The Smoking Ebola Gun: Rand Paul’s Senate Hold Is Why The Nation Has No Surgeon General

[KamaAina]

http://www.politicususa.com/2014/10/17/blame-harry-rand-paul-put-hold-surgeon-general-nomination.html

The Republican obstruction strategy of “stall and block” is coming back to haunt Republicans in many ways, not the least of which is the country’s realization that we have no Surgeon General as we face the Ebola crisis.

But of course, politicians don’t like to take responsibility for their tactics, so the Republicans’ new talking point to get around taking responsibility for their obstruction of President Obama, his entire administration and indeed, our entire federal government, is that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) could call for a vote any time to confirm the nomination for the Surgeon General....

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) put a hold on the November 2013 nomination after the NRA objected to the nominee. Krystal Ball and Anne Thompson reported for MSNBC:

Murthy’s nomination has been held up by Republicans and a few red state Democrats due to this surprisingly controversial stance: He believes that guns can impact your health. Well, to be fair, this conservative coalition is not troubled by his stance, so much as they are fearful of the NRA, which decided to try to scuttle Murthy’s confirmation. The NRA wrote a strongly worded letter, Rand Paul put a hold on the nomination, and Red State Democrats begged Harry Reid to not force them to vote. It’s funny that the strongly worded letters of ordinary citizens don’t seem to have quite the same effect.

"Senate hold"? Is that another word for "godawful rug"?

[AwakeAtLast]

1. Hmmmm,

"But of course, politicians don’t like to take responsibility for their tactics, so the Republicans’ new talking point to get around taking responsibility for their obstruction of President Obama, his entire administration and indeed, our entire federal government, is that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) could call for a vote any time to confirm the nomination for the Surgeon General...."

I've had that thrown back at me on DU!

After reading further, it seems that Senator Paul placed that hold after a "strongly worded letter" from the NRA!

What the hell does the NRA have to do with health care in our country?

[KamaAina]

2. Dr. Murthy believes that gun violence is a public health issue.

As Surgeon General, he would be in a position to do something about it. NRA no likee.

[FiveGoodMen]

5. "What the hell does the NRA have to do with health care in our country?"

Thanks to them, more health care is needed.

[Skidmore]

3. So who is going to call that conniving jerk on it?

Haven't heard anyone but a couple of people on MSNBC bring up the notable absence of an SG let alone that it is because of obstruction. Isn't it about time you and me start banging the pan lids together and making some noise?

[rurallib]

8. Chucky Todd had a facebook encounter this afternoon and he claims he will address this

Sunday. Get yer popcorn


ETA - Link to DU thread that links to facebook

[Bartlet]

9. Chuck Todd

is a pandering right wing shill. The only thing that steaming turd will address concerning Republicans is how wonderful their suits look and how grateful he is to them for being able to lick their boots.

[valerief]

11. Oh, no. Does America really want to see Upchuck's bare ass, served up

and open wide, as he chuckles with some GOPper about "stupid libtards blaming Rand Paul for Reid's failure. Can you believe it?"

[B2G]

4. So put one up

We've changed the filibuster rules.

Why wait?

[AwakeAtLast]

6. Yes, they should have to reconvene

but then that would get in the way of their campaigning, wouldn't it? Ahh, decisions, decisions......

[Warpy]

7. It's a phrase meaning "the worst sort of traitor"

This ideologue doesn't care how many people his ideology kills. He won't care until he gets sick and no one is left to care for him.

Ideologues are the most dangerous people out there and he's one of the worst.

[Initech]

10. And this man wants to be president? Fuck him.

[seveneyes]

12. I'm hearing a Surgeon General would have prevented Ebola from coming here

Not sure how that would have stopped it, but it sounds good. Maybe it will help GOTV.

[KamaAina]

13. Perhaps not, but he might have helped us contain it better

[Savannahmann]

15. Then wouldn't we have appointed an MD expert on Ebola as the "Czar"?

[JaneyVee]

17. The czar is for govt agencies, not curing ebola.

[DesMoinesDem]

14. You know there is an acting SG, right? What do you think an appointed SG can do for Ebola

that the acting SG can't?

[840high]

18. Not a damn thing.

[tritsofme]

16. Holds are a courtesy, Reid has ignored them in the past.

His problem is that several months ago he found that there were not 50+1 votes to confirm the nominee. Look for Reid to move the nominee in the lame duck, regardless of Rand Paul's hold.

[hugo_from_TN]

19. There are not the votes to confirm him in the Senate.

I believe there are about 8 Dem Senators that will vote no.

[KamaAina]

20. DINOs?

Why would they do that? Fear of the NRA?

[hugo_from_TN]

21. agree with the NRA more likely