Mainstream Media Largely Ignored GOP's Obstruction Of Veterans Health Bill

[Linc]

That's true, Dems are also very big on politics, but that doesn't mean you have to do the same at least not when it comes to this.

On a daily basis, we see GOP/Fox throw the first and comtinuous smears on any topic. We also saw what happened to Dukakis when he didn't answer them. Obama has been guilty of not defending himself while the GOP lies that all he does is blame. It is a 24/7 war with these people and Dems are more their enemy than any country or head of state .

 

[Wiseone]

On a daily basis, we see GOP/Fox throw the first and comtinuous smears on any topic. We also saw what happened to Dukakis when he didn't answer them. Obama has been guilty of not defending himself while the GOP lies that all he does is blame. It is a 24/7 war with these people and Dems are more their enemy than any country or head of state .

So be more like Superman and fight for truth and less like Republicans and fight for politics.

 

[Linc]

So be more like Superman and fight for truth and less like Republicans and fight for politics.

Haven't posted much for two weeks on vacation but have noticed the rabid right doing a premature victory dance with this select committee, the one that will drag into next year with it's phony cloud and then vote 7-5 for articles of impeachment--preordained .

 

[Kobie]

Haven't posted much for two weeks on vacation but have noticed the rabid right doing a premature victory dance with this select committee, the one that will drag into next year with it's phony cloud and then vote 7-5 for articles of impeachment--preordained .

Pretty sure the phrase "dog and pony show" was invented for stuff like this.

 

[Grim17]

Pretty sure the phrase "dog and pony show" was invented for stuff like this.

Let's take the political BS and side line it for just a moment, because I would like to ask you a couple of very simple questions and I would like you to put politics aside and give straight forward, honest answers...

In general, would you say that eye witness interviews and testimony are relevant in almost any investigation?

Would you conclude that an investigation into an event, or series of events, where there were 30-35 people who eye witnessed those events, should have access to those witnesses and be able to call them to testify as to what they witnessed?

Would you also conclude that not giving congress access to those witnesses and refusing to provide a list of the names of those witnesses to investigators, is not an act of cooperation, but rather an act of obstruction?

If there is no "there, there", this is ascandal scandle", everything has been disclosed and the president and members of his administration have nothing to hide, then how come for more than a year, the White House has refused every request made by congress to provide them with a list of the names of the people who survived the attack, and refused to give them access to those witnesses, who saw first hand the events that took place before, during and after those attacks in Benghazi?

And finally... Knowing that congress has been prevented from soliciting the testimony of even one of the 30+ people who witnessed the events that took place in Benghazi that night, can you honestly say that's irrelevant and that all the questions have truly been answered concerning this issue?

 

[Moot]

I don't think lack of funding is the problem with the VA but instead it's incompetent and/or corrupt directors and management, lack of accountability inside the VA bureaucracy and the VA management's unwillingness to hire more employees to process the backlog of veterans files.



Something of interest.....apparently, Shinseki didn't have the authority to fire or demote anyone in the VA.

Without that authority it would be difficult for anyone to change the culture inside an agency gone bad, let alone hold anyone accountable. With that in mind, congress is scurrying to pass a bill that will give Shinseki the authority he needs to finally make some of the necessary changes inside the VA. Why didn't congress give the VA Secretary that authority years ago???


New House bill could give Eric Shinseki, Veterans Affairs Secretary, authority to fire, demote employees | WJLA.com

WASHINGTON (AP) - Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki would be granted more authority to fire or demote senior executives under a bill headed to the House floor. The measure comes as pressure builds on Capitol Hill to overhaul the beleaguered agency in response to allegations of treatment delays and preventable deaths....

The House bill, being readied for a vote Wednesday, would target about 450 career employees at the VA who serve as hospital directors or executives in the agency's 21 regions.....

The VA's "widespread and systemic lack of accountability is exacerbating all of its most pressing problems," including revelations that the department maintained secret waiting lists to cover up long delays in patient appointments and a mounting toll of preventable deaths of veterans, Miller said.

Miller accused the VA of a "well-documented reluctance to ensure its leaders are held accountable for mistakes" and said Congress has an obligation to "give the VA secretary the authority he needs to fix things. That's what my bill would do."....read....

Suddenly, the voices in congress calling for Shinseki's resignation are ringing very hollow.

 

[Bob N]

OK, fine. But that was six years ago. Obama has done what about it since?

The truth is, EVERY president is handed problems of one form or another from his predecessor. The mark of the man is what he does about those problems. Obama has done nothing.

So what you are essentially telling me is, is that it's OK that when the Bush administration left it's findings it was alright that Bush didn't have any plans to take care of our veterans whatsoever--in other words it seems like his administration didn't even care?!

And since the GOP lawmakers didn't like that piece of legislation (the GOP blocked it.) back in February, (Which seemed to me a great idea on increasing health services and opening up 27 new health facilities for veterans.) what would the GOP lawmakers' plans be? opcorn2:

 

[Fletch]

So what you are essentially telling me is, is that it's OK that when the Bush administration left it's findings it was alright that Bush didn't have any plans to take care of our veterans whatsoever--in other words it seems like his administration didn't even care?!

And since the GOP lawmakers didn't like that piece of legislation (the GOP blocked it.) back in February, (Which seemed to me a great idea on increasing health services and opening up 27 new health facilities for veterans.) what would the GOP lawmakers' plans be? opcorn2:

The VA is an executive branch agency so what GOP lawmakers plans are is irrelevant. And if you want to argue that the VA has been a mess for a long time, you wont get any argument from anyone. Bush didn't create the VA, he inherited it too. Can you say he should have done more? Sure. But I don't know why you give Obama a complete pass on this. He ran on fixing the VA in 2008 and has been president ever since. He has done nothing. It just so happens that the whole issue blew up when he is in office, but that's how it goes. Obama needs to act. Obama hasn't acted. And what the GOP or Bush does or hasn't done is simply a distraction.

 

[vesper]

Once again it took using the Freedom of Information Act , this time through the Washington Times to uncover that Obama's 2008 transition team were made fully aware that the inspector general did not trust what the VA was reporting as wait times.
Obama transition team told about 3 audits showing VA misreported wait times - Washington Times

It is also a fact that in 2008 Congress in both houses were in Democrat majority as they were during the last two years of the Bush administration. That means all committees VA affairs committees were in control of Democrats between 2006 to 2010. In 2009 the Democrats way of dealing with the problem was to throw more money at it instead of fixing the systemic problems. They increased the VA budget 56 percent, from $98 billion to $153 billion.
Time to clean house in Veterans Affairs | WashingtonExaminer.com
Since the mid-term elections in 2010 when the House became a Republican majority again taking control of committees involved in VA affairs, Republicans began investigations/hearings into how the VA was spending so much money on travel /special events while there was no improvement on the long waits for veterans to get medical treatment especially after 2 years of an exuberant amount of funding. While the House Republicans have been on this, it does little when the Democrat Senate lags and the Obama administration has deaf ears on the matter.

To have the audacity to blame Bush for this is preposterous.

 

[Bob N]

The VA is an executive branch agency so what GOP lawmakers plans are is irrelevant.

What do you mean that lawmakers are irrelevant? You mean to tell me that there is no such thing as a Budget Request sent to Congress that needs to be approved? You act like the President does all this by himself--submit a Budget than vote on it.

And if you want to argue that the VA has been a mess for a long time. Bush didn't create the VA, he inherited it too. Can you say he should have done more? Sure. But I don't know why you give Obama a complete pass on this. He ran on fixing the VA in 2008 and has been president ever since. He has done nothing. It just so happens that the whole issue happens to be blowing up when he is in office, but that's how it goes. Obama needs to act. Obama hasn't acted. And what the GOP or Bush does or hasn't done is simply a distraction.

So what do you want Obama to do--take over Congress' job and go in and vote to pass his budget request?

 

[Bob N]

To have the audacity to blame Bush for this is preposterous.

Not really. It all depends on the Budget the sitting President proposed at that time. Congress doesn't do that.

 

[vesper]

Not really. It all depends on the Budget the sitting President proposed at that time. Congress doesn't do that.

What part in 2009 the Democrat President and the Democrat Congress increased spending 56% for the VA and yet the wait times continued to get worse don't you get? What part don't you get that during the last 6 years even with this huge increase in their budget, VA facilities were hiding the fact that all that extra money didn't change a fargin thing? What part don't you get that this administration well aware of the problem continuing through countless more reports from VA committees in the House lead by Republicans did nothing to address the incompetence within the VA?

 

[Bob N]

What part in 2009 the Democrat President and the Democrat Congress increased spending 56% for the VA and yet the wait times continued to get worse don't you get? What part don't you get that during the last 6 years even with this huge increase in their budget, VA facilities were hiding the fact that all that extra money didn't change a fargin thing? What part don't you get that this administration well aware of the problem continuing through countless more reports from VA committees in the House lead by Republicans did nothing to address the incompetence within the VA?

That comment of yours didn't even come close to addressing with what I told you in post #61. Sorry.

 

[Fletch]

What do you mean that lawmakers are irrelevant? You mean to tell me that there is no such thing as a Budget Request sent to Congress that needs to be approved? You act like the President does all this by himself--submit a Budget than vote on it.


So what do you want Obama to do--take over Congress' job and go in and vote to pass his budget request?

The problems at the VA have nothing to do with funding. What is needed is a departmental overhaul. The reform needed has to come from the executive. That would be Obama.

 

[vesper]

That comment of yours didn't even come close to addressing with what I told you in post #61. Sorry.

How so? Was it not Obama's budget that increased VA spending 56% in 2009? And was it not the Democrat Senate that approved it?

 

[Bob N]

How so? Was it not Obama's budget that increased VA spending 56% in 2009? And was it not the Democrat Senate that approved it?

Once again it all depends on the sitting President's Budget proposal back during the Bush years when we had two wars going on. Bush didn't think about how many vets were going to come back home with physical and psychological needs? Did Bush even consider the total number of vets that are going to need assistance? Are there problems that could need restructuring in order to make the VA a more doable agency? Remember. There was two wars going on and that's a considerable number of people to factor in the equation. You forget that cost are going to keep going up when problems are not addressed appropriately.

 

[Jack Hays]

Once again it all depends on the sitting President's Budget proposal back during the Bush years when we had two wars going on. Bush didn't think about how many vets were going to come back home with physical and psychological needs? Did Bush even consider the total number of vets that are going to need assistance? Are there problems that could need restructuring in order to make the VA a more doable agency? Remember. There was two wars going on and that's a considerable number of people to factor in the equation. You forget that cost are going to keep going up when problems are not addressed appropriately.

Six years into the Obama presidency it is beyond ludicrous to attempt to place any blame on any other president.eace

 

[Bob N]

The problems at the VA have nothing to do with funding. What is needed is a departmental overhaul. The reform needed has to come from the executive. That would be Obama.

Oh nothing about President Bush wanting two wars and then we get a large proportion of Vets coming home and with no plan. In other words Bush let the horses out of the barn and he doesn't know where they're at but the next president can go find them, right?

 

[Fletch]

Oh nothing about President Bush wanting two wars and then we get a large proportion of Vets coming home and with no plan. In other words Bush let the horses out of the barn and he doesn't know where they're at but the next president can go find them, right?

Jesus, dude. Obama is president and has been president for six years. Might be time to start holding him accountable for what goes on in his administration. Besides, Obama ran on fixing the VA in 2008. He has done squat. Don't be such a blind partisan. Its OK to say your guy dropped the ball here. Because he did.

 

[Bob N]

Six years into the Obama presidency it is beyond ludicrous to attempt to place any blame on any other president.eace

No. I'll tell you what is ludicrous; it's ludicrous to have two wars and then not plan on the outcome of a large number of veterans that needs assistance.

In other words it's like if you make a mess just have someone else clean it up. :screwy

 

[vesper]

Once again it all depends on the sitting President's Budget proposal back during the Bush years when we had two wars going on. Bush didn't think about how many vets were going to come back home with physical and psychological needs? Did Bush even consider the total number of vets that are going to need assistance? Are there problems that could need restructuring in order to make the VA a more doable agency? Remember. There was two wars going on and that's a considerable number of people to factor in the equation. You forget that cost are going to keep going up when problems are not addressed appropriately.

Bush increased spending 37% plus he increased discretionary spending for veterans affairs. But as it has been proved no matter how much you throw at a broken system, it will never be enough. When the democrats increased VA funding 56% it didn't take care of the problem did it? The answer is no.

 

[Bob N]

Jesus, dude. Obama is president and has been president for six years. Might be time to start holding him accountable for what goes on in his administration. Besides, Obama ran on fixing the VA in 2008. He has done squat. Don't be such a blind partisan. Its OK to say your guy dropped the ball here. Because he did.

Dropped the ball?! Blind partisan?! You just had GOP lawmakers tell veterans that they do not need quicker medical needs back in February. You must think the President does everything in DC and we do not need Congressional approval for anything.

You have veterans dying because they can't get to a doctor fast enough and wanting to get them faster medical service is wrong?! You have lost me. Why does the GOP stand in the way?

 

[Bob N]

Bush increased spending 37% plus he increased discretionary spending for veterans affairs. But as it has been proved no matter how much you throw at a broken system, it will never be enough. When the democrats increased VA funding 56% it didn't take care of the problem did it? The answer is no.

37% for two wars?! Wow. That sure was generous. :roll: I'm sure that kept up with the huge numbers of vets coming home and the rising costs down the road. :sarcasticclap

 

[polgara]

Bush increased spending 37% plus he increased discretionary spending for veterans affairs. But as it has been proved no matter how much you throw at a broken system, it will never be enough. When the democrats increased VA funding 56% it didn't take care of the problem did it? The answer is no.

:agree: This is ridiculous! Throwing money at a broken system instead of fixing the problem seems to be the way things are done today! A good analogy would be that I recently had a gutter that was damaged during the Winter. I could have continued looking at the water gushing out and making a mud pit in my yard, maybe eventually even affecting the foundation, all the while wringing my hands in distress. . I could have spent tons of money buying towels to absorb the water, or I could have replaced the damaged section of the gutter! No brainer there. I hired gutter people to replace the damn gutter! Problem solved! Sheesh!

Let's take care of our injured vets, and stop blaming Bush who has been gone for six years! There's money for every other whim that someone dreams up, like mandating what lunches to feed kids - that they won't eat! Instead, let's fix this disgrace and take care of the people who have been injured while protecting us! :2mad:

 

[Fletch]

Dropped the ball?! Blind partisan?! You just had GOP lawmakers tell veterans that they do not need quicker medical needs back in February. You must think the President does everything in DC and we do not need Congressional approval for anything.

You have veterans dying because they can't get to a doctor fast enough and wanting to get them faster medical service is wrong?! You have lost me. Why does the GOP stand in the way?

Youre just not listening. Money isn't the issue. The VA needs REFORM. Don't take my word for it though. Listen to what Obama had to say in 2008. Then compare that to what he has done in the six years since.