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AP Wire is reporting today that Gupta took himself out of the running for the Surgeon General nod. Weird. Wonder what's up with that. This time last month, he was looking ready to go.
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Re: Gupta's out
Shucks! I was loving Letterman's Gupta jokes!!! -
Re: Gupta's out
Swoon-----------------------
I can't take much more, to quote Kelly from another thread,I'm tempted to crawl into a corner, suck my thumb, and rock myself soothingly back and forth.
Luanne
wife, mother, nurse practitioner
"You have not converted a man because you have silenced him." (John, Viscount Morely, On Compromise, 1874)Comment
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Re: Gupta's out
Gosh, I'm sorry to be the bearer of such distressing news. Honestly, I didn't think anyone would really care, outside of (maybe) Cheri, since Gupta's a NSG...
Now I feel kinda badly!Comment
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Re: Gupta's out
Ohhh man! I thought it was a done deal!!!! Darn..... I really like him.Wife to PGY5.
Mommy to baby girl born 11/2009. 
Cat mommy since 2002 
"“If you don't know where you are going any road can take you there”"Comment
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Re: Gupta's out
My guess is that he decided it wasn't worth the income hit.Originally posted by GrayMatterWife
(I care because I'm deep in the thick of this vetting business, not really that I care about Gupta.)Julia - legislative process lover and general government nerd, married to a PICU & Medical Ethics attending, raising a toddler son and expecting a baby daughter Oct '16.Comment
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Re: Gupta's out
I'm surprised but also wondering why so many of Obama's picks are withdrawing...Wife to NSG out of training, mom to 2, 10 & 8, and a beagle with wings.Comment
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The vetting is BRUTAL.Julia - legislative process lover and general government nerd, married to a PICU & Medical Ethics attending, raising a toddler son and expecting a baby daughter Oct '16.Comment
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Re: Gupta's out
I'm guessing that they realize that this is a lousy time to be in government.
There will be lots of tough choices made and lots of pissed of people. You have to think hard about working in that type of environment. I don't see Obama letting up or dragging his feet on initiatives. He seems to be full steam ahead and damn the torpedos. I'd imagine that many of the "change" votes were frustrated voters that want to see the government DO something for a change instead of stalemate...but stalemate does have the advantage of NOT pissing people off, just frustrating them.
I imagine how I'd react if Roe v. Wade was actually repealed instead of debated during the last 12 years. It would encite a much larger reaction on both sides. Joy/satisfaction on one -and shock/anger on the other.
Instead, we have just set the country on simmer.
I wouldn't want to be in a position of power during a huge sea change (like the move to universal health coverage). I'm a wuss.
Angie
Gyn-Onc fellowship survivor - 10 years out of the training years; reluctant suburbanite
Mom to DS (18) and DD (15) (and many many pets)
"Where are we going - and what am I doing in this handbasket?"Comment
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Re: Gupta's out
And ....there is the more simple explanation that they've got skeletons in the closet that they'd rather not share. Thanks, Julia....the insider speaks.
Angie
Gyn-Onc fellowship survivor - 10 years out of the training years; reluctant suburbanite
Mom to DS (18) and DD (15) (and many many pets)
"Where are we going - and what am I doing in this handbasket?"Comment
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Re: Gupta's out
Originally posted by Sheherezade
And ....there is the more simple explanation that they've got skeletons in the closet that they'd rather not share. Thanks, Julia....the insider speaks.
I just figured they didn't want to pay their taxes.
Tara
Married 20 years to MD/PhD in year 3 of MFM fellowship. SAHM to five wonderful children (#6 due in August), a sweet GSD named Bella, a black lab named Toby, and 1 guinea pig.
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Re: Gupta's out
No, Angie, my point actually goes with yours. We make people give up a lot to be in government. Beyond fixing their stupid tax problems, they often have to sell off assets, remove themselves from business deals... the Obama team has told every nominee that they have to resign from every outside position that they hold, so say, for example, that you're on the board of your kid's school - sorry, you have to resign.
So these people have to weigh that against how much they'll accomplish and what kind of public reaction they'll have to face. What is this going to do to your career, and how badly do you want it?
It's all related.
ETA: You also end up with a lot of your personal financial information going into the public record. Some people decide they don't want to deal with that.Julia - legislative process lover and general government nerd, married to a PICU & Medical Ethics attending, raising a toddler son and expecting a baby daughter Oct '16.Comment
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Re: Gupta's out
Abigail, don't feel badly. I'm just having trouble dealing with reality!!!!!Luanne
wife, mother, nurse practitioner
"You have not converted a man because you have silenced him." (John, Viscount Morely, On Compromise, 1874)Comment
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Re: Gupta's out
I would never, ever, ever, ever, ever want to do it. EVER. Horrible. No job in the world would be worth it. I know what happened to the 8th Circuit Judge I clerked for. EVIL PROCESS, regardless of whether it's a Dem or Rep nominee and regardless of which party is in control of the Senate. It is just an opportunity to destroy people for political soundbites.Originally posted by oceanchildComment
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Re: Gupta's out
According to what is being reported his withdrawal (which has yet to be officially announced I believe) is entirely due to... money.
The man must make a killing. He's almost his own brand at this point. And, his name is synonymous with CNN health.
The pay he would receive is around what a military radiologist makes (ie about a third of the real world) and that is about $150K.
On a sidenote: DH and I are friends with a man who started up one of the famous search engines you might have used in the past (I'll leave out which one). He cashed out his shares on that company and took an offer to work for the government - doing some much-needed work for the FBI's tech. I asked him about taking that job just before he began. He laughed and said it was definitely NOT for the money. He told me the pay cut was ENORMOUS. But, it's true that working for the government is often a real service. Many of the best and brightest could make two to ten times what the government would pay them. And, I think too often that means the best and brightest don't apply for the government sector. I remember that Mitt was willing to completely turn down any pay for president if he was elected. Not very many people are willing to do that - nor make a substantial paycut.
Anyway, I DOUBT Gupta has any skeletons. As far as it being a difficult position it doesn't look like Gupta has taken the easy way out in life.
I'm sure it will all boil down completely to financial considerations.
Who uses a machete to cut through red tape
With fingernails that shine like justice
And a voice that is dark like tinted glassComment
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