Is This Really a "National Emergency"?

Obama declares swine flu a national emergency

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama declared the swine flu outbreak a national emergency, giving his health chief the power to let hospitals move emergency rooms offsite to speed treatment and protect noninfected patients.

The declaration, signed Friday night and announced Saturday, comes with the disease more prevalent than ever in the country and production delays undercutting the government's initial, optimistic estimates that as many as 120 million doses of the vaccine could be available by mid-October.

Most certainly, "forewarned is forearmed" and it's always better to be over prepared than under prepared, but is this truly a "National Emergency"?

Much of the news on this Swine Flu, excuse me, "H1N1", seems a bit overblown and many of the statistics are unclear. A declaration of a "National Emergency" should be based on hard facts, and the decision to make such a declaration should be made with the utmost seriousness.

Upon review of Declared National Emergencies 1976-2007 (see table, pp.16-18), there seems to have been "National Emergencies" declared for any number of reasons, some very serious in nature, and some somewhat frivolous when viewed from the perspective of history. These declarations have been made by a variety of Presidents, from both parties.

Expansion of Executive Branch power should always be viewed with a healthy dose of scepticism, and in this case, I must say that I am sceptical that this particular situation rises to the level of "National Emergency". My scepticism is fortified by this particular administration's lust to control everything from American business, to our free press.

After all, it was Rahm Emanuel, the current White House Chief of Staff, who said:

"You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before."

Granted, he was speaking of the "energy crisis", but philosophy is philosophy, and this administration has followed this same philosophy on a number of issues; using crisis after crisis to expand the reach of government.

Now, we have a declared "National Emergency" as a result of this H1N1 virus, and I have to ask myself, "is this really an emergency, or another instance of the administration seizing an opportunity?"

I suggest you ask yourself the same question.

What Now, "Stimulus" for Muslim Countries?

"But when you want money for people with minds that hate All I can tell is brother you have to wait"

"Revolution"
The Beatles

Obama offers millions in Muslim technology fund

The White House Friday highlighted a new multi-million-dollar technology fund for Muslim nations, following a pledge made by President Barack Obama in his landmark
speech to the Islamic world.

The White House said the US Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) had issued a call for proposals for the fund, which will provide financing of between 25 and 150 million dollars for selected projects and funds.

The Global Technology and Innovation Fund will "catalyze and facilitate private sector
investments" throughout Asia, the Middle East and Africa, the White House said in a statement.

How many $ TRILLIONS in petro dollars have we pumped into the Middle East, and what have they done with it? It’s been funneled into the coffers of a select few who never saw any need to use it to upgrade their society. To this day, they can’t even manufacture a paper clip, and they can’t even get the oil out of the ground without Western technology.

They have had all of the resources imaginable, yet the select few with the wealth have chosen to expend those resources on ostentatious displays of personal indulgence.

Those petro dollars are directly responsible for the deaths of 3,000 Americans on 9/11 as well as all of the Americans lost in protecting them from the monsters that THEY created.

THEY OWE US!!!!

The thought of The U.S. spending OUR money in the betterment of their lot is infuriating beyond my ability of expression.

Let the Mohammedans deal with the ignorant, poverty stricken masses that they created, and whenever and where ever they threaten our way of life, let them experience the wrath of a free people.

Barack Obama: Nobel Laureate?

I can't say I'm the least bit surprised; if a terrorist pig like Arafat can win the "Nobel Peace Prize", I suppose anyone can; even a man who has done nothing constructive. Yes, even a man who strides the Earth like a Colossus, replete with the hollowness of the original structure at Rhodes can be honored as a "peacemaker".

Obama is shaping up to be one of the most transformational figures in American history. Alas, the transformation is not beneficial for America, or the world at large. Peace is not "made" it is won.

This “Internationalist” is bent on taking cues from failed, emasculated states like the EU and remaking America in their image. Needless to say the “International Community” is enthralled, thinking this more malleable U.S. will be good for “the World”.

Much of the EU is defenseless, depending on the U.S. for their safety for more than 60 years. They no little of the horror and carnage of the past and they seem to care even less.

As for the U.S., we seem to have short memories. We are easily lulled into a sense of well being by flowery rhetoric about “peace”, “hope” and “change” while our enemies relentlessly plot against us. A mere 8 years after 9/11 we have filed that dark day into the ancient history file, seemingly unaware that something even more ghastly could happen tomorrow.

This President’s sophomoric worldview, combined with his pathological need to be loved by the “community of the World” may well prove to be a tragic combination.

At 56, I can honestly say that I have NEVER felt less safe in my life. "Colossus" is no more; a victim of relentless reality. President Obama would do well to examine those realities lest the same fate befall him, and his countrymen.