While this story did get some minor coverage by the major networks, do not expect to see it covered daily.

Do not expect to see the Sunday talking heads using the "Katrina" angle on why Obama has failed to help those who truly need it.

Do not expect them to point out that the majority of people impacted are minorities.

This is not G.W. Bush, its a liberal Democrat and so his failings will be ignored by the media.

Get in line and hope they don't run out before you get your vaccine.

They have what is needed for a target group..... Most of us will be at the end of the line.... as it is the best they we able to get done.

Yosemite - Why don't you condense all your posts and just give us a blog with all your issues. Maybe you could give it a snappy title like "All The Reasons I Hate Obama, Liberals & Democrats". I promise I will read it with an open mind. :-)

Observer:

a) I do note hate Obama, however, I do disagree with his "Government Run" approach to policy

b) It seems more appropriate to keep things on separate subjects so that people can respond/discuss each subject independently

c) I do not hate liberals. I feel sorry for most of them.

d) I do not hate Democrats. I would bet you that 98% of Democrats are actually very nice,honest, misled people.

You did not ask, but I do not hate liberal Republicans either. I just wish they would join the Democrat party where they would be broadly accepted. People like Jon Green, Jim Holmes, Mike Holmes, Bill Kirby, Arlen Specter, Olympia Snowe, etc...they are a bane to the political system because their only reason for being in the Republican party is to disrupt it. That is why I left that party... I do not wish to be represented by liberals.

We have no "conservative" party. There are two liberal parties and a bunch of little rag-tag parties that pretend they are 3rd.

So please..do not assign hatred to me. I am a very loving and happy person who just happens to be outspoken on political issues and probably disagrees with you on them. I do not think you hate conservatives, Republicans or capitalists. Please give me the same level of consideration.

On the subject of conservatism:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/120857/conservatives-single-largest-ideological-group.aspx

“Conservatives” Are Single-Largest Ideological Group Percentage of “liberals” higher this decade than in early ’90s

PRINCETON, NJ -- Thus far in 2009, 40% of Americans interviewed in national Gallup Poll surveys describe their political views as conservative, 35% as moderate, and 21% as liberal. This represents a slight increase for conservatism in the U.S. since 2008, returning it to a level last seen in 2004. The 21% calling themselves liberal is in line with findings throughout this decade, but is up from the 1990s....

This says that I am actually in line with the majority of Americans. WE are conservative, but both major parties are being run by big-government, corporate-union-PAC liberals.

I guess I will just have to buy my H1N1 vaccine from a private pharmaceutical company... Oh wait, they aren't ready either.

again yoyo has no clue or is being purposefully dishonest. The government doesn't make the swine flu vaccine. It simply buys it from pharma corps. These businesses (not government) is making them as fast as possible.

Yosemite - My apologies if I appeared to be mocking you. I was trying to have some fun with you, because there is this part of you that despite all your rantings, I really like. I picture you as some older, probably of Irish descent, no-nonsense, in your face, hard-working, follows-through-with-his-word, type of guy. I would love to see your hard edges soften as you age but please don't think I am against you, because nothing could be farther from the truth. :-)

Observer: I am nothing like your characterization except for the "older, probably of Irish descent, no-nonsense, in your face, hard-working, follows-through-with-his-word, type of guy." part and my edges are definitely softening. People like you are like the wind blowing sand on those edges. Keep it up. You are much more effective than the chisel-him-with-partisan-bs types.

Joszef:

First off, the whole flu epidemic is being panned off upon us as if the world was going to end and only big government can save us... sound familiar? (See my Natural Global Warming blog)

Secondly, Obama said we would have 100 million doses by now...wrong! Admit it.

Thirdly, are you not bothered by Obama paying off big pharma with huge government contracts to produce a vaccine that is not needed?

Seems like the kind of corporate welfare that would bother you. It bothers me and other conservatives but some Republicans probably are all for it..the big government corpo-union-pac types that is.

Did you put your hat on backwards today??? You have been sniveling for the last 6 months about how you want the government out of your life, you snivel about how you want the government out of you health care. What a turn about. Now you are going to snivel because every body wants to get vaccinated and they are short on supplies. The government has nothing to do with making the vaccine, it's made by your pharmaceutical companies that were all bought out by Bushwhacker and the republicans. You should have no worries about getting the swine flu as pigs cant catch it.

For my part I really do not care about the vaccine as I am alergic to one of the componets that they use to make it, therefor I can not get the vaccine.

I do however remember back when Bush was president and we had another flu-shot issue. Seems as though Bush stated that there would be enough vaccines for everyone and there was not. It took longer than he said to get the vaccines out to the public. And the Democrats on the hill took Bush to the wood shed for a beating about it. Why are the democarts who lambasted Bush not treating Obama the same way for the very same thing.....? AHH party loyalty, Bush could not deliver so demonize him, Obama can not deliver say nothing... typical of the liberal left and the currently media.

Oh, to add to this opt out thing. Late yesterday news was reporting that states could opt out of the program. However individuls would still be required to have health care coverage or pay the fines if I heard it right. So if that is true, what sense does it make for a state to opt out? You as a individual would still be paying for health coverage for others one way or another. Anyone have more up to date information on this?

Glenn, so according to the last sentence of your post, I take it you don't have to worry either. BTW, which is not true, pigs can catch it.

Observer: Why is it that when some people disagree with something they are deemed passionate and others are hateful? You can go either way with this kind of talk and never actually get into the nuts-and-bolts of the facts of a case. So Y_S is a hater? My guess is that whatever he did as a profession was in a field of science. My husband, who designs aircraft parts, does not have the luxury of saying, "Well, maybe I'll make this piece 3.3mm wide or 3.4mm wide depending on how I feel today..." he has to make it exactly the size it needs to be based on the laws of physics (which do not change BTW). Therefore people like him (and I suspect Y_S) are not so prone to lay their arguments out based on feelings. But I am sure that ol' Y_S does have a "loving" bone in his body somewhere. The search has begun.

Gail - I think you spoke too soon. Go back and read the exchange between YS and me. I was having fun with him. Don't worry, I do the same thing you just did and it always helps when Birch gives me a differnt point of view or the one I didn't understand comes back and works it out with me :-)

Yosemite Sam,

You should pick an angle and stick to it. Is this a tragedy the magnitude comparable to Katrina as you imply in your first post, or is the severity and urgency H1N1 flu being blown way out of proportion (so much so that the vaccine is not needed) as you suggest in a later post?

Obama promised the vaccines, but the private sector is making them. I wonder where the problem is. Could it be that the private sector has failed to make its vaccine deadline? Could it be a distribution problem? Is the federal government responsible for the delay?

Yeah, I got that later you said you were poking at him and he certainly is used to that by now. ;-)

So Y_S, what is your background? Beside just annoying conservative blogger? Just curious.

He is a slum-lord.

Rents out run down unmaintained apartments at a high price.

Observer, you should know.

Sorry observer, that was meant for chase2u.

Glen - I know I have been accused of charging too much rent for what people get. My problem is I worked so hard to make the housing available to those who have rented from me that I'm worn out. I never had rentals, just rooms and sometimes just a couch to sleep on but I do believe people should carry their own weight unless they are unable, then it is my responsibility to help carry their load. I share what I have...

glenn: You sound very mean and bitter. In fact, my wife and I rent out mid-scale homes below market rate so we can get good tenants and keep them. We have extended credit to people with lousy credit scores who could show that they had straightened out their acts. Not a slum lord.

Joszef: Sorry if it was too hard for you to follow. I will type slower next time.

a) I believe there is no massive disaster looming that demands government intervention

b) I believe that H1N1 was sold to us that way to create a huge demand for government salvation

c) I believe that Obama made statements that there would be 100,000,000 doses by October

d) I believe that Obama failed to meet his promises

e) I believe that the media is ignoring this to the most part. Its not a huge disaster, but had Bush been in the same boat, they would have made it appear to be one.

Get it?

PS: Anyone who thinks that the Democrats are not bought & paid for by corporations is really missing it. Both parties are bought and paid for by various corporations. The unions and trial lawyers predominantly own the Democrats. The insurance companies own the Republicans.

Oh and Joszef.. I almost left out a very important part.

Suppose YOU wanted a swine flu shot and were willing to pay $1000 to get it. Good luck. Its not available because the government is rationing the shots.

This was a mini-example of what a government run health care would look like. Check out the picture of the lines again.

Yosemite - it was apparent with the bail-outs, Bush and Obama were both guilty of being bought. I have to wonder if politics in this country can only be done this way anymore. It definitely is not the idealized version I was taught it while growing up. Maybe that was always a lie and I was just naive. So hey...will you be registering "Green Party" ? From my understanding, they still have safeguards to keep their candidates from being bought, like no contributions over $100.00.

I still want healthcare for everyone, whether they can afford it or not. Got any ideas?

The one place that government is in complete control is when there is or there is a chance of a pandemic or other crisis like Katrina, at least initially. The H1N1 debacle resembles Katrina and Bush.

The sad part is our pharmaceutical companies fear developing a vaccine as they leave themselves wide open to litigation. China as well as other foreign nations that are providing the vaccine could care less as our legal system can do very little if something goes awry.

The legislation introduced by Senator Reid mandates that everyone has to buy HCI. The proposal mandates states options that will cost more then the insurance we already have. The Public Option he has written will force insurance companies to charge high premiums and also allows those same companies to gouge those of us that want our health care equal to what we have. If you are satisfied with your health care now, or care about what it will cost, you should be alarmed at what is happening in Congress. There are no new regulations on insurance companies, practitioners, care facilities and all the bills lacks TORT reform.

Wow, didn't know the can of worms I was opening up with that question, sorry.

drop the s

H1N1 debacle? What debacle? It's another manufactured outrage. You wanta shot. Buy some JD.

Gail, YS has only learned enough science to prove his points. He gobbles up the bile of hate willingly. A sensationalist who believes he and others can see the future.

fourgen: You compare this with the incomptetence of the Katrina situation?...not even close. I know that you would like to have something of the magnitude of the Katrina embarassment to hang around Obama's neck...well, you're still gonna have to wait, 'cause this ain't it.

SB, I don't want to hang anything around our President's neck. When a ball is dropped you are going to get the blame. Bush was horrible but Katrina was not all his fault, just as the vaccine shortage is not all Obama's fault, but both are/were the resident in the WH that made comments that they soon regret.

Now comment on the rest of what I wrote.

CH, "manufactured outrage" , I don't see outrage, I see things beyond ones control that should have been handled in a different manner, in order to avoid looking out of control.

So far Obama has not handled things much better then his predecessor. His appointments and those that he has chosen as advisors are a scary lot.

ChuxxR: Well, if he has taken the time to learn the science and present it well enough to prove his point where is the "hate" in that? Two plus two equals four equals hate? Now if he keeps telling us two plus two equals five, prove him wrong, it can't be that hard to do.

fourgen, you wrote: "Bush was horrible but Katrina was not all his fault". Right, the natural disaster wasn't his fault, but the way it was handled & the ensuing chaos was much of his fault.

Yosemite Sam,

You say this is not a huge disaster with one breath, and in the other you say that it is. Your justification: "had Bush been in the same boat, they would have made it appear to be one. "

Nobody had to manufacture a disaster to make Bush look bad.

SB, I know he called the mayor and told him not to let any of the buses leave the area. There is and was plenty of blame to go around. My take is to not depend on the government for your real needs. You had people that wouldn't leave and some that couldn't leave no matter what the federal government said or did. Once upon a time a long time ago, we as mankind in the US had a survival mentality now we have a gimme mentality. You believe in having the "government" take care of you, I believe in taking care of myself and others less fortunate without government intervention. The new health care bill by Sen. Reid is trying to take more of my options away.

I love my country and fear my elected representatives and the lobbyists that buy those representatives including both Congress and the President.

steelybob - Not so fast. The Chimp claimed to be on a first-name basis with God. The hurricane could actually have been his fault.

Skeptic,

Are you referring to Mr. Bush as a chimp?

Robert Capp

Shortage? What shortage? I walked into the VA Auburn outpatient clinic on Bell Road around ten this morning and asked for a flu shot. After showing my VA card, I was inoculated by a nurse and was out of there within ten minutes flat. No fee, no lines, no copay, no paperwork, no bill.

That's inefficient government for you.

Maybe General Sam should go down to the VA and get his shot, right in the b$#*.

Septic: Did you see the picture of the lines?

You are actually demonstrating the fallacy of government services. There are shots in Auburn with no lines, and people lined up for blocks in other places who are finally sent away.

A capitalist, free market system will have its own hiccups, but never screw things up as bad as the government will.

Thanks for making my point. We should tell those people in Cincinnati, Chicago, Detroit, LA, etc to get on over to Auburn CA for their shots.

And the final straw will be when we realize that nobody is taking the H1N1 vaccine and the government has ended up purchasing tens of millions of doses that end up either going to waste, or are given away. And of course, the taxpayer will get stuck with the bill.

Did anyone see this story on the major news yesterday? I did. It was a 3 second blurb on NBC and they were sure to make it seem like no big deal.

Yosemite_Sam: So you want it both ways...you think that you win the argument if on the one hand the pic of the long lines is used to demonstrate the shortage, on the other hand you lamely attempt to use skeptic's post describing the ease & hassle-free experience in getting his vaccine to claim that once we have an abundance of the vaccine, nobody will take it & it'll have to be dumped...which is it?

Y_S...reality don't play like dat.

skeptic,

Your remark about Mr. Bush as a chimp is disgusting, had it been used about Mr. Obama you would have cried racist (and that would be accurate). You sir are a hypocrite, plain and simple as well as a partisan hack and possibly a racist yourself. You are disgusting and vile and you wouldn't know the high road if you stumbled across it.

Sincerely,

Robert Capp

bcapp,

Are you race baiting (or is it reverse race baiting)? You set a trap for skeptic by asking "Are you referring to Mr. Bush as a chimp? " and you criticize him before he responds. You are like a fisherman who attempts to set the hook before the fish has taken the bait.

To call a white man a chimp is a reference to his and solely his intelligence. To call a black man a chimp invokes the fallacy maintained for years that black men are of inferior intelligence because they are closer on the evolutionary tree to our ape ancestors.

Sincerely,

Joszef Prinzmetal Pelikan

Y_Spam -

The photo is unattributed. Just like the Two Dozen Man 4th of July Teabagger march in DC, this photo may also turn out to be phony. Who took it? When? I'd like to check for myself. Sorry I can't trust you but your assertions have been proved less than accurate before. The photo above could be of a ticket line at the Uffizi Gallery. In fact, the resemblance is uncanny.

Thanks, Sam, for the grin. First, you crab that there's no vaccine available because of the government. Then you gripe that it's poorly distributed because of government ineptitude. Now you allege it's sitting around going state because of government. This is all you need to know: Glaxo [Smith-Cline PLC] said it has been able to produce less swine-flu vaccine than anticipated. Glaxo has opened new facilities and has hired external firms to help produce 440 million doses. Glaxo is still taking new orders from governments. Profits are up 11% in the USA and 13% in Europe (WSJ, 28 October 2009). Indeed, the fake temporary artificial scarcity scare is being played masterfully to drive up prices and demand. "Why did President Obama declare a national emergency? a John Hopkins doctor said. "An infection that generally doesn't appear to be severe is pushing hospitals to their limit."

Why? Just follow the money.

Joszef_Pelikan,

American Negroes were considered to be lower on the evolutionary scale than whites. This, in part, was seen as justification for whites to own Negroes. As an "intermediate species between whites and apes," they were said to exhibit primitive primate physical characteristics. Negroes, in popular belief, also emitted a strong "animal" smell and were lower in overall intelligence and aptitude than whites. (Gossett, Thomas. "Race: The History of An Idea In America" Oxford Univ. Press, 1963)

Bcapp's trolling is spurious. I don't know why, but he seems to be trying to pick a fight with insults.

No man who is a gentlemen would insult me; no man who is not a gentleman could insult me. Mr. Capp reveals a great deal about himself. I simply consider the source.

steely: You are totally missing the point. The point is that the government provision of services is screwed up. They do not meet their commitments and there is no alternative available.

I am not taking it both ways, I am demonstrating both ways that they fail to deliver. In one case, too much, in another too little.

Now, you seem to be taking a hypocritical view as long as we are on the subject.

You expected Bush to solve the post-Katrina disaster which was 1000 times bigger than this, yet you give Obama a free pass for failing to deliver the 100M doses he promised?

Joszef: You say "You say this is not a huge disaster with one breath, and in the other you say that it is. "

Actually, no. You are wrong (yet again).

Scroll up and quote where I said it is. Its a failure on Obama's part, its not a disaster. Go ahead...make my day!

Yosemite,

You equate this to standing "in line for a heart transplant or cancer treatment", imply that the it would be appropriate for the news to use "the "Katrina" angle on why Obama has failed to help those who truly need it. " and imply urgency with "Get in line and hope they don't run out before you get your vaccine".

Later you say that the H1N1 vaccine is "a vaccine that is not needed".

"...government provision of services is screwed up." Really? I hadn't noticed. Then maybe you can explain to us why the best-run managed care systems in America (TRICARE, CHAMPVA, VA Health, etc.) are all government funded and government operated?

Take for example the military's TRICARE, under which you and your family are automatically covered regardless of any pre-existing condition. And if you use TRICARE-Prime there are no out-of-pocket fees.

How about the VA's health care system? Once you qualify, you’re in forever, and you're generally exempt from any co-pays or deductibles. If you served in Iraq or Afghanistan the VA will cover you even if you weren't injured. And the VA is famous for its exceptionally high standards of care and patient satisfaction.

With government programs like these, the private health insurance industry has good reason to panic over the idea of competition from the public option.

are you sure that's a line for the vaccine? Maybe it's for a free health care clinic, for people who don't have health insurance or are underinsured. That number is about 47% of Americans. Like this photo - http://www.tampabay.com/multimedia/archive/00078/per_night080209_78407c.jpg

here is the article so you know that's what it truly is - http://www.tampabay.com/news/perspective/at-what-cost-care/1023415

or how about these - http://www.life.com/search/?type=images&q0=Wise+County,+Va+health+care+clinic&k78163=Clinic&itemsperpage=60

Gail, sorry I meant that he 'obtained science' not "learned." There are people in politics and industry who seek to hinder Obama's momentum and try to discredit his administration. Yoyo's science is found for him by those people. Science with a political agenda?

JP: Sorry if I typed too fast for you.

I was observing the difference in the way the media covers things.

Today on KCRA, they mentioned the lack of H1N1 vaccine in a very casual manner, pointed out that more is coming, and even went so far as to say that we were supposed to have much more by this date.

What they did NOT do is make it out to be a huge disaster. Now, I am not saying its a disaster, what I am saying is that the media did not make it out to be one. Had Bush or any other Republican been president, they would have turned it into a crisis of unparalleled proportion. They would have had speakers talking about how many people are going to die due to the lack of vaccines, etc.

I really expect to see a news show start off soon with "Obama can do no wrong..and now on to the other news of the day"

kittyv: Yes, they were waiting for the vaccine. Its happening a lot right now. Its called rationing.

Its like back in the Soviet Union when people waited in line for food that the government promised to deliver.

Gail, my evidence is proven again. There's a difference between reality and make believe.

Yosemite,

The original blog does not mention media coverage of the vaccine shortage. You are just making it up as you go, aren't you.

JP: I put it into the first comment. I often do that rather than go back and edit the blog. Pretend its part of the original blog.

Y_S said:

"I am not saying its a disaster, what I am saying is that the media did not make it out to be one."

My maple tree lost two of its branches to the wind, and- the media didn't say a word about that, either. Not that I'm claiming it was a disaster.

I love it when you try to pedal yourself backwards. Keep on diggin'

Yosemite_Sam -

Where was that line of people? I mean where is it really? You know, before you PhotoShopped the ABC logo on it?

“The liar's punishment is not that he is not believed, but that he cannot believe anyone else.” ~~George Bernard Shaw

YS makes a good point. Skeptic, as usual, attempts to convolute the point with meaningless drabble. The only person I know that has been proven to Photoshop is Skeptic. Now, Obama did indeed fail the U.S. Citizens in making sure there would be enough vaccines. He, Obama, is the one who deemed it a “national emergency.” Is he lying? He is in the office, now. The buck stops with him.

P'rick50: Are you also Yosemite Spam now? I told you there's no wait and plenty of vaccine, at least under the government option. Maybe if we all could choose, .....ah, never mind.

To quote Republican Rep. Addison "Joe" Wilson (R-Tourettes), "You Lie!" Keep on digging.

Stick to the facts, Skeptic. You are the only one that has been caught fraudulently photo shopping. BTW, calling someone a name by childishly changing their moniker is a bit adolescent, don’t you think? It kind of speaks volumes about the person.

OK Patrick, I was amused at first but you are just wrong. Many bloggers on this site use photoshop.

You are right the Buck does stop with Obama. That's just tearing you up isn't it?

This blog does NOT state facts.

To claim that UHC will result in the rationing of care is misleading. There is already rationing of care, the difference is that now it is rationed not by need but by the ability to pay. With UHC, prioritization of health care will be a public process, while now it is done in a board room.

There is not overwhelming opposition to a public option, there is overwhelming support.

Employers are already dropping health care coverage because of overwhelming increases in costs, or they are cutting jobs so they can provide healthcare and remain competitive, or they are placing the burden of the increase on their employees, or they are opting for plans which are increasing the number of underinsured in this country. As a nation we are less competitive because of our lack of UHC.

You can argue if healthcare is a right, but you cannot argue that it is a basic human need. Provide for the General Welfare, remember that? I support SINGLE PAYER. I do not believe in this public option method because it perpetuates a system where only those who can afford superior healthcare are the ones who get it. You may believe that is unAmerican, but I find a system that punishes hardworking Americans and places us at a disadvantage economically is unAmerican! 45% of bankruptcies are because of medical bills. The majority are uninsured or underinsured because they can't afford otherwise, it's too expensive. Stats from 2006 show 8 out of 10 of the uninsured work.

I owe Y_S an apology.

I finally found the original photo online. It isn't doctored, but there's more topthe story.

The picture is a photo capture from a clip by ABC News in Dallas, Texas. According to ABC, more than 1,000 people showed up for a free H1N1 vaccination - even though the county health service announced the free vaccine was for pregnant mothers and kids with chronic illnesses first.

In a related story, a private clinic, Flu Shots of America, revealed that it had accumulated 11,570 doses of swine flu vaccine, which was more than the Dallas County Health Department had. FSA has been vaccinating anybody willing to pay the $20 fee, not just those highest-risk individuals who were supposed to be first in line for the vaccine.

(see: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/103109dnmetflu.26913b5a4.html).

My apologies to you, Y_S. Maybe you could routinely gave the source for your photos and articles?

Patrick50,

It's OK. I really don't mind being called "Septic" or "Slapstick." I even thought it was funny the first few times.

Thanks for your concern.

Well then, sounds like I was right, it's a line for FREE HEALTH CARE

Skeptic, Well, I guess you fit right in there with them, in that small minded mentality.

Free, yes. The money grows on trees.

People are standing in line to receive free health care because they can't afford otherwise. That was my point.

We can't afford to NOT have UHC. http://www.nchc.org/documents/Thorpe booklet.pdf

UHC would save $320 billion over 10 years. A single payer system would save $1.1 trillion over that same time period.

Annual deaths due to lack of insurance for people between the ages of 25-64 is third behind Homicide and Stroke, more than diabetes, more than AIDS.

Between the years 2000 and 2006, premium costs doubled. http://www.kff.org/uninsured/index.cfm Who suffers? Blue collar workers and the middle class. Premiums and out of pocket spending would decrease, and wages will increase because employers will no longer have to provide health benefits, which would offset the increase in taxes. Why should millions suffer from lack of health care because the health insurance companies motivation is not the well being of the citizens but their profit margin? It's been estimated that up to 20% of the insurance companies health care expenditure is for administrative costs related to billing, marketing, and advertising! I don't know about you, but I'm annoyed that my premiums are being increased to pay for their stupid annoying commercials.

Y_S,

(Sat., 31 Oct 2009) "U.S. sees 10 million more H1N1 vaccine doses next week.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Five drug companies are now increasing production of the vaccine for the H1N1 swine flu, and 10 million more doses are expected next week, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said on Saturday."

-

Feel better now?

President Obama voiced his disappointment over the slow pace of vaccine delivery from the five vaccine makers contracted for the U.S. market; MedImmune, Sanofi-Aventis, CSL Australia, GlaxoSmithKline, and Novartis. Based on those drug company's assurances, the administration "overpromised" the vaccine. Production has now increased and vaccine is being shipped overnight, seven days a week.

You can have my dose.

2049er, Thank you for the generous offer, but I already got mine -- courtesy of government health care.