Dobbs: Impeach Bush Over Tomatoes

Thursday night, Lou Dobbs called for George Bush's impeachment over his mismanagement of the Food and Drug Administration which has, in Dobbs' view, ultimately led to the ongoing salmonella scare surrounding tomatoes.

Watch and read Dobbs' comments below (via ThinkProgress):

You know, I have heard a lot of reasons over the years as to why George W. Bush should be impeached. For them to leave the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in this state, its leadership in this sorry condition and to have no capacity apparently or will to protect the American consumer - that is alone to me sufficient reason to impeach a president who has made this agency possible and has ripped its guts out in its ability to protect the American consumer. It's insane what is going on here.

Watch it:

In his "Beat the Press" segment, Dan Abrams mocked Dobbs' conspiracy theory that the government was enabling the salmonella scare around tomatoes. "Ah yes, they are doing it to help boost the sale of avocados in sandwiches instead!" Abrams said.

Watch:

Comments

[dgscol]

The tomato incident demonstrates the weakness in the system of distribution that exists for food and drugs. There is no "country of origin" labeling and tracking back to the source is being obscured. So even if a problem arises, and Americans are used like guinea pigs, there may be no remedy - no way to get back to the source to stop the problem. Americans cannot tell from labeling where this stuff comes from. Until they have a workable system they should curtail the importation of these commodities.

It is not just rotten tomatoes, but also pesticides and other noxious substances used on food, illegal here in the US, that is used in foreign countries.

With people like Russert dropping dead, you would think someone would pay attention. Do you know of anyone dropping dead for no apparent reason, who is taking prescription drugs? I do.

[catzoned]

I'm pretty sure rotten tomatoes are not an impeachable offense, unlike so many other issues that surely seem to be. FYI, I read in Readers Digest recently the USA is importing over 140 medications from other countries but only 13 have been checked for safety by the FDA. Now that is disturbing! The article also mentioned the FDA has to take the time to test food preparation items like microwaves and such. Now shouldn't that be a technology department?

[ibivi]

I say let's make it an impeachable offense. None of the other stupid, illegal, negligent things the Bushies did could do it so let's get them on food safety. What the hell!

[Deaninphilly]

Just reading most of the postings on here and the sheer and utter ignorance and uneducated thoughts it really is no wonder this country is the way it is. No matter how many times others tell you, you just don't listen. All you have to say is smart comments, jokes and smear. It really is disgusting!

[luvobama]

Sorry to disgust you, but if you think anything that comes out of Dobbs mouth is worthy of an intellectual conversation, you are sadly mistaken. He deserves far worse mocking than he gets. His nastiness is far more poisonous than any tomatoes.

[Deaninphilly]

Why, because he calls people on things? Really, we wouldn't want to do that now would we. No, let's just keep the status quo going.

He should be a whole lot nastier. Perhaps then people wouldn't just stand by while our country goes under.

[geobushono]

luvobama-even after yesterdays statement??
When Obama calls for impeachment, he will have caught up with Dobbs on that issue..............the same is true for pelosi and reid.................let's get clear about just who is standing up to the traitors.

[geobushono]

are you one of these open border weenies?
The drug cartels have killed 10 people since last Sunday 3 miles from where I live in El Paso......they havetargeted 3 bars/clubs IN El Paso..............The war is here already.........read some more..and take a Mexican to dinner if youy feel guilt.

[youknowwhat]

Hey Lou, you want the Democrats to impeach Bush about the tomatoes. Now that's funny.

[dartagnan]

You really need to read past the headlines, especially since so many of the headlines on HuffPo are exaggerated or miss the point entirely.

[youknowwhat]

After almost eight years of lying, ignoring the Constitution and trying to politicize the government. Do you think Bush should be impeached for trashing the FDA?

[Angelic11]

Well, I really do want some tomatoes on my salad...so "Yeah, Got get 'em Congress!" You've got nothing better to do.

[fass]

Lou Dobbs is ignorent hate mongers, holier than thou who listen to him anyway.

[wordvarc]

.

UC Davis and Cornell demonstrate that we've great Food Science and Technology in the United States. But FDA low salaries and job cuts resulted from this administration's attack on 'regulation.' Simple but adequate quality control and sampling methods have disappeared. We spent weeks in hysteria and still can only speculate about the source of the tainted tomatoes.

This sort of deregulation favors only crooks and corporations. The GOP deregulation of energy as shown by Enron and high fuel costs are bad enough. Deregulation gave us Reagan's savings and loan crisis and now the mortgage meltdown. Current food and drug safety has been relegated to a naive play on 'capitalism.' Even our military violence has been deregulated in the form of a huge mercenary force to get around international law, conventions, and morals.
.

[EspressoAtNoon]

I tend to agree with Lou on this. This administration has pretty much covered up for businesses at the expense of American citizens in every possible way.

Whether it's creating situations that allow the oil companies to guage us, keeping the Federal Government from being able to negotiate lower drug prices for Medicare recipients, keeping stem cell research from making advances, silencing scientists who see global warming as man-made (or industry made), etc..

Seeing the track record of this administration it would not surprise me in the least if the Bush Administration covered up the sources of the salmonella to protect the tomato industry. Hell, Bush wouldn't let us ban children's toys from China despite the fact that the majority of the toys didn't meet US laws and caused diseases - lead poisoning, etc..

What is with some of you HuffPost posters and even Dan Abrams? You guys sound like you are so blinded by your hate for Lou Dobbs that even when he's making a very accurate and honest point you guys look for any way you can to smear him.

[Larry of Corrales]

Dobbs is a bigot , we all know that. How is it that you haven't figured that out??

[luvobama]

Kinda gross to look at too.

[Larry of Corrales]

I didn't make myself clear. Dobbs is upset because he thinks that Mexico caused the problem or illegal immigrants working in this country caused it. Somehow, he thinks that if we just cracked down on illegal immigrants the U.S. will be back to being the problem free country that he thinks it used to be.

[Deaninphilly]

That is hardly the point of this story with the FDA. So please, let us not discount everything he says and hide behind the fact you disagree with him on illegal immigration.

[MajorKong]

That would be almost as stupid as impeaching the President over a consensual relationship with another adult. Oh wait....

[Okieborn]

Lou Dobbs is just another Bill Oreilly and Joe Scarborouh, Mica Brezenski, Wolf Blitzer and the Fox News reporters !
They all have one thing in common they are Republicans in Democrat clothing !!
The hatred for Democrats built up in them is exposed everytime they speak !!!

[Deaninphilly]

Shame he isn't a repuke or a dem. Perhaps if you read up and listened to him for a change instead of chiming in with your ignorance you would know that.

[scapegoat4rent]

You really don't get do you? Since the bush years, there have been many problems with the fda. Tainted spinach, lettuce, meats; many have died because of fda lack of competence during the bush era. That's the problem with many people in this country, until it effects them they could careless and make light of it. Word of advice to you and other who think this is a joke, since you people don't take fda's lack of competence seriously, boil the hell out of you lettece before putting on you favorite salad dressing on it. I'm just glad that Lou Dobbs like tomatoes on his hamburgers, hence finally bringing this issue of the fda and how bush has butchered other agencies.

[dartagnan]

The right-wingers would like nothing better than to eliminate all regulation and oversight of business and return to the good old pre-1900 robber baron days. But it's politically impossible for them to abolish agencies like the FDA outright, so they fill them with industry hacks who simply ignore their responsibility to the public.

[deadcustodian]

It’s time for all you mainstream media folk to butt out of the election and stay home with your families. You’ve made it plain that you cannot focus on anything other than trivialities. Go report on Britney Spears and Paris Hilton’s antics. Go talk about the latest developments on American Idol. Go talk about flag pins! That’s all you’re qualified to talk about, evidently. The adults are here and we’re taking over this process. We have actual issues that need discussion: the idea of a former White House Press Secretary telling the world that a President went to war for lies and fabrications and the House of Representatives who as the body which is duty bound to bring charges for high crimes might do absolutely nothing about it, the occupation of Iraq, the price of gas, our jobs, so on and so forth.

We have nothing else to say to the MSM. You are irrelevant.
Pitchforks and Torches Society

[bobdob]

Are tomatoes an impeachable offense?

[fishsandwichesr2good]

You say to-may-to, I say to-mah-to, let's turn Lou Dobbs off....

[SaltySaltillo]

Well, good to know Dobbs is an equal-opportunity-lunatic. Its OK that we wage preemptive wars and topple governments for the fun of it overseas, but man... if the American people cannot get their BLTs with a T... Let's get him!!!!

[GerryS]

now I know why he isn't running for the Governorship of NJ

[gtalkspolitics]

Hey Lou lets start with WAR CRIMES !!!

[Angelic11]

...first.

[HopeGirl]

way to go Mr Irrelevant....

The illegal war, hundreds of thousands dead and maimed, the destruction of the economy and environment, the obliteration of our Constitution, the loss of New Orleans as an entire CITY, the rotted infrastructure, torture....that didn't raise an eyebrow from this clown.

Oh But The Tomatoes! Thats another story! Impeach!

Yes, lets Impeach-but for the love of Pete can we for once Impeach a President for something important?

[KeysDan]

The FDA situation simply reflects the systematic gutting of all regulatory agencies, and, yes, Mrs. Pelosi should put impeachment back on the table, along with the tomatoes and several other high crimes and misdemeanors But let's start enumerating the articles of impeachment with the lowest hanging fruit, such as deceiving the nation to invade Iraq.