November 14, 2024

Trump picks RFK Jr. to head Health and Human Services.

The NYT reports.

Sample text: "In addition to his outside-the-mainstream views about medicine and health, he has been associated with a number of peculiar activities, like dumping a dead bear in Central Park and supposedly decapitating a whale. In interviews, some Republican senators said Mr. Kennedy gave them pause, but none ruled out voting for him."

What an exciting cast of characters in the new Trump administration. I hope it works out okay!

109 comments:

Rabel said...

This is where I hold my tongue and if I can't say anything good I don't say anything.

MayBee said...

I don’t know about his one….

Rabel said...

It's called supporting your team. Even when the QB throws an interception.
or the coach punts on third down.

TaeJohnDo said...

More BOOMS! For many, this is a bitter pill to swallow.

Birches said...

He's keeping his promises. I don't care for total vaccine skepticism, but the overall MAHA vibe is appealing to a lot of people.

AlbertAnonymous said...

Mitt “the President is entitled to his picks” Romney was unavailable for comment.

Hassayamper said...

I’m in the healthcare industry, and not at a low-ranking or low-skilled position. I’ve been pretty scornful of anti-vaxxers in the past. But in the age of COVID-19 I’m giving RFK Jr. more respect and attention than I would have guessed in years gone by. I am not convinced that mRNA “vaccines” are safe or effective, and I have watched in dismay as it became apparent that the public health authorities have made one false or misleading statement after another, often to cover up their own involvement with unethical or even illegal activities. I will never again take the assurances of the likes of Fauci at face value.

Former Illinois resident said...

Thank God.

traditionalguy said...

Oh boy. Health is everything. As they say without your health the amount of your money is a useless factor.

I’ll take Bobby Jr’s leadership in Health policy as the best thing Trump has ever done. A winner nominated by the Winner of All Winners.

Democrats Love Waste Fraud Abuse/ Rachel Maddow = Lying Psycho said...

This is more than vaccines - this is Big Pharma and Big Food . reign it in, baby.

Achilles said...

There are a lot of unicorns about to be killed.

I cannot wait for the truth on Statins and Ansel Keys to start coming out.

There are few institutions that have taken a more drastic turn to evil than our health and drug industries.

Tom T. said...

He convinced the government of Samoa that the measles vaccine causes measles, so they stopped vaccinating. Then 70 children died of measles. He killed a lot of children, and he doesn't care. The term "sociopath" gets thrown around in politics a lot, but on RFKJr it fits.

Breezy said...

I'm generally not a Kennedy family fan, but I think RFK Jr may be on the right track. If his own family has a lot of issues with his ideas, that is a good omen, in my mind. So, I say "good" for this one, and expect he'll share all the data with us regarding the recommendations he puts forward. It's not like this was an unexpected nomination....

Kate said...

Squeee!

Josephbleau said...

Reap the whirlwind, I recon. The main thing I want to hear is all the dirt on Covid, Afghanistan, FBI fisa warrants, and generals making promises not to go to war with china. Show me the alien corpses at Area 51. Release the Kennedy and Trump assassination files, why did they immediately cremate crooks body. I want it all. I want the media to be a parking lot, devoid of shareholder value.

I want the bureaucrats’ deeds to be ensconced in the halls of history never to be hidden again.

Caroline said...

Wish I could post the meme of the side by side pic of bare chested rfk jr and “Rachel” Levine. Priceless.

Democrats Love Waste Fraud Abuse/ Rachel Maddow = Lying Psycho said...

exactly.

Ampersand said...

This feels like getting on a crowded toboggan at the top of a hill. Everyone's had at least 2 drinks. And nobody has given much thought to what's at the bottom of the hill. Might be lots of fun...

Rob C said...

Dear goodness please no "bare chested" pics of "Rachel" Levine.

Maynard said...

I also have doubts. Will he create more problems/damage than he solves? Who pays fr that damage? Well, us, of course.

Joe Bar said...

RFKjr is an intelligent and driven man. I agree with some of his stances, but I recall one explanation he made that was completely wrong. It escapes me right now. I am not sure how good or bad he would be in this position, but, he has earned the nomination. If he turns out bad, I am not sure how much damage he could do.

It certainly is a great time to be alive!

Maynard said...

I used to be a big supporter of the Pharma industry after several year of consulting with them (on the science side rather than the marketing weasels). After Covid, I find it nearly impossible to support Pharma.

rehajm said...

okay…too specific an analogy but we get so yah!

rehajm said...

The lovely woman at my doctor’s office was threatened on the phone by a pharmacist for trying to order ivermectin. A few passes from the napalm jets is okay with me…

n.n said...

Vaccines (i.e. sterilizing inoculations) are part of a risk management protocol. In the public interest, a vaccine has to demonstrate both safety, efficacy, and relevance. The vaccine schedule is an integral aspect of its administration. MAHA

Dixcus said...

Just remember, Trump has to pay off some campaign promises. He never promised the Senate would approve RFK.

Dixcus said...

This is why we have Senate confirmation hearings. So we can see if this is a good pick. If it isn't, the obvious will emerge.

Two-eyed Jack said...

I'm afraid that the New York Times is still predicated on the dominance and continuance of some bizarre monoculture.

Dixcus said...

He's out back the bathroom trying to figure out his underwear.

Dixcus said...

If Musk can convince him and Gaetz to jail Fauci for his felony crimes it will be a good thing.

Mark said...

More gas for the dumpster fire.

One Fine Day said...

Another sign of the re-alignment in American politics proceeding apace.

Remember how Kamalalalala promised to put "a Republican" in her Cabinet? Seems like the ex-Dem who is President-elect is putting other ex-Dems into his Cabinet in key places.

Ralph L said...

Someone needs to find a way to curtail Medicare and Medicaid spending before more Boomers get old and sick, or the govt will soon go bust, since Fauci didn't get enough old people killed. I doubt RFK is that man, but maybe DOGE can. I suspect a large chunk of Medicaid goes to nursing homes.

Big Mike said...

I have half year old twin granddaughters. Before they are through getting vaccinated they will have received forty-two jabs. And all of the vaccinations are perfectly safe? For the sake of my grandchildren they’d damned well better be!

Achilles said...

How many millions are dead because the US Government created the food pyramid and convinced everyone that fat, meat, and cholesterol are dangerous? How many people died because they couldn't leave their homes during COVID?

I love it when some person who threatens the establishment killed some kids somewhere. It is the perfect bad faith argument.

Original Mike said...

"If he turns out bad, I am not sure how much damage he could do."

It's had to imagine visiting more damage upon us than Fauci et al.

tim maguire said...

The best I can say is that I like the fact that so many nominees are major critics of the departments they’ll be running.

Original Mike said...

Sounds like a good thing to me too.

tim maguire said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Skeptical Voter said...

I can see dumping a dead bear in Central Park--after you'd bothered to pick up a dead bear. But tell me--how does one man--any man--decapitate a whale. I call some shenanigans on that claim. Whoever made it has some 'splaining to do.

tim maguire said...

Big Mike, my wife and I had the same reaction when our daughter was a baby. I’m all for the big stuff, but they are treating our children like pin cushions and not all of the vaccines required for enrolment in school are actually addressing serious illness. If they are careless in what they require, how can we not be concerned about what else they may be careless about?

Friendo said...

What a great Althouse ending comment. Man, I love this place.

cf said...

YE

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

Now do DDT. Enviromentalists have slain legions of Africans,

Koot Katmandu said...

Great Pick by 47. Rah Rah Rah. Keep them coming. I am waiting to see who will bull doze the FBI too.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

@Hassayamper. Our primary care physician suggested we not get any Covid shots for the reasons you gave. Not enough testing for safety. That mRNA was unproven and likely unsafe. That there are correlations to heart issues.

I have a heart issue and don't want another one...thank you. Our lifestyle (rural) keeps us fairly isolated from other people. Plus...I have never had the flu in my life (unless it was as a child) Never had a flu shot. SO... we opted out. When I had major surgery in 2020 and another one in 2022, I informed the hospital that I was not and will not be vaccinated. They were OK with that.

Actually, the only thing I wish to keep from the Covid Era...is the 6 foot distancing. Stay away from me you people. Back OFF!

Mickey said...

Excellent!

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

Of course it won't all work out OK. It never does. But a little disruption might shake something loose.

Jersey Fled said...

Could he be any worse than whoever holds the office now?

Lem Vibe Bandit said...

The CDC is where power resides. Can RFK Jr uncover what really happened from over at H&HS?

Jersey Fled said...

How about millions of legions

Jim at said...

More gas for the dumpster fire.

Rachel Levine fanboi complains about Trump's pick.

Achilles said...

The only way to do that is to reduce the cost of health care.

Health care can be made cheaper. But the health care industry doesn't want to make less money so the result is lying and unhinged accusations.

Cameron said...

A big problem with the medical establishment is they come from a pro-drug and appeal to authority perspective.

With the covid jab, my doctor didn't tell me why I should get the covid jab. Instead he asked my why I wouldn't get it as if it was self evident that I should take an experimental and unproven drug for a disease from which I faced a very low risk of severe illness.

Many of their arguments in favour of jab have turned out to be not only false, but never even tested - i.e. it was never tested to see if it reduced transmission despite protection of the vulernable being a major argument. It was also never tested on pregnant women despite pregnant women being told it was perfectly safe. Even today this little gem is not widely known.

The onus is on the medical profession to justify their advice, not me on to justify why I won't follow it.

Bob Boyd said...

That's what I was wondering. It looks like the answer is yes.
https://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/orgchart/index.html

mindnumbrobot said...

After everything the government put us through with the Chinese Flu, I think I'm on board with this pick. It's long past time to starting flipping over tables and kicking some ass.

Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.

Mark said...

Who?
Find me ever commenting on that. I'll wait.

Freeman Hunt said...

Hopefully the GOP will block this nomination and a few others.

Jersey Fled said...

Sometimes going too far is just enough.

RMc said...

What an exciting cast of characters in the new Trump administration.

If Harris had won, we would've gotten the usual gang of lefty apparatchiks.

I hope it works out okay!

Me, too.

Kakistocracy said...

RFK is only the latest in Trump's absurd choices for key administration positions. Trump's imbecilic buffoonery is no longer amusing, as if it ever was. His "best people" will put our national security and health at risk. We can only hope that the deep state professionals are strong enough to ward off the barbarians at the gate.

Remarkable how Trump manages to find the comically least qualified person for each job. It's all about "owning the libs".

Definitely not enough popcorn of this administration. 🍿🍿🍿🍿

Gospace said...

I'm convinced mRNA shots are unsafe and ineffective. Prior to the real world testing that proved they were unsafe, I was 100% certain they would be ineffective. Why? mRNA had been tried on many things, and every experiment failed, and every previous attempt at creating a coronavirus vaccine for humans or animals had previously failed, and some for animals made the problem worse. Take two things with 100% failure rates, put them together, and calling it the greatest thing since sliced bread doesn't make it so without solid proof. Once I found out how the mRNA vaccine worked- forcing the body to make the spike protein, a known pathogen, I had one question- "What turns it off?" The answer, apparently, is nothing.

Heartless Aztec said...

I'm with you Professor! It's going to be an interesting 4 years.

Iman said...

That’s lame, even for you.

Quaestor said...

It's like the back of a Golden Age comic book:
Before.
After.

No one's gonna kick sand in our faces now.

traditionalguy said...

As to high costs, the answer is every bill paid by Health Indurance is 10 times higher than a real bill to pay for the free care given to the uninsured Didn’t you know that basic fact?

Iman said...

That’d be like a combination of Ben Franklin and Doug Schoen with breastesses! Yikes!

Original Mike said...

"His "best people" will put our national security and health at risk."

Like Fauci's best people?

Downer said...

YippeeKayee MF'er! Welcome to the party!

Bob Boyd said...

I'm very interested to see what RFK does...if he gets the job. I expect Senate Republicans will defend the status quo.

tcrosse said...

No more ridiculous than nominating Kamala Harris for President.

Downer said...

I understand what you're sayin' tcrosse and Bob Boyd, but don't be so negative. This is a step in the right direction. Give DJT and JFKjr the chance because I see a real desire to fix the ails of the country rather than just political talk. If there's Republican speedblocks then that can be handled separately.

Joe Bar said...

God forbid we let RFK Jr. be in charge of HHS, otherwise he might do something crazy like fund experimental gain-of-function research in Chinese laboratories and cause a global pandemic

Oh wait

Quaestor said...

Moments ago I learned that RFK, Jr. is a licensed master falconer. That fact alone ought to give anyone confidence in the wisdom of this appointment. Falconry takes dedication, patience, gentleness, precision, and consistency taken to a degree very, very few people can summon. He's going to be legendary in that office. Americans yet unborn will revere him for his achievements in public health.

Howard said...

You guys be very happy about RFK Jr until he tells you fat fucks you have to go on a diet

Howard said...

Don't worry this comment will be deleted so it doesn't hurt your feelings for too long

Leland said...

Since Jordan Peterson is still Canadian, this will have to do.

Downer said...

But then dieting and losing weight is a good thing, Howard. Eisenhower and JFK both pushed a physical fitness program which, if you look a kids today, would still be a good thing. Nothing wrong with that.

Wince said...

AP: He got a chainsaw, cut off the whale’s head and strapped it to the roof of their minivan for a five-hour drive home.

Taking a chainsaw to a Leviathan?

Metaphor alert!

Howard said...

It's more than just that processed food affects the gut bacteria distribution which creates pathological brain chemistry resulting in horrific hunger pangs. As far as k Jr is true to his word he will institute warning labels and potential bands on processed and ultra processed foods. That will be a big shock to band Doritos in red States

Aggie said...

I think he'll require some careful management. For the past few months, he's been toning down his 'vaccine denier' reputation, saying that vaccines are like any other medicine, they need to be put through trials to ensure they're completely safe.

I agree with this; the COVID saga proved to me that the vaccine manufacturers were being granted licenses to dispense anything they cared to, with complete impunity. That's a disgrace, that needs fixing. But: Do we take vaccines off the market until they're proven 'safe'?

Howard said...

It will be a handful of GOPers and all the Senate Democrats who block the knucklehead nominees.

Bob Boyd said...

I'm not being negative. The MFn R's will defend the status quo. Maybe they'll succeed in blocking him. Maybe they won't. That's just the way it is.
I like this appointment. I'm all for it. Hope he gets in. I think he'll do great things if he does.

Static Ping said...

The essential problem is the current cabinet holders in the Biden-Harris administration are a mix of incompetents, grifters, and evil doers. Pardon me if I do not consider the opinions of individuals and institutions who are appalled - appalled - by Trump's picks and thought the Biden-Harris fiasco was brilliant. I have no time for idiots, propagandists, or liars.

rehajm said...

Your wish will be granted…

Jim at said...

Find me ever commenting on that. I'll wait.

You never condemned Biden for picking such a freak to hold the office. Therefore, you have no room to comment about this one.

Prof. M. Drout said...

Given that every major claim made about the corona virus and the prophylaxis has turned out to be demonstrably wrong (it was engineered in the lab, it isn't dangerous at all to children, it can't be prevented by masking, the v@x doesn't prevent infection, the v@x does cause injuries), I don't see how RFK Jr can possibly do a worse job than whatever cretin is currently occupying that office.
My favorite idiocy out of the FDA is the claim that there are no codes to track heart attacks or strokes caused by the v@x, the v@x does not cause heart attacks or strokes, which we now because no heart attacks or strokes have been reported as resulting from the v@x. Yet at the same time the ever-present commercials for the v@x mention that it can cause myocarditis, which can cause . . . heart attacks and strokes.
Following this logic, a snakebite doesn't cause death, it only causes organ failure, so snakebites are "safe" (and presumably "effective").

LennyJoe said...

I believe in personal freedom. Everyone has a different risk/benefit analysis for their medical care, including vaccines. Everyone should be free to choose.

I ran a COVID ICU during the height of COVID, so I got the vaccine on the first day available. However, I never criticized anyone who made a different choice.

There is a push for mandatory vaccination for health care providers. However, there are no data published to support this. There is still not published data to allow patients to make truly informed decisions about COVID vaccines. Until there is such data, vaccination should be voluntary, not mandatory.

Howard said...

Vaccine policy is the least important aspect of MAHA.

Drago said...

Dumb Lefty Mark really, really, really doesn't want the real data on drug efficacy across entire category of drugs to be provided to the public for their review.

Just as he never wanted the COVID origins identified.

But it will come out, despite the desperation of the lefties.

Drago said...

Howard sounds worried about his antifa soul mates getting the investigation they really deserve and its carrying over into every discussion.

Remember, Howitzer Howard's biggest gaffe-matic lunacy was to claim the antifa/BLM types were just like the boys that stormed normandy.

I mean, its right in the name, right? antifa...anti-fascist!

For simpletons like Howard, that's all it takes.

Enjoy your retirement Howard. I doubt anyone ever had any inclination to ask you to stick around and actually do stuff.

Drago said...

Yeah, you're not really the best source on what is or isn't MAHA or the primary focus or vision of the way future leadership wants it look like.

But you just keep being you tiger.

Michael Fitzgerald said...

I was caretaking an elderly lady. One day we were at the medical supply store shopping for a new walker. The one she chose had a price tag on it that said $90. I was helping out with the transaction. The clerk drew it up as a rental, for $60 a month. Wait a second, I said, it only costs $90 to buy outright, why do you want to pay 60 bucks every month when you can own it for a fraction of that. Medicare won't pay for it if you buy it, she told me.
So that federal bureaucracy is outright refusing to save taxpayer money, and making wasting taxpayer money imperative.

Michael Fitzgerald said...

I think his daughter tells that story. Put the thing on the roof of an old station wagon and hit the road. On the way it started oozing and dripping liquified decay from the roof all over and getting in the windows and making everyone gag... So his judgment and decision-making can be idiosyncratic. A worm ate his brain after all.

Michael Fitzgerald said...

He strapped a rotten, oozing whale carcass to the roof of his car. He called climate change skeptics "Deniers" and advocated jailing them. A worm ate his brain. The guy is really not that impressive.

Drago said...

LLR-democratical Rich is very very very upset his beloved New Soviet Democraticals won't be able to pay the ChiComs to develop and release another COVID global killer virus to help the New Soviet Democraticals win the next election.

Protecting the ChiComs in every area of business, military advances, bio-warfare, space systems development seems to be one of LLR-democratical Rich's most passionate activities.

Little wonder since they've paid millions to Abacus Boy's hero, Joey Bag-O-Dementia.

Drago said...

Yeah, he might do something evil and dumb, like launder money through 3rd parties to the ChiComs to develop highly contagious COVID pathogens and then have those pathogens developed in "leaky" ChiCom labs to be released just in time to shut down the globe and help dems get elected.

Yep, we really need to scream and shout about this RFK guy.

Perhaps we could bring the "expert" Fauci back in to run it all. Who better the establishment and GOPe types might say.

walter said...

Would be nice if one election could reverse Reagan's mistakes on immigration and vaccines.

walter said...

Personally, I'd take Peter McCullough from a medical, data standpoint. But RFJjr has the fire of familial assassinations behind him.

walter said...

Some of the polio vaccines delivered by dutiful Rotarians did damage.

walter said...

The course up to adulthood isomewhere around 70. Peds get $$$ to jab, jab, jab.

Drago said...

I think LLR-democratical Rich is already going thru the early stages of Rachel Levine Withdrawal.

There's probably a drug you can take for that, isn't there?

walter said...

No. Noooooo!!!!!!

walter said...

If anyone believed the individual Covid JAB studies, they should have realized the shark was jumped with recommendations to mix them (much childhoid JABs)
"What I got you gotta get and put it in ya"

walter said...

He's gonna hire drill sergeant Howie to whip us into shape. Just keep your dot t shirt mask on. while he spins Chicken Fat.

walter said...

Overton window doesn't have to go one way.

HistoryDoc said...

Could he be worse than Mayorkas? Worse than Blinken? Worse than Sullivan?Worse than Buttigieg? Worse than Levine? Worse than Garland? Worse than Austin? Worse than Raimondo? Worse than Bacerra?

What is this mythical standard that must be met by republican presidents?

walter said...

Include the Beagle torture to get lib female buy in.

walter said...

Yes, Michael. And due to the nature of this, a walker can be found at a Goodwill or other thrift store for $25.