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tuvor Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 07:20 AM
Original message
GOP Wants to Create Secretive Gov't Agency
By ANDREW BRIDGES, Associated Press Writer 18 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - By creating a federal agency shielded from public scrutiny, some lawmakers think they can speed the development and testing of new drugs and vaccines needed to respond to a bioterrorist attack or super-flu pandemic.

The proposed Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency, or BARDA, would be exempt from long-standing open records and meetings laws that apply to most government departments, according to legislation approved Oct. 18 by the Senate health committee.

Those exemptions would streamline the development process, safeguard national security and protect the proprietary interests of drug companies, say Republican backers of the bill. The legislation also proposes giving manufacturers immunity from liability in exchange for their participation in the public-private effort.

"We must ensure the federal government acts as a partner with the private sector, providing the incentives and protections necessary to bring more and better drugs and vaccines to market faster," Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., said when the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions approved the bill.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051202/ap_on_go_ot/vaccine_agency
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ixion Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 07:22 AM
Response to Original message
1. somone tell me again why rethugs get to hold on to the 'small government'
mantle, when all they do is spend money and create bloated, bogus agencies and departments (can you say DHS?), and spend money into oblivion. Yet, they claim to be the party of fiscal restraint and small government.

I'm sorry, I have to stop writing. My head is spinning from the massive illogic of that previous statement.

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Tace Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 07:29 AM
Response to Original message
2. Every Day Another Step Deeper Into American Fascism
I'm depressed.
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DBoon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 09:43 AM
Response to Reply #2
12. "paging Doctor Mengele"
"please report to the secret experiments area"
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Javaman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 02:08 PM
Response to Reply #12
18. I was thinking the same exact thing, there own little trial and error farm
they are pigs.
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classysassy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 03:30 PM
Response to Reply #18
19. Pigs
pigs,are tasty those bastards are devil dogs.
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Javaman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 03:43 PM
Response to Reply #19
20. I don't know, I think Devil Dogs are quite tasty, cream filling and all...
maybe not pigs or devil dogs, more like rat puke. :)
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cantstandbush Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 10:08 PM
Response to Reply #2
69. So if they secretly test humans, we will never know about it.
Syphilis scandal squared.
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katty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-05-05 02:25 PM
Response to Reply #2
97. they want MORE Secrecy?! look at trackrecord of lies so far!
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zbdent Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 07:47 AM
Response to Original message
3. Okay, so let's allow them to test the drugs on humans
specifically, the small children of registered Republicans . . .
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leveymg Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 07:54 AM
Response to Reply #3
4. And, release new drugs without testing them >
Edited on Fri Dec-02-05 07:55 AM by leveymg
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zbdent Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 08:25 AM
Response to Reply #4
8. Only to the righties
would be interesting to see how many of them would be ecstatic to have thalidomide babies . . .
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Yavin4 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 08:41 AM
Response to Reply #3
10. They Have Plenty of Human Test Subjects
Gitmo
Homeless Katrina Hurricane victims
CIA Black sites around the globe
People who can't get food stamps

The list goes on and on.
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Nomen Tuum Donating Member (396 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 08:45 AM
Response to Reply #3
11. Can you say "TUSKEEGEE EXPERIMENT" boys and girls??????????
How much more of this are we going to allow?
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justabob Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 03:49 PM
Response to Reply #3
21. Apparently its ok to test pesticides on small children, why not drugs?
Reading about these new rule changes is really stunning. It really does read like a page from Mengele's book.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/epa6.cfm

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/09/15/MNG2NENN801.DTL
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rodeodance Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 08:05 AM
Response to Original message
5. its a bad sign --from all angles.
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Tippy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 08:19 AM
Response to Original message
6. The first question that should be asked is
Will Bush Cheney and their families volunteer to have the drugs tested on them.....
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Bridget Burke Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 08:19 AM
Response to Original message
7. Science runs on "information"
The hell with the drug companies. Of course, "streamlining" means removing regulations.
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0007 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 08:38 AM
Response to Original message
9. Worked with Dick Cheney.
The real sell will be, to keep things secret so the government can bring to trial this admistration & junior in a quick type of orderly action. wink wink!

ABRAMOFF’S SCANDAL PARTNERS INCLUDE BUSH PIONEERS, THE MOB, U.S. DEFENSE CONTRACTORS, AND "PROFESSIONAL CHRISTIANS"


What’s being hidden from view is a graveyard filled with spirits from the major unresolved American scandals of the recent past.


Real American Hero

Read all about Here If ya indeed care

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BanzaiBonnie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 10:02 AM
Response to Original message
13. This is what gets me --- and we should start using it against corporations


"We must ensure the federal government acts as a partner with the private sector, providing the incentives and protections necessary to bring more and better drugs and vaccines to market faster," Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., said when the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions approved the bill.

Why must we ensure the federal government acts as a partner to business?

We must begin to address a little thing that I call

CORPORATE SOCIALISM

Take from the people and give to the corporations and then the corporations get their reward on both the front and back end of the deal.

Perhaps the general public will understand

CORPORATE SOCIALISM

better than fascism which is what it really is when the state and corporations are bonded.

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thecrow Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 10:36 AM
Response to Original message
14. Don't they already HAVE enough "secret agencies"????
OSP, WHIG, PNAC, "The Shadow Gov't"... etc etc.....????????
It's bad enough they want to play with our lives and economics.
Now they want to venture into our health with no restrictions???

Things I thought I'd never say in 1999.
Good Lord!
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Brooklyn Michael Donating Member (403 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 10:40 AM
Response to Original message
15. "We must ensure the federal government....
"....acts as a partner with the private sector to ensure that general public doesn't find a damn thing about what we're doing, who we're doing it to, what ethical trespasses might occur, and certainly...CERTAINLY...to absolve us from any responsibility if something goes horribly, horribly wrong."

Because being held accountable for your actions is SO un-American.
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raysr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 10:56 AM
Response to Original message
16. Yeah, I'll bet they
do. The more they can hide the more $$$$$ they can steal for der Monkey!
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depakid Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 11:10 AM
Response to Original message
17. Welp, Dems have the power to filibuster this
Like they do many Republican proposals.

And they have the ability to take action against DINO's who side with the far right.

Maybe once they start acting like an opposition party again- instead of just whining about things, people will see them standing up and start voting for them again.

Seems to me that this is yet another excellent place to start.
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NVMojo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Original message
22. GOP Wants to Create Secretive Gov't Agency
If this doesn't have "crooks" written all over it, I don't know what does ...

WASHINGTON (AP) - By creating a federal agency shielded from public scrutiny, some lawmakers think they can speed the development and testing of new drugs and vaccines needed to respond to a bioterrorist attack or super-flu pandemic.

The proposed Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency, or BARDA, would be exempt from long-standing open records and meetings laws that apply to most government departments, according to legislation approved Oct. 18 by the Senate health committee.

Those exemptions would streamline the development process, safeguard national security and protect the proprietary interests of drug companies, say Republican backers of the bill. The legislation also proposes giving manufacturers immunity from liability in exchange for their participation in the public-private effort.

"We must ensure the federal government acts as a partner with the private sector, providing the incentives and protections necessary to bring more and better drugs and vaccines to market faster," Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., said when the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions approved the bill.

more...

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/bw-other/2005/dec/02/120200005.html
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savemefromdumbya Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #22
23. OMG
4th Reich
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NVMojo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #23
28. ...and don't forget, isn't it Rumsfeld who has stock in Tamiflu???
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savemefromdumbya Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #28
32. our congressmen should be making a song and dance about this one!
letters to senators please
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stickdog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 08:40 PM
Response to Reply #28
67. How was the GOD DAMN Chairman of the Board of the company
that invented it up until the time Bush appointed him Secretary of Defense!
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JerseygirlCT Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #23
45. Took the words out of my mouth. nt
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KittyWampus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #22
24. How many microbiologists were found dead? They already have this Dept
just like OSP. They talk about it, it gets shot down, but they go ahead and do it anyway.
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lovuian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 10:09 PM
Response to Reply #24
70. I agree the testing is going on even now!!!
the test subjects are the abandoned in society!!!
free test subjects... this sends chills down my spine!!!
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IA_Seth Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #22
25. Not usually a conspiracy advocate....
but to me this sounds like the type of group that would end up doing testing on citizens, unbeknownst to them of course.

Similar to our treatment of Native and African Americans.

Scary shit indeed.
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Megahurtz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #22
26. So THIS is why they started the Bird Flu scare!
:tinfoilhat:
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KittyWampus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #22
27. Did the US Govt ever find out who sent that Govt. Grade Anthrax to Dems?
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savemefromdumbya Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #27
30. the gov knew that the gov sent out the anthrax
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Solon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #27
46. It was both a dry run on the lethality of Anthrax...
as a bioweapon, by certain segments of the government, and at the same time, political intimidation by the GOP against Democrats.
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LeftHander Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #22
29. Another ONE!!
how many do we need....
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sui generis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #22
31. Here's a short answer: NO.
You had me at hell no.
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Neocondriac Donating Member (732 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #22
33. Just another step along the way to .....
The New World Order.These are dangerous times.
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Megahurtz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #33
36. This is Truely Frightening.
:scared:
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savemefromdumbya Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #22
34. Nominate this for the DU main page
they sneak these things through. Thanks for reminding us.
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triguy46 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #22
35. Everything they want to do requires secrecy, and for good reason...
It includes selling out the public, using protected information for political gain, getting a rolls royce and antique commodes, making sweetheart deals with big business.

When will this madness stop? Can we not now say, after the Katrina disaster, that these assholes are incompetent, untrustworthy, criminal, greedy, avaricious, self centered and will not do ANYTHING that will help the public. Enough is enough. We know they have no shame, that is apparant every day.

LAstly, their small, insipid, and fundie based view of science is a threat to all of us. You cannot do research in a vacuum, it requires interaction, it requires testing, it requries peered review. Who is guarding the frickin hen house with these charlatans in charge? The party of incomeptence, of big spending and passing debt to future generations must be stopped.
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savemefromdumbya Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #35
38. the lengths they go to, to cover up take 9/11
you just have to look at the whitewash of the 9/11 commission. The head personnel FAA and NORAD should have been jailed. The heads of our military should have been courtmarshalled and jailed. In fact the whole Bush administration should have been jailed. Why were Bush and Cheney let off. They should have testified under oath. Families of the victims however are not going to let this rest.........
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Triana Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #22
37. This has corporatocracy/plutocracy written all over it...
...at the expense of the general public, of course.

"protect the proprietary interests of drug companies"..."give manufacturers immunity from liability..."..."We must ensure the federal government acts as a partner with the private sector".

...REALLY? Isn't that what they ALWAYS do? Corprat welfare - the rest of us bedamned. Let's just let the corprats put any damned drug on the market they want whenever they want and if/when it kills someone or otherwise ruins their health and lives - no liability whatsoever. Just feed the public whatever - no safeguards, nothing.

AS IT IS, the FDA and our gov't doesn't do enough to ensure drugs that ARE ALREADY ON THE MARKET are safe - and ones that are PROVEN SAFE (ie: RU-486, contraceptives, etc.) they try to keep OFF the market due to the CONservatives' EMOTIONAL RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

The utter stupidity, lack of ANY reason, irony, danger, underhandedness, and SLEEEZE in all this is just mind-boggling.

WHO thinks that MORE gov't in bed with business is going to PROTECT the Public?

Not me...what a load of horse crap.
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Ilsa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #22
39. Have the Rethugs all line up for their experimental vaxes.
Yeah, I figured that. Just like them showing up for their TANG duty.
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nashville_brook Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #22
40. CODE NAME: Capt. TRIPS
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Pastiche423 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 05:12 PM
Response to Reply #40
57. I just re-read
The Stand after twenty+ years. The whole time I was reading, I thought of what our government is doing now.
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W stands for Wacko Donating Member (99 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #22
41. This time they are trying to appear as if they asking for permission?
Just Say NO!

That should work just as well as their campaign against drugs did!
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The Backlash Cometh Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #22
42. Oh, fuck you. FUCK YOU ALREADY!
The GOP stopped being Americans a long time ago. They are beyond crooked.
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adarling Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #22
43. I thought the super secret agency was the CIA or NSA
i hate these people...i really do...:wtf:
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Clara T Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #22
44. Bio-weaponry
will certainly be a big part of this as it has been for literally centuries.
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K-W Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #22
47. Wow, was just reading about Imperial Japan's "Epidemic Prevention" program
Edited on Fri Dec-02-05 03:24 PM by K-W
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=9205

Japan's Unit 731 remains central to the fiercely contested China-Japan controversy over war crimes and war memory, and to the international debate on science and ethics. With a staff of more than 10,000, including many of Japan's top medical scientists, 731 and its affiliated units conducted human experiments, including vivisection, on Chinese and other victims in Manchukuo and throughout China between 1933 and 1945. The experiments tested, among other things, the lethality of biological weapons and sought to determine the ability of the human body to survive in the face of various pathogens and in conditions such as extreme cold.


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NVMojo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #47
48. holy smoke!
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NVMojo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #22
49. I apologize to the original poster, this is a dupe, can we combine?
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librechik Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #22
50. mandatory bird flu vaccine? That'll be ready as soon as we strain
the bird guts.

Quit complaining, it'll only cost half what the mandatory anthrax vaccine costs.
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Shadoobie Donating Member (904 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:25 PM
Response to Original message
51. Does DARPA even run this way?
From my understanding BARDA was supposed to mimic DARPA. Research projects would be funded with emphasis placed on really cutting edge research that may not get the funding from other traditional agencies.

Something smells here.

Greg
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madmark Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:32 PM
Response to Original message
52. Worst ffing idea I have ever heard, and would be the case if dems
had recommended instead of the reps. Secret governmental special interest organs devoted cronysm. Does it get worse?
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ContraBass Black Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 04:34 PM
Response to Original message
53. Whoa.
I was expecting a piece from the Onion.
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ailsagirl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 05:01 PM
Response to Original message
54. self-delete
Edited on Fri Dec-02-05 05:02 PM by ailsagirl
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Skidmore Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 05:02 PM
Response to Original message
55. They don't have enough of them?
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Us vs Them Donating Member (725 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 05:04 PM
Response to Original message
56. Shielded from public scrutiny?
By creating a federal agency shielded from public scrutiny, some lawmakers think they can speed the development and testing of new drugs and vaccines needed to respond to a bioterrorist attack or super-flu pandemic.

That pesky public. Always caring about lame stuff like 'side-effects,' long term usage harms, and where the money leads.
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HuffleClaw Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 05:12 PM
Response to Original message
58. "protect the proprietary interests of drug companies"
and no oversight? egad, this is truly scary. 'immunity from liability' too. this says 'bioweapons research' to me.
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Wordie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 05:36 PM
Response to Original message
59. The drug industry wishes to avoid publication of its research.
The drug industry has been taking lots of hits in the US press lately, this is probably some industry person's brilliant idea to avoid such pesky scruitiny. The drug industry wishes to avoid publishing its research on the drugs it sells; there have been moves to require publication of all such research. I sure hope the Dems are not gonna let this one get by them. The industry claims that the reason for resisting the publication of research data is that proprietary information would be exposed, and vulnerable. But there is evidence that for instance, when the results of an industry study suggest that a drug is not effective, or even dangerous, that information is withheld from the public. There are many ways to achieve the ends of supporting US industry without resorting to this sort of scary secret method, which puts the US consumer at risk.

There is an easy way to protect proprietary interests, while still assuring the public is protected. Pass a law requiring that the public have access to all research studies, but with the formulas and other proprietary information blacked out or otherwise obscured. The specific formulation of a drug is not necessary when a scientist wishes to review the research design or outcomes.

All of us at DU can see how well secrecy has worked for the administration so far......what's up with Fitzgerald, btw?
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xchrom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 05:58 PM
Response to Original message
60. facists love this secret agencies and drugs crap, don't they?
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firefox Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 06:11 PM
Response to Original message
61. Can you say "medical facsism"? nt
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Straight Shooter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 06:12 PM
Response to Original message
62. History of Secret Experimentation on U.S. Citizens, 1931 - 1997
Genuine, documented cases where our "government" decided, hey, why not experiment on citizens? They can't fight back!

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/pages/experimentation.html

Here are three splendid experiments *gag* from that link:

1932 The Tuskegee Syphilis Study begins. 200 black men diagnosed with syphilis are never told of their illness, are denied treatment, and instead are used as human guinea pigs in order to follow the progression and symptoms of the disease. They all subsequently die from syphilis, their families never told that they could have been treated.

1935 The Pellagra Incident. After millions of individuals die from Pellagra over a span of two decades, the U.S. Public Health Service finally acts to stem the disease. The director of the agency admits it had known for at least 20 years that Pellagra is caused by a niacin deficiency but failed to act since most of the deaths occured within poverty-striken black populations.

1940 Four hundred prisoners in Chicago are infected with Malaria in order to study the effects of new and experimental drugs to combat the disease. Nazi doctors later on trial at Nuremberg cite this American study to defend their own actions during the Holocaust.





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zann725 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 06:12 PM
Response to Original message
63. So they'll "test" these drugs on the poor, and Medicare patients?
But because it's a "secret" government program, those "tested" probably won't be told. Why go to a Third World Country (as in "Constant Gardener"), when there's enough secret government protection "at home?"

The inmates, the poor, the elderly and sick (Medicare recipients) may very well soon "pre-test" drugs intended to "protect" more "valuable" members of society.
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tabasco Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 06:20 PM
Response to Original message
64. Yes, maybe put drugs in the drinking water without our knowledge.
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MountainLaurel Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 07:58 PM
Response to Original message
65. Don't they have enough already?!
Kee-rist.
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stickdog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 08:38 PM
Response to Original message
66. Do you get it now, SUCKERS???
Edited on Fri Dec-02-05 08:42 PM by stickdog
Avian flu is currently NOT contagious through human to human contact.

It would require a series of random genetic mutations (or willful genetic engineering) to make it contagious among humans.

Now, do all of you understand what is going on here? The Repukes' proposed "cures" are far more dangerous and insidious than any potential threat of a naturally occurring pandemic!
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Generator Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 10:24 PM
Response to Reply #66
72. I try to not be paranoid nutter with tinfoil
I really do. But when Bush pays attention to something, and cares about something I get suspicious.He ignores global warming, our cities, anything to do with history, and most of the rest of the world and suddenly is concerned with the bird flu. Why? Why not wait until many deaths and it's a crisis like his his normal m.o.?

Hmmmm..just like he was for social security reform for me huh?
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NuttyFluffers Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 10:05 PM
Response to Original message
68. why does my deeply cynical mind first think, "Mengele"?
perhaps i'm just jaded. or perhaps i've read too much about how *everything* these people say is the opposite. hmm, womder what bliss it'd be like to watch 'survivor' and be oblivious to this... nah, wouldn't trade consciousness for 'bliss,' i'd feel like a hog ready for slaughter.
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Generator Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 10:16 PM
Response to Original message
71. This is Scooter Libby's wet dream come true
Edited on Fri Dec-02-05 10:18 PM by Generator
Apparently he's still on the case. Germs was his fascination, he wanted to get everyone in the country innoculated against Smallpox. And guess who wrote the book Germs, you know, Ms. I wrote whatever I wanted until that mean Fitzgerald man stopped me and I was forced to take millions in "retirement".

Don't tell me "they" yes dammit-they are an evil cabal of insiders that are trying to make everything secret and under their control aren't behind this. Libby's one of the gang.

Secret WHIG. Secret energy meetings. Secret health department. Is this a science fiction movie or America?
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lovuian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 10:28 PM
Response to Original message
73. I swear we are in the XFiles looking at the Smokin Man's
agency!!!
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anotherdrew Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 10:57 PM
Response to Original message
74. so why haven't the democrats pronounced this "dead on arrival"
I thought they were starting to get the clue that people expect them to fight shit like this, publicly, as well as with their votes.
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NVMojo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-03-05 12:41 AM
Response to Reply #74
76. send it to Reid with a letter asking him to stop it now!!
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BjohnsonMN Donating Member (81 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-02-05 11:42 PM
Response to Original message
75. This is sickening...spread it widely
No reasonable American could possibly support this. This issue could not help the GOP at all, so let us fight this one hard. The only way they win on this issue is if people ignore it, we can not allow this to come to a vote before the public knows what is being voted on.
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BenDavid Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-03-05 12:43 AM
Response to Original message
77. bush knew
Bush knew that 11 soldiers were killed in Iraq before he went into the rose garden to give some good news on the economy Friday morning. As you will recall he did not mention it. 26 minutes later after his speech the news broke to the press. McCellan said bush knew before he gave the speech....
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CoffeeCat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-03-05 12:55 AM
Response to Original message
78. I really don't get this at all...DARPA all ready performs these functions.
It seems as though the only difference between DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Project Agency), an arm of the DOD--and BARDA--is that BARDA would be shrouded in secrecy.

Certain branches of DARPA are solely devoted to the research, exploration and study of biomedical "countermeasures" that could help the human body fend off attacks from a biological attack. The research topics that these Republicans are wanting to house under BARDA--are currently covered within DARPA

Obviously, the sole purpose of BARDA--is to create a DARPA that operates under rules of secrecy and without accountability.

I find this news to be incredibly frightening.

The CIA is subject to the Freedom of Information Act, but this new agency--which researches and explores biological terrorism, vaccines and pharmaceutical solutions in the event of bio-terror attacks---wants to hide in the shadows.

This is sick. It's nonsense.

Obviously, they want an agency that allows them to hide. People with nothing to hide--hide nothing. So, what in the hell are these people planning to do?

Everyone should be writing their local politicians and aggressively protesting this.

It really is outrageous.

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PinkyisBlue Donating Member (617 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-03-05 12:56 AM
Response to Original message
79. Twins
Watch for them to do some "research" on identical twins; twin A takes the little blue pill and twin B takes the purple pill. Oops, twin B became really sick and had to be hospitalized. I can't imagine why.

Perhaps with health care so expensive now, a person will be able to "volunteer" to participate in a drug study and will receive free health care for the duration of the study. And they will sign a waiver absolving the drug company of any liability if something goes terribly wrong during the study.

And all those babies born to poor women who can't afford to raise them will be put into orphanages and become wards of the state. Aha, willing child volunteers for testing new drugs and procedures!! The culture of life continues.

Meanwhile, the corporations will have absolutely nothing to risk and everything to gain (as will those government employees who are in on the scam). Spend the taxpayers money to develop new drugs, test the drugs on the above "volunteers" and, if the drug works, voila....sell to the government and public for top dollar, reaping rich rewards. If the drug is a failure and kills people, no biggie; because there's no liability by the drug company and it used public money to develop the drug, the company loses nothing and works to develop another drug. It's us, the taxpayer, who loses out once again.
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paineinthearse Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-03-05 01:27 AM
Response to Original message
80. Is anyone monitoring BARDA?
I used the advanced serach for BARDA. In GENERAL alone there were 8 significant posts:

8 topics match your criteria General Discussion forum

An e-mail my mom wrote re: the bird flu--good points--URGENT!
Topic started by jackelope72 on Nov-13-05 08:44 PM (40 replies)

Last modified by Mojorabbit on Nov-14-05 11:38 PM
Frist urges germ spies (Action alert contacts here)
Topic started by Lori Price CLG on Nov-06-05 12:15 PM (2 replies)

Last modified by Lori Price CLG on Nov-06-05 01:14 PM
URGENT - CALL THESE POLITICIANS PUSHING FOR FORCED VACCINES !!!
Topic started by pola on Oct-23-05 07:46 PM (266 replies)

Last modified by Raine on Oct-25-05 09:36 PM
Holy shit drug companies immune from law!
Topic started by undergroundpanther on Oct-22-05 12:16 AM (75 replies)

Last modified by pola on Oct-23-05 07:42 PM
CHILLING IF TRUE: Rumsfeld To Profit From Avian Flu Hoax
Topic started by BigBearJohn on Oct-21-05 10:15 PM (53 replies)

Last modified by rosesaylavee on Oct-22-05 03:43 PM
Congress set to eliminate liability for vaccine injuries (Action alert!)
Topic started by Lori Price CLG on Oct-20-05 02:05 PM (8 replies)

Last modified by newyawker99 on Oct-20-05 05:07 PM
Rep Conyers: "if Members ... can't speak the truth to these wingnuts ..."
Topic started by understandinglife on Sep-30-05 11:06 PM (31 replies)

Last modified by understandinglife on Oct-02-05 05:31 PM
The Bush Mafia
Topic started by Octafish on Sep-10-05 01:23 PM (118 replies)
Last modified by Octafish on Sep-15-05 09:18 AM
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DallasNE Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-03-05 02:11 AM
Response to Original message
81. Somebody Please Explain To Me
How a bill that removes both accountability and safeguards is in the public interest. Why is sunshine such a bad idea? And why should a company be exempt from liability for creating a defective product?

This Republican sponsored bill makes no sense. Nothing new there though.
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area51 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-03-05 11:57 AM
Response to Reply #81
86. Welcome.
Welcome to DU, DallasNE.
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Nightwing Donating Member (489 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-03-05 07:12 AM
Response to Original message
82. Puts the exclamation point on let's get rid of these pricks
No way in hell should this stand. It smells to high heaven and will only lead to many more abuses by the Federal government. I could only imagine Faux news' outrage if a sitting Dem President proposed such a clandestine agency that would be above the law.

Damn them all to hell!!!
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No Exit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-03-05 07:17 AM
Response to Original message
83. Gad, they never give up, do they?
We now are everything we used to say the Soviet Union was.
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Lost4words Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-03-05 07:28 AM
Response to Original message
84. Super Secret Intel Agency or SS for short, no doubt. n/t
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IowaGuy Donating Member (515 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-03-05 10:17 AM
Response to Original message
85. Yeah, right......
This is in our best interests and security to create a gov't agency beholden to nobody with no public oversight (sarcasm off)....why do the repugs hate an open, free and democratic govt? This is just another port for corrupt politicians and bureaucrats, politicians to exploit for their own personal gain at the expense of of the American taxpayer....
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enough Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-03-05 12:34 PM
Response to Original message
87. kick
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TankLV Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-03-05 02:28 PM
Response to Original message
88. First - I don't trust ANYTHING these repukes create in the first place!
They didn't get "elected" the first time around, and even if this was by some other administration that legally got elected and the got the most votes - this would still be bad.

And there are still some people on this board who still say it is unfair to compare these repukes to the Nazi's!
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Mojambo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-03-05 03:00 PM
Response to Original message
89. There are totally going to be Resident Evil Zombies if they do this. n/t
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anotherdrew Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-03-05 03:13 PM
Response to Original message
90. they should make it an Organization insead of an Agency
Then it could be named BARDO

after the place they want to send us all.
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Selteri Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-03-05 05:39 PM
Response to Original message
91. Yes, the secrecy we already have is so good at serving people.
I guess they are just wanting to emulate their heros... those who stood behind a man with a bad arm and lousy choice in mustache...

AKA The Nazi party.
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obreaslan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-05-05 07:14 AM
Response to Original message
92. Can't have nasty oversights, while we try to work out the Final Solution..
:scared:


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0007 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-05-05 07:40 AM
Response to Original message
93. bttft
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myrna minx Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-05-05 10:21 AM
Response to Original message
94. Kick for this sick story.
Let's hear it for the Republican secret torture pris ions, secret drug testing, secret search and seizure raids. God these people are sickos.
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DSperoRN Donating Member (29 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-05-05 01:51 PM
Response to Original message
95. Scariest thing yet?
So now the Bushites and their allies in the drug industry will get Federal money to develop new chemicals in secret, and be protected from any financial or criminal liability for the people they kill.
All to help "protect us from terror."

Sounds like a typical GOP program, but scarier.
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superconnected Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-05-05 02:00 PM
Response to Original message
96. I thought we already had a secret gov agency in the white house.
Now the want to create more offices to create things to kill people.
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stickdog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-05-05 05:03 PM
Response to Original message
98. When Pusher comes to shove. (nt)
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Zorra Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-05-05 05:17 PM
Response to Original message
99. When homeless folks start disappearing en masse
we'll have a pretty good idea of what happened to them.

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