Ebola: Victims, Heroes and a Cynical Western Media
by @zizii2
US mid-term elections are over. The GOP and corporate media allies’ Willie-Horton-like exploitation of the Ebola disease to gin up stratospheric fear has suddenly vanished from our airwaves.
h/t Eric Bohlert
Over in Europe, rightwing xenophobic politicians are copying the GOP playbook.
West African travelers and immigrants to Europe and the US are facing the full brunt of media-sanctioned hysteria, as the ugly stench of racism wafts in the air disguised as “health and safety protocols.”
Lives Matter
What remains in the wake of this cynical media blaze in the West, are the shattered lives of real victims battling the disease epidemic in the 3 West African countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. There are also the unsung stories of heroes who are working tirelessly to contain, or bury the dead at great risk to their own lives, or often pick up the pieces after families have suffered an aching loss of a loved one to the disease.
Last month, I was struck by the fleeting CNN story of the young student nurse whose entire family contracted the Ebola virus. She could not find a spot for them in the hospital, and thus had to care for them all by herself without the benefit of WHO-approved protective gear. She improvised in protecting herself with a raincoat, garbage bags, socks, wellington boots and a carefully observed regimen that provided her family the love and care needed while avoiding infection herself. Word about her improvisation was quickly spread by overwhelmed health workers.
When Nigeria got its first case of the Ebola virus disease from a Liberian traveler who arrived there already sick and showing symptoms, that nation’s rapid response and capacity for epidemiological sleuthing was tested. A very fluid population with a stretched healthcare system potentially faced a huge problem.
However, Nigeria’s recent experience tracking cases during the resurgence of polio disease helped hone the sleuthing and diagnostic skills of their healthcare workers.
More importantly Nigeria’s public education focused on encouraging communities, families, and individuals to report any signs of symptoms without fear of stigma or communal backlash. Driving infected persons underground was the real feared risk. Nigeria’s approach avoided that. In all 20 people contracted the disease, of whom 8 died including a frontline Doctor Stella Ameyo Adadevoh.
Dr Adadevoh was recently recognized posthumously at a Nigerian Awards program for her proactive work that helped to diagnose and contain the disease when an Ebola infected patient came to her clinic. She literally laid down her life to save the community from a wider horror. How did the West treat her when she fell ill? They denied her an airlift for treatment while Western healthcare workers were airlifted out.
Nigeria was declared by the World Health Organization in October to be officially free of Ebola, having gone for 42 days without any new reported cases.
More significantly, Nigeria’s epidemiologists have traveled to other countries in the region to share their techniques and experiences. The US too has sent CDC to Nigeria to learn from them.
Nigerian Chief epidemiologist (2nd let) with US officials in Ghana
Senegal also experienced one case. Fortunately the patient survived. The country has been relentless in public education using innovative methods.
And this week, the World Health Organization also declared the Democratic Republic of Congo free of Ebola.
Neighborly Care:
After all the fancy footwork, show of “concern,” and “pledges” we saw at the 69th session of UN General Assembly in ‘September this year, the global health and humanitarian response to the Ebola virus epidemic had been shamefully abysmal until the UN Secretary General publicly shame the world with news that out of the US$ 1 billion estimated at the General Assembly, the Ebola fund had only US$100 thousand in it. Now belatedly, the Fund has started getting more donations.
By comparison when the SARS disease broke out in Asia in 2003, the global response was rapid and well-funded. Likewise, the outbreak of the H1N1 virus in 2009, or the Bird Flu, or Foot and Mouth disease that plagued Britain a few years ago.
While the Western media hysteria ramped up fear of Ebola, neighboring countries under the auspices of the Economic States of West Africa, were some of the fist countries to send food and logistics to the 3 affected countries, even as they themselves have had to stretch threadbare resources and health systems to protect their own citizens from the disease.
Nigerian cargo planes have been ferrying food from neighboring countries to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. Ghana stepped up to host the headquarters of the UN Mission on Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) the very day it was announced at the UNGA.
Nigerian transport plane loading food from Ghana
Nigerian transport plane loading food from Ghana
Why? Enlightened self-interest and neighborly concern. The last thing an already crisis ridden region needs is 3 failed states on its doorstep. Even stronger political and economic systems like Nigeria have been battling the terrorist menace of Boko Haram, not to mention the mayhem Malian rebels wrought 2 years ago on that more economically fragile country.
Significantly, an economic disaster in the 3 countries battling the disease epidemic, spells trouble for the entire region. Historically fluid borders, and modern integrated trading linkages mean the entire West African region will experience the spillover effect of any economic collapse in the affected countries.
In an even more cruel twist fate, 2 of the 3 countries were striving within the last decade to rebuild after bitter civil war that lasted nearly 2 decades and had destroyed so much in its wake, orphaned many children too. Until Ebola came knocking, life was roaring back.
A disease of Isolation
Outside of the all the geopolitical ramifications of the Ebola disease, there’s a saddening dimension of the disease that has hardly been talked about. It is a disease that forces us to suspend ALL our human instincts and bonds of affection. The yearning to touch a sick loved one; to comfort the afflicted, and to bury our loved lost ones in human dignity. We can do none of those. And those who unfortunately fall prey to this disease, endure the same agony of isolation, magnified by the actual pain of suffering. ALONE.
Ghana’s President Mahama’s captured that dual agony most poignantly a couple of weeks ago in his address at the emergency ECOWAS meeting on Ebola response in Burkina Faso. He said:
“What makes Ebola so dangerous…is that the virus dares us to compromise the impulses that exist at the very core of our humanity: our impulse to comfort one another with love; to care for each other with the healing power of touch; and, to maintain the dignity of our loved ones even in death with a public funeral and properly marked grave.
Ebola is a disease of isolation. It leaves family members afraid to embrace one another, healthcare workers afraid to attend to patients, and it forces the living to abandon the cultural rites of washing, embalming and burying their dead. Instead they are zipped into a secure body bag, carried on a stretcher by makeshift pallbearers in protective wear, then tossed into a freshly dug ditch.
Just as individuals with Ebola are often shunned and ostracized by their communities, the initial slowness of response by the international community, in many ways, left the affected countries to suffer their fate alone.
Latest FACTS about ebola
World Health Organization Ebola Situation Report
Hopeful Signs:
WHO reports a slowdown in the rate of new infections in Liberia
White House.gov
Hello.
Hello - and congrats on 1st!
Hello Jacqueline.
Thanks. I just happened to sign on at the exact time!
Congrats NCLB :)
zizii, your excellent essay is further evidence that TOD is the place to visit if one wants cogent analysis and insights on issues of great importance.
With Ebola, the US press could have provided an enormous public service, instead the #KleptocratControlledMedia that IS the US press did intentional harm to Americans to advance the agenda of those who, for decades, have used fear as a key element of their unrelenting, corporatist-serving propaganda.
Thank you, zizii!
Congratulations!
Hello!
Good Afternoon Good People of TODVille!
Excited for the speech later this evening. Can’t wait.
My skivvies are in a bit of a wad today. Congrats NCLB.
Excellent. That shirt’s goin’ places, with the godawful GOP Congress we have coming up in ’15. But why wait? Order now!
:lol:!
zizi - Thank you so much for this fact-filled post. I shall read it carefully throughout the day.
Good afternoon, TODville. I’m also looking forward to tonight’s speech!
Nena posted this tweet at the end of the previous thread:
1) I will never recommend another Lemony Snickett book to one of my young readers
2) I must assume that he doesn’t want black children reading his books
Thanks LL.
I just got off the phone, leaving a lengthy message with C-SPAN @ 202-765-464-3080.
C-SPAN is now truly dead. Brian Lamb started a Network that has gone to the deep end since he retired from day to day operation.
The other day, a caller called POTUS the N-Word live on their Morning Journal. C-SPAN is now trolled by GOPers with callers from a coordinated well organized rightie group……IMHO.
And I can imagine the Snicket thought bubble. “Oh come on, it was only a joke, I have lots of black friends, har har har.”
You should tweet that.
I’m keeping myself to a Twitter embargo until I feel completely better. My energy from the morning has dissipated and I’m running on fumes. And I still have a low grade fever, so I’m dragging right now. But you have my fulsome permission to steal it and tweet it yourself. :-)
I don’t know. The only childrens books I read was Harry Potter. I did however see a Lemony Snicket movie and now regret it.
The Ebola hysteria was partly ginned up to show that “government doesn’t work, so elect the guys who want to destroy government”. And it partly worked. Now that the midterms are over, lo and behold Ebola has fallen off the front pages, just as now that PBO’s strategy against ISIL is working, that too has fallen off the front pages.
Yep, you got that absolutely right. Hope all’s well with you LL
My cold is just about over, praise Buddha. Thanks for asking. :-) As always, spot on writing, zizi.
;o)
Zizi,
Very interesting post re: ebola. I will share with others. Thanks for the article from Newsweek.
Apparently, there’s been a campus shooting at FSU. But patriots have to keep their guns against the gubmint, amirite?
I thought that was yesterday..?? Another one? Isn’t that Koch Bro U ??
It may have been yesterday. I just saw #PrayForFSU trending, and I’ve been away from Twitter for a few days.
It happened yesterday.
Which goes to show just how out of it I’ve been since Sunday.
ZiZi - thanks for shining the light of truth on the propaganda network that is our mainstream media. I’m getting conflicting info about whether or not any of the big networks relented on airing the President’s speech on his executive order (aside from Univision which always planned to carry it live).
Sen Pat Leahy is tearing the repubs a new one on the Senate floor on CSPAN2!
Zizi, Bless you. Thank you for stating it as it is.
NCLB has the Au :star: Congrats.
I can never get enough of this image, no matter how many times it’s used! Truly thankful!
So the networks have decided not to carry the President’s address tonight. and yet emoprogs complain that WH does not message See,
this is what we Obamacrats have been saying for years that the lack of public awareness about this administration’s successes and actions is not because they don’t communicate enough, but because the controllers of the airwaves do NOT allow the public to see anything from the Obama administration.
This is our reality. and we don’t own liberal media outlets. The Kochs call the shots. When Sarah Palin bleats nonsense, the media carry it nonstop.
Post 2017, this will be the permanent reality from the plutocrats. They’ll determine what ywe see and hear. They will destroy net neutrality too and deny us the electronic space we currently enjoy. Mark it.
On the Messaging……
The Dems Need to build their own……News/Communication Apparatus for the greater good of the 318.9M people.
GOPers took 40 yrs to have the Media as is today.
Any political party in a large Nation with Multiple interest groups MUST have a systemic timely way of drowning 24/7 propaganda Partisan and Corporate Media.
When the US Media was a tad objective…..Truth ruled mostly and for 40 yrs, GOPers could not lie their way into our political system. That need to change……and change quick or Dems will win presidential elections while GOPers will dominate the states and Congress undeservedly.
If Dems have their Communication Apparatus……MSM would dare Not to cover presidential addresses as frequently as they have been.
THIS is Amazing, Zizi.. thank you!
You’re welcome
‘weird,’ to say the very least!
Ha. And the First Lady and her guests (not to mention the Prez) would be the only ones capable of acting “natural.”
The press? Robotic shills.
I hadn’t taken time to read the chalkboard above their heads in the restaurant, but sent the image to a friend who’s one-quarter Native American and she pointed out they are words to John Lennon’s “Imagine.”
Luckily, the Obamas can imagine all of it!
How cool is this?
Just a married couple grabbing a bite to eat with friends.
Not a care in the world, LOL.
Must get under the GOP/MSM/Koch’s skin to see PBO and FLOTUS enjoying themselves, while they’re in a frenzy propping each other up with *nothing*.
Teehee.
“Over the past two months, hardly a day has gone by when Hong Kong residents have not been exposed to protests and politics.
They are on the streets, on the front pages of newspapers and on 24-hour television channels that relay scenes of the tent cities outside the government’s headquarters, where “Occupy” protesters demanding the open election of the city’s leader, the chief executive, have been camping out since late September.
Still, the appetite for political drama doesn’t seem to have waned. Hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong residents tuned in Wednesday to watch the first episode of “The Election,” a 15-part series on the new HKTV Internet television service depicting a political tussle that bears a remarkable resemblance to the current turmoil on the city’s streets.
“Hong Kong people deserve a vote in deciding who they want to be the chief executive,” declares a fictitious candidate for the job in his election manifesto.”
zizi, excellent recap. The most dramatic aspect is how other disease outbreaks received a massive response, diseases that, though serious, were nowhere near as fatal as ebola. And the only conclusion to reach is that ebola primarily impacts Africa. Unfortunately, Africa (and I mean the entire continent) is viewed by many in the Western world, as backward and still uncivilized. People see the word Africa and still think of Tarzan movies.
There is a deeply ingrained racism involved here, even among some of us who view ourselves as progressive caring people. The same thing applies to the ME and, to some degree, to Asia.
And much of the coverage of the outbreak in the three countries of western Africa tended to increase that feeling as we saw pictures of, basically huts and other what would be called primitive structures. Few people could like a pictures of many of the bustling, metropolitan cities in Africa and even believe that they could be located there.
When certain racist beliefs are so deepely ingrained, when the white Western superiority is taken for granted, we don’t see those things that would challenge those beliefs. But we quickly accept as being universal, those images which support our beliefs. Thus a group like ISIL is quickly judged to be representative of the ME and Islam.
Grass huts become what all of Africa is like. Dirt hovels become what all the land south of the US border is.
The reaction to ebola is, as you so rightfully pointed out, a direct outgrowth of racism and ignorance. And guess what, it just so happens that the President of the US also happens to be black. I am not quite sure that the freakout hear would have been the same if a white Dem President had been in office. Oh, the GOP does look for everything, but there were definite cases of people saying PBO was doing this deliberately because he is of African heritage.
And the fact that the same reaction is also prevalent in Europe also highlights the racism undergirding the hysteria and the slowness in an effective response to those experiencing the horrors in Africa. Notice how in both Europe and the US, the biggest call was to prevent people coming here from those countries. It wasn’t, except among those who are actually truly human, how to we get rid of this at its source.
Maybe we will come out on the other end of this better as a species. I have my doubts.
You nailed it Boss!
More lunacy and wishful thinking from the republiclowns.
Yes, the aristocracy will always be threatened by the peasants. Big uprisings expected.
And I hope I live long enough to join in!
Me too.
There’s a strain in this country which wants civil war. It wants to break out the guns and stand against the gubmint. It wants to kill all the foreigners, the liberals, the freethinkers, the gays, the “minorities”. It wants to put burkas on women and live in a theocracy.
And then the rest of us will swamp them.
The boat is already leaking LL.
I love the way Coburn says that you may see…”I hope not”… violence.
He isn’t saying violence would be a wrong response. In fact, he is stating it would be understandable.
Now, fast forward to Ferguson if the grand jury decides not to indict. I also hope there won’t be violence, but , to my mind, it would be understandable. In fact, far more understandable than any would be in the wake of the EO on immigration.
You speak truth Squad Leader!
Violence started by whom?
The business owners who don’t want to be raided by INS?
The children whose parents won’t be deported?
The parents whose children can now attend college?
The people affected by immigration reform are busy working and leading their daily lives, unlike the overpaid layabouts in Congress who apparently think their “job” is to incite civil unrest.
JHC.
This is the christian talking, who claim to be a friend of President Obama. What is wrong with these racists?
FEAR!
What “political” reason will anybody have in 2017 to host a house/watch party!
So cool, underscoring the irrelevance of network TV.
BTW, the local CBS radio affiliate in Los Angeles will be carrying PBO’s speech live, so will reach a lot people on their evening commute here.
@knx1070 is saying the speech starts at 5 pm, but TODville knows it starts at 5:00:30 PST, LOL.
Thanks, zisi2, Wonderful, informative post!
Did anyone else hear Thom Hartman share this earlier…..and I will be paraphrasing. Yesterday he spoke with a very high level Dem strategist in DC. Reinterated that this person is definitely “in the know”. Person told him that the reason Harry Reid did the vote on Keystone was to “out” the conserva Dems……..because the Dems and PO’s plan for 2015 is to become very outspoken and strong on the progressive/populist issues. That’s all well and good-was glad to hear that, but kept wondering WHY not do that during the midterms????!!!!! Big sigh………
Anyway, wanted to pass that on.
We are getting on the road headed for Nashville. I have to check on and spend time with my cousin (57) for whom I am her conservator. She is most definitely a child in a woman’s body. It’s so sad. Prayers and thoughts for travel mercy appreciated.
Will be in hotel tonight and tomorrow night spending the night with husband’s former boss and his wife who just bought their retirement home outside of Nashville. We haven’t seen them in over 20 years.
Tnmtgirl, In answer to why PBO didn’t come out strongly against the conservaDems before the mid-terms,
For what it’s worth—I think PBO’s intention was to “out” the DINOS and the “waiting for Lady Walmart” crowd in a manner that ordinary people would be able to see and understand.
You are in favor of the Keystone XL—You call yourself a Democrat?? Please.
Claire McCaskill—”not in favor of immigration EO.” YOU, call yourself a Democrat?? Puh-leeze.
Wishy-washy comments on the ACA? “Such as we’ll fix it.” You Alison, DWS, etc call yourselves Democrats?? Give me a break.
It is my belief that POTUS is outing and looking to dump the deadwood.
More Elizabeth Warren, O’Malley, new PA Gov. Wolf, Bill deBlasio, Kamala Harris, Deval Patrick Castro brothers..real Ds with democratic values.
Not GOP lite.
Cleaning house for a Progressive Obama-Coalition takeover in 2016.
“Cleaning house for a Progressive Obama-Coalition takeover in 2016.”
Could not agree with you more, Vicki!
#BackBarack
Well said, Vicki. Here’s to “real D’s” !!! *clink*
Really hope so, Vicki. Where do you figure the Clintons and their allies in all of this ?
Ringleaders of a revenge against PBO for his victories against them.
Coporate GOP lite.
Spiteful.
Chelsea C’s pregnancy announcement timed to step on PBO’s ACA news.
Which by the way the networks werren’t interested in covering and didn’t.
No, lovepolitics, I don’t hold back.
Vicki, sorrymy wording confused you. My use of “they” was toward all the Dems that didn’t come out in support of PO and his accomplishments during the midterms. I think what PO, HR and others have planned is the way to go. Loved the way you put it—cleaning house for progressive takeover!! Forward!!
Was i confused? maybe. Not confused now, I don’t think.
I loved your comments and the info.
Vicki-This would be a crowning achievement. It’s music to my ears!!!
Updates, via RTs, in the sidebar …. oh, and just another example of how horrible GWB was (is) ….
#BackBarack
It’s on ….
I read these Potential break-through with so much giddiness and nervous gleefulness that I could easily implode once a pronouncement of an agreement is announced.
I try not to comment on these…..I am so jittery of celebrating too early…..so fearful to jinx it.
Thanks Doc Bobfr for the many updates. Now back to my quiet tapered demeanor.
Agree, Nena, that it is best for all of us to be hopeful but also recognize that a deal might not happen. Thus, we wait to celebrate when the ‘ink is dry’ :)
That is me, too all the way, Nena.
I am making a major effort to contain my hope and enthusiam for peace with Iran. If we do this the entire Middle East will benefit.
Except for the RW in USA and Israel. Which is why Kirk and Menendez are rattling their sabres.
Iran may feel the urgency for a diplomatic solution before the lunatics gain more power in Congress next january.
Now or never—yup
I don’t have the link, but I’ve saw where Univision ratings have been higher than network news (I think, sorry!) So I see this as not only immigration reform, but as a boost for Latinos in other ways, too. Like giving respect and notice for Univision and these entertainers. It feels like a big leap forward to me. Thank you, Pres Obama!
The most influential Latino news anchor is taking a stand and wants you to notice….
As it turned out, Obama had arranged to start speaking at the very moment Univision, America’s largest Spanish-language television network, planned to begin broadcasting the 2015 Latin Grammy Awards, one of the network’s biggest shows of the year, with a 2014 viewership of nearly 10 million.
Indeed, Univision promptly announced that it would delay the start of the live event to take Obama’s remarks, in translation, ensuring the President a massive platform in the most crucial political demographic, even as many of the English-language networks said they would skip the address. The chances are high that the leading lights of Latin pop music will follow up his words tonight with on-stage celebrations of the President’s actions.
….For Ramos, the importance of the move was difficult to overstate. “This will be the most important immigration measure in 50 years—since the 1965 change in immigration law. In terms of numbers, it’ll have a wider impact than the 1986 amnesty,” he continued…..
As we all know, TME, President Obama does not play …. this announcement has obviously been carefully orchestrated with Univision, i.e., this was not a last minute decision by any stretch.
#BackBarack
Bob, I haven’t read anything that indicated it was last minute or that it wasn’t a wise decision on the President’s part. Just the opposite. Just like the conservative Democrats, the network news, their Libertarians owners and GOP are being left in the dust. Quite a cleaning house going on now and those dunderheads are looking around going, “Whut? But we won didn’t we?” PBO is a master.
I agree with you 100% magical earth.
“Left in the dust.” Indeed.
Agree, TME.
Love this, Jacqueline! I do feel proud. They are our brothers and sisters. So glad to see all people in our American family treated with respect.
I hope PBO will do a sit down interview with Jorge Ramos sometime soon.
Looks like Ted Cruz is not getting his way ….the Senate is confirming the President’s nominees
And Ted haz a faux-sad.
I don’t think Teddy will have as much influence as before. Did he forget that he is an immigrant?
” Did he forget that he is an immigrant?”
channeling AMK - egg.sack.lee
zizi, what an incredible write-up. Excellent information and well-said. Thank you so much!
Thanks zizi for all the work in putting this together. Very informative! While I still believe we are a nation of quiet heroes, I suspect the rest of the world believes we have become a nation of noisy cowards:-) The screeches from the right are incessant.
PBO has truly backed the GOP into a corner on immigration and I’m loving it. I only hope those that will benefit will remember come 2016. No one ever seems to be satisfied with what he does. In addition to his detractors, those who benefit seem to have short memories. I was dismayed last night to hear one spokesperson for a reform group state they had given up on the Republicans but believed they could finally “push” PBO into doing something. Apparently, DACA was “nothing”. I doubt the Dreamer kids would agree but everyone always wants more.
Revolving Door: Scott Brown Reportedly Rejoining Fox News After Second Failed Senate Bid
I hope his seat is still warm.
Hmm? Did Fox ever stopped paying Scott Brown?
Sure his seat at Fox was kept warm for him until he picks his next state for US senatorial candidacy……coming some? CT? ME? RI? VT? Etc.
The Money backers will be ready……SBrown is their perfect Boy-toy-Politician.
The British stick it to Vlad …
good morning chips and todville-what a day!! the president is announcing his immigration plan, secretary kerry is on the brink of a nuclear accord with iran, and zizi has given us the most comprehensive report on ebola that i’ve seen anywhere. thanks to all of you who make this a place where all the important news is reported and intelligently discussed.
just harkening back to the 2012 election for a sec. remember mittens’ history of dressing up as a cop and pulling over the cars of attractive young women?
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/11/brooklyn-man-poses-as-cop-assaults-teen.html
There are, unfortunately, a lot of “little Mitts” still around.
smh. seems the rethugs are willing to excuse any oddity, transgression, or outright crime if the candidate is a good little puppet.
Yep. Well said. They and their puppets are all odd criminal transgressors, in my book!
so true. i have a very hard time respecting anyone who professes to be republican. okay, i just don’t respect them.
Understand fully. I don’t respect them and don’t “hang” with them.
There’s no way they would have any self-respect, either, if they looked into their own souls - or even the mirror. Bunch of ghastly people, in my opinion.
there was a republican poll watcher working on election day, who kept sitting beside me, checking the roll books, making her notations and talkingtalkingtalking. i just wanted to wring her neck! usually i can avoid such people, but i had to be professional. ugh.
My forehead got a little hot reading that! Thanks for all you did on election day, including keeping your cool!
In_deed, Happy News for Rep Tammy Duckworth……..Yes!
http://www.suntimes.com/31187295-761/rep-tammy-duckworth-announces-birth-of-baby-girl.html
Rep. Tammy Duckworth D-Ill., and her husband, Bryan Bowlsbey announced on Thursday the birth of a baby girl on Tuesday, who they named Abigail O’kalani Bowlsbey.
the middle name is fascinating. in hawaiian, o kalani means of the heavens.
So sweet.
Rep Duckworth has been through a lot. Little Baby, Abigail is indeed, Heavenly ;)
More:
“My husband Bryan and I are thrilled to announce that we are the proud parents of a baby girl. Abigail O’kalani Bowlsbey was born on November 18. Bryan and I were deeply honored that Senator Akaka acted as Hawaiian elder and selected her middle name.”
aha! absolutely lovely.
More updates, via RTs, in the sidebar …
My totem.
^5
^5
THIS!
Excellent essay. I think it was disgusting the way the “news” was covering Ebola. Thank you so much on keeping us Informed on what’s happening.
I couldn’t type your name. I’m typing on my Kindle, my old laptop has finally died, it kept changing your name to ziti.
LOL. Ziti is some type of Italian food, right? Ha ha
I know, lol.
that’s a wonderful picture-iran reaching out to america. rwnj heads explode!
Agree, Susanne - and that image has been tweeted by several folk and will be seen by millions in the next hour or two!
Also, that smile on Lady Ashton’s face …. oh my …. but, we all must wait for the ‘ink to dry’!
#BackBarack
yes, and i’m trying to learn patience from my zen master, pbo :)
:)
Astute observation and interesting speculation :)
Hadn’t seen this photo until a couple of minutes ago …
The expression on Lady Ashton’s face and the fact that SoS Kerry reached out … then the smile on FM Zarif’s face and then his gesture toward SoS Kerry … whatever the outcome, these folk clearly respect one another. And, that’s a big deal.
White House confirms that ACA numbers were inflated due to sign up for dental coverage counted as health coverage. Re-adjusted down to 6.7 million health care sign ups instead of 10 million. The R’s are calling for hearings. UGH! Saw this over at Huff and Puff as well as Politico. Shit!
By Zeus!!!
At least the error was caught by the WH and not by some T-bagger. Between this and the immigration, MSM and their patrons won’t know how to spin the impeachment roulette.
On the other hand, that tells me there are more people that would sign up this season.
HuffPO says its only 400,000 fewer. From 6.7 million to 6.3 million. Not that big a deal
So where did LB4Obama get the 10 million from?
Sorry. I thought 10 mill was the official number posted by HHS. Rev. Al uses this number frequently on his show. This will just be another meme the right wing and MSM will use to beat the incompetent administration/government sucks talking points. Not helpful at all. It was not the WH that initially reported the error. It was Bloomberg news.
Dental coverage IS health coverage.
Unless you’re talking about cosmetic dentistry - and I doubt that’s the case here.
Correct
hp2 I thought the same thing and wrote that dental is health coverage before I read your post.
Wow. The President must be F-U-M-I-N-G.
Couldn’t the White House delay the announcement a bit ? I mean… did it have to come out TODAY ???
Why should the President be fuming? Sorry but this crap is all media-driven.
By the way dental coverage IS health care coverage. Healthy teeth and gums are the first line of care to good health. Unless you think it’s “okay” to walk around with a mouth full of cavities, eroding gums, bad breath, plaque and periodontal disease - or missing teeth. Ask someone who is nursing a painful dental abscess how “healthy” they feel and whether they can afford to sit that one out, and let it “heal by itself” without getting treatment.
So what if Dental signups increased the overall ACA numbers — Isn’t that something to be happy about? And the difference isn’t a whole lot - 400K…among > 6 million people…
I don’t think anyone cares LP2008. This is faux hype over nothing at all.
Who came up with that 10 million number…..???
Bloomberg’s Alex Wayne reported earlier on Thursday that the administration had included as many as 400,000 dental-plan enrollees in its September enrollment total of 7.3 million. That had in turn pushed total enrollment passed by the 7-million projection originally offered by the Congressional Budget Office.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services then said after the report that “a mistake was made.” The correct enrollment total is 6.7 million as of Oct. 15.
“A mistake was made in calculating the number of individuals with effectuated Marketplace enrollments,” a CMS spokesperson said in an email. “We have determined that individuals who had both Marketplace medical and dental coverage were erroneously counted in our recent announcements.”
“Moving forward only individuals with medical coverage will be included in our effectuated enrollment numbers,” the spokesperson said.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/hhs-obamacare-enrollment-overcounted
Don’t know, Linda, but the statement you quote is accurate. And, it’s a nothing-burger as far as ‘scandalgazas’ go. Thus, the reason I posted Jeff’s tweet, earlier.
Everyone wants healthcare so this faux outrage is a non-starter. Personally I think dental coverage is considered a part of overall health care.
Does anyone know what the Senate confirmation count looks like?
Sailor, if you check here https://twitter.com/DSenFloor you’ll find a complete list of all those already confirmed today. Just refresh the page occasionally for any updates.
Thanks Lootenant. ^5
Thanks, Bobfr! I see that Lisa Afua Serwah Mensah, of Maryland, is to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development. Love PBO’s diversity!
Yes, Gazelle!!!
from the article above:
•82 percent support Congress providing access to lower the costs of student loans;
•75 percent support increasing spending on infrastructure, roads and highways;
•65 percent support Congress raising the minimum wage;
how in the bloody hell did democrats loose this election? americans are crazy, lazy and too stupid. how in the world does voting for a GOP governor and senate help students get lower cost loans? do people think anymore for themselves?
“yes, lets raise the minimum wage”. “how? i know! lets vote in a bunch of loony tunes that don’t even believe in minimum wage laws!!””
Gah, thank god for president obama. at least there is one person left in the country with a brain they know how to use.
“how in the bloody hell did democrats loose this election?”
They chose to not run on policy or dem accomplishments. They chose to run on we are not the GOP and btw, we are not Obama either.
idjits all. They deserved the loss.
Zizi, the reason I came out of lurking was to say thank you for this excellent and informative post. There are many lurkers who we never see because they don’t sign up and post, but they nonetheless benefit from the FACTUAL information presented in posts like this.
BRAVA!!! :)
Lurking??? You, hopefruit???
Hope you come out of hiding by 8:01 and let us know what you think about the Immigration EO!
Oh yes…I’ll be well out of hiding by then!
;o) lurker-in-chief
LOL! :)
You speak the truth, hoprfruit. I’m here every day, but rarely comment. There is so much info available from all the fab posters here, I have much to learn and little to contribute.
Love you all and our amazing PBO, too. Back to lurking.
CNN is claiming the Ferguson police have been notified to watch for GJ decision…..
How can that be ? The GJ is hearing testimony tomorrow.
The same CNN that didn’t cover the murder for 3 days….
Thank you for this wonderful and informative post Zizi! I am bookmarking it so that I can always come back and reference it when needed.
You’re welcome
Zizi, thanks so very much for this post! Not sure if you’ve see this:
Sometimes silence speaks louder than words.
A new PSA featuring some of today’s brightest stars does not feature their acting abilities — it just shows them sitting still.
“This is what waiting looks like,” the clip’s text reads. “Talk is cheap. It’s time to take action on Ebola.”
African musicians Fally Ipupa, Angélique Kidjo, American actors Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, German soccer player Per Mertesacker and others lent their famous faces to the video produced by ONE, an international advocacy group dedicated to ending extreme poverty and preventable disease — particularly in Africa. [.....]
.
More & video here: http://news.yahoo.com/one-ebola-psa-west-africa-epidemic-220218185.html
Yep. I’ve seen it
These sort of celebrity events often don’t cut it when it comes to impact on actual problems on the continent. Empty PR. Ipupa’s contemporaries in the film industry are doing more meaningful stuff like collecting food and money to replace lost livlihoods in Ebola-stricken villages.
Thanks for posting all this information Zizi. 😻
Alex Gagner just asked Linda Sanchez to describe PBO’s mood last night.
Was he ” excited ” ” jubilant ” ? What was he like ?
Barf…back on mute
Thank you to LB4Obama for the network television station phone #s in Rise and Shine!
I just called CBS and the woman who answered confirmed that they would be carrying the speech tonight. I told her, “Great, then I will be watching CBS tonight.”
ABC and NBC had recordings saying they were busy (TOD is powerful :-) ) But, I figure, since CBS was the first to mend their ways, ABC and NBC can go blank themselves :-)
I hope CBS smokes the other networks (we already know Univision will have the most viewers, so I want to reward CBS and make ABC and NBC regret.
It is CBS Cable that will air the speech not the network.
My comment has nothing to do with Bill Cosby - just this armchair quarterback with big blots on his own record.
Hope I’m doing this right. Saw a post from Ariana on google+. . .
I died why the subject with news dropped so quickly on 11/04/14?
No answer from her, but saw the greatest take down of a troll. . .
Took a snapshot to share. Hope can read it. I’m posting from an App for first time I think.
Nope can’t do it. Be back latter.
All I can do is link it. :-/. Not sure what you see if you don’t use Google plus. . .
I saw FB post from our local NBC that the station will carry PO’s speech. ??????? Does that mean NBC is carrying?
New post.
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/11/20/this-is-america-we-welcome-people-from-all-around-the-world/
PBO appears to be briefing all kinds of groups today:
[Posting w/out comment. SMH!]
Most of the $3bn (£1.8bn) that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has given to benefit hungry people in the world’s poorest countries has been spent in the US, Britain and other rich countries, with only around 10% spent in Africa, new research suggests.
Analysis of grants made by the foundation shows that nearly half the money awarded over the past decade went to global agriculture research networks, as well as organisations including the World Bank and UN agencies, and groups that work in Africa to promote hi-tech farming.
[.....]
“It also appeared that they’re not listening to farmers, despite their claims. The overwhelming majority of its funding goes to hi-tech scientific outfits, not to supporting the solutions that the farmers themselves are developing on the ground. Africa’s farmers are cast as recipients, mere consumers of knowledge and technology from others.”
.
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/nov/04/bill-melinda-gates-foundation-grants-usa-uk-africa
GOP really represents the shadow side of America. Ugly racism, exploiting the human tragedy of Ebola, stirring up hatred, calling for violence. Let’s hope good people wake up.
Thanks zizi for such a comprehensive summation of Ebola and its effects on Africa and the exposure of the racism which has become all too clear of Estern countries.
PBO the real Christian. By which i mean, living by the original teachings.
I am counting down the hours until the announcement tonight and so relieved that this day has finally arrived. My best friend’s parents are in court appealing a deportation. They have lived in the US for 30 years, moving here because of threats to their family. So hoping that this will end the nightmare they have been living with for the past several years. My friend is a US citizen and voted in the last election for the Dems even though he felt like it was all political games being played at the expense of people like his folks who have worked and paid taxes for 30 years.
The White House has put together a beautiful page for the announcement tonight:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/immigration/immigration-action
Zizi, this is the best summation of the Ebola crisis I have seen anywhere. I pity those who do not come to this site to learn the truth and keep informed.
second that, jackie.
Thanks Jackie. The folks in the heat of this crisis are working thir hearts out.
Meanwhile, one by one……
OMG I predicted this today on an earlier post. (Nevermind me patting myself on the back . I can be a jerk.)
The big NEWS is that 5 detainees are no longer at Guantanamo!!!!!!
Posted on R & S at 12:03. So glad to be correct when it’s good news.
I can’t even fathom how many balls in the air PBO is juggling at any given time. A lot of his decisions are global, complex and far-reaching. Another reason why I have to laugh when I see some of these people who want to run for President. Please!
So true, meta. And, the ones always shouting at him as to what he should do …. they truly have never paid attention.
:-) Do you know how far behind I am?
;-)
That is number 7 now in the last 2-3 weeks.
Going down……YES!
Thanks POTUS!
Posted earlier response to LP2008 that I think that PBO didn’t nominate the fiercest prosecutor in the country for AG and expect Loretta Lynch to sit on the sidelines for two years.
DNC seems to be at the root of Dems problems, and HRC/WJC are their puppet-masters:
typo corrected …
“#Ukrainian grannies support
How does one respond to this kind of thing…?
This elderly lady came up to us one evening with a four-person tent and warm sleeping bag. “I have a fold-out cot that I can give you as well,” she said. “I’ll try to drop it off tomorrow.” Why should you drop it off? We’ll come by and pick it up. “Sure, ok, I’ll call you.” Yep, she called us. Came in today on her own with the cot for our warehouse. “Yeah, everything’s fine. I carried it on my back. You don’t need to be running around after me, you’re all so busy.” OMG…Ukrainian grannies are this kind of granny. The best in the world!!!”
Important …
Thankful for you always, Zizi2, but especially for this powerful, comprehensive, deeply moving tour de force on ebola, its realities, misuses, and inspirations. I learned so much from your research and presentation here. Moved to tears, sorrow and gratitude. You shined a great light and it makes a difference. Gratitude for all you do here on TOD and in the world.