Swine flu raises questions about new strain as pork industry issues advisory

Updated on Monday, April 27, 2009 at 1:14PM by Kay B. Day, Editor

The H1N1 influenza virus. [image credit Dr. F. A. Murphy, CDC]The Centers for Disease Control’s description of a new strain of swine flu sounds like something out of a fictional lab: “The viruses contain a unique combination of gene segments that have not been reported previously among swine or human influenza viruses in the U.S. or elsewhere…It is not anticipated that the seasonal influenza vaccine will provide protection against the swine flu H1N1 viruses.” This isn’t the late president Gerald Ford’s swine flu.

Farm Futures issued a bio-security notice and quoted a CDC expert on the new strain’s makeup: “The AH1N1 flu strain is quite unusual. Dr. Nancy Cox, chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said it contained gene segments from North American swine, bird and human flu strains as well as one from Eurasian swine. Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of respiratory diseases for the CDCP, says although they don't yet know the extent of the problem they think this is a time for major concern.”

Farm Futures issued advice from the National Pork Board, but the recommendations are aimed at screening workers rather than pigs, even limiting visitors to pig farms and paying attention to ventilation systems. The result of all these advisories and announcements is a verbal wildlfire on the Web.

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Gingrich gives Waxman a civics lesson during energy hearing

The House Energy and Commerce committee is holding hearings, doing the politics of climate change. Legislation that follows will impact the lifestyle and income of every American—and of many in other countries. During Friday’s hearing, there was an exchange between Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) who chairs Energy and Commerce and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) wherein the speaker taught Waxman a few things, starting with a civics lesson. After Gingrich presented research contrary to Waxman’s views, Waxman took Gingrich to task but then he went one further. Waxman insulted Gingrich and then he took a strongman approach towards tax and energy increases for Americans. 'Cap and Trade' means taxes. Tell your friends. Waxman knows it.

"Mr. Gingrich, I’m sure glad you’re not in charge of foreign policy! Do you think the only way to incentivize a country is by offering them more and more carrots? You gotta have some threat sometimes—you have to say to incentivize you, we’re going to give you some assistance, but there are going to be consequences."

Gingrich got a dead serious look on his face. And then he responded with a civics lesson and maybe a lesson in honor as well.

"Mr. Chairman, I don’t think of American citizens the way I think of foreign dictators, and I don’t think this Congress should punish the American people. I think this Congress has every right to reward the American people, but I don’t think Lincoln’s government of the people, by the people and for the people should be turned into a government punishing the people, and I think that’s a major difference."

Gingrich then segued into his final remarks, noting the bill in its current form is “incomplete.” For one thing there was no inclusion of nuclear power.

The former speaker then said he’d be glad to help and testify again if need be.

And he concluded by saying, “But I’m always delighted to be here with the chairman.”

Politics just doesn’t get much better than this, and every now and then we see a moment of true leadership. Waxman had to admire Gingrich for that, and if he didn’t, that’s just one more Waxman shortcoming in a very long line.

Gingrich gives Waxman a civics lesson during energy hearing by Kay B. Day

Democrats refuse Brit testimony on global warming, insult GOP guest

Updated on Friday, April 24, 2009 at 5:56PM by Kay B. Day, Editor

Updated on Monday, April 27, 2009 at 3:10PM by Kay B. Day, Editor

Lord Christopher Monckton is chief policy advisor, the science and public policy institute, for the Heartland Institute.Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) has finally got his long-sought limelight now that he’s chair of the House Energy and Commerce committee. Waxman is holding hearings on the ice age/global warming/climate change plans guaranteed to transfer American dollars into hedge fund pockets and coffers of developing countries. Waxman invited “celebrity” (Dems described him that way) Al Gore to testify on Friday, and the GOP invited Lord Christopher Monckton to testify. Problem is after Lord Monckton flew over from England on Thursday, he was informed the Democrats would not permit him to appear. Marc Morano has the full scoop at Climate Depot.

Somewhere out there should be a bright TV producer smart enough to see merit in a real debate aired for the American people. That same producer would have to be brave enough to stand up to the establishment, however. Have you asked yourself why you never see a pomp media outlet give you opposing ideas on this issue?

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Napolitano faces Thomas More Center lawsuit, accusations of ‘lying’

 DHS secretary Janet Napolitano (US gov. photo].The “rightwing extremism” report issued by the Dept. of Homeland Security has sparked a lawsuit against secretary Janet Napolitano. The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest firm based in Ann Arbor (Mich.) announced that on Thursday, April 16th, it filed a federal lawsuit against Napolitano. The lawsuit claims that her Department’s “Rightwing Extremism Policy,” as reflected in the recently publicized Intelligence Assessment, “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment,” violates the civil liberties of combat veterans as well as American citizens by targeting them for disfavored treatment on account of their political beliefs.

I expected this as soon as I read the report, a document that is a flagrant insult to the US Constitution. Shortly after the report was made public, I wrote, “If you read the whole report, there is implied hatred for anyone considered “rightwing.” And if you consider the phrasing in some passages, there is possible conflict with free assembly/expression rights guaranteed by the Constitution.”

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Law Center stated, “Janet Napolitano is lying to the American people when she says the Report is not based on ideology or political beliefs. In fact, her report would have the admiration of the Gestapo and any current or past dictator in the way it targets political opponents. This incompetently written intelligence assessment, which directs law enforcement officials across the country to target and report on American citizens who have the political beliefs mentioned in the report, will be used as a tool to stifle political opposition and opinions. It will give a pretext for opponents of those Americans to report them to police as rightwing extremists and terrorists. You can imagine what happens then.”

The report cited single issues such as opposition to abortion, to lax restrictions on immigration and to one world government among others as grounds for determining whether a person is a “rightwing extremist.” In essence, at least half of US voters would probably qualify as extremists under the conditions established by the report.

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Climate change leads to blame for hurricanes as summit eyes green profits

According to the Organization of American States, “The creation of carbon markets can involve two environmental risks. One is the risk of replacement of native forests by tree plantations with monocultures, which sequester carbon more quickly. The second environmental risk is financing conservation where no deforestation is occurring, which means forests would have no real value-added in terms of conservation since the forests were protected without payments in the first place.” [Photo US Forest Service, Douglas Firs, by W. E. Steuerwald]Climate change can’t get any crazier, but a little-noticed remark in an Inter Press Service article borders on fantasy. First let me give you some context. The U.N.-affiliated Indigenous Peoples' Global Summit on Climate Change was held in Anchorage this week. Stephen Leahy wrote the article ‘Native peoples sound dire warning.’ I didn’t think you could get more dire than Al Gore; how wrong I was.

Leahy begins his article by blending science, fiction and poetry: “Humanity's hot carbon breath is not just melting the planet’s polar regions, it is disrupting natural systems and livelihoods around the world.” I always like to say anybody can be a writer these days.

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Napolitano riles Canada, overlooks Arizona ties to hijackers

A Border Patrol agent stationed near Sweet Grass Montana conducts a search of an abandoned house just over the US/Canadian border. [photo by Gerald L. Nino, US CBP]Department of Homeland Defense secretary Janet Napolitano has done it again, but this time instead of angering “rightwing extremists,” she’s angered an entire country. Canadians posted angry messages at newspaper and blog forums responding to articles like ‘The border for dummies’ in the National Post. A reader named Chris in Tally asked, “Does anyone else find it weird that we slap our allies and embrace our enemies?? “

North-of-the-border angst was fueled by statements Napolitano made during a March 25th speech at the Brookings Institution, a left-leaning think tank. Napolitano tried to clarify her statements during a media interview on Monday with Neil Macdonald on 'The National,' aired by the Canadian Broadcasting Centre. It all went downhill from there.

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Was Carrie Prejean's pageant question a setup?

Carrie Prejean bio photo from the MIss California pageant.Beauty pageants probably always have more backstage drama than a one-eyed bird in a house full of cats. But this year’s Miss USA gala landed in the public eye because of a question about a social issue. There are other issues about the fracas that haven’t been discussed at all. Miss California, Carrie Prejean, turned numerous smiles upside down when she gave her opinions about gay marriage.

Prejean’s view is in line with many Californians—7 million voted in favor of traditional definitions of marriage. The Wall Street Journal reported, "Proposition 8, which would establish marriage as a union between a man and a woman, passed with 52.1% of the vote, against 47.9% opposed, with 94.6% of precincts reporting." [Nov. 5, 2008]

Miss California did something most unusual in a pageant. She said what she believes.

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