The meddling federal measure about needle-exchange programs is undead — the one once pushed by Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, and declared dead last year. President Bush’s proposed 2009 budget revives the measure, which prohibits the District of Columbia from using its own money to fund such programs. It sticks the feds’ noses where it doesn’t belong and disregards the District’s alarming AIDS rate and the 210 proven needle-exchange programs in 36 states. “That Mr. Bush would do this in a budget that will take effect after he’s left Washington strikes us as gratuitous and shortsighted,†editorialized the Washington Post.
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44 Comments
I am kind of torn on this one. On one hand the government should do all it can to reduce the AIDS problem but on the other hand, what kind of message does it send when the government says “don’t do drugs” and then hands out free needles? That doesn’t sit well. Isn’t it possible to have a PRIVATELY funded needle program? Has anybody tried? I bet the companies that make the syringes would probably be willing to donate them if somebody set up such a program.
Boring! We’ve had this topic like three times now.
It does bring to light that Tiahrt and bush are soul mates. Wonder if bush ever looked deep into Tiahrts eyes?
“Tanker” Todd has little to his credit and a lot to his discredit. He is the personification of death. His opposition to needle exchanges in 1998-00 killed the D.C. program, giving the lie to his supposed support of “local control” (unless that means the prohibition on the teaching of evolutionary theory). Let us not forget his enthusiastic support for the war in Iraq, when he told Eagle readers in 2002 that he knew that Saddam had the capability to deliver his (nonexistent) WMDs right here in the heartland. It’s time to send this functional moron back home to Goddard.
“It does bring to light that Tiahrt and Bush are soul mates. Wonder if bush ever looked deep into Tiahrt’s eyes?”
If he did bother to look, he would see an empty, soul-less, emotionally immature frat boy who could care less about body counts and other such inconvemiences.
Bush probably spends his days counting Nancy Reagan’s china, and planning his taxpayer-funded retirement.
The WORST President ever, he truly has lowered the prestige of the office to it’s lowest.
http://www.childrensaidsfund.org/showarticle.asp?id=246
This article is but one of the studies which show that the NEP is not effective in preventing the spread of AIDS. There are many studies which show the same results. These reports come from many different countries and cover as many as 15 years.
It seems that drug users just can’t be responsible to always get a clean needle even if available and also engage in other lifestyle habits which spread the disease.
A waste of government money. Bush and Tiahrt were right in stopping the funding of this program. When will we stop enabling bad behavior in others and expect them to be responsible for themselves.
“It sticks the feds’ noses where it doesn’t belong…”
This statement would be true if DC was a state.
Since it is not true, that would make it… anybody wish to guess?
which prohibits the District of Columbia from using its own money to fund such programs. It sticks the feds’ noses where it doesn’t belong
Nuff said. The GOP, the new liberal party. I guess since the Democrats are looking to the term Progressive, the GOP is free to take over the Liberal label.
The GOP is dead as we knew it. There aren’t many conservatives left. Let’s hope the next election will hammer that home and in 4 years, we might actually have a two party system again.
The needle thing is the same thought process that distributes condoms to street people/hookers to help prevent the spread of aids or other STDs. Should that be stopped on moral ground as well? Addiction is an illness and should be treated as a medical condition and not as a crime.
Sursum did you read the studies that have been done on NEP’s. They don’t work. Why waste the money giving them something when research show us that the rate of AIDs actually went up during the exchange program. Not even addressing the addiction or it’s treatment.
“It does bring to light that Tiahrt and bush are soul mates. Wonder if bush ever looked deep into Tiahrts eyes?”
Perhaps Jeff Gannon hooked them up for a night in the Lincoln Bedroom.
Bush probably spends his days counting Nancy Reagan’s china, and planning his taxpayer-funded retirement.
I read he likes to spend his time playing a video baseball game. And no I am not making fun that is exactly what I had read!
Well Writer we all need to relax some way. Most of us just blog. Have a great day!
“I read he likes to spend his time playing a video baseball game. And no I am not making fun that is exactly what I had read!”
Bush has left field covered.
ksgrm: The only thing I know of is an international study that said the results are inconclusive because of the novelty, but if the practice can inhibit transmission of disease, why quit? Places that have the program have not stopped it apparently.
Bush spent 15 billion dollars (over five years) starting in 2003 to prevent the spread of AIDS in Africa. He has proposed another 50 billion (over five more years)again, in Africa.
Yet he could care less about the spread of AIDS in our nations capital?
I sure hope this year passes quickly………
Tick-tock, tick-tock.
Oops the new bill might only be 30 billion. Story remains the same.
Looks like your article states that NEP does not stopp sexually transmitted aids, and little else from what I read of it.
And?
And my republican friends again try to insert their religious dogma into the African AIDS bill:
“Democrats have angered conservative groups with plans to remove a provision, inserted by the then-GOP controlled Congress five years ago, requiring that one-third of HIV/AIDS prevention money go to abstinence programs.
Another controversial provision that could come out forbids grants to groups that provide medical care to prostitutes.” Examiner
If it were up to me, I would cut almost all foreign aid for a variety of reasons. But using religious beliefs to attempt to stop people from having sex (until married) is like trying to plug a damn leak by sticking your finger in the hole.
Another shining example of how the religious right can cause gridlock over the most mundane legislation.
Good morning AmericanWay!
The Bush administration has done more to fight aids than any other administration.
They also are getting a bad rap on the science front.
Oh well,
In America, nothing good about Bush is ever reported.
In Africa, different story:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=4303636&page=1
Bush AIDS Fund Credited With Saving Lives
$15 Billion Fund Made U.S. President Popular Across Africa
By JOHN HENDREN
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, Feb. 17, 2008
Font Size
President Bush may be struggling at home, but he remains surprisingly popular here in Africa, where his face adorns everything from billboards of thanks, to women’s dresses.
The main reason for his popularity is that the fund to combat AIDS, which he created in 2003, has spent more than $15 billion on the continent over the past five years.
The Democrat ‘party of the blacks’ did what exactly for blacks?
http://africa.reuters.com/top/news/usnBAN856108.html
Hailed as hero,Bush offers more help to fight malaria
Mon 18 Feb 2008, 15:35 GMT
ARUSHA, Tanzania (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush, hailed as a hero in Tanzania, announced a plan on Monday to distribute enough bed nets to protect all the country’s children below the age of five from malaria.
Yes he has Hank, and to his credit it will be a feather in his cap when the Bush presidency is examined historically.
But he is spending money we don’t have, in a foreign land.
I listened to his last State of the Union address in Congress, and I was happy to hear him say he would fight the proliferation of Earmarks (22 billion dollars, thank-you democrat controlled congress). But then in his next breath, he says he is sending 30 billion MORE to Africa. Where is the savings for the American Taxpayer? Further, his earmark, remark - should have been addressed six years earlier to a republican controlled congress. A day late and a dollar short on both accounts.
“”President Bush may be struggling at home, but he remains surprisingly popular here in Africa, ”
Maybe Bush should run for President in Africa. And take the failing republican party with him.
“to distribute enough bed nets to protect all the country’s children below the age of five from malaria.”
Wonderful. If only he had spent the money to provide free trigger locks on all handguns in the USA, he might help save the lives of American children.
O.K, enough of being fair and balanced this morning.
God Bless our American President!
Think how many more lives they could save if they advanced condom use and distribution instead of trying to get everyone to wear a promise ring (which, incidentally has been demonstrated to plug no holes in sexual activity!)
Since Bush seems to be such a hero in Africa, maybe he can move there permanently after his term is over. He can then start his own country and become the dictator he always wanted to be:-)
Is it true Phantom they even have condoms in various sizes now?
How awkward would that be for a 15 year old boy?
I remember how tough it was just to get the courage up to grab a pack when no one was looking, and wait until there was no one at the cashier. Sometimes I tried to be nonchalant at the cash register. I’d bury the condoms under a pile of super grape bubble gum, BitOHoney, Nerds, Lik-m-aid Fun Dip, Bottle caps, Wonka Pixy Stix.
Now the poor kid has to hold a ruler in one hand and the Playboy in the other, to see how he measures up?
And even at that, then he has to know where his size fits between small, medium, and large?
Being a kid must be tough these days.
Tiahrt’s never had an original idea in his life. When Koch and Boeing tell Tiahrt to do something he’ll take his orders. When AIDS spreads across the nation and people come up with ideas to combat it Tiahrt turns to his corporate bosses and ask them what to do.
LOL AmWay, I’ve only been married a bit over 20 years and you know a whole lot more about condoms than I do. And I thought the raised indentation in your wallet was your wedding ring.
Another one of Amway-Regular’s ridiculous stories–like the “working on Christmas” fable.
Everybody knows that one wouldn’t buy a condom unless there were some possibility of actually using it.
In Regular’s case, that would be slim-to-none.
In fact, they should make a condom sized “slim-to-none” so Reggie has one that will fit him.
BTW, AmWay-Regular–
If you’re going to make up stories, at least don’t take them from popular movies like The Summer of ‘42.
Never saw the movie you are referring to Capn. The story was my own. And many teenage boys carried a condom in their billfold “just in case” they got lucky.
Again, ANY poster can at any time email the editor if they think someone is nic-switching, trolling, or posting inappropriate posts.
I am American Way, and not one of Captains imaginary friends.
Capn, good movie.
Back when I was in school, we’d fill a condom with water (it would hold about five gallons) and two or three of us would carefully dump it out of a 6th story dorm window onto unsuspecting pedestrians.
Given the number of girls that dropped out for “health reasons” I’d say that was about their only use at the time. It’s changing slowly, but it is changing.
Greetings CapnAnalLips,
Wrong again CraponAmerica.
ARUSHA, Tanzania (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush, hailed as a hero in Tanzania, announced a plan on Monday to distribute enough bed nets to protect all the country’s children below the age of five from malaria.
If Bush goes about this in the same way he made sure our fighting troops were given the needed armor to keep them safe, I wouldn’t bet on those nets being available anytime soon.
Do the straight people in this world really believe their own sons and daughters can’t get aids from an occasional needle user. They can hide those scars if they haven’t been using long. They can also make love to your kid and give them AIDS.
Well, It’s your kids funeral. That will be just one less idiot conservative to have around when that happens.
Risky behavior has negative consequences, that’s life…all the free needle programs in the world won’t make that much difference in the lives of people who are bent on self destruction. It’s Mother Nature’s way of weeding out the weak and stupid. Society can’t save people from themselves, no matter how much we would like to.
Thanks Mary for that explanation. That is what I was trying to say this morning and couldn’t make my point. You said it so much better.
The cost of the program doesn’t bother me I just don’t think that the drug users it targets would be taking advantage of it.
“Society can’t save people from themselves, no matter how much we would like to.”
Well said Mary — Nathan would argue the point — he is on a mission to save all of us heathens from ourselves — even if he has to shoot us to do it ……
This act of “kindness” by Mr. Bush shouldn’t surprise anyone. Just Yesterday while in Africa he was promoteing an AIDS program. Part of the program promoted the use of condoms. Bush said he’d rather not have those in the program. GWB is so short-sighted! He thinks he can impose his will in every nation, in every country, in every region! He still hasn’t realized that his name and his opinions mean NOTHING to those in suffering. I am one who damn will be glad to see his butt head out the door of the White House! How he ever made it through eight years is way beyond me!!!!
If social darwism is so great, why do we have so many stupid conservatives. They are damaging the gene pool with their idiot kids and they bread like rats.
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