Who really wants a lawyer in charge of Flu outbreaks?

[dickthegrouch]

Moveon.org is organising a petition to get the point-person for managing the next medical catastrophe replaced.

We've all heard the terrible warnings about the risk of an influenza pandemic from an avian flu virus. But the Bush administration official in charge of making sure America is ready has no experience related to his job—he's a political appointee. And, a botched response could affect millions of Americans.

Stewart Simonson is the Bush administration's point man for a flu pandemic but he has no public health management experience. He got his job because he is a close associate of former Health & Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson.1 Will you urge that Simonson be replaced with a more qualified person by signing our petition to Simonson's boss, HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt?

He is a lawyer who may be able to weasel out of the differences between what the instructions say and what ought to be done and he is not good enough. We want a MEDICAL DOCTOR who will get the job done in the most efficient manner possible.

Please sign moveon 's petition


edit: changed link to easier one to navigate.

[louis-t]

1. Another brilliant * pick.

I wish I had the avatar of * picking his nose.

[tx_dem41]

2. You obviously are overlooking the future hilarity in hearing the quote...

"Stewie, you're doing a heck of a job". :)

[mattclearing]

3. Answer: Someone who wants to cause an epidemic. n/t

[greekspeak]

4. Who wants a frat boy ROTUS whose only success in life's partying hearty?

Apparently over 1/3 of America. My, some people will settle for anything without a D next to its name, won't they? SO why would most people care how qualified his appointees are? I am sure that 1/3 + of Americans think Jesus is telling Dumbyo to appoint these people.

[Ian David]

5. Done. Kicked. Forwarded. Nominated. n/t

[Inland]

6. I don't know about MD, but you need a Public Health experience.

10% of a pandemic is figuring out how it spreads and is treated medically, and 90% is logistics, marshalling facilities, personnel and such to enact the recommendations of a doctor.