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The Velveteen Ocelot

(130,462 posts)

46. What "fan club" would that be?

Fri Oct 17, 2014, 11:28 AM

Oct 2014

I don't belong to any Obama "fan club" if that's the implication, nor am I explicitly defending the choice of this particular person. I don't know anything about him other than what's been posted here. I am simply trying to make the point that you don't need to have an M.D. degree to manage a public health problem - you need management skills, which doctors typically are not trained to have. I am also not in any respect beating up on the front-line medical people, who are clearly doing fine work at their jobs, which involve treating patients. I don't know whether Mr. Klain will turn out to be the best choice and I don't know why he was chosen or whether other people were considered. My only point is that what is needed here is good management ability more than medical knowledge.

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BREAKING: Obama names Ron Klain Ebola Czar [View all] MoonRiver Oct 2014 OP

So Gramps McCain got his wish. Will the GOPers now complain about another "czar"? The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2014 #1

I never understood why we have Czars in the U.S. of A. Atman Oct 2014 #2

It's an annoying term, but it's something the media came up with The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2014 #5

the media? librechik Oct 2014 #13

The use of the term predates the '80s by about 50 years. The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2014 #15

yeah, by then they figured it was sanitized and nobody would notice. librechik Oct 2014 #16

I don't think appointed officials like the media or 'folks' to call them 'Czars' Sunlei Oct 2014 #53

Right? Whatever happened to "Advisor"? nt ChisolmTrailDem Oct 2014 #7

His title is Response Coordinator. "Czar" is a media construct. (nt) pinto Oct 2014 #35

That is what it is. The media. but somehow Thanks Obama! LawDeeDah Oct 2014 #120

Same folks who came up with Homeland, I daresay. n/t dixiegrrrrl Oct 2014 #72

How about Shogun? badtoworse Oct 2014 #87

A lawyer. cherokeeprogressive Oct 2014 #3

Dear Ceiling Cat, you are right. He's a lawyer. KittyWampus Oct 2014 #6

He's not even a lawyer with medical expertise TexasMommaWithAHat Oct 2014 #11

I don't know anything about this guy, but The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2014 #14

Okay, I'll give you that. Thanks for the pep talk. You are probably correct. KittyWampus Oct 2014 #17

regretfully I agree DonCoquixote Oct 2014 #25

Most of the ones I've known and dealt with liberalhistorian Oct 2014 #41

That is exactly the point I've been trying to make. The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2014 #47

Wouldn't have hurt, though, to get a sompetent manager with SOME medical background. WillowTree Oct 2014 #50

Yeah, that's the way I feel. There aren't any non-doc people around with Nay Oct 2014 #83

Good point. nt RiffRandell Oct 2014 #62

They need a manager who is also a doctor Mojorabbit Oct 2014 #84

I am with you on that. The guy doesn't have to get into it with medical knowledge LawDeeDah Oct 2014 #121

what is the political obsession in the US with "czars"? KittyWampus Oct 2014 #4

They have "czars" in Britain as well. The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2014 #8

Newspeak. nt ChisolmTrailDem Oct 2014 #9

Why a political operative and not someone with experience in medical administration? bklyncowgirl Oct 2014 #10

There's more to this situation than just medical management. MineralMan Oct 2014 #18

He's a fucking lawyer with no health experience. GeorgeGist Oct 2014 #22

I agree a strong manager is badly needed in this situation bklyncowgirl Oct 2014 #23

far better would be a manager with medical expertise cali Oct 2014 #31

Perhaps. Perhaps not. MineralMan Oct 2014 #36

Agree on both points. 840high Oct 2014 #123

An attorney is not a manager. Le Taz Hot Oct 2014 #54

I confess that I know very little about this person. MineralMan Oct 2014 #57

He's a political opeative. Le Taz Hot Oct 2014 #59

Chiefs of staff are management positions. geek tragedy Oct 2014 #102

Maybe he managed something somewhere - large LiberalElite Oct 2014 #73

He is a political operative. Le Taz Hot Oct 2014 #76

He managed the stimulus after it passed geek tragedy Oct 2014 #112

Derp. He was chief of staff to Biden and Gore. geek tragedy Oct 2014 #77

Chief of staff to two VPs MFrohike Oct 2014 #113

Only to people who don't inform themselves. geek tragedy Oct 2014 #115

HEH MFrohike Oct 2014 #117

Was waiting for the Solyndra talking geek tragedy Oct 2014 #118

Again, HEH MFrohike Oct 2014 #119

Yes, Klain is to blame because he didn't spend 100% geek tragedy Oct 2014 #122

You got me MFrohike Oct 2014 #125

Bonus points for the bogus Katrina reference in geek tragedy Oct 2014 #126

Why, thank you MFrohike Oct 2014 #127

He'll probably spend all his time answering stupid JoePhilly Oct 2014 #38

Served as chief of staff to both Gore and Biden. Ykcutnek Oct 2014 #12

Which means he's a political operative. Le Taz Hot Oct 2014 #58

Yes, I am part of a taxpayer-funded operation to promote Ron Klain. Ykcutnek Oct 2014 #64

Not even close. Le Taz Hot Oct 2014 #69

Czar deutsey Oct 2014 #19

Me too. As tired as I am of "Homeland". nt ChisolmTrailDem Oct 2014 #20

Ron Klain according to wiki - TBF Oct 2014 #21

What is needed in this situation is a good manager, not a doctor. The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2014 #27

Is that the latest talking point - TBF Oct 2014 #29

No, it is not a "talking point." It's reality. The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2014 #33

The fact that this has not TBF Oct 2014 #37

What "fan club" would that be? The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2014 #46

YOUR statement: TBF Oct 2014 #67

You would prefer Ben Carson? geek tragedy Oct 2014 #78

Here's reality for you. TM99 Oct 2014 #39

"a fucking lawyer" you love your Fox talking points geek tragedy Oct 2014 #101

So I guess I got under your skin? TM99 Oct 2014 #108

Your refusal to acknowledge his relevant geek tragedy Oct 2014 #111

Do you know what the word relevant means? TM99 Oct 2014 #128

Robert Oppenheimer 'managed' the Manhattan Project. But Opie was a nuclear KingCharlemagne Oct 2014 #51

Howard Dean suffragette Oct 2014 #70

The hair on fire crowd should be embarrassed geek tragedy Oct 2014 #75

Until it does. TM99 Oct 2014 #85

Thanks for the Fox News spin on this. geek tragedy Oct 2014 #86

Are you always such a snarky person? TM99 Oct 2014 #90

Fear-mongering and mindless bashing of geek tragedy Oct 2014 #91

Ah, so exactly as I said. TM99 Oct 2014 #92

You give away your agenda by describing geek tragedy Oct 2014 #93

Wow you are a piece of work -- TM99 Oct 2014 #97

"A lawyer who worked on an economic stimulus geek tragedy Oct 2014 #98

Again with the non-sequitur's. TM99 Oct 2014 #99

He is not running a public health program or agency. geek tragedy Oct 2014 #100

You are really a piece of work. TM99 Oct 2014 #107

How many people have experience coordinating geek tragedy Oct 2014 #110

Naive? TM99 Oct 2014 #129

what's needed is a manager with healthcare expertise and an understanding of epidemiology cali Oct 2014 #32

How about both? nt Logical Oct 2014 #48

Management is not what lawyers are trained to do either. Le Taz Hot Oct 2014 #68

I'll second that!!! amandabeech Oct 2014 #82

Why do you insist on ignoring his 12 years geek tragedy Oct 2014 #94

The hospital in Texas has reputable managers MFrohike Oct 2014 #114

If I've got the right guy, wiki says his congressional experience is with insurance HereSince1628 Oct 2014 #66

Stupid shit. Again. GeorgeGist Oct 2014 #24

If we had a Surgeon General Erich Bloodaxe BSN Oct 2014 #26

We have an acting Surgeon General. n/t cherokeeprogressive Oct 2014 #30

I wondered why we hadn't heard from the "Second in Command" KoKo Oct 2014 #40

What's he acting like? Iggo Oct 2014 #61

The Invisible Man. cherokeeprogressive Oct 2014 #63

. Iggo Oct 2014 #65

I'm fine with the choice. A coordinator and manager of the Laurian Oct 2014 #28

It's Klain, not Klein. cali Oct 2014 #34

Seriously, What the Fuck, Mr. President? Marrah_G Oct 2014 #42

I'm entirely confident, given the time between idea and appointment... cherokeeprogressive Oct 2014 #55

thank you for making me smile :) Marrah_G Oct 2014 #56

I'm with ya. n/t cherokeeprogressive Oct 2014 #60

plus 1 Liberal_in_LA Oct 2014 #95

This is an administrative, not a research, post. nt geek tragedy Oct 2014 #74

I'm sorry. This is caving. Tatiana Oct 2014 #43

I agree, we don't need one Marrah_G Oct 2014 #44

Oh boy that proves he is a communist, socialist... Historic NY Oct 2014 #45

Just last week John McCain demanded the appointment of an ebola "czar." The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2014 #49

Maybe appoint someone with a degree in Public Health rusty fender Oct 2014 #52

That makes far too much sense. nt TBF Oct 2014 #71

+1. Obama never fails to disappoint when it comes to appointments. liberal_at_heart Oct 2014 #88

Not Robin Cook? Damn! KamaAina Oct 2014 #79

Oh boy. liberalmuse Oct 2014 #80

A Surgeon General would be nice, too... CTyankee Oct 2014 #81

Dr. Klain?! maced666 Oct 2014 #89

We need to stop appeasing batshit crazy republicans! Rex Oct 2014 #96

Message auto-removed Name removed Oct 2014 #103

And exactly WHY do you think I am judging him? MoonRiver Oct 2014 #104

Message auto-removed Name removed Oct 2014 #105

So how much power goes with this position? scarystuffyo Oct 2014 #106

why not Dr. Howard Dean? grasswire Oct 2014 #109

Yep. 840high Oct 2014 #124

Welp MFrohike Oct 2014 #116