It has been awhile since I have reported on the state of New York. Like so many other states, we are well into the 2014 midterm election cycle. We will be either re-electing Andrew Cuomo or moving in another direction with Rob Astorino (R).
So far, Cuomo is leading by double digits, so I do not expect Astorino to win. But then again, Cuomo won't talk or debate anyone, but he is pushing a new party - the Women's Equality Party...yeah. Hey, his three daughters and current mistress Sandra Lee (Food Network star) are advertising a new political party in New York. Yeah, I feel better now.
But in other news, we have a new mayor. Oh, I know you think that Bill DeBlasio has been our mayor since January 1, 2014, but you'd be wrong. Actually he is being held hostage by Al Sharpton. Ugh. It's not it wasn't predictable. So here's the poop. Mayor Bill decided he wanted his wife to be an important part of his administration. Yey. So he appointed his wife, Chirlane to head (unpaid) the Mayor's Fund To Advance New York. So far, so good. But then she appointed as her highly paid assistant at $170K a year to be Rachel Noedlinger. Okay, not bad...well except that Noedlinger was Al Sharpton's second in command at his National Action Network. Okay, still not so bad.
But then, it has come to the attention of the press and everyone else that Ms. Noedlinger has some issues. [Surprise, surprise] As a potential highly paid employee of the city of New York one has to fill out a full disclosure form. And as always it is not what is disclose that is the problem. It is what is NOT disclosed.
First, when one applies for a city government position, one must reside in New York City. So, Noedlinger, who, like Al Sharpton, lives in New Jersey. She received a special waiver because of her son who she claimed had been in a so damaged in a car accident that he couldn't be moved. Well, he apparently was injured yet played on his high school football team. Strike One.
Next it was revealed that she forgot to inform anyone that she lived with her boyfriend who is a convicted felon - attempted murder. Now, he's served his time...but then he punched out a cop in a routine traffic violation. Oops. Then it was reported that he was stopped for another minor traffic violation while driving without a valid driver's licence (her car) and while driving under the influence of...well, a herbal substance...with Noedlinger's son. Strike two and three
Oh, that's not all. Noedlinger forgot to reveal that she has a tax lien and owes $800 worth of parking violations in NYC. Strike four and five.
Now anyone who fills out these forms and was hired by the City of New York would face immediate dismissal for any one of these disclosure failures. But not Noedlinger. The Mayor is standing by his man...Al Sharpton. Deblasio has proclaimed that there is nothing to see here and refuses to talk to the press. Deblasio has declared that there will be no other discussion and the new age of Al Sharpton has begun. Where is Mayor Bloomberg when we need him. Oh, he is back in control of Bloomberg, Inc. It turns out he really, really likes being a billionaire! Who knew?
In other news - Ebola...the saga continues.
It has been reported that a second nurse who was exposed while administering to Michael Duncan in Dallas has been diagnosed with Ebola. Now this is somewhat different because she just took a little round-trip plane trip to Cleveland with the blessing of the CDC. Now, one would think that any reasonable person who had been exposed to a highly contagious disease would self-quarantine or maybe the CDC would require them to be quarantined. But apparently these times are not reasonable. To her credit, she did seek clearance from the CDC who okayed her travel. Yet, as has been revealed, she travelled with a low-grade fever to and from Cleveland...on an airplane with the blessing of CDC. Because she is now not in good shape, she has been moved to Emory in Atlanta. And Frontier Airlines is scrambling to inform the people who flew, crewed and clean out the plane that made seven flights after she flew on it. By the way, no one has stated how long the Ebola virus hangs around on surfaces after exposure. I am SO glad the CDC is on top of this stuff.
I was recently asked what my greatest fear is. Without thinking, I immediately answered "irony". When asked what that meant, I really couldn't respond coherently. I sputtered for a few minutes and then responded that it was those "knock on wood" statements that we make. The "I could/would/should nwver" or "it could/would/should NEVER happen. But, after thinking for a few weeks, I finally can respond coherently. It is those moments when we proclaim that this could never happen and then it does. Like right now. The President has claimed for months along with the CDC that we have nothing to fear from Ebola because it...could/would/should...NEVER...happen here. Oh, the sad irony.
As an aside - I finally realized that my fear of irony was born during 9/11. The early morning of September 11, 2001, the weatherman on my radio station proclaimed "...there is no other way to say it, folks. It's gonna be a PERFECT day!" I can't recall a more imperfect day in my life...
So far, Cuomo is leading by double digits, so I do not expect Astorino to win. But then again, Cuomo won't talk or debate anyone, but he is pushing a new party - the Women's Equality Party...yeah. Hey, his three daughters and current mistress Sandra Lee (Food Network star) are advertising a new political party in New York. Yeah, I feel better now.
But in other news, we have a new mayor. Oh, I know you think that Bill DeBlasio has been our mayor since January 1, 2014, but you'd be wrong. Actually he is being held hostage by Al Sharpton. Ugh. It's not it wasn't predictable. So here's the poop. Mayor Bill decided he wanted his wife to be an important part of his administration. Yey. So he appointed his wife, Chirlane to head (unpaid) the Mayor's Fund To Advance New York. So far, so good. But then she appointed as her highly paid assistant at $170K a year to be Rachel Noedlinger. Okay, not bad...well except that Noedlinger was Al Sharpton's second in command at his National Action Network. Okay, still not so bad.
But then, it has come to the attention of the press and everyone else that Ms. Noedlinger has some issues. [Surprise, surprise] As a potential highly paid employee of the city of New York one has to fill out a full disclosure form. And as always it is not what is disclose that is the problem. It is what is NOT disclosed.
First, when one applies for a city government position, one must reside in New York City. So, Noedlinger, who, like Al Sharpton, lives in New Jersey. She received a special waiver because of her son who she claimed had been in a so damaged in a car accident that he couldn't be moved. Well, he apparently was injured yet played on his high school football team. Strike One.
Next it was revealed that she forgot to inform anyone that she lived with her boyfriend who is a convicted felon - attempted murder. Now, he's served his time...but then he punched out a cop in a routine traffic violation. Oops. Then it was reported that he was stopped for another minor traffic violation while driving without a valid driver's licence (her car) and while driving under the influence of...well, a herbal substance...with Noedlinger's son. Strike two and three
Oh, that's not all. Noedlinger forgot to reveal that she has a tax lien and owes $800 worth of parking violations in NYC. Strike four and five.
Now anyone who fills out these forms and was hired by the City of New York would face immediate dismissal for any one of these disclosure failures. But not Noedlinger. The Mayor is standing by his man...Al Sharpton. Deblasio has proclaimed that there is nothing to see here and refuses to talk to the press. Deblasio has declared that there will be no other discussion and the new age of Al Sharpton has begun. Where is Mayor Bloomberg when we need him. Oh, he is back in control of Bloomberg, Inc. It turns out he really, really likes being a billionaire! Who knew?
In other news - Ebola...the saga continues.
It has been reported that a second nurse who was exposed while administering to Michael Duncan in Dallas has been diagnosed with Ebola. Now this is somewhat different because she just took a little round-trip plane trip to Cleveland with the blessing of the CDC. Now, one would think that any reasonable person who had been exposed to a highly contagious disease would self-quarantine or maybe the CDC would require them to be quarantined. But apparently these times are not reasonable. To her credit, she did seek clearance from the CDC who okayed her travel. Yet, as has been revealed, she travelled with a low-grade fever to and from Cleveland...on an airplane with the blessing of CDC. Because she is now not in good shape, she has been moved to Emory in Atlanta. And Frontier Airlines is scrambling to inform the people who flew, crewed and clean out the plane that made seven flights after she flew on it. By the way, no one has stated how long the Ebola virus hangs around on surfaces after exposure. I am SO glad the CDC is on top of this stuff.
I was recently asked what my greatest fear is. Without thinking, I immediately answered "irony". When asked what that meant, I really couldn't respond coherently. I sputtered for a few minutes and then responded that it was those "knock on wood" statements that we make. The "I could/would/should nwver" or "it could/would/should NEVER happen. But, after thinking for a few weeks, I finally can respond coherently. It is those moments when we proclaim that this could never happen and then it does. Like right now. The President has claimed for months along with the CDC that we have nothing to fear from Ebola because it...could/would/should...NEVER...happen here. Oh, the sad irony.
As an aside - I finally realized that my fear of irony was born during 9/11. The early morning of September 11, 2001, the weatherman on my radio station proclaimed "...there is no other way to say it, folks. It's gonna be a PERFECT day!" I can't recall a more imperfect day in my life...
30 comments:
Bev, We need to connect these stories and give Al Sharpton ebola! That would make for a great story!
Andrew,
Is this his "whose ass do I kick" speech?
"Obama vows 'much more aggressive' Ebola response"
LINK
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Obama acknowledged that even foolproof plans don't work when local health care providers don't know how to carry them out -- and said his administration will make sure "certain local hospitals that may not have that experience are walked through that process as carefully as possible."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will have "SWAT teams" ready to send to hospitals where future cases are discovered, he said.
Obama has spoken with the heads of Japan, Germany, Italy, France and England to prod them to pump more resources into combating the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
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Kit, Obama has already cancelled some political fundraisers so the press can get pictures of him looking serious. I doubt he'll add words to the image of himself acting presidential.
As an aside, I like how he basically blames Japan, Germany, Italy, France and England for not solving the ebola problem. Idiot.
This Ebola thing is in some ways reminding me of Katrina (though Katrina was way worse):
Politicians and appointed officials looking completely useless in the face of an unfolding crisis. If Obama is not careful, this could be for him what Katrina was for Bush; the 2nd term event that sends him into the darkest regions of public opinion polling.
I'm sure this has all been "unexpected" to the Obama Admin.. Who knew that foolproof plans written by fools are not foolproof?
And what's with that idiotic head of the CDC? He and Obama are quickly destroying any credibility they may have had due to their "death by PC planning" and not being forthright with the public from the beginning.
They have made this entire problem exponentially worse. You would think they would at least be in synch with the WHO but they can't even do that right.
My condolences Bev on your Al Sharpton Puppet Theater Mayor.
That witless loon is gonna have a lot of New Yorkers incensed by the time he is replaced in the next mayor election.
We're shipping the Ebola to Atlanta now? Is there anyplace the CDC won't send it? I'd make some snark about how the Ebola stays contained in Omaha while it escapes every place else but... I don't want to be another purveyor of irony down the line.
Andrew - We should appoint Al Sharpton, Cornell West, and Jesse Jackson as "Special Envoys" to bridge the gap of misunderstand between the effected West African Nations and the US. They should immediately travel to all of the Ebola effected West African nations and witness first hand the dreadful conditions in which these people are being treated. And report back to us.
Kit - Obama usually opens all of his crises with the "whose ass can I kick" speech, so he is kind of late to the game.
tryanmax, Yeah, I would watch the irony at this point. I suspect we are in for a strong dose of it coming up.
Personally, I think they should quarantine these people at the White House.
Like Kit said yesterday, the Obama administration has turned Ebola into their Katrina ('You've got Ebola? Go ahead and fly!). Not that they ever had a reputation for competence...
"We're shipping the Ebola to Atlanta now? Is there anyplace the CDC won't send it?"
Tyranmax,
To be fair, the CDC is headquartered in Atlanta*. As well as Emory University Hospital which has successfully treated 3-4 Ebola patients with no confirmed breaches.
*Trivia: The CDC is headquartered there because it was originally set up to fight Malaria, which was primarily based in the Southeastern US.
FYI - They are flying the 1st nurse to NIH Special Clinical Studies Unit in Bethesda which has a top biohazard containment facility because Texas Presby is having "problems" with staffing. Imagine that!
It is unknown which commercial airlines the NIH or CDC will fly her to Maryland on [Sorry, I just had to interject a little humor]
Severely off topic, but I cannot stay quiet on this issue any longer, given the latest turn of events.
Dear San Francisco Giants:
I know you and I have our differences, given that you knocked my team out of the playoffs in a most humiliating fashion. But that being said...
Win the freakin' World Series, for Heaven's sake! Virtually my entire life, (well, that which I can remember), the Kansas City Royals have been the butt end of ever sports-related remark I've ever heard. If the Royals win, all that I have known and understand will be lost, as the universe will be thrown asunder and nothing will make sense.
Keep the balance of the cosmos in check!
An entire generation of Royals jokes and possibly even the sanity of many, many Millennials are at stake in this!
Rustbelt- if you need to speak to someone for counseling in this matter seek out a Boston Red Sox fan. If the Royals win, it will be just another sign of the pending apocalypse...
There is a lot of blame to go around. The Dallas ER screwed up. Someone asked if he had recent travel but they didn't tell the physician face-to-face. In addition the physician himself should have asked. Medical history taking 101. When they identified the situation the hospital should have recognized they were in over their heads and either transferred the patient or contacted one of the hospitals with experience. They could have flown at their cost some advisors. Much cheaper than what that hospital is going through right now. I have colleagues who practice near there and it is a disaster. The ER is closed and staff won't come in to work. They can't admit to take care of their patients. There are also typical overreaction craziness. For example, the hospital cancels a fundraising golf tournament due to ebola fears. *sigh*
The CDC's and administration's handling of the situation as typical for president Obama the Clown has be awful. Countries who have successfully contained ebola in the past have done so with good education and isolation. They have taught their people what to look for and once an outbreak has been identified, they isolate the patient and caregivers and the town until it stops. The Clown's statement that the US is not going to restrict travel from those countries was downright stupid; maybe the stupidest statement he has ever made. Isolation is infection disease control 101.
Finally, the media with their "if it bleeds it leads" approach share much of the blame. 3000+ have died in Africa from Ebola; sad but no big deal. It is estimated that somewhere between 3000 and 49,000 Americans die of the flu each year. Over 600,000 people die in the world from malaria and over a million from tuberculosis. The media has failed the American people again with their piss poor reporting.
First baseball game I went to was in Kansas City. I was probably about 7 and they were awesome although always loosing to the hated Yankees. I had lost some interest in the Royals since they won the World Series in 1985 because they were so bad. When I lived in Reno, we went to SF Giants games which were fun but I never truly embraced them. I have been following the Rookies since moving to Colorado and been to several games. That said:
GO ROYALS!!!
Koshcat, This is one of those liberal blindspots that goes back at least as far as AIDS. They think that anyone who wants to isolate people with communicable diseases is seeking to punish those people. They simple refuse to understand that the best way to stop a plague is to stop feeding it victims.
On baseball, I've lost interest in the sport over the years. I grew up watching the Yankees and the Dodgers each year, but always had a soft spot for the Cubs and the Astros. If I had to pick a team though, it would be the Indians. Not sure why, but they appealed to me in the 1980s.
Koshcat - This is why the CDC is so bad at handling this - Tom Friedan is the former head of the NYC Health Department (under Bloomberg) and the one who thought 16 oz sugary sodas were our biggest , most pressing problem and not the ever growing overpopulation of rats...
Oh, and this ought either scare you or comfort you - Joe Biden's former chief of staff is being tapped as the new "Ebola" Czar. This should maybe scare us because he may be like Joe Biden, but comfort us because that means he is REALLY good at crisis management.
***NEWS FLASH****
As if things aren't bad enough...well, I don't know who to say this?? Okay, I'll just rip that bandage right off...DO...NOT...FREAK...OUT...Charlie Sheen has cancelled his wedding plans to his porn star girlfriend! I know, I know...there are not words...
God no! Nooooooooo!!!!
This is one of those liberal blindspots that goes back at least as far as AIDS.
More lives were lost and more people were infected because it because the liberals turned it from a public health issue. to a political issue. The leaders in the gay community saw it as a way to "out" people rather than a way to "save lives". Doctors and frontline treaters were hampered by the unwillingness of gay males to be honest about partners because the questions on the face were viewed as "homophobic". Which is what it still is today, so there are MORE people especially in the gay communities who never got the "public health issue" of it and message of "safe sex" has gotten forgotten, so they there are still new infections yearly within the gay community. It was and still is stupid to me.
Don't get me started on the AIDS issue. If you get a body fluid exposure you can force the patient to be tested for everything EXCEPT HIV. You have to get permission from the patient to test him. Fortunately the community has changed to where people aren't concerned that they are positive and if they are would want to know so they can get treated.
Fortunately, I have had only one needle stick incident in my career (it was my fault) and the patient I was working on said "you couldn't pick a better patient because my social life is pretty boring."
I suspect being married to a porn star is not as glamorous as it may seem. After a hard day at work, pleasuring you is probably the last thing on her mind. Some of those women in the business are probably nymphos so when she isn't working you probably can't get a moments rest. Plus those guys in the movies all have donkey dongs so you're feeling less than adequate all the time. Then you go to a friends house and they feel like they have to show you her new video and what sick, twisted things where done to her.
Maybe Charlie is finally growing up and maturing...or he found someone else.
Koshcat - Yeah, I forgot about having to get consent to test for HIV. My brother worked in the ER during that time. It was crazy since my brother had to be tested regularly whether he wanted to or not to TREAT patients. But he could not protect himself from infection by getting patients' blood tested if he stuck himself or had to stick his hands into someone's bloodied body parts. Fun times...fun times.
Koshcat - I will not ask you how you know all those things about porn stars...{{{stares over mom-glasses}}}
I have an overactive imagination.
Off topic but two interesting stories, both relating to social conservatives.
PRO-GAY MARRIAGE REPUBLICANS…
Social Conservatives are working to torpedo pro-Gay Marriage Republicans even if it means Democrats will take their seats.
LINK
HOUSTON PASTORS SUBPOENAS…
Time Magazine has good coverage of the current Houston pastors fight.
The City of Houston passed a bill called the Equal Rights Ordinance, which contained an ordinance allowing persons who identify as transgender to use both the men's and women's bathroom.
A group of pastors are fighting it and apparently gathered a sufficient amount of signatures to get a vote for repeal. The City Attorney threw it out saying many of them contained irregularities. A legal battle ensued with the pastors and conservatives claiming he threw the signatures out illegally.
In response the City of Houston issued subpoenas to 5 pastors involved in the battle demanding all sermons related not only to the Equal Rights Ordinance and the repeal petition but also to homosexuality, the mayor, and gender identity. This caused a huge backlash and the city now appears to be backtracking, claiming the original subpoenas were drafted by "outside attorneys" (why?).
They are now only demanding for speeches related to the Equal Rights Ordinance and the signature petition. This new subpoena is probably legal while the previous subpoena was too overly broad:
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University of Houston law professor Peter Linzer says the city reached too far in issuing the subpoenas. One subpoena sent to Pastor Steve Riggle, for example, asks for “all speeches, presentations, or sermons related to [the equal rights ordinance], the petition, Mayor Annise Parker, homosexuality, or gender identity.” However, Linzer says it wouldn’t impinge on the pastors’ First Amendment rights if the city only asked only for sermons or speeches related to the signature drive. “Let’s assume they gave instructions to cheat,” Linzer says. “That would be relevant speech and I don’t see how they would have any First Amendment protection for that.”
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LINK
Her's something interesting that i am noticing in the endless parade of TV campaign ads...none of the Dems are identifying themselves as...DEMS. Is it just my imagination, or is this odd?
I keep hearing people saying that Ebola is like the HIV epidemic,,,,well, it's not. HIV is one of the most preventable diseases known, Ebola is high contagious and frankly I don't think it's as understood by scientists as they would like us to believe. This administration is floundering as usual...
Critch, I only mention AIDS for the reason that both have been politicized by the left with the result being that both end up being a much bigger danger to people than they needed to be.
In terms of infection, I agree completely. AIDS is largely preventable by changing your conduct. Ebola is not the same.
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