas they didn’t connect the African Ebola risk dots. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/10/17/357033503/dallas-hospital-chief-shares-lessons-learned-in-battle-with-ebola These admitted failures weren’t Obama’s fault.
Today 10/19/14 Duncan’s girlfriend and housemates are all clear from quarantine! The Ebola cable ratings hysteria was obviously overblown vs the actual 3 people in the USA contracting the disease, including the lone fatality.
greenfloyd October 19th, 2014 at 23:24
Hi… I don’t see it the same way. I mean I don’t see “hysteria” except around the fringes where you’d expect to see it, i.e. Fox, etc. I don’t have cable. See today’s NYT about what it’s like to be in quarantine or even “monitored” during incubation period. The Duncan clan had to be put under “armed guard” for not staying put and of course for their own protection, in an “undisclosed” location. I am glad they got through it with no new cases. We all dodged a bullet there! However, there are still over 100 people anxiously watching the clock.
I still do not agree with the Obama administration’s position on travel ban/restrictions although it’s probably irrelevant, since most airlines have discontinued service and we have dramatically stepped-up screenings and tightened up protocols. Now, at least we’re as well protected as Trinidad and Tobago.
The real problem is in Africa and since Ebola can only be contained through quarantine that is where non-essential travel, via air, sea and overland must be shut down. From what I read the situation over there is out of control and not getting any better. American and international response thus far, is nothing to be proud of.
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org October 18th, 2014 at 04:01
Editorial content like this is why I love LL, testing our cherished preconceptions. Intelligent dissent keeps people honest and often opens new horizons, elevating our understanding of things like Ebola.
I share Mr. Burgos’ ill-ease over Obama’s apparent lack of understanding Ebola science based on World Health Organization’s 40+ years experience dealing with this ancient pestilence. Europe and the Middle East have had travel restrictions in place for weeks and many airlines have discontinued regular service to W.H.O. “hot zones.”
The analogy to Reagan’s homophobic HIV policies and Obama’s “no travel ban/restrictions” policies has already been made, they are both senseless policy. So we should also remember Reagan appointed a “czar.” The nation’s first “Drug Czar,” William Bennett. Charged with creating “A drug-free America.” We can all see how well that’s worked out!
I don’t mean any disrespect toward Ron Klain and his sudden promotion to Ebola Czar. He not only faces an epic virus freshly arrived in America and scaring everyone, as well as a battle-cum-damage control, to avoid a political disaster for Democrats on Nov. 4. Republicans are already smelling fresh meat. RW extremist orgasmic.
I think it’s clear Obama needs to announce immediate “travel restrictions” to silence his benevolent and hostile critics alike. It’s politically sound with wide support, it’s public health intelligent, it has little economic impact and to most people it will be seen as the right thing to do.
Obewon October 18th, 2014 at 08:07
GOP Sunday talking heads prediction: ‘Ebola Czar finally, but took too long ( 3 weeks)… And we’re bothered by Obama’s Ebola death tax…’ ‘Ebola victim Duncan flew Sept 19th a day before symptoms appeared. Duncan was asked by a foolish Dallas Dr. “Where do you live?” ‘A: My Dallas Address is…’ Duncan had told other Dr’s ‘I flew from Africa.’ Dallas Presbyterian on 4 major F-ups infecting staff because in Dallas they didn’t connect the African Ebola risk dots. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/10/17/357033503/dallas-hospital-chief-shares-lessons-learned-in-battle-with-ebola
Four other reasons why travel bans won’t work. 1. It will prevent health officials from being able to effectively track people with symptoms: “(WHO) has said that the failure to effectively track patients has been one of the biggest reasons that Liberia hasn’t been able to contain Ebola, this is not a direction we want to go in.” 2. It will only delay the inevitable spread of Ebola while the outbreak continues in West African countries: “Sealing off the countries affected by the Ebola outbreak would actually make it more difficult to address the virus at its source.” & “A 90% (travel) reduction would delay (Ebola into the USA) for another month or so. “We’re a little safer for a finite amount of time, but then you are not really solving the problem.”
3. It will become a logistical nightmare: “Doctors Without Borders say that the current scarcity of flights is already impeding their work as they coordinate with 240 international staff members currently in West Africa. “We need the flights to operate. That’s the bottom line.”
4. It could destabilize the countries at the heart of the outbreak: For instance, in 2006, the World Bank estimated that a potential international flu pandemic could lead to a $1.5 trillion reduction in global gross domestic product — and 2/3 of that number represents the cost of people restricting their movements and avoiding traveling to infected countries. WHO’s estimate is higher. And travel Bans won’t contain Ebola. http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/10/16/3580494/travel-ban-wont-solve-ebola/
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org October 18th, 2014 at 10:20
What the American public see now are 3 cases of Ebola, a stumbling CDC, a media feeding frenzy and Obama defending an Ebola Gateway into the country while the rest of the world follows the science and for the most part is Ebola free.
OldLefty October 18th, 2014 at 10:40
Also, what IS real, (whether or not America sees it) is that everyone who was treated here EXCEPT Mr Duncan, who’s treatment was delayed), is doing well;
Dr. Rick Sacra said at a news
conference that he was cleared of the Ebola virus , Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol Have Recovered,
Ashoka Mukpo in Nebraska is doing very well.
1 of 5 died.
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org October 18th, 2014 at 11:01
And let’s keep our fingers crossed that will be the end of it. However I don’t think the odds are very good that we’ve seen the last case of Ebola in America, rather related to Duncan or someone else meanwhile getting in with the virus. Americans are convinced our health care system can cope with Ebola, and they appear just about equally convinced we need travel restrictions.
OldLefty October 18th, 2014 at 11:09
Americans are in more danger fro gunshots, influenza and death from car accidents than they are from ebola, and people from all over the world are free to travel back and forth all over the world, so if Americans want to feel safe with travel restrictions, they better shut down ALL travel, in and out of the US.
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org October 18th, 2014 at 11:46
You are falling into the same trap the OP describes, with Ebola, rational or not, it’s more about perception.than facts on their own.
OldLefty October 18th, 2014 at 11:49
That’s why I blame the media.
Obewon October 18th, 2014 at 10:50
You cite very good reasons why many in the US no longer watch ‘fear mongering’ TV. 5 million people ended their cable and broadband subs between the beginning of 2010 to 2013. http://www.businessinsider.com/cord-cutters-and-the-death-of-tv-2013-11#ixzz3GVbZ0cWG “Fox News Channel Hits 13 Year Lows in the Morning and Primetime Among (Key Advertising Demo) Age 25-54” http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/may-2014-ratings-msnbc-reclaims-2_b226485
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org October 18th, 2014 at 12:50
Now you are grasping at straws, demonstrating why most people have tuned-out partisan politics and, for better or worse, seek out their own information.
Obewon October 18th, 2014 at 14:03
On the issues there’s absolutely not a singe reason to ever vote GOParanoids. Even 2/3 of M/Billioaniares agree and
Support Warren Buffett’s 32% minimum Tax on the Rich. http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2011/10/27/most-millionaires-support-warren-buffetts-tax-on-the-rich/ Repubs only offer the low information fools an alibi for selfish greed, science illiteracy, and racism. You’re more likely to be struck by lightning than Ebola; ‘in the U.S. in any one year lightning strikes 1 in 700,000, or in a lifetime 1 per 3,000.’ US Ebola odds? 1 per 100 million+
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org October 18th, 2014 at 23:32
In another re-hash of a re-hash… tick-tick-tick. Save you foolish lament for the hundreds of people waiting-out Ebola incubation time because the Obama administration screwed-up and isn’t willing to cop to it!
Obewon October 19th, 2014 at 05:11
Today 10/19/14 Duncan’s girlfriend and housemates are all clear from quarantine! The Ebola cable ratings hysteria was obviously overblown vs the actual 3 people in the USA contracting the disease, including the lone U.S. fatality.
The lone U.S. Ebola victim flew in from Belgium to Dulles, VA and into Dallas where his symptoms developed.
CDC/NIH no longer allows community hospital Ebola treatment as failure screwups were admitted by: -Dallas Presbyterian on 4 major F-ups infecting staff because in Dallas they didn’t connect the African Ebola risk dots. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/10/17/357033503/dallas-hospital-chief-shares-lessons-learned-in-battle-with-ebola These admitted protocol Hospital failures weren’t Obama’s fault.
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org October 19th, 2014 at 23:24
Hi… I don’t see it the same way. I mean I don’t see “hysteria” except around the fringes where you’d expect to see it, i.e. Fox, etc. I don’t have cable. See today’s NYT about what it’s like to be in quarantine or even “monitored” during incubation period. The Duncan clan had to be put under “armed guard” for not staying put and of course for their own protection, in an “undisclosed” location. I am glad they got through it with no new cases. We all dodged a bullet there! However, there are still over 100 people anxiously watching the clock.
I still do not agree with the Obama administration’s position on travel ban/restrictions although it’s probably irrelevant, since most airlines have discontinued service and we have dramatically stepped-up screenings and tightened up protocols. Now, at least we’re as well protected as Trinidad and Tobago.
The real problem is in Africa and since Ebola can only be contained through quarantine that is where non-essential travel, via air, sea and overland must be shut down. From what I read the situation over there is out of control and not getting any better. American and international response thus far, is nothing to be proud of.