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Subscribe to RSSWASHINGTON -- Newt Gingrich called for increasing funding for Alzheimer's research and noted at the 23rd Annual Alzheimer's Association Annual Advocacy Forum here this morning and blamed the "Washington bureaucracy and mindset" for the lack of it.
"In 1951 Jonas Salk found the vaccination for Polio," Gingrich said. "And back then because we weren't totally encumbered by bureaucracy in 1952 he had the courage to vaccinate his whole family, which is one way of proving you believe in something. In 1953, in 12 months, we vaccinated a million and 400,000 people in an experiment to see if it would work. Today, that process would take 20 years."
He spoke about how there are more scientists in the world today, yet they don't have all the resources they need to find a cure for Alzheimer's, a disorder that former President Ronald Reagan was afflicted with before his death.
"We are grotesquely underfunded," he said, adding, "We ought take all brain science off budget, fund it at the optimum level the scientific community believes we could invest and pay for it with Alzheimer's bonds, which are issued specifically with the following commitment: when we make the breakthrough, and we save the money, the first layer of savings pay off the bonds so it is a no cost long-term investment, which both saves pain and agony for families, and in the long run, saves a huge return on the investment -- and does so without being crippled by the petty annual bureaucratic funding process of the U.S. Congress."
There are not many Republican candidates for president calling for an increase in funding in any areas, considering the country's fiscal crisis.
But Gingrich added, "I think Alzheimer's is one of those issues that needs a dramatic increase in attention and understanding because for far too long it has been in the shadows for a variety of reasons. I think that if you looked at the scale and speed with which HIV/AIDS was focused on, if you look at the way cancer or heart has been focused on, you have to wonder why we have not been able to get across the key facts about Alzheimer's."
And politically, he said, "Alzheimer's should be a totally non-partisan issue, because Alzheimer's doesn't respect Republican or Democrat it doesn't respect liberal or conservative. Alzheimer's affects everybody at every part of American life and therefore we should be able to come together as Americans to have a healthy conversation with no partisanship to try and find a better solution."
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So he can remember what he believes in and who he is married to from one day to the next.
Exactly. As I said below, he's just thinking ahead, and not that far. ;-)
This is a great example of Pipe Dreams that Newt has all the time.
Great, more job-killing "research" dollars coming out of my pocket and going towards evil science. He sounds like another spend-and-kill-jobs liberal to me.
@ Salt Grass ~ That may be your idea of the kinds of dreams that Newt has all the time, but it's for certain that it's not mine.
I'm sorry, I said no jokes about Alzheimers.....but this comes from a man who wants us to forget and now he wants us to remember.
Thats Funny! You don't have to be sorry Thankful Mom just because we joke it does not mean we don't understand and have empathy for the victims and families of Alzheimers. For some of us dark humor can be a coping mechanism of sorts. No harm no foul, I say forget about it.
Wait, wouldn't this increase the debt?!?!?! So basically Newt is GWB all over again?? WOW! I'm shocked!!
Okay, not really....
Newt has a perfect explanation - I forgot. That could be his campaign symbol - a republican elephant with a blank look on its face with the caption "What? I forgot, okay!
Hmmm, Just like Reagan's "I do not recall."
Hilarious dude!
LOL!
How can you be against funding research for Alzheimer's? Has anyone come out against it that necessited this statement or the fact it is even news?
Oh come on Ira, it sure beats FR having to actually talk about silly, unimportant stuff like the debt ceiling, the fact that the authorization for Libya is up, or entitlement reform. Say remember when Obama said we'd get to the hard decisions, once HIS debt commission came back? Yeah, me niether. Ombama wouldn't ignore his own commission, would he?
Maybe we'll talk about the big stuff tomorrow. Or we can just pretend we did not 1. just hit the debt ceiling, 2. nothing happened, 3. the debt commission is still out.
Golly, but I was told by Chuckie Schumer that the world would literally end if we hit that ceiling.
For all the teeth gnashing by the Left, the Treasury Department found a way to make the country continue to be solvent. They're solution? Cut somewhere else! So now the federal workers can be happy to know that their shared sacrifice will be composed of their employer, the federal government, not contributing to their pension funds.
Many thanks federal workers!
We can expect soon the entitlements will also be cut. Thanks seniors!!
Shared sacrifice. What a concept.
Yeah I saw that - Geitner s literally pulling money from his butt.
But hey at least the global economy did not crash down around us.
Silly democrats and their silly claims.
And someones gonna get their nads cut off if this no paying the pensions goes on for long. Can't be having any of that.
You do realize, if Geithner cuts enough, the budget will be balanced.
Not a good time to be dependent on the government for a check or a job. The futures market for those things looks a bit bleak.
Welcome to the real world. That's how real companies behave when they get in a tough financial position. My gosh, the government is behaving, responsibly. It's realizing it can't do it all, and it's prioritizing what it can do, and what it can do without. Not that it's not painful, any time you have to cut your budget by 33%, some things you like are going to have to go. Interesting that is was the pensions that were the first things over the side.
Ahh, but there the rub. They will never cut. THe answer for old Timmy is not raiding money from one government fund to pay for more stuff, but rather to spend less.
But we all know spending less is simply impossible in libbie land. So naturally Geitner and Co. will pimp, lie and steal.
This is just a war. Old v Young. So just when, and what will happen when the young say no more? I wonder what is each person's "share" of the debt? Do we each owe $50k? A $100K?
And just what did someone under 25 get for that money? Not like they can go get a job even.
Yep, by all means, let's just keep spending. No need to even consider spending less, right Libbies?
I guess the guy has flip-flopped on so many issues he figures being for increased Alzheimer's research funding isn't something he will be against tomorrow or will he change his mind on that too? Probably.
Perhaps Ol' Newt was just diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. I am SURE that the would never call for funding something that was not of use to him, personally....
Great!
St. Reagan REDUX! lol
True enough, Ira, but when everyone on the Right is screaming "NO MORE MONEY!!!", where is he going to come up with the bucks?
Which makes it an absolutely idiotic plan for any republican to run against Obama, right? I mean Obama has only raised the national debt by 45% in 2 1/2 years.
I'm just wondering when the whole ball of wax is going to collapse on us. Bandaids and swizzle sticks can only hold so much weight.

Let's not let those pesky facts get in the way of talking points...
According to the Treasury Department, when George W. Bush took office in 2001 the national debt was $5.73 trillion and when Bush left office in 2009, the national debt had increased to $10.63 trillion. That's a 85% increase of $4.9 trillion.
When former president Bill Clinton left office in 2000 there was a $86.4 billion surplus. When former president George W. Bush left office in 2008 there was a $1.5 trillion budget deficit. There was a $1.5 trillion budget deficit when George W. Bush left office and the budget surplus that Bill Clinton left from his presidency had turned into a deficit.
What difference would it make if we DID find a cure for Alzheimer's if we don't have the kind of access to health care to help diagnose and treat it. Mr. Gingrich is a latecomer to the party. This is just a way of pandering to the Ronald Reagan hagiography society. I am all for research on a number of projects, but if the GOP keeps trying to privatize research, or to insist on profitable outcomes, progress will not be made. What does Mr. Gingrich think about stem cell research (something Nancy Reagan supports)? Notice that Mr. Gingrich throws in the HIV/AIDS bomb.... "if we just had the scale and speed...", trying to get people to think that progress on discovering the mechanisms behind HIV means not putting money elsewhere.
Read All these posts and all I can say is for real? It's like the GOP jumping on Michelle Obama for her vegetable garden or child care initiative. Not everything GOP is bad. Really, get a grip.
How is Alzheimer's Disease research a Republican or a Democratic idea? People are jumping on Mr. Gingrich because he represents a party that:
1) says we are too "broke" to invest money in anything
2) condemns the idea of government-sponsored research (think of all the people who pore through "earmarks" to find scientific studies they can ridicule)
3) has refused to cooperate with the current administration on any aspect of health care reform
these things are all related. If you want more money for research, and you want the government to do something about it, you 1) study the facts before you speak; 2) have a philosophical position on the role of government in scientific research and 3) stop trying to make things partisan (see above post on Ronald Reagan and HIV research)
Ahhhh Kate, Kate, Kate.....
1. We are broke. Would you consider $14.5 trillion in debt a windfall?
2. Is government sponsored research really necessary when there are so many private groups willing to do it off the government dime?
3. I believe you have that backwards. The president himself said that republicans are to move to the back of the bus. If you call Obamacare, health care reform, you are living in a dreamland. There is no reform in it at all. It has ultimately raised prices on health insurance, created an unlimited amount of money for AARP (they lobbied for Obamacare) and hasn't done one thing to healthcare but create a thousand presidential vouchers for Obama's favorite companies and union groups.
Since the democrats have turned so partisan, how is it you can blame the republicans for falling in suit?
Brianb, nice try buddy, but the Repubs are the ones who have gone hyper partisan since the Clinton Admin, worked hard to destroy our Government during the Bush Regime, and now voting NO to EVERYTHING that would actually HELP America ever since a MAJORITY of Americans voted in an intelligent Black Democrat as President.
Quit trying to rewrite history and start trying to HELP America, instead of hastening it's destruction by the present right-wing whackos!
Cause in B. Honest's world raising the debt ceiling is a good thing. Right B?
And really why not just keep allowing debt to accumulate? Seems like a great idea, right?
$1trillion in the last three months. If that doesn't scare the crap out of you, you are in denial.
Actually, even in the Bank's, the entire Corporate World, International Groups and most folks amongst the left, right and the center realize that the Repubs blackmailing the Dems and the President over the Debt Ceiling is a stupid thing to do, and have been dropping a ton of pressure on Boehner and Cantor telling them that they had BETTER raise the debt ceiling OR ELSE. It is not a matter of just letting the debt rise, but a matter of being able to pay for all the programs, including military spending and all the programs that the Repubs have declared off-limits to cuts, or risk the biggest financial meltdown worldwide that we have EVER seen. It is a matter of if the ceiling is not raised then the US AUTOMATICALLY defaults on it's loans and the entire house of cards falls apart.
No, I, personally do not like seeing the debt increase, but, I am not hiding my head in the lies and rhetoric from the clueless right that do not understand what it is all really about....like you Spanky.
Besides, most of the debt problems are still occurring because of programs that Bush and his congress installed into the system, the tax cuts (which the Repubs blackmailed President Obama into extending so that he could help normal Americans out of work with the extended Unemployment Benefits, which were there but unfunded because of Repub intransigence) Medicare Part D, funding for 2 wars which President Obama did not start, but is working to difinitivly finish, and the fact of trying to deal with the HUGE load of unemployed folks that Bush left him and the Repubs blocked from everything that would have helped etc. etc. etc.
No, President Obama is not the one to blame, look to your own party and ask THEM why they are holding America hostage to their insane demands and why THEY are the ones who have run up the budget so badly on their watch and still refuse to do anything real about it other than to cut the programs that THE PEOPLE have already paid for!
B? Still at it with the Bush stuff. How sad.
So Obama is the dude in charge, no? If it is as you say why not do something?
Because you are flat wrong - those tax codes were written by Dems and republicans. I defy you to show us a tax code provision written by a dem to benefit "normal Americans."
And we did blame the republicans - they got run out in '08. But then we got a steady diet of the Dems - again $1 trillion spent in just three months. THat's gonna hurt in a year.
But look I get it, you just can't blame Obama. Too bad, cause the debt ceiling is just the symptom. It's out of control spending that is the problem. Non-discretionary spending is now greater than revenue. And brother it was yoour boy that gave those great tax cuts for the rich. Oh yeah is your boy's best bud Immelt that thumbs his nose at your silly little tax code. THink O will make GE pay some taxes B?
But I know B Honest it's all cause of those evil republicans. Bush bad. Obama good. Honest = simple.
Spanky, it is very easy, we are unable to fix 30 years worth of Repub malfeasance in 2.5 years with the Repubs doing everything that they can to block the needed changes. Yes, it is Bush, it was Reagan, Bush the 1st, And Bush the 2nd as well as the Repubs in Congress doing their massive, record blocking of President's Obamas attempts to fix the problems. Pres. Obama INHERITED these problems, he did not Cause them. EVERYBODY with their eyes open understand that and you trying to deny it and pin it all on Pres. Obama just makes you look like the fool and more and more Americans are waking up and realizing this.
Quit trying to re-write history, too many people KNOW the TRUTH and no amount of spinning it is going to change the TRUTH! No matter How much they pay you to spin your lies!
The Newter wants us to believe he has the heart to match his bedroom prowess. What says he about stem-cell research? hm? Nada. Not gonna do it. Not even to save "The Gipper".
Who is he blamng for the "petty annual bueareaucratic funding process" here? He was the driver of that car back in the 90's and the 'process' produced a surplus. Of course, he had a Democratic president willing to compromise for the common good.
Hypocrisy is the name for this humanitarian outreach on a disease experienced, either in effect or in fact, by most Americans today. He is playing US All. IF pettiness were the reason we don't have a cure today for Alzheimer's it is the pettiness of the FAR RIGHT that has led the way. He chose the right word; it's just aimed in the wrong direction. PETTINESS OZZES FROM THE RIGHT.
Of course we are all for increased research, but did he say where the money is coming from. First the Right screams, no more debt, no more entitlements, so where does it come from.!!!
Usually the first steps in research don't result in a cure or a profitable product/process. So Newt, where do you get the money???
Newt is a troll, pure and simple, but sometimes he talks like he cares, which we know he doesn't. Could it be that he is looking at being effected by this desease in the next few days/years???
I think he is already affected, smitty! He can't remember what his position is on any issue from one day to the next.
He'll probably cut medicare to pay for it!
Newt's just thinking ahead. And not that far.
I forgot what I wanted to say.
LoL Comment of the day.
You wanted to say that by all means Alzheimer's research should be increased.
Now say it, but say it quickly, okay?
Thank You now I remember what I want to say, but can't remember who I want to say it to. This research is important and we should find the funds.
LoL Good start. Now, if you still remember, say it again tomorrow and every single day. If you need a reminder, I'll volunteer. This is WAY too important to leave it to chance.
Actually, Newt has short term mammary problems.....which has gotten him into trouble before. He confuses that with memory problems, which he ALSO has....
When he has Deja-Vu he has the eerie feeling that he has forgotten this before!
Probably the only thing I agree with Newt Gingrich about--funding medical research. So does this mean Newt Gingrich supports Nancy Reagan's support of stem cell research as part of the research for a cure?
Being poor, disabled or out of work doesn't respect being a republican or a democrat either. Yet much of the GOP and Newt's ideology shows little regard for those things.
The answer is NO we have to much debt right-wing spending more money! Go Figure!
What good would it do if they do discover a cure. It would only be available to the rich and politicians. How about we include the research with some affordable medical for EVERYONE!
How does Mr. Gingrich feel about stem-cell research? I mean, what if that's were the cure is?
"And politically, he said, "Alzheimer's should be a totally non-partisan issue, because Alzheimer's doesn't respect Republican or Democrat it doesn't respect liberal or conservative."
Soooooo......Alzheimer's should be a non-partisan issue. Agreed. According to the CDC, it's the leading cause of death for about 75,000 Americans a year. Heart disease is about 10 times that, though, with cancer not far behind. Stroke and chronic lung diseases kill twice as many people as Alzheimer's. Diabetes is right behind. So is he saying that only Alzheimer's should be a non-partisan issue, but healthcare in general is still up for debate?
What sort of daring position will he take on the tough issues tomorrow? Come out in favor of Mom, baseball, and apple pie?
"Nutty Newt" is just out of his mind! He says one idea day, and then changes his idea again the next day. He is unable to stay on task mentally when it comes to the issue of health care reform. This very mentally ill individual "flip-flops" on almost every issue he tries to talk about. Does "Nutty Newt" suffer from Alzheimers?? Following his mixed messages on everything from health care too the economy is just watching an escaped Alzheimers patient from the hospital. This individual is just scary America!
Hey Newt, it appears that you're probably afflicted with the early stages of the disease since you seem to coveniently "forget" that your party (now armed with their Tea Bagger ultimatums) have steadfastly opposed similar type of research funding and have routinely championed this "Washington bureaucracy and mindset" that you now rail against! In short, you numbskulls have demonstrated an aversion to anything scientific and have denied everything from promising stem cell research to NIH funding. You are either possessed of some huge cojones, predisposed to just saying s**t to remain politically relevant or exhibiting signs of dementia! Either way, you're unfit to become President. Republican man-whore in chief? Maybe. Just not POTUS!
I can't find it in myself to make jokes about Alzheimers......But isn't this just another Nitwit diversion?
no newt is a good newt.
I still think that 'I, The Newt' was part of the recipe for that voodoo economics thing...
So, Newt is actually proposing that BigPharma actually use our tax dollars to do research on how to CURE diseases, rather than what they do now, which is simply treat or mask symptoms?
What a novel idea Newt! Except they will tell you there is no profit in actually curing a disease...
The only reason why the slimmy newt wants funding for that illness is because there is something personal to him about it.
But it looks like he aint' talking about the underlying agenda.
Does "Nutty Newt" really remember what his is calling for?? Maybe he will "flip-flop" on this issue as well? My guess is that he will.