Have yourself a Merry Little Burger.

Rush Limbaugh.com ^ | December 24, 2003 | Rush Limbaugh

[ConservativeMan55]

Have Yourself A Merry Little Burger

December 24, 2003

All the media attention over this single possible case of mad cow disease in Washington risks starting a panic, but I’m not too worried. I think that people in this country - nearly 300 million strong, I read recently - have far more awareness and consciousness than to be propelled into a panic by never-ending news coverage on a slow news day. McDonald's stock plunged nonetheless, and the $27 billion U.S. cattle industry faced beef bans.

Japan and South Korea, America's top beef buyers, halted imports, as did nations you might not think prosperous enough to import our meat: Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Russia, Ukraine and South Africa. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman urged Americans not to panic. She called the health risk "extremely low," and said it was too early to call this a "presumptive positive."

A sample of this dairy (note, not beef) bovine has been sent to Britain for confirmation. Veneman plans to serve beef for Christmas dinner. In solidarity, I ate my first lunchtime hamburger in years today. I discussed this on the phone with a vegetarian who studies the disease, and via e-mail with cattle farmers who sought to refute what I was taught in the second grade. One interesting fact is that this cow may have been slated for dog food. UPI contradicts this, saying it may have passed into the human food chain.

So don't eat your dog - or the spinal cord and brain of any potentially infected cow. Are we clear on that? Are we also clear, as one caller who said he had 30 years in the field pointed out, that your supply of vegetables is also at risk? Nobody stands up for the beef industry in this country. It's just assumed here that all beef is potentially tainted, even though we know very little about this disease and how or if it's transmitted to humans.

Eating meat is one of those politically incorrect behaviors that the mainstream press will use any excuse to jump all over. Plus, they love to scare you because it gets you watching. The safety features worked in Washington State - but they worked at Three Mile Island, too. That didn't stop the media from screaming, "Oh, what could have happened!" This country was not built by vegetarians, folks. I have no problem with those who simply don't eat meat, but I object to the militant, extreme nuts among you.

Listen to Rush...

(...discuss the discovery of mad cow disease on a single cow in Washington State)
(...pick Angela's brain, on her experience in studying mad cow as a vegetarian)
(...read some e-mails, and take more calls from experts in this field)
(...make the key distinction: this was a dairy cow slated for pet food)

Read the Articles...
(AP: Rogue Protein Lurks Behind Mad Cow)
(UPI: Japan, S. Korea ban U.S. beef imports)
(CNN: Agriculture secretary: Mad cow risk to humans extremely low)
(CTV: Borders shut to US beef over mad cow scare)
(AP: Dow sinks following news of mad cow disease)

Get Your Scientific Facts from Scientists, Not the Pretty Boys Reading Prompter...
(USDA: BSE Information and Resources)
(The Latest News from the US Department of Agriculture)

[redhead]

"The Vegetarians (PETA) are going to do all they can to make the beef industry look bad and attempt to scare Americans."

Yes, I agree. And I think this is just the most recent salvo in the battle over the "Food Pyramid." Since science (and practical use) has been vindicating the Atkins-style emphasis on meat and away from grains and other starchy foods. The bread and junk-food-manufacturers are getting desperate. I have a few opinions on this on my website. Stop by and see what I think is going on in the "food" industry.

[abbi_normal_2]

I think scabies should read scrapie if I recall my childhood acquired farming info correctly.

[ConservativeMan55]

Thanks. I'll check it out.

[international american]

"No such thing as a T-Bone steak in Great Britain any more."

That is a damn shame.....plenty of em here.

[international american]

Thanks for the ping......time for a steak!

[blackie]

Love those bacon cheeseburgers cooked medium rare ~ yum!

[NewLand]

"EAT BEEF AND JUST FUHGEDDABOUDIT!"

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

if the 1 in a 30 million chance at contracting mad cow scares you, just stay away from lesser sources of ground beef......use only lean ground from high quality cuts.

If you really want to be safe just buy a cut of beef and have them grind it for you.

Most butchers are glad to do this.

[americanbychoice]

Same in Germany. They have banned it as well.

[AM2000]

And Singapore, too. Whattamoron.

[Prodigal Son]

That is a damn shame.....plenty of em here.

Well, I suppose that's the point to the harsh measures taken when one case of Mad Cow is discovered. If it got too wide spread like it did in Europe- you might see an end to bone cut steaks as well.

[international american]

Singapore is like Beverly Hills.....along with the prices!

[sarasmom]

Sorry,scrapies is the term I meant for the sheep disease.