Obama Surgeon General Nominee Prevails Over NRA And Right-Wing Media Smear Campaign

[Cha]

snip//

Dr. Vivek Murthy overcame a longstanding right-wing media and National Rifle Association smear campaign to gain Senate confirmation as Surgeon General on Monday by a vote of 51-43.

Conservative media had worked to cast Murthy as a radical for his uncontroversial stance that gun violence is a public health issue and criticized his supposed lack of qualifications.

The conservative media attacks against Murthy began in early March. Coverage of his nomination focused on his past acknowledgement that gun violence affects public health, which conservative media spun as evidence Murthy is obsessed with gun regulations. (Murthy has actually said his focus as Surgeon General will not be on gun violence, but rather obesity.)

snip//

In fact, Murthy's stance on firearms is common within the medical community. The American Medical Association (AMA) agrees that gun violence "has reached epidemic proportions" and has argued that the medical profession carries an obligation to combat gun violence. The Institute of Medicine has also advocated for a "public health approach" to fight gun violence. Furthermore, Murthy's credentials were endorsed by a broad array of health care groups including the American Public Health Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, and Trust for America's Health.

Murthy's confirmation marks a significant loss for the NRA, which began its campaign against the nominee even before conservative media joined the crusade. In a February 26 letter to U.S. Senate leaders, the NRA's top lobbyist warned that confirming Murthy would be "a prescription for disaster for America's gun owners." The letter kicked off an extensive lobbying and grassroots effort as well as the mobilization of the NRA's media arm in a failed attempt to block Murthy's nomination.

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/12/15/obama-surgeon-general-nominee-prevails-over-nra/201887

Oh yeah, and Joe Manchin disingenuous reasoning for voting NO.


TheObamaDiary.com @TheObamaDiary
Follow
.@Sen_JoeManchin opposed Vivek Murthy for SG because of Murthy's "political beliefs" - ie he favors sensible gun laws
10:58 AM - 15 Dec 2014 15 Retweets 6 favorites

http://theobamadiary.com/2014/12/15/president-obama-delivers-remarks-to-the-troops/#comments

What a poignant day for Vivek Murthy to be confirmed in the Senate as yesterday was the two year anniversary of the Sandy Hook massacre.


For the victims and loved ones of the Sandy Hook Kids

[CreekDog]

1. And many in the Gungeon

who said he was unqualified, who said he didn't manage enough people, who said they hadn't heard of him, who said, "is he really the best of all the doctors?" and who wouldn't say, "I oppose him because of his statements about guns".

[Cha]

2. Yeah, I'll bet.. funny that. All he said was the truth.. too many can't handle that. Mahalo

CreekDog!

[freshwest]

6. LOL. I guess some thought the NRA handed out medical degrees, too. That's hilarious.

Well, considering the subject matter, maybe not that funny. But at least some will get some good exercise jumping backflips to defend their little friends.

[MADem]

9. The surgeon general has to be skilled in policy formulation. He or she also benefits from being a

good cheerleader.

The SG doesn't have to "practice" medicine, set bones, or bandage scraped knees. And he (or she) doesn't have to be famous, either. No one had heard of C. Everett Coop BEFORE his bearded visage appeared on television.

[PCIntern]

107. That is patently untrue:

C. Everett Koop was an internationally famous pediatric surgeon who pioneered the surgery to separate conjoined twins, and also was instrumental in the introduction of many surgical techniques which were ground-breaking. I know a bit about him because I was honored to serve on the same faculty as he at The University of Pennsylvania and read of his amazing skills and genius over the years. The fact that we didn't care much about his politics earlier in his political career has nothing to do with the fact that he saved an incredible number of lives and improved the quality of life for millions for all time. Without question.

[MADem]

129. Most people had never heard of him until AFTER he became surgeon general.

That's just fact, no matter how many twins he untangled. In 1982, when he was named to the post, we didn't have the type of media saturation that we have today. CNN was barely out of the gate and was in very FEW homes.

He didn't become a known quantity until after he put on his service dress blues.

He had the same level of "fame" as this newly named SG in the minds and hearts of the average citizen. I'm quite sure the people who worked with this guy at B and W--and maybe associates from other nearby hospitals as well (there's a medical facility every ten feet in Boston...along with universities) have wonderful things to say about this gent, too--that doesn't mean Mrs. Jones behind the counter at Dunkin Donuts ever heard of him previously. She'll know him now, though.

[hack89]

44. He is not a threat to gun owners

He will mouth the appropriate platitudes to keep people like you happy but not much more. The president and democratic leaders do not want to make guns an issue in the 2016 elections and I think even you realize that.

[Cha]

128. Guns are a fucking issue.. and it's sickening that there are those around here talking about the SG

mouthing" platitudes".. you have no idea what keeps others "happy".

[hack89]

138. Gun control advocates are being played by the Democratic leadership

My only point. Gun control will not be an issue in the 2016 elections for obvious reasons.

[ucrdem]

3. Now that IS great news!

[Cha]

10. Surprise! I didn't think that would happen in my lifetime! And, I hear we have Ted Cruz to

thanks for this..

Senator Jeff Merkley ✔ @SenJeffMerkley
Follow
Rule change that allowed us to confirm noms with up-or-down votes: crucial.

Getting help from Tea Party to confirm even more: priceless.
2:36 PM - 13 Dec 2014 165 Retweets 115 favorites

http://theobamadiary.com/2014/12/13/solidarity-black-lives-matter/

This is what I can find out about that right now.. 'cause of "time" .. will get more detail soon. You probably already know about this.

Mahalo ucr!

[ucrdem]

25. Yeah that was a nice twist wasn't it?

Gotta love Harry Reid for knowing how to make lemonade. Very clever moves on a late Saturday night. The hate squad went to bed thinking they had until Wednesday to kill the bill and woke up on Sunday to discover that it had passed, and now the appointments too.

So sad.

[Cha]

26. Yeah, gotta love Harry Reid for pouncing on that like a big cat! And, here's the "more" I promisted

Ted Cruz just did a huge favor for Democrats
Cruz forced the Senate to stay open over the weekend — and Harry Reid is taking advantage of the extra time
Vox @voxdotcom
100 Retweets 68 favorites
http://www.vox.com/2014/12/13/7388109/cromnibus-senate

http://theobamadiary.com/2014/12/13/solidarity-black-lives-matter/

HUGE!

[freshwest]

4. This couldn't come at a more appropriate time, Cha. Thanks for the great news!

[Cha]

12. Really, fresh.. And, thank you! Amazing how the Universe works for the good sometimes.

[MADem]

5. I can't help but think every time I see a close vote like this how some will still insist that

"they're all the same" and "It makes no difference." If they tried to confirm this guy in February, with the new, worsened, GOP controlled Senate, the results would be very different, indeed.

But hey, they're all the same....only they aren't.

[Cha]

13. Exactly. And, the only reason we can do it now.. "Ted Cruz just did a huge favor for Democrats"

1The Senate unexpectedly stayed in session for several hours on Saturday before voting on a bill to fund the government through next September (the "CRomnibus&quot .

2The Saturday session was forced late Friday night by Senators Ted Cruz and Mike Lee, who are upset over the Obama administration's executive actions on immigration. They refused to allow Congress to go into recess without a vote on the constitutionality of Obama's actions.

3The Senate voted down Cruz and Lee's motion on immigration — with several Republicans joining Democrats — before it passed the CRomnibus.

4Because of the extra time, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was able to move closer to votes on 24 Obama administration nominees — including nominees for Surgeon General, the head of the country's chief immigration enforcement agency, and twelve federal judgeships — who Republican senators have been blocking

Snip//

What does this have to do with nominees?

Republicans have been blocking lots of Obama nominees for the executive branch and federal judgeships. Reid and Senate Democrats wanted to get a chance to approve a couple dozen nominations before leaving for the year, and coming back to a Republican-controlled Senate.

When the Senate stayed in session on Saturday, Reid had a chance to go into executive session — which is what the Senate does to confirm nominees — and file for cloture on 24 nominations. That will give those nominations time to ripen sooner.

MOre..
http://www.vox.com/2014/12/13/7388109/cromnibus-senate

UnBloodyReal! Thanks Ted Cruz.. you tool.

[freshwest]

15. So true. Stumbled on this a few days ago:

They're Not Even Close: The Democratic vs. Republican Economic Records, 1910-2010

by Eric Zuesse – June 4, 2012

The Democratic and Republican Parties are virtual opposites of each other in their economic records, going back to the earliest period for which economic data were available, around 1910.

More than a dozen studies have been done comparing economic growth, unemployment, average length of unemployment, stock market performance, inflation, federal debt, and other economic indicators, during Democratic and Republican presidencies and congresses, and they all show stunningly better performance when Democrats are in power, than when Republicans are.

These studies are all available online, and they are all summarized and discussed in this path-breaking book, which settles, once and for all, the question of whether there’s any significant economic difference between the two Parties. Not only is there a difference, but – shockingly – it always runs in favor of Democrats in power.

There might be other types of reasons for voting Republican, but all of the economic reasons favor voting for Democrats. Regarding economic performance, the two Parties aren’t even close.

Some of the CONTENTS:

4: Democrats Are Better for the Stock Markets
10: Democrats Are Plain Better for the Economy
19: The Grand Old Prejudice Causes Economic Stagnation
40: Democrats Reduce, Republicans Increase, Government Deficits
46: Republicans Actually Win by Punishing the Nation
105: Conservatism Is Based Only on Faith
114: Trickle-Down vs. Percolate-Up Economics
122: Republicans Harm More than Just the Economy
123: Would Romney Be Better than Obama?
125: References/Sources

http://www.amazon.com/Theyre-Not-Even-Close-Democratic/dp/1880026090/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1339027537&sr=8-9

[MADem]

19. But golly freshwest--you only went back a HUNDRED years! You sure you got enough "proof" there?

and of course....!!! Why is it that only here people think they ARE close? I don't hear that theme anywhere else I visit...!!!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. Thank you, my dear Cha, for this GREAT news!

I'm so pleased.

I am hoping that this will prove to be the first, albeit small chink in the armor surrounding the NRA.

[Cha]

16. Mahalo my dear, Peggy!

"I am hoping that this will prove to be the first, albeit small chink in the armor surrounding the NRA."

This is like a miracle in itself and could be a sign, imv..

Senator Jeff Merkley ✔ @SenJeffMerkley
Follow
Rule change that allowed us to confirm noms with up-or-down votes: crucial.

Getting help from Tea Party to confirm even more: priceless.
2:36 PM - 13 Dec 2014 165 Retweets 115 favorites

http://theobamadiary.com/2014/12/13/solidarity-black-lives-matter/

[99th_Monkey]

8. Ebola scare embarrasses the GOP freaks into taking action. Awesome. nt

[CreekDog]

17. No, it did not.

The Republicans opposed him as they always have

When Ted Cruz delayed a vote on the budget, Harry Reid moved the stalled nominations forward during the delay (using the 50 vote hurdle for high ranking nominees). Since this is the end of the session and there was no agenda to bargain over, there was nothing to lose by confirming them on Dem votes alone, and in fact, it was incentive for the Republicans to get their budget passed ASAP to stop the nominations from going forward.

So they almost all voted against him, but he got through anyway.

[Cha]

21. A bloomin' miracle, CreekDog.. thank you for explaining that so well.

[99th_Monkey]

96. All I remember is

when the ebola thing was in full swing, how ridiculous the GOP looked for
blocking Obama's nomination for Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy.

[CreekDog]

98. Yes, but you wrongly jumped to the conclusion that Ebola shamed them into confirming him

they were just as opposed to him on the weekend as they were during the Ebola crisis.

[99th_Monkey]

100. If you say so

whatever. Happy Holidays!!

[99th_Monkey]

102. GOP knows no shame, as near as I can tell

I'm not "offended".

I did look up vote totals btw.

What is it about that you don't understand?

[CreekDog]

103. i deleted my post

[99th_Monkey]

104. thanx nt

[Cha]

111. Thank you again.. nothing to do with "Ebola" and everything to do with another of ted cruz' stunts..

and it was so close! Manchin voting against and Mark Kirk voting For!

[Cha]

110. CreekDog says so because it's a fact. and, you'd see that if you read what went down to get our

Surgeon General. Had nothing to do with Ebola.

[99th_Monkey]

114. What I'm wondering is..

why the fuck are "some people" so worked up into a lather about this?

I'm on a discussion board. I offer an opinion. End of fucking story.

HINT: There are many much-more horrid things you could choose from,
to be alarmed by, than my random musing about how ridiculous the GOP
looked when Ebola struck our US shoreline .. for having adamantly refused
to ratify POTUS's nomination for Surgeon General, primarily because the
NRA doesn't like the fact that as chief health advocate for the US People,
the new SG might advocate against military-grade firearms not being openly
sold on every urban street-corner.

[Cha]

115. Facts are facts.. deal with them.

[99th_Monkey]

116. believe you me.

I am dealing with facts just fine, thank you very much.

Facts light my path, science is my friend.

Oh wait! exactly which "facts" were you seeing as "immutable"
again?

[Cha]

117. Good!

[Cha]

20. No, that's not the reason.

[Hekate]

11. Welcome Dr. Murthy!

Whew!

[Cha]

23. Yes, Indeed.. "Welcome Dr. Murthy".. Wecome out of Limbo and into the O Admin as our SG!

A bloomin miracle but they do happen, Hekate

[Drunken Irishman]

14. What a concept - America actually having a Surgeon General!

[Cha]

24. Well it is President Obama's Surgeon General afterall.. and it turns out we thank ted cruz' "stunts"

for making it happen. Opening the door so to speak..


Ted Cruz just did a huge favor for Democrats
Cruz forced the Senate to stay open over the weekend — and Harry Reid is taking advantage of the extra time
Vox @voxdotcom
100 Retweets 68 favorites
http://www.vox.com/2014/12/13/7388109/cromnibus-senate

http://theobamadiary.com/2014/12/13/solidarity-black-lives-matter/

[sheshe2]

18. Boston Cha~

Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, they cared for my brother in law recently.

Murthy is the Obama Administration's Surgeon General of the United States. Previous to his confirmation, he was a physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Bostonn Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and a Hospitalist Attending Physician and Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School.[8] He is also a founder and president of Doctors for America, a group of 15,000 physicians and medical students supporting comprehensive health reform.[9][10] He has managed staff and hundreds of volunteers, developed and executed strategic plans and nationals and local initiatives around coverage and prevention. He has also directed fundraising, managed budgets, built a broad array of partnerships with community-based organizations across the country. In 2011, Murthy was appointed by U.S. President Barack Obama to serve on the U.S. Presidential Advisory Council on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public

Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.[8] The group advises the National Prevention Council on developing strategies and partnerships to advance the nation's health.[11]



He is co-founder and chairman of TrialNetworks, a cloud-based Clinical Trial Optimization System for pharmaceutical and biotechnology trials that improves the quality and efficiency of clinical trials to bring new drugs to market faster and more safely.[12][13] He founded the company as Epernicus in 2008 to originally be a collaborative networking web platform for scientists to boost research productivity.[14]

He created and served as President and then Chairman of VISIONS, a non-profit organization focused on HIV/AIDS education in the US and India. During his 8 year tenure as head of the organization, VISIONS established 10 chapters with hundreds of volunteers in both countries and impacted over 45,000 youth through direct education programs. He managed volunteers spread across two countries, directed fundraising and program evaluation efforts, and oversaw partnerships.

Murthy has also led and managed medical care teams at Brigham and Women's Hospital for over a decade. He has trained hundreds of medical students and residents and has cared for thousands of patients as an internal medicine physician. He also continues to practice medicine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivek_Murthy

Way past time Cha. So glad he was finally confirmed.

[Cha]

27. He's brilliant and now he's our SG! A-mazing! And, so poignant that

he worked at Brigham Women's Hospital in Boston where your BIL was cared for, she.

"Previous to his confirmation, he was a physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Bostonn Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and a Hospitalist Attending Physician and Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is also a founder and president of Doctors for America, a group of 15,000 physicians and medical students supporting comprehensive health reform.."

Previous to his confirmation.. like yesterday.. wifi is Fast!

Mahalo for this bio on Dr Vivek Murthy~ We have a Surgeon General.. he's got two years!

[sheshe2]

28. We are privilledged to hav e him Cha.

candle: : for all he cared for.

[treestar]

22. Oh FFS Manchin

That is about as dumb as it gets.

[Cha]

29. He must think he knows his audience treestar.. on the plus side.. ted cruz helped make this

happen.. and it was really Close but it's happened!

[Cha]

30. I'm just going to start kicking this good news for those who have no comment.

[napkinz]

31. good news ... and we can thank Ted Cruz for this!

thanks to his antics we're going to get some twenty nominations through!

[Cha]

32. Amazingly Awesome, isn't it napkinz! Incredible! Did he even think?

1The Senate unexpectedly stayed in session for several hours on Saturday before voting on a bill to fund the government through next September (the "CRomnibus&quot .

2The Saturday session was forced late Friday night by Senators Ted Cruz and Mike Lee, who are upset over the Obama administration's executive actions on immigration. They refused to allow Congress to go into recess without a vote on the constitutionality of Obama's actions.

3The Senate voted down Cruz and Lee's motion on immigration — with several Republicans joining Democrats — before it passed the CRomnibus.

4Because of the extra time, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was able to move closer to votes on 24 Obama administration nominees — including nominees for Surgeon General, the head of the country's chief immigration enforcement agency, and twelve federal judgeships — who Republican senators have been blocking

Snip//

What does this have to do with nominees?

Republicans have been blocking lots of Obama nominees for the executive branch and federal judgeships. Reid and Senate Democrats wanted to get a chance to approve a couple dozen nominations before leaving for the year, and coming back to a Republican-controlled Senate.

When the Senate stayed in session on Saturday, Reid had a chance to go into executive session — which is what the Senate does to confirm nominees — and file for cloture on 24 nominations. That will give those nominations time to ripen sooner.

MOre..
http://www.vox.com/2014/12/13/7388109/cromnibus-senate

Senator Jeff Merkley ✔ @SenJeffMerkley
Follow
Rule change that allowed us to confirm noms with up-or-down votes: crucial.

Getting help from Tea Party to confirm even more: priceless.
2:36 PM - 13 Dec 2014 165 Retweets 115 favorites

http://theobamadiary.com/2014/12/13/solidarity-black-lives-matter/

UnBloodyReal! Thanks Ted Cruz.. you tool.

Mahalo napkinz~

[napkinz]

33. Rachel reported that several prominent Republicans are really p*ssed at him

for giving us this gift.

Mitch will have his hands full with Ted when the GOP takes over the Senate in January.

It's going to be a circus.

[Cha]

34. I'd read that but glad Rachel did it too.. just too delicious for Mr Green Spam/the $24Billion$ Shut

DOWN Perp And, then try to blame it on Pres Obama..

Sounds a wee bit like Karma to me.

[Cha]

35. Come on peeps this is some good stuff right here! Ted Cruz helped us out! Ignorantly but he did..

[Cha]

36. Yeah, you're quite right, Cha.. it's

good stuff.

Yes, I'm rattling around in my cage dancin' with myself.

[aikoaiko]

43. Did you just respond to yourself as if you were another person?

[Cha]

46. I think that was rather clear.

[SidDithers]

48. This post was alerted on...

Someone thinks you're using a sockpuppet.

Will post results when they come in.

Sid

[Cha]

49. OMZ.. that will teach me to try and be funny on my thread when no one else is replying! R U Serious

???!!!!!!

[Cha]

50. You're using dry humor, right, Sid? 'cause how could I be a "sockpuppet" with the same username?

Tell me you're kidding?

[SidDithers]

52. Here they are...

7:00 AM
Automated Message
AUTOMATED MESSAGE: Results of your Jury Service
On Tue Dec 16, 2014, 05:49 AM an alert was sent on the following post:

Yeah, you're quite right, Cha.. it's
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5966375

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

It's looks like Cha is caught attempting failed sock puppetry in order to keep his OP kicked. Sock puppetry is disruptive by definition.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Tue Dec 16, 2014, 06:00 AM, and the Jury voted 1-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I think there's some alert stalking going on. Hope this is a 7-0 leave. I'll be posting results in the thread.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I think it was sarcasm, not sock puppetry.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: dafuq? Seriously, this was alerted on? sock puppetry? :-/
Juror #7 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

After the hide on she last night, and this alert this morning, I'm really starting to wonder about this place.

Sid

[Cha]

53. "sock puppetry" Rofl.. Ya got me, alerter and the one HIDE juror.. Busted .. LOL OKay, note to self

.. ooops! Don't talk to yourself when no one is commenting on your late night threads. You'll get alerted on by the alert squad.

Thanks Sid! Yeah, she's hide was really egregious.. and I don't need to wonder.. I got alerted on this the other day. They want to Censor us.

I got alerted on this one for quoting the person I was replying to ..

"Fuck him" LOL
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5953363

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

I've seen a few posts hidden for posting "fuck you" to a DUer. Is saying "fuck him" about another poster on the thread over the top? Or do quotation marks save it, even though no one is being quoted? I'm not sure what is alert worthy now.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Fri Dec 12, 2014, 11:51 PM, and the Jury voted 2-5 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: TM99's post (#110) is the one that should be hidden. Not this one.
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: posts have been hidden for less, as "contributing to rape culture": the party has to stop its slide toward soft-shoeing child rape because they know enough Dems will have their back when they soft-shoe *child rape*
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Poster was quoting the poster above. I did not read this as an attack on a DUer. I think! Um... Leave it.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: The person being replied to is being quoted - it does not appear to be an attack on a DUer, at any rate.
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE

Getting alerted on for quoting another post.. WTF We weren't kidding.. bad alerts bad hides.

And, Skinner(Hi Skinner) thinks the jurors and alerters(?) know what they're doing... yeah, some of them.

[belzabubba333]

71. to the nra

funra

[Cha]

73. Oh good someone else joins in.. good one, belzabubba!

[JI7]

152. i have a good idea of who it is

[Cha]

153. Who alerted? it might be the person in the thread who asked me if I were talking to myself? lol

[JI7]

154. no, i'm thinking it is someone else

[Cha]

155. Hmmm? They must be not very versed in what is a "sock puppet" and what is not.

[treestar]

54. Having fun Cha

[Cha]

56. LOL.. tryin' and then I got alerted on for having too much fun.. dancin with myself..

for crying out loud, treestar!



Thanks for stopping by!

[Cha]

37. ... New SG.. recognizes Guns are a health problem.

[Cha]

38. ..

[Cha]

39. Kick for Obama's new SG who recognizes that there's too many freaking killing in the US. NRA

NOT Approved.

[aikoaiko]

40. Nice win win for someone like me.

Win because we have a Surgeon General nominated by Pres Obama. That's the most important thing.

Win because advocating for a Assault Weapons Ban as a solution to gun violence should be viewed with skepticism. The NRA knows you can't win every battle, but giving politicians a hard time for advocating for stupid legislation is its own reward.

Mahalo.

[hack89]

41. Good choice. Nt

[CreekDog]

86. You told me he was "young, inexperienced and lacks gravitas"

I'm glad you've come around, but I do wonder why.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1172&pid=140550

[hack89]

90. He is

that is why he is a good choice for gun owners - for all the talk about his gun control views, he will not be a big player in the gun control debate. That and the democrat leadership will reign him in so that gun control does not become an issue in the 2016 elections. They understand that they have to say certain things about gun control but they don't intend to get stupid about it and risk not getting a Dem in the White House.

[CreekDog]

93. oh please.

but I give you bonus points for creative backpedaling.

[hack89]

94. "I support him for surgeon general regardless of his view on guns"

I support him for surgeon general regardless of his view on guns. However, it is hard to imagine him having any impact on the gun debate even if he wanted to.

And in post 44 of this thread I repeated my views of him. He is a good choice for gun owners.

[Cha]

122. He's an excellent choice for America.

[BrettsJets]

42. Pathetic...

...That a somewhat basic appointment is now an "accomplishment," and something to celebrate.

Agree or disagree?

[Cha]

45. Yeah, it's "pathetic" that the asshole republicans held up this confimation for months and we only

got it to a vote at the end of this year because of a stupid stunt from ted the tool cruz.

[treestar]

55. Em, Republicans

Do you know anything about this and the history of most other basic appointments?

Who is turning it into an accomplishment? Yes, at this point, it is.

[BrettsJets]

76. eeek!

I guess you missed the point!

The point was that it is pathetic it took this long just to get this confirmation due to Republican obstructionism. It is and has been out of hand.

[Cha]

121. Hey treestar.. tweet pic of the Prez and SG Murthy..

Wonkette @Wonkette
Follow
Senate Confirms Surgeon General Even Though He Thinks Murder Is Bad For Children http://po.st/Yp6c6J
6:16 AM - 16 Dec 2014 458 Retweets 294 favorites

http://theobamadiary.com/2014/12/16/a-tweet-or-two-191/

[Cha]

47. Confirmed!

[Cha]

51. K 4 Dr Murthy

[Cha]

57. K4Drmurthy.. new SG

[Cha]

58. K

[Cha]

59. ..

[Cha]

60. Yeah!

[Cha]

61. Dr Murthy Surgeon General!

[leftynyc]

62. Great news, Cha

So happy we get to thank Cruz for it and also stick a finger in the eye of the NRA. Good news all around.

[Cha]

65. Yeah, Green Spam outdid himself.. managed to get Repubs pissed at him and did Dems a Big

Favor.. all because he's upset at Pres Obama's Immigration Reform Bill that got Funded!

[Cha]

63. Surgeon General Murthy! YAY!

[mcar]

64. Congrats to Surgeon General Murthy

Well done Sen. Reid!

[steve2470]

66. +1000000000000000000 nt

[Cha]

68. Thank you, steve.. Good news, eh?!

[Cha]

67. NRA lost this one.. thanks teddy cruz

[spanone]

69. hey manchin....GFYS

[Cha]

72. Joe Manchin and his Orwellian reasoning voted against Dr Murthy and Mark Kirk vote for him!

strange but it's a miracle and I'll take it, spanone~

[alcibiades_mystery]

70. Gun violence is a public health issue

Don't be fooled by the fake "civility" of gun nut shitheads and their laughable, endless discourses on some demented version of what they imagine to be jurisprudence. The slaveholders and cigarette makers spouted the same nonsense, until they could do so no longer.

We don't need a conversation with gun nut shitheads, anymore than we need a conversation with neo-Nazi skinheads, or anti-abortion misogynists. They've staked out their position, and it will not change. Fuck them sideways. We need to make their position untenable by showing it up for the dangerous fuckwaddery that it is. You don't reason with fanatics. You call them fanatics, ignore them, and outflank them.

And laugh at their stupidities.

[Cha]

74. Yes, it is, a_m.. no way to sugar coat it.. and our new SG came out with it and

by a small miraculous confluence of events.. he is now our Surgeon General.

[aikoaiko]

118. Yeah, that strategy been working well.

[Cha]

75. ..

[Initech]

77. Finally! Fuck the NRA!

[Cha]

78. Yeah, I never thought we'd be able to say that about this SG nominee, Initech!

[still_one]

79. The New England Journal of Medicine strongly criticized the republicans for blocking this

appointment in an editorial several weeks ago. Not only did they say Dr. Murthy was extremely qualified, but that politics should never come into play when dealing with public health

[Cha]

81. thank you for that bit of interesting news, still_one~

[jalan48]

80. Part of "The Deal"

I thought the approval of Obama appointees was part of the deal with Republicans in exchange for the last minute Wall St. and big bank concessions inserted into the budget bill.

[Cha]

83. No, there wasn't going to be time to vote on them before the end of the year but ted cruz pulled

one of his stunts because he was upset that the President's Immigration Reform Bill was getting funded in the Bill.. and all of sudden the Dems got a vote on this nominee and others to follow.. the way I understand it. Fascinating really. This would never have happen next year so it is a small miracle it came together. It was really close as you can see by the tally.

[jalan48]

92. I see

So no political dealings here. The Republicans just decided to place nice?

[Cha]

109. No, sorrry.. you don't see.. because of ted cruz' political stunt there had to be a vote.. the gop

was PISSED at Ted Cruz.

[jalan48]

126. Just saw

where Obama got his nominations approved for agreeing to the tax breaks for the rich. Pretty cool. I thought there was some politics in there some place.

[Cha]

127. Nah, that's sounds like a lie.. I'll need proof.. not just you "saw". I can see now that you don't

want to give the blunder by ted cruz.. the credit. You want to someone try to spit on the President getting his nominees through confirmation.

[jalan48]

139. True Believer

You sound like a true believer. Pointing out that Obama has worked, or tried to work, with Republicans is not spitting on him. As for a source simply Google tax cuts and Obama nominations. I think Obama is a nice man who has tried to do a lot but has been thwarted from day one by Republicans. However, Obama is still basically a 70's Republican. When he has had the opportunity to show his progressive side he has declined-think single-payer option for health care.

[Cha]

140. Thanks for kicking this thread even though you just came here to disrupt.. haha..you're still

kicking this news about our new AG.

[jalan48]

141. LOL-good luck

[Cha]

142. ..

[samsingh]

82. kick

[Cha]

85. thanks sam

[William769]

84. Kick & recommend.

[Cha]

87. Mahalo William.. we got our Surgeon General, Dr Murthy!

[William769]

91. Yes!

I have been absent lately and I try to find your OP'S (because I love reading them), but don't always see them.

[Cha]

106. I noticed.. you've been absent, William.. and you know it's

always really good to see your sweet self!

No worries.. I don't always write them.. once in awhile I'll come up with one or sooner.. usually it's already been posted by the time I get around to it out on the Island.

[Cha]

88. ..

[vkkv]

89. Ebola would then be a political issue as well since Congressmen want to ban visitors

from foreign countries that have had outbreaks.

[Cha]

105. Yes, but we got our Surgeon General whom the President wanted and is eminently qualitified, vkkv!

[BumRushDaShow]

95. K&R

[Cha]

108. Mahalo BRDS! We miraculously got our Surgeon General!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

97. .

.

[Cha]

113. Hey Blanche~.. thank you!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

137. hey Cha!

[hue]

99. I'm elated Dr. Murthy was finally confirmed!He's a sensitive, brilliant doctor!CONGRATS to Him & USA

[Cha]

119. This is fantastico! And, to think we owe it to a bumbling stunt of ted cruz.. the gop is Pisssed!

Mahalo hue!

[locks]

112. Such great news!

Thanks for spreading it.

[Cha]

120. Yes, it is locks.. thank you!

[Cha]

123. ..

[Cha]

124. KICK for Progress!

[Cha]

125. The Senate just passed 34 nominees by consent

Adam Jentleson @AJentleson
Follow
The Senate just passed 34 nominees by consent - these are in addition to the 24 on whom Senator Reid filed cloture Saturday.
3:20 PM - 16 Dec 2014 40 Retweets 25 favorites

http://theobamadiary.com/2014/12/16/a-tweet-or-two-191/

[MADem]

130. Wow, took them long enough, but at last. nt

[ucrdem]

132. I think they're passing 3 years of legislation in one week...

Last year's and the next two

[MADem]

133. Really--like passing a kidney stone!!!!! nt

[ucrdem]

134. ouch

that hurts just to think about!

[Cha]

135. Yeah, better do it now.. with that "gift" from ted cruz.. 'cause it sure won't be happening next

year!

[ucrdem]

131. woohoo 2!

This poison pill just keeps getting better doesn't it?

[Cha]

136. KICK!

[Blue Idaho]

143. I would like to personally thank Ted Cruz

For making this all possible. His fucking stunts made it possible for Senate Democrats to run the table on appointments at the end of this congress. I hope he is as happy as I am right now.

[Cha]

144. Oh you know the sociopath.. he apologized to the republicons for making them work the weekend..

no mention of his big fucking flub. Rofl.

Cruz apologizes for making senators work on Saturday, but not for helping Harry Reid

MOre..
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/16/1352298/-Cruz-apologizes-for-making-senators-work-on-Saturday-but-not-for-helping-Harry-Reid?detail=email

[Blue Idaho]

160. Mr. Ego just can't be wrong now can he? nt.

[Cha]

161. cruz' stupid sociopathic ego is Never Wrong.. but, he was and I don't think this one went as

unnoticed as he would have liked!

We noticed and so did the repubs who have to live with our New AG and all those Obama Judicial nominees getting Confirmed! Some for life.

[burrowowl]

145. Hurray!!!!!

[Cha]

147. That's what I say, burrowowl! Hurray!!!!!!

[SunSeeker]

146. K & R

[Cha]

148. Mahalo SunSeeker~

[Cha]

149. KICK

[Cha]

150. ..

[Cha]

151. ..

[Cha]

156. ..

[Cha]

157. ..

[Gothmog]

158. I love it when the NRA is defeated

[Cha]

159. Unbelievable win! thanks to ted cruz

[Cha]

162. ..