Ramping Up

I don't quite know what to make of this announcement:

President Bush today unveiled a strategy to combat the threat of an avian flu pandemic, calling for $7.1 billion in emergency spending to stockpile reserves of medicines and to press ahead with the development of a new vaccine.

As I have opined elsewhere, the hysteria about avian flu is near fever levels and this is ramping it up into official public policy to the tune of $7 billion. It certainly has the feeling of panic rather than efficacious planning. It also has the feeling of politicians strutting around accusing each other of not doing enough, quickly enough to "protect the American people," as Mr. Potato-head has opined:

The president's plan needs to be stronger to ensure that the American people have the protections they deserve.

Except for, you know, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps and wage laws. All that shit can go. But, bring on the Tamiflu.

Of course, I also wonder how Rummy is doing?