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CheneyblamedDemocratic lawyers
Vice President Dick Cheney on Monday blamed the threat of lawsuits, the yearlong efficacy of flu vaccines and limited company profits for the shortage of the medication.
The Republican also argued that the presidential ticket of Sens. John Kerry and John Edwards - two Democratic lawyers - would thwart medical liability reform.
''Given John Edwards' background and John Kerry's voting record, there is not going to be serious medical liability reform as long as the two of them are in business,'' Cheney said at a campaign stop at a West Virginia restaurant.
During a discussion with local residents, Cheney was questioned by a physician about the limited supply of the flu vaccine. Nationwide, people have lined up at pharmacies and supermarkets for the vaccine since Chiron Corp. (CHIR), which usually provides half the nation's supply, announced it will not supply any this season because of problems at its plant in Britain.
''It's a combination of the economics of the business. They produced millions of doses, but if people don't take it, they have to throw it out,'' Cheney said. ''The other problem is liability concerns.''The vice president also pointed out that manufacturing the flu vaccine has not been a money-maker for drug companies. ''The problem we have run into, producing vaccine is not a very profitable business,'' he said.
About 80 people attended the event, many staying afterward to sample the daily special of beef stew, rolls and slaw for $6.95. Outside, dozens of Kerry-Edwards supporters yelled pro-Kerry and anti-Bush slogans throughout the event, though they could not be heard inside.
Minutes before Cheney arrived, the Secret Service escorted from the restaurant a woman who was not on the event's invitation list. The woman had apparently entered through the establishment's back door, without going through security.
By Powerline
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THE CHOICE ON SECURITY
In case anyone still doesn't understand the risks in the War on Terror if John Kerry wins on Nov. 2, President Bush spelled them out again yesterday in a comprehensive speech that highlighted his sharp differences with the Massachusetts liberal.
Bush can't sing that song often enough: This year, no issue comes even close in importance to the war.
And on that score, Kerry's views ?— in the context of his decades of opposition to a strong U.S. military ?— can only be seen as one thing: dangerous.
Speaking in New Jersey (a traditionally Democratic state, though hard-hit by 9/11 in very personal ways), the president made it clear, again, that the war is Issue No. 1 for him.
''Many important domestic issues are at stake,'' he said. ''Yet all the progress we hope to make depends on the security of our nation.''
In the first presidential contest since 9/11, Bush said, Americans face a choice: ''Will we stay on the offensive against those who want to attack us ?— or will we take action only after we are attacked?''
That formula neatly sums up nearly all the questions regarding the War on Terror: From Iraq, where Kerry supporters believe America should have waited until Saddam Hussein was a more lethal threat, to homeland security, where they believe the bulk of resources should go ?— even at the expense of the war abroad.
(Perhaps to prepare the nation for the attack at home that would be more likely if America retreats globally.)
Bush spotlighted Kerry's ''long record'' of opposing ''a stronger military'' and looking for ''excuses to constrain American power.'' Kerry, he said, ''has consistently shown poor judgment on the great issues of war and peace'' and harbors views that ''would make America less secure and the world more dangerous.'' He cited Kerry's:
* Opposition to weapons programs that helped win the Cold War.
* ''Sympathy'' for Soviet-backed Communists in Nicaragua in 1980s.
* Vote against the 1991 Gulf War.
* Call to slash intelligence funding by $6 billion after the World Trade Center was struck in 1993.
* Attempt again to cut intelligence funding in 1995.
* Call for a ''global test'' that America would have to pass before it could defend itself.
* Setting of timetables for withdrawing troops from Iraq ?— a clear message of hope for the terrorists, and a prescription for a defeat for America.
Bush, by contrast, believes in attacking the enemy on his soil, before he attacks America at home. And then finishing the job ?— as opposed to retreating when things look bad.
These, in a nutshell, are the fundamental questions Americans face.
In the post-9/11 era, the compelling logic, and moral justification, of Bush's approach should be clear to everyone.
By Powerline
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MR. FLIP FLOP,
Last night in a get out the vote rally in Orlando, Florida, presidential candidate John Kerry crossed two police picket lines on his way to the rally. In July at the DNC convention, he said he didn't cross picket lines. Never did, never will. But I suppose when the police union down there supports Bush, then I guess it's ok to cross the picket lines. Sorry John, but you did what you did after you said what you said. But in politics, don't believe me yesterday, believe me tomorrow. Right John? If you don't believe me, get todays Globe. If they print it, it must be true with or without the spin.
By NOT A KERRY SUPPORTER
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The Kerry Nightmare
Last night I had the strangest dream. I guess it was a nightmare, really. I remember most of it, except how it ended.
First I dreamed Kerry won the election. That wasn't so bad in itself. He seemed Presidential enough for the job. He had a dignified bearing, spoke well, didn't mangle his phrases. People were weary after four years of uncertainty under George Bush and ready to try something new.
Kerry started off well. On January 22, in a burst of world optimism, he went to the U.N. and laid down his mea culpa. America had gone it alone too long, he said. We were ready to cooperate with the rest of the world. The General Assembly gave him a 15-minute standing ovation. His speech was cheered wildly in cities from Paris to Berlin to Peshawar. A new day had dawned. Peace was at hand.
The only concrete result that came out of his U.N. visit, however, was that Poland decided to accelerate its troop withdrawal, already scheduled for 2005. Other allies said that since Kerry was throwing in the towel, they were going to leave sooner than later as well. Everyone but Great Britain packed up and headed home. Meanwhile, Kerry visited France and Germany to hold long talks with President Chirac and Chancellor Schroeder. The main outcome, however, was that they told him Iraq was his problem and wished him well. Meanwhile, terrorists in Iraq stepped up their operations
By the time President Kerry got back from Europe, things had taken a turn for the worse. Both Sunni and Shi'ite leaders announced that, despite the January election of Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, both now regarded his victory as illegitimate.
The opposition became bolder. Several suicide bombers penetrated the Green Zone and American casualties started to rise. With our allies pulling out, our soldiers were also required to take over key positions in the South. Suddenly we found ourselves stretched way too thin. Rioting broke out in several cities of the Sunni Triangle.
All the pretty plans of the campaign were evaporating and President Kerry now found himself facing the basic contradiction of his position. Was Iraq the wrong war at the wrong place and the wrong time? Or were we actually undermanned?
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Kerry solved the problem by going to the United Nations. A high level conference was arranged in Baghdad with all sides attending. A truce was called and for three weeks an international panel debated the issue. Finally, it was decided that 140,000 American troops would be given safe passage out of the country. They would leave in an orderly fashion and then Iraqis would continue to meet under U.N. supervision to decide how they would govern themselves.
General fighting broke out in several cities, even as the U.N. panel continued to meet. Then a suicide bomber rammed the home of Prime Minister Allawi and killed him. The elected government collapsed. Civil war broke out between Sunni and Shi'ite militias, both claiming religious authority, while the Kurds withdrew completely, declaring their own state..
Events didn't wait. Now convinced that America was abandoning the Middle East and no longer content to watch Iran develop a nuclear weapon that in two years would be able to hit Jerusalem, the Israelis sent a fleet of F-16s to drop bunker-busting weapons on three nuclear complexes at Bushehr, Natanz, and Arak. Rioting broke out in every Middle Eastern capital. Terrorists streamed into Baghdad from every direction. Syrian and Egyptian armies prepared for a retaliatory attack against Israel.
That's when I woke up.
I've been walking around in a cold sweat all day thinking about these things. But that's silly, I suppose. After all, it was only a dream. The American people couldn't possibly elect John Kerry President, could they?
By Manny Newsliberalswantkerry
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