Coronavirus Task Force shows why America doesn’t need a permanent “Pandemic Office”
The ready-when-needed “Pandemic Office,” headed by Vice President Pence, is clearly effective and avoids needless bureaucracy and layers of regulation.
During President Donald Trump’s announcement of his emergency declaration for response to the Wuhan Coronavirus, there was a question from one reporter that earned the derision and anger toward the press and its attitude, as recently expressed by a Legal Insurrection fan.
The topic of the exchange was the closure of a White House office that dealt with pandemics.
Q:
You did disband the WH pandemic office and the officials working in that office left abruptly, what responsibility do you take to that?Trump:
“I just think it’s a nasty question … and when you say ME, I didn’t do it … I don’t know anything about it.” pic.twitter.com/HhJw22PTcg— Bill Maxwell ?REMOVE TRUMP 2020? (@Bill_Maxwell_) March 13, 2020
The closure is being used as a cudgel to diminish the effective approach Trump and his Coronavirus Task Force have developed to deal with the spread of the disease and to ensure equipment and resources are directed to where they can help Americans.
A former senior director of the National Security Council’s dissolved pandemic unit said its closure left the United States “less prepared” for the COVID-19 outbreak.
Beth Cameron wrote in an op-ed for The Washington Post that the Trump administration’s response to the novel coronavirus had been “slow and inadequate,” and suggested that the closure of the Directorate for Global Health Security and Biodefense had contributed to its “sluggish” response.
She added that the closure of the unit left “an unclear structure and strategy” for coordination of efforts to combat the damage of a pandemic.
…Writing about the closure of the NSC’s pandemic office, Cameron said, “I was mystified when the White House dissolved the office, leaving the country less prepared for pandemics like COVID-19.
However, it does appear that the National Security Council certainly had enough resources to address the most recent Ebola epidemic.
Former White House National Security Adviser John Bolton defended President Trump’s 2018 decision to shutter the National Security Council’s (NSC) office overseeing responses to pandemics, saying the move did not hinder the government’s response to the coronavirus.
“Claims that streamlining NSC structures impaired our nation’s bio defense are false. Global health remained a top NSC priority, and its expert team was critical to effectively handling the 2018-19 Africa Ebola crisis. The angry Left just can’t stop attacking, even in a crisis,” Bolton tweeted Saturday morning.
Claims that streamlining NSC structures impaired our nation’s bio defense are false. Global health remained a top NSC priority, and its expert team was critical to effectively handling the 2018-19 Africa Ebola crisis. The angry Left just can’t stop attacking, even in a crisis.
— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) March 14, 2020
One of the hallmarks of Trump’s approach to governance is to avoid duplication of responsibilities. When there are 17 different organizations focused on national security, the bureaucracy can hinder speedy responses. Behemoth government networks can also make it difficult to identify, discipline, and fire problem employees.
The regular press conferences being held by the president, Vice President Pence, and the Coronavirus Task force show that the “White House Pandemic Office” was immediately open for business when the magnitude of the problem became known. Perhaps Team Trump would have gotten an earlier start if they weren’t also having to deal with impeachment:
JAN 21:
The CDC activated its emergency operations center to provide ongoing support to confront coronavirus.
What were Congressional Democrats focused on?
Writing their opening arguments for their bogus impeachment trial. (2/8)
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) March 11, 2020
Conservative pundit Don Surber recalls the Obama administration had a similar approach to the Swine Flu epidemic.
Given President Donald John Trump’s swift action to restrict travel to Red China and other infested places, the CDC’s swift action to develop tests, and the reaction at the state and local level, what exactly would an Office of Pandemics do?
I mean besides get in the way. Created in 2015, the office never handled a pandemic.
A pandemic is an emergency situation that falls on the shoulders of one man: the president. Obama appointed Biden to head in reaction in the H1N1 pandemic in 2009.
President Donald John Trump appointed Vice President Mike Pence to head reaction to this one.
This is how it should work. We should hold someone accountable. Presidents who do not handle an emergency well wind up ex-presidents. Jimmy Carter is Exhibit A. Presidents who get the job done in are re-elected. George Walker Bush is Exhibit B.
One of the benefits of Trump not having an extra layer of bureaucracy to wade through is that his administration has created perhaps the most effective public-private partnership to respond the the real needs of the American people. The Trump approach also means that novel ideas for providing medical assistance and new drug therapies are going to be available faster.
We already have a “White House Office of Pandemics” ready-to-go when needed, headed by our very effective Vice President.
The only reason this became an issue is that the press needs another hoax story to feed its #TrumpDerangementSyndrome.
The American media really should rethink its approach to covering this story.
Area man calls journalists “scum of the earth.” pic.twitter.com/3WUYQ3YUnm
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) March 14, 2020
DONATE
Donations tax deductible
to the full extent allowed by law.
Comments
“Personally, I liked the university. They gave us money and facilities, we didn’t have to produce anything! You’ve never been out of college! You don’t know what it’s like out there! I’ve worked in the private sector. They expect results.” – Dr. Ray Stanz, Ghostbusters
The “Pandemic Office” would have been another Deep State instrument to interfere with Trump’s presidency. Bureaucracies are virtually immortal once deeply entrenched.
The CDC has a diversity department much like other private and government agencies. This is like having a communist party office inside your human resources department.
Diversity hires stands for hiring those who are innately less qualified in the best circumstances and in the worse they are flat out incompetent.
I am sick of diversity horse crap. There are staggering costs, inefficiencies associated with these practices.
Can’t stand it when foreigners come here and start a billion dollar company that employs the local yokels as their contribution to diversity. My problem with diversity is having to deal with the idiots.
Leslie Eastman: The only reason this became an issue is …
Because the government response was botched. Not only did the President personally provide the public with false and misleading information, but the U.S. didn’t provide widespread testing early during the epidemic, hindering the ability of the medical profession to understand the extent of the problem and to direct resources to where they were most needed.
As of March 7 (per CDC) more than 36,000,000 influenza cases = ‘Normal’; STILL well less than 2,000 Covid-19 (March 13, CDC) cases nationally = ‘Epidemic’. I think NOT. Exception: if one is a purveyor of The Party’s propaganda and/or a snowflake allowed to float through school without actual education.
Zachriel is back…The Soros-paid student trolls paid to comment on leading conservative sites.
I hope you all enjoy your extended Spring Break. I will be ignoring every comment you make going forward, but hope you find the time to take a break during your school’s hiatus and enjoy some fresh air and sunshine. They help strengthen the immune system.
Wash your hands often & don’t touch your face! And perhaps take some tome to actually read and reflect before trolling…you might actually learn something.
Finally, on this National Day of Prayer…May God bless and keep you.
Leslie Eastman: The Soros-paid student trolls paid to comment on leading conservative sites.
Our comments are our own, and freely given. You’re welcome.
Leslie Eastman: Finally, on this National Day of Prayer…May God bless and keep you.
Thank you.
“widespread testing”…. one needs a virus specific test kit. This isn’t a Democrat/Leftist admin that can snap its fingers and magically create the illusion of testing at the same time hiding the true level of disease.
We are also in the flu season. As the testing continues MORE cases will be found.. solely from testing… and NOT from botched spread.
Oh, and never let a Leftists enhanced crisis go to waste. This virus came out of a “workers’ paradise” held up by many as a model for the world… it’s still commie, it still devalues human life, and Xi is a dictator for life with no Gloomberg “constituency” he needs to answer to. That new “1 percent” at risk for dying is solely due to ChiComs.
alaskabob: “widespread testing”…. one needs a virus specific test kit.
That’s right. South Korea was and is testing thousands of people a day while the U.S. tested only hundreds in a month. The World Health Organization offered to make the test available to the U.S., but the U.S. declined.
The lack of testing has likely allowed the virus to spread undetected, making it much more difficult to control.
You’re such a moron. What test? This is a new disease. Test kits are not available in large numbers at this time. On this day of prayer, I pray for your sake that you don’t ever run into me in person, because I’ll smash your lying fucking mouth, troll. Now fuck smooth off.
Paul: Test kits are not available in large numbers at this time.
And yet, South Korea and other countries have been testing thousands of people *a day*, while the U.S. has only been able to test hundreds in a month. The World Health Organization even offered to provide test kits to the U.S.
Paul: On this day of prayer …
Go in peace.
South Korea has tested 250,000 people, out of 51,000,000, with 8000 positive results. So, South Korea is essentially testing healthy people. SO WHAT???? Nothing.
The widespread testing being insisted upon by the RESIST folks is merely a propaganda ruse.
Person A has a fever and a cough, and tests negative for COVID-19. What should he do? Self quarantine. Person B has a fever and a cough, and tests positive for COVID-19. What should he do? Self quarantine.
Same result either way. So, what would the total population tests (that no country is doing) actually accomplish? Nothing.
Zachriel-try explaining why we need the testing you want.
Ira: South Korea has tested 250,000 people, out of 51,000,000, with 8000 positive results.
Testing is the eyes of the medical community. Testing is how you determine the extent of the problem, find people who are infected, and isolate them to prevent the continued spread of the disease.
Ira: Person A has a fever and a cough, and tests negative for COVID-19. What should he do? Self quarantine.
It depends on the cause of the cough, whether it is an infectious disease or not.
It appears that you left out one important thing in your simplistic explanation of testing. Test positive and you can end up in the hospital and possibly dead. If there is no room at the hospital, somebody gonna die and family gonna be mad.
Trump doesn’t know squat and he cleared the White House of knowledge of pandemics. Don’t try acting like Trump did something positive by clearing the decks. It might be fine to effect some judicious reductions, but eliminating all the knowledgeable management and coordination personnel is pure unadulterated stupid. When they are gone, you’re then dealing with the technical folks, who are focused on their jobs. And rest assured that there needs to be that level to interpret.
I guess Trump didn’t believe since the initial word about the virus came from the Intelligence Community and not from Comrade Putin.
There has been no improvement by eliminating the level that knew what needed to be done. If that group had been in place, they would have been making preparations back in January.
The only good move has been getting Dr. Fauci out front.
No. It was not a “nasty question”, even if you think the office was unnecessary or redundant.
Proof that stupid people are everywhere ???
Fortunately, we do not have to suffer very many stupid people here.
This guy is a troll. Can we please stop feeding him/it?
Not only did the President personally provide the public with false and misleading information
______________________________________________________________
bs
texan, did not mean to downvote you. It was an accident, that was supposed to be upvote.
For a moment there, I thought Ragspierre was back. Whatever happened to him, anyway?
texansamurai: bs
Quite the powerhouse argument.
Z: Not only did the President personally provide the public with false and misleading information …
The entire medical community was saying otherwise, but Trump preferred his comfortable lie to the truth.
From what I understand, the CDC bureaucracy got in the way of testing.
It’s not clear why an additional layer of bureaucracy on top of the CDC and answering to spies, generals, and political appointees at the NSC would have made things better.
clintack: It’s not clear why an additional layer of bureaucracy on top of the CDC and answering to spies, generals, and political appointees at the NSC would have made things better.
Regulations, while meant to protect safety and reliability during normal times, did impede development of the test. However, a White House task force could have identified the problem, and cut through the red tape due to the emergency. Reliable tests had already been developed as evidenced by extensive testing in South Korea and other countries.
South Korea achieved that without CDC getting in the way.
No need for additional layers of red tape. The current model is more than sufficient for those who are still capable of rubbing two or more brain cells together ??
mailman: South Korea achieved that without CDC getting in the way.
Turns out that South Korea also has a CDC bureaucracy. It’s called the Korea Centers for Disease Control or 질병관리본부
Maybe Zachriel has the answer to why the country is out of toilet paper!
He’s back. Too bad for us.
He and those like him post on other blogs also, not to contribute to the discussion but to stir the pot and enjoy the fresh, slowly wafting aroma. If somebody likes to repeat others’ statements and then argue with them, it’s easy to picture him with his nose stuck arrogantly in the air. After all, we are clearly his inferiors.
Is he aspergic? Possibly, but that doesn’t excuse obnoxious behavior.
.
DSHornet: He and those like him post on other blogs also, not to contribute to the discussion but to stir the pot
You will note that all of our previous comments were on-topic, supportable, and provided relevant context. Nor have you addressed the substance of any of those comments. Perhaps you mean you would prefer to wallow in affirmations of your preconceived beliefs.