MSNBC is pounding:
A couple of weeks ago, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) started making appearances on far-right radio, questioning Ebola assessments from the actual experts, blaming “political correctness,” and raising threats that seemed plainly at odds with the facts.
Soon after, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who directs the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Institutes at NIH, appeared on CBS and was presented with the Republican senator’s assessment. “I don’t think that there’s data to tell us that that’s a correct statement, with all due respect,” the doctor said.
At the risk of putting too fine a point on this, it’s no longer clear just how much respect Rand Paul is due...
Yes, if there’s one person who has standing to whine about “a basic level of competence,” it’s the often confused junior senator from Kentucky – the one who’s deliberately contradicting medical experts, confusing the public at a difficult time.
To reiterate a point from our previous coverage, because Rand Paul has a medical background, some may be more inclined to take his concerns seriously on matters of science and public health...
To assume Paul knows what he’s talking about, and that he has more credibility that [sic]legitimate medical experts, is a mistake.
Stepping back, though, there’s a larger context to consider, especially as the senator prepares for a national campaign. When the pressure is high and conditions get tense, the public can learn a lot about a potential leader. Do they maintain grace under fire or do they start to crack? Can they remain calm and responsible in the face of fear or do they run wild-eyed in misguided directions? Do they maintain their composure and keep a level head or do they encourage panic and anxiety?
The past couple of weeks have told us something important about Rand Paul, but none of what we’re learning casts the senator in a positive light.
Dogsh*t is mad about the catsh*t taking some of their market share. Boo hoo.
ReplyDeleteWe shall see over the next few weeks whether Rand's comments were valid.
ReplyDeleteThe epic mishandling of things in Dallas tend to make me think Rand may be right to be afraid.
His comments about the possibility that it is airborne were irresponsible and showed ignorance about the genetics of the virus, but his fear that it could spread in the US (or, more likely, spread to other countries and then spread further in the US) is valid and scary.
I want to add that I do not fear the virus itself as much as the impact that even a few dozen infections would have on our fragile systems.
ReplyDeleteUrban centers need a constant supply of food- what happens when drivers are afraid to enter certain cities A?
When that drives the cost of food higher, how will the urban primitive population react?
How will hospitals in cities that have even one or two ebola patients react when people show up with flu-like symptoms?
Our systems are not robust in any area. Bureaucratic bullshit rules all.