Unbelievable! 7/17 - FDA Closes Labs | 7/18 - Bush Creates Panel to Review Food Imports

[tecelote]

First I read this yesterday on the 17th...

Congress: FDA Lab Close Dangerous
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1644080,00.html

Excerpt: "A Food and Drug Administration plan to close half its laboratories is an assault on food safety that probably would expose more Americans to harm from unsafe food, lawmakers charged Tuesday."

Then I read this today on the 18th...

Bush Creates Panel to Review Food Imports
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/18/washington/18cnd-bush.html?ex=1342411200&en=4a441adbc5b3bca8&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Excerpt: "President Bush today created a panel of Cabinet officers and other high officials to minimize the dangers from food and other products shipped into the United States."

And, of course I thought, "How could the corporate media miss this incredible hypocrisy?" So, I looked to see if the NY Times had anything about the first story that would contrast their second and sure enough they did.

Here is another quote from the NY Times first story (F.D.A. Inspections Lax, Congress Is Told) reported on July 17th:

"Despite headlines about these imports, the F.D.A. intends to close 7 of its 13 laboratories that test for these problems. Representative Bart Stupak, a Michigan Democrat who is chairman of the subcommittee, said the closings “would likely expose Americans to even more danger from unsafe food, particularly imports."

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/18/washington/18cnd-bush.html?ex=1342411200&en=4a441adbc5b3bca8&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Here is another quote from the NY Times second story (Bush Creates Panel to Review Food Imports) reported on July 18th:

"This is, in fact, a normal piece of business,” the White House spokesman, Tony Snow, told reporters. “We get food imports from 150 countries around the world. It’s important to monitor them all."

Monitor them all by a panel of Bush appointees rather than FDA labs? WTF!

This is a very minor reason to impeach this whole administration. It is also a blaring reminder of who this administration cares about and it's not you.

Can we also impeach the corporate media?

Looks like Democracy was a grand experiment but... it is not likely to survive unless the people become more important than the dollar to these traitors.

[Vilis Veritas]

1. This is very important.

Keep it up there...

[aquart]

2. If it's unbelievable, BushCo really did it.

It's their specialty.

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. Clarification: If it is unbelievably *stupid*

If BushCo did something intelligent, non-partisan and/or not blatantly hypocritical, that would be unbelievable.

[aquart]

9. I stand corrected. You are quite right.

[Ian David]

7. Fire the food inspectors and just say grace before you eat. n/t

[ThomCat]

3. Our health and safety is for sale.

We're all acceptable losses if there's a profit to be made.

Damn the republicans. :mad:

[Ian David]

5. I wonder which food industry lobbyist he'll put on the panel?

Of course, it will have to be someone who thinks Roe v Wade needs to be overturned.

[Arkansas Granny]

11. Check the donor lists to the Republican party large donors

and you'll have your potential list of appointees. You might also make a list of the people in his administration who are the least qualified to serve on such a panel and you will probably find more who will be considered for appointments. It will be someone who has the best interests of corporate America and the Republican party as their prime responsibilities.

[Totally Committed]

6. "Looks like Democracy was a grand experiment but...

... it is not likely to survive unless the people become more important than the dollar to these traitors."

Until we stop blindly electing CORPORATISTS OF BOTH PARTIES, this is the reality we face. The $$$ will always be more important than the people. ALWAYS.

TC

[sandnsea]

8. boycott media sponsors

Bobby said it. Teresa said it. I don't know when in the hell we're going to get together and do it.

[NancyBreen]

19. Media sponsers are not selling anything we can boycott n/t

[sandnsea]

31. Advertisers don't sell stuff?? n/t

[Eugene]

10. It's believable. It's classic Bushism.

This is compassionate conservatism at work: be seen to care
about people while you quietly scheme to throw them to the
corporate wolves. Touting the FDA while crippling it is
S.O.P. at Bush & Co.

Another day, another outrage.

[Buzz Clik]

12. He's done this time and time again. Remember his "support" for alternative energy?

He was to have a photo-op at a facility declaraing his undying dedication to wind, solar, etc. But -- oops! His had slashed their budget just a coupled of weeks prior to his arrival, and their staff had been reduced by nearly 50%, and they were PISSED.

Never -- NEVER -- believe a single word that comes out of the man's mouth. It's always bullshit.

[Sapere aude]

13. "the people become more important than the dollar," The people put them in power.

The people don't mind getting screwed now and then. They will never blame Bush.

[TheUnspeakable]

14. k&r-my God-what's next? n/t

[Lucinda]

15. Sooo this is the esteemed panel of experts, eh?

"...The chairman of the new unit will be the secretary of Health and Human Services, currently Michael O. Leavitt. Other members will include Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr., Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales.

The unit will also include the director of the Office of Management and Budget, the United States Trade Representative, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission and other officials to be determined by Mr. Leavitt, the president’s order said..."

Somehow, I'm not surprised.

[Gloria]

20. Gee, Condi will look lovely in a lab coat.....

:sarcasm:

[yy4me]

16. I'm running out of creative descriptions about this administration

that I can use in mixed company. I think that we all should have our own food taster, just like chimpy. If this idiot administration does not wipe us out with its foreign policies, the rotten food will get us. I've had it. Please, someone, start the revolution. This granny wants to march!

[tiptoe]

21. .del

[Laurab]

17. Damn I tried to recommend twice - this IS important

King George thinks that manufacturers can monitor themselves. The FDA labs that are left since the last purge - sometime in the late 1990's, I think, are not enough to inspect our food and drug supply, much less afford more labs closing. I cannot believe they are doing this - well, I can, it's the *shit administration, but I think we are going to suffer dearly for this.

"Reviewing" food imports isn't quite the same as testing them - I just can't imagine what is going to be in our food supply by the time these idiots are done.

[NancyBreen]

18. Anytime King George appoints someone,

cronies or sons and daughters of cronies, they have no experience or expertise. Do you suppose that since China owns us, King George will outsource? At least China has a method for punishing f*ck-ups.

[tiptoe]

22. A chaotic event being 'set up'...next "9/11" to be a bio-disaster? (It's what they do) nt

[Contrary1]

32. Actually, I think King George and his merry band of cohorts

want to be in control of the food supply themselves.

What better way to...?

[AzDar]

23. K & R .....

[anitar1]

24. I noticed the media blitz started on Monday in the MSM.

Stories stating how china was cleaning up all their factories ect. Pictures were shown of production lines . workers were dressed in the cleanest clothes ect. I knew immediately that this was a Bush plan to address the "problems". They will do NOTHING about this problem. Poor maligned Chinese, says Bushco. So glad I have changed shopping habits. They really think we are all stupid.

[Perry Logan]

25. The corporate media should be charged with war crimes--for inciting the people to violence...

...in the build-up to the invasion of Iraq. These are violations of international law.

[Lasher]

26. Ghost panel

He creates a panel and then appoints members of his cabinet to serve on it. Now they are charged with doing what they were already supposed to be doing. Might come in handy as a smokescreen if they decide to gut the FDA, the way they did FEMA.

[Vinca]

27. You weren't supposed to notice the part about the labs closing. nt

[mod mom]

28. IMPEACH the BASTARD already!

[tiptoe]

29. It's preliminary to *Co REPLACING gov't labs w Private(-Interest) Labs== Compromised Public Interest

These are election criminals, whose Public Service loyalties can be esteemed by their contempt for Democracy and the Constitution.

Flush them out and exile 'em! They're polluting America the Beautiful (and killing innocent people worldwide, including real Americans respectful of the Constitution and duped into criminal wars.)

[april]

30. I want GW ,Cheney, Rove and ect to be the taste testers....nm

[Uncle Joe]

33. Kicked and recommended

Thanks for the thread tecelote.

[Shallah Kali]

34. Standard Bush Co Operating Procedure - fire the inspectors, weaken laws, then whitewash with a blue

ribbon panel so the people will think their government is actually acting for their interest instead of for more important entities - the Corporations.