Special Report: HHS chief Azar had aide, former dog breeder, steer pandemic task force

[erronis]

Source: Reuters

As is now widely known, two agencies Azar oversaw as HHS secretary, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, wouldn’t come up with viable tests for five and half weeks, even as other countries and the World Health Organization had already prepared their own.

Shortly after his televised comments, Azar tapped a trusted aide with minimal public health experience to lead the agency’s day-to-day response to COVID-19. The aide, Brian Harrison, had joined the department after running a dog-breeding business for six years. Five sources say some officials in the White House derisively called him “the dog breeder.”

Azar’s optimistic public pronouncement and choice of an inexperienced manager are emblematic of his agency’s oft-troubled response to the crisis. His HHS is a behemoth department, overseeing almost every federal public health agency in the country, with a $1.3 trillion budget that exceeds the gross national product of most countries.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-hhschief-speci/special-report-hhs-chief-azar-had-aide-former-dog-breeder-steer-pandemic-task-force-idUSKCN2243CE

---

And I thought his dumpy boss didn't even like dogs.

Also from the article:

On January 21, the day the first U.S. case of coronavirus was reported, the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services appeared on Fox News to report the latest on the disease as it ravaged China. Alex Azar, a 52-year-old lawyer and former drug industry executive, assured Americans the U.S. government was prepared.

“We developed a diagnostic test at the CDC, so we can confirm if somebody has this,” Azar said. “We will be spreading that diagnostic around the country so that we are able to do rapid testing on site.”

While coronavirus in Wuhan, China, was “potentially serious,” Azar assured viewers in America, it “was one for which we have a playbook.”

Azar’s initial comments misfired on two fronts. Like many U.S. officials, from President Donald Trump on down, he underestimated the pandemic’s severity. He also overestimated his agency’s preparedness.

Azar’s optimistic public pronouncement and choice of an inexperienced manager are emblematic of his agency’s oft-troubled response to the crisis. His HHS is a behemoth department, overseeing almost every federal public health agency in the country, with a $1.3 trillion budget that exceeds the gross national product of most countries.

[athenasatanjesus]

1. Considering this administration I'm surprised it wasn't one of the dogs.

[Mike 03]

2. Good one.

Quite honestly, I couldn't even find words to respond to this story.

[dhol82]

15. .....

[Lonestarblue]

37. The dog might have done a better job.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. If you're gonna run it like a business, run it like a business

No business, public or private, would tolerate such unqualified choices to run important divisions or projects. This is like asking your auto mechanic to do root canal. This is negligence, incompetence, dereliction of duty, malfeasance, conduct unbecoming an appointee.

[erronis]

26. Unless the whole point of these appointments is to emasculate the ability of the US to govern.

All the while mocking real government employees. I can't imaging being a career civil servant under these clowns.

[FailureToCommunicate]

30. Bingo!

[LiberalArkie]

4. Was his nick name "Brownie"

[PatSeg]

12. I was wondering the same thing

Brought back memories of Katrina and "Brownie".

[Marie Marie]

14. I vaguely remember when W appointed a vet, whose expertise was in

animal husbandry, as head of Women's Health Services. I thought that was bad and we weren't in the middle of a pandemic. WTF is wrong with Republicans?? Oh, never mind....

[PatSeg]

21. Oh yes

Some of W's appointments were absolutely bizarre. Lots of cronies, friends of friends, and corporate insiders. I really never thought it could be worse. Now I know better. Republicans care about winning elections, taking care of their donors, and increasing their power, but they don't have a clue how to govern.

They often come into office riding on the successes of the Democrats, who preceded them and then they tear it all down, leaving a mess for Democrats to clean up after they leave. Then the cycle starts all over again, except each time republicans are in power, the damage gets much worse.

[sheshe2]

5. A dog breader with six years of experience...breeding dogs...

They are leading the day to day response to effects and treatment of a pandemic of American Human Beings? This is far more than incompetency. This is a deliberate genocide of our citizens.

For the love of God please stop this parade of charlatans. Stop the massacre.

[Scarsdale]

18. The aides at the WH called him

"the dog breeder"? I wonder if they call Ivanka "the handbag designer" and Jared "the slumlord"?

[erronis]

27. Depending if the aide is a trumpy or just somehow a normal person that stumbled into a job at the WH

Actually, I'm pretty sure everyone mocks the peeResident and his spawn/etc. But, you know, they have to do the dirty job - no one else will.

[turbinetree]

6. The damaged done presently and in the future is going to take decades to recover from

this "guy and others should be brought up on charges-----so where they going to prescribe:

Bayer K9 Advantix II Extra Large Dog
Frontline Plus for Dogs Large Dog
Advecta II Flea Treatment
Novartis Capstar Flea Tablets for Dogs and Cats
Frontline Plus for Small Dogs

[UpInArms]

13. Seems like they want to use wormer on humans

https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200407/parasite-drug-shows-early-promise-against-covid-19

April 7, 2020 -- An inexpensive drug used to treat parasitic infections killed the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 in less than 48 hours in a laboratory setting, Australian researchers.

The drug, ivermectin, has been used widely used for decades. It was introduced as a veterinary drug in the 1970s. Doctors also prescribe it to treat head lice, scabies, and other infections caused by parasites. According to a report published online in the journal Antiviral Research, the drug quickly prevented replication of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The study has been peer-reviewed and accepted for publication, although it is not yet a "definitive" version of record.

[turbinetree]

16. They may have to cover it in chocolate for human form.....with different name .....just saying

[Scarsdale]

19. I wonder if it causes

men to lift a leg to pee? Women to squat?

[turbinetree]

24. LOL...............I know I shouldn't laugh but that is good one...........

[Bayard]

22. Jeez

I use Ivermectin to worm horses and donkeys. Its actually what's in heart wormer for dogs too.

[erronis]

28. I wonder how a drug against parasites (multi-celled animals usually) would work against viruses.

Guess I need to go back to biology class.

[iemitsu]

7. Remember "good job Brownie"?

Animal breeders evidently make great heads of disaster programs.

[PSPS]

10. It was "Heck of a job, Brownie."

https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-katrina-anniversary/heck-job-brownie-where-disgraced-fema-head-now-n400436

[iemitsu]

11. Thanks, my old brain.

[GopherGal]

17. Vulgar comment incoming...

Breeders do have experience deciding who's getting @#$%ed and by whom.

Seems like that might be a "transferable skill" for leading a repuke-led disaster relief program.

[iemitsu]

25. Fair observation.

[erronis]

29. Perfect fit for dump's cabinet!

[niyad]

34. mikey was not even a breeder, if I remember correctly. Wasn't he the head of the Arabian Assoc?

[Faux pas]

8. Is he really a lawyer?

Seems to me he ain't smart enough to pass gas, let alone pass the bar

[regnaD kciN]

9. "Heckuva job, Alex!"

[Scarsdale]

20. It amazes me how these people

accept these high ranking positions, knowing they are not qualified. Just like the big orange turd in the WH.

[bronxiteforever]

23. WTF. You can't make this stuff up!

[RRDrummer]

31. The Trump administration is like an onion

of shit. Lotta layers. All of them shit.

[erronis]

33. Ewwww. You put me off onions...

Just kidding. Gotta have my onions, shallots, scallions, garlic. In large quantities. Helps with the social distancing, you know.

[niyad]

32. Let's see-azar, the ex-ely lily asshole who raised the price of insulin 300%, brought in a dog

breeder to oversee a pandemic?? Why not? After all, george the lesser brought in a horse guy to run FEMA. Heckufajob, y'all.

[erronis]

35. Not to forget Sleepy Carson (HUD), Doofus Perry (DOE - what's that), DeVos (Edjucation)

The list goes on.

One would think someone is trying to destroy the executive branch, starting with the capo, and then one agency/department at a time....

[niyad]

36. Destruction from within, in plain sight. I hope my cousin is warming up a special little section

for bannon and miller and company (that includes you, pootie).

[TomCADem]

38. This Actually Looks Like Trump Leaking Info To Set Up a Fall Guy

Politico had a piece noting that he had twice briefed Trump.

[liberalla]

39. "...we have a playbook."

You mean the 'playbook' left by the Obama administration? Susan Rice called it a 67 page "pandemic for dummies" manual.

I guess it was still over their heads.

[dalton99a]

40. Always the very best people

[choie]

41. Some enterprising journalist

needs to do some investigative reporting on the real story behind Trump's decision not to accept the WHO's coronavirus test..Money, graft and corruption HAS to be involved..

[Gothmog]

42. I love my dog breeder but this is silly

Link to tweet