But 9/11 made it personal, and made it devastatingly clear that we have enemies there who would destroy our civilization.
You don't even try to differentiate between Iraq and 9/11 at this point...
To you all of the middle east are the terrorists.. except of course places like Saudi Arabia where Bush and company have rich friends, never mind that most of the 9/11 terrorists were from Saudi Arabia, not Iraq.
"Rick, do you have any idea how much the economies of the world, not just the US, depend on oil?"
I think I have some idea. I think when someone yells "no blood for oil" they're being shortsighted and silly. It's bumpersticker mentality. There's been wars fought over commodities for centuries. This one probably won't be the last.
My point was in the second post: All right let's admit the movement of oil at market prices is important, and one of the reasons the U.S. is in Iraq.
But here at home, I don't the see the sacrifice that the so-called Greatest Generation was willing to endure for the effort. What if the president came out and said "we need to re-evaluate the way we live our daily lives, or we'll be fighting this war over and over. We'll be on an endless chase for a limited commodity and it will get more frantic as the years go by."
Would he have even gotten re-elected? People don't want to hear that. It's downright unpatriotic.
So he says, "get out and shop." THAT we can do.
[Edited 4 times. Most recently by on Nov 28, 2004 at 10:23am.]
I can't find the post now, but I read one from a man who had talked to his son in Iraq last Sunday. The young man said that in a large number of the homes they entered when going building-to-building in Fallujah, Iraqi people had left blankets and bedding for them, had left notes thanking them for ridding their city of the terrorists and inviting them to sleep in their houses if they needed to. I found that incredibly moving.
The WOT is not a failure, it is just a sideshow now, with the main effort being re-directed at Iraq. With the proliferation of both Nukes and Bio-Weapons, we should be going after Nation-States that have the ability to produce those, or have produced them, now. Iraq is NOT such a place.
Rick is right too... If there had been No Iraq-War, would he have been Elected this year at all ? Highly dubious.
The search for alternative fuels has already begun in earnest. In ten years, half of us will be driving cars that need HALF the fuel that we now pour into them, and then into the atmosphere. Hybrids and all electric cars are already here. They will only become more common in the years ahead, much like BIG cars dissappeared in the 70's, because we found alternatives.
Muskwa, the U.S. G overnment went to the Moon. Can ANY industry start an initiative like that one, and get all the benefits that our society got backfrom it? I do not see how. Fabrics, Teflon, The CHIP, and on and on and on. Hundreds of Billions we got back, from the investment made. We all decided to take thosde chances together back then... What stops us from doing the same thing now? A leader with that sort of Focus on the Future.
That ef fort was launched BY government, and included hundreds of small industries, all focused on the "Goal". That is why it worked. They all invested, because the rewards were phenomenal , still to this day. The effort now seems to be for short-sighted rewards, like the one recently given to the guys that launched a retreavable spacecraft...( if you can call it that).
The Government HAD such vehicles already, and in fact Gdubbya said "
We should go to Mars ", yet there is NO program in place that even approaches what we did as a Nation in the 60's, and we were in a nasty little War then, too . Government can guidethe people for the common good of all of us, when they can get past their own selfish concerns
Here's an interesting post from a blog, which has since been removed. I was wondering when this would start.
I am sick and tired of the "we support our troops" mantra. Ever since Vietnam, it has been heresy to say anything other than "we stand behind the troops 100%."
It's now time for that mindless, absurd bromide to end. You want to participate in the invasion of a foreign nation on false pretenses then, after the entire planet has realized you're there on a resource grab, you are still killing unarmed civilians in mosques? You want to murder entire families at checkpoints because they don't slow down enough for you? You want to shut down religious newspapers and imprison clerics? You want to torture, murder, and sexually abuse prisoners in direct contravention of the Geneva Convention, destroying centuries of moral high ground our ancestors spent their lives building?
You're on your own, soldier. We do NOT sanction that, you don't represent us, and we do NOT support you in any way.
Are the soldiers "just doing their job"? Are they "just following orders"? Yes, they ARE following orders--just as German soldiers did at the concentration camps in World War II. When you willingly obey the immoral, illegal orders of others, you become inextricably linked to their immorality and their evil. Following orders is a rationalization; it is NEVER an excuse. You are no different than those issuing the orders simply because you're just being a "good German" and doing your job.
I believe that this is the true attitude of all those liberals who SAY they "support the troops" because they know they can't say otherwise.
Bill, pass along any info on it if you would. I would be happy to spend some time down there.
They are doing the same in Bangor Maine which is a major departaion and reception for inbound and outbound Marines, Soldiers Airmen and Marines. My cousin said their reception there when he came home for his 2 week leave a few weeks back was phenomenol. They were suprised at the reception and graciousness of the people there. It's great to see :)
We got a phone call from my Cousin yesterday from parts unkown Iraq. It was good to hear his voice and sad all in the same time. I felt guilty in a way. God Bless them all.
[Edited 2 times. Most recently by on Nov 26, 2004 at 11:04am.]
"I believe that this is the true attitude of all those liberals who SAY they "support the troops" because they know they can't say otherwise."
What are the consequnces if they "say otherwise"?
That said, I spent the better part of 450 miles in the last two days seeing those "Support the Troops" ribbons on 1 in 5 vehicles in upstate Minnesota.
I don't know what they mean.
It's not (I) or (We) Support the Troops. It's Support the Troops, as almost a command.
Is it Support the Troops, (dammit!) or Support the Troops (Vote for Bush and not that Pinko, Commie, Traitor, Kerry).
The phrase has been used to meaninglessness, in my estimation. And that's really a shame
[Edited 2 times. Most recently by on Nov 27, 2004 at 03:55pm.]
CHICAGO - Disabled military veterans and political leaders in Illinois are posing tough questions to the Department of Veterans Affairs on why there's no uniform way to assess the consistency of decisions on disability claims at its regional offices. The VA will pay $25 billion in disability compensation to 2.7 million disabled military veterans this fiscal year, according to Stars and Stripes. The maximum disability benefit is about $2,500 a month -- around $30,000 a year. The plight of disabled vets made headlines this month after the Chicago Sun-Times ran a series showing disabled veterans from Illinois have ranked near the bottom in federal disability benefits for 20 years. It appeared disability ratings and compensation depended on where a veteran lived and filed a claim, leaving veterans to wonder whether they were treated fairly. The Government Accountability Office told Congress the "VA cannot provide reasonable assurance that similarly situated veterans who submit claims for the same impairment to different regional offices receive reasonably consistent decisions."
Illinois was 50th of 52 areas -- all the U.S. states and Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia -- in federal disability pay. In the Midwest region, Minnesota paid the most to disabled vets , an average $7,872 annually, followed by Missouri at $7,848, Wisconsin at $7,739, Iowa at $7,490 and $6,910 in Indiana. Disabled Illinois veterans received an average $6,802 -- more than $100 a year less than Indiana vets got. Benefits received by disabled veterans in most Midwestern states were below the national average disability pay of $8,065. Disabled vets in Maine and New Mexico received as much as $4,000 a year more last year, the Sun-Times investigation found. The average benefit paid to wounded vets in Puerto Rico was $11,607 and $10,842 in Maine. House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., said veterans residing in Illinois were on the short end of the benefits stick and called for uniformity in determining disability pay.
Hastert requested a nationwide study of VA disability pay. Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., accused the VA of treating injured Illinois veterans as "second-class" soldiers. "When you agreed to serve this country, there were promises made to you that need to be kept," Durbin told veterans Tuesday at VFW Post 2791 in Tinley Park in south suburban Chicago. As Durbin listened to a small group of Vietnam and Korean War veterans talk about their problems with the VA, more than 100 vocal veterans criticized the Chicago VA regional office at a hearing of the City Council's health committee. A VA report obtained by the Sun-Times ranked Illinois 46 of 52 states and territories in disability pay in 1984. Twenty years ago injured veterans in Puerto Rico averaged $6,500 in disability pay while Illinois vets averaged $3,002.
"They've always had these statistics," said Allen Lynch, a Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient who heads the Illinois Veterans' Rights Bureau.
The Illinois congressional delegation and Gov. Rod Blagojevich sent letters to outgoing VA Secretary Anthony J. Principi inviting him to Chicago before Jan. 5, 2005, to meet with veterans who feel they've been shortchanged and respond to their claims. "Our veterans all served under the same red, white and blue standard, and their disability claims should be measured by a single, fair standard as well," wrote Durbin. "Unfortunately, it appears that the application of the VA's rules in its 58 regional offices is delivering unequal results for our disabled veterans in their time of need." Principi ordered the VA inspector general to conduct an independent review of how disability claims are rated and promised to rectify inequities in disability pay. "I am very concerned about allegations of disparity in how VA decides the claims of Chicago veterans," Principi said in a statement Friday. "My department is committed to treating every veteran's claim fairly and equitably. If that isn't happening somewhere in our system, it will be corrected." President George W. Bush nominated former Republican National Committee Chairman Jim Nicholson to succeed Principi, and Democratic U.S. Senator-elect Barack Obama has invited Nicholson to meet with veterans in Illinois.
Illinois veterans officials call the VA's response an encouraging first step. "They let us know they will be sending a team from the veterans affairs benefits department to conduct a review of the claims," Laurie Tranter, a veterans affairs spokeswoman, told the Chicago Tribune. "This means the VA is going to take this very seriously, and they are going to review the process to see if there isn't a better way to review benefit claims." Durbin said many Midwest states were shortchanged when it comes to benefits for their disabled veterans. Mental-health experts expect up to 17 percent of Iraq war veterans will suffer post-traumatic stress after their tours. A study in the July issue of the New England Journal of Medicine found the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder was lower among troops in Afghanistan who had been exposed to fewer insurgent bombings and random attacks than in Iraq.
Stars and Stripes reported nearly 30,300 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans had sought healthcare though the VA system through June. Their most common complaints were musculoskeletal problems, nervous system and digestive disorders and dental problems.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says it will begin contacting veterans exposed to dangerous levels of chemicals during World War II and will invite them to apply for benefits if they were harmed. The VA will work with the Pentagon to gather current addresses, then use the information to contact the veterans and their families, VA spokeswoman Cynthia Church said Monday.
The announcement follows a Detroit Free Press series of articles last month that showed the VA broke a 1993 promise to Congress to directly contact veterans of secret chemical testing, notify them of the health risks and invite them to file claims. The Free Press reported the VA did not send a single notification letter to any of the thousands of veterans involved in the testing, or their survivors.
It is unclear how many of the veterans remain alive, six decades after their chemical exposure. Even the youngest ones are in their 80s. It also remains unclear how long it will take for the VA to begin contacting veterans. Church said the speed of the response depends partly on how efficiently it can compare its computer records with those kept by the Department of Defense.
And therein lies the "Other Foot"...in that the VA operates today with a " Serve Them Only If They Demand Care" attitude, and in this case as in most cases, they are hoping that these now very-aged Veterans, will simply go away...!
Sens. Reid, Akaka, Mikulski send letter to President
Washington, D.C. (Dec.) – Standing up for our nation’s veterans, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, Committee on Veterans Affairs Ranking Member Daniel Akaka, and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Barbara Mikulski today urged President Bush to support sweeping improvements in programs for veterans, including health care, education and easing the transition difficulties for troops returning from Iraq.
The three key Democrats also pledged to work with their Republican colleagues to ensure that Jim Nicholson, Bush's nominee to head the Department of Veterans Affairs, receives a fair and timely confirmation hearing. A copy of their letter follows:
December 16, 2004
The Honorable G(Dubbya)eorge W. Bush The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We appreciate your moving quickly to fill the top position at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) following the resignation announcement of Secretary Anthony Principi. We commit to working closely with our Republican colleagues to ensure your nominee, Ambassador Jim Nicholson, receives an expeditious, thorough, and fair confirmation hearing. Our nation’s veterans and their families face several major challenges that require the Administration’s immediate attention. As Ambassador Nicholson prepares for his confirmation process, and as you finalize your fiscal year 2006 budget request for the Department, we urge you to take the following actions to stand up for our nation’s veterans:
(1) Fully fund and reopen the VA health care system for all veterans. Due to chronic underfunding of the VA health care system, hundreds of thousands of veterans are being denied the care they were promised and deserve. Last year, most experts and veterans organizations found the Administration’s budget request for VA health care more than $2.6 billion short, and as a result, Congress restored over $1.2 billion during the appropriations process. This year again, we are told that the Office of Management and Budget has recommended cutting almost $1 billion in veterans health care funding. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Priority 8 veterans remain shut out of the VA health care system. Many of those veterans denied access to the VA medical system or who suffer because of cutbacks in services often have no recourse, as nearly 1.7 million military veterans have no health insurance. It is a serious mistake to shortchange VA at a time when we are creating a whole new generation of veterans. The current situation is untenable and unfair to those who have bravely served our nation.
(2) Create a seamless transition from active duty to veteran status. Many soldiers are being denied timely access to health care benefits and services when they transition from active duty to veteran status. The Administration must do more to ensure that returning combat veterans, as well as all other service men and women who complete their term of service or retire from service, receive timely access to VA benefits and services. Currently, the burden falls upon returning war veterans to produce service and medical records in order to gain access to the VA system. Separation physicals to exit the military are often duplicated to enter the VA health care system. This is wasteful and inefficient. The archaic nature of the system, especially the heavy reliance on paper-based records, leads to mistakes, backlogs, lost records, long waiting times, and an unnecessarily difficult transition between the two systems. VA and the Department of Defense must become interoperable by developing an electronic records system worthy of our high-tech fighting force, so that those who have served our country are not mired in bureaucracy. Although some progress has been made, VA still has more work to do.
(3) Eliminate claims backlogs and reduce claims processing times. The backlog of VA claims continues to grow, yet the VA continues to reduce claims processing staff. Currently, there are nearly 338,000 claims and 132,300 appeals pending with VA. It takes VA, on average, 163 days to process a single
claim . The demand for VA services is only expected to grow, as we are a nation at war, and thousands of newly disabled veterans will be entering the VA system. VA has projected that there will be a 3 percent increase in rating receipts in fiscal year 2005. How could VA possibly process claims in an accurate and timely manner with fewer Veterans Benefits Administration claims processors? The nation owes to its service men and women and their survivors prompt, accurate, and comprehensive support for their disability claims. The current system must be improved.
(4) Increase education benefits. Education benefits for service members and veterans continue to lag well behind the rising cost of post-secondary education. When we opened the door of education to our veterans in 1944, we changed their lives and our nation for the better. We cannot let that door slam shut because of a failure to keep pace with rising college costs. Today, active duty troops will find that the GI bill meets only about 50 percent of higher education costs for a public college or university. The problem is even more acute for Guardsmen and Reservists, whose education benefits have not kept pace with active duty education increases in recent years. It is time, Mr. President, to enhance the GI bill so it delivers real education benefits in line with the costs of a 21st Century education.
(5) Increase burial benefits. Burial benefits for the families of our wounded or disabled veterans have not kept up with inflation and rising funeral costs. While these benefits were never intended to cover the full costs of burial, they now pay for only a fraction of what they covered in 1973, when the federal government first started paying burial benefits for our veterans. We are losing over 1,000 World War II veterans each day, and it is time to revitalize veterans’ burial benefits to honor those who have sacrificed for our country. (Actually, that figure is 1500, per day )
(6) Protect and expand long-term care and mental health services. The VA must carefully implement the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) recommendations, and continue to ensure timely and quality service delivery to all eligible veterans. More specifically, the VA must guard against any reduction in long-term care and mental health services. As you may know, one in every six soldiers returning from Iraq suffers from post-traumatic stress disorders. Quality and accessible mental health services must be made available. We understand VA has committed to expedite a strategic planning process for long term care and mental health services, and not proceed with a closure or reduction in services until a thorough analysis, examining demand forecasts and all other reliable data, is complete.
Mr. President, we know you agree that our nation has no more important obligation than caring for our veterans, especially during a time of war. We are deeply concerned that the Administration’s policies have shortchanged this obligation. That is why, early in the 109th Congress, we will introduce legislation to correct many of the injustices currently endured by America’s veterans. Full funding for veterans health care and greater assistance to our returning war veterans and their families are just two of the initiatives we intend to pursue. We hope to have your support, and look forward to working with you and the leadership of the Department of Veterans Affairs in the coming year.
DANIEL AKAKA,Committee on Veterans Affairs
HARRY REID,Minority Leader
BARBARA MIKULSKI,VA-HUD Appropriations
I cannot wait to see what the actualappropriation will be.
I fully agree with the requests set forth. The Pentagon is currently looking to cut billions from its budget at the President's request. I hope he'll redirect at least some of those savings to the VA.
"The leadership's problem with Smith has been his insatiable desire to make life better for veterans during 24 years on the Veterans Affairs committee (six years as vice chairman, four years as chairman). "
"Why is this "corny sounding" campaign important? These soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have tried everything else to get that legislative body to honor the nation's promise."
Hello Muskwa. I agree. Nice to see that someone from the other side can see through all the rancor and bring Vets issues to the fore. I have been traveling to the usual spots for a week or so, but I did I read where Rep. Chris Smith(Republican) was replaced as chairman of the Veteran's Affairs" committee, mainly because he would not accept the notion that MORE CUTS in VA Spending were needed (Thanks to Tom Delay, mostly!), and he was replaced by members of his own party...after like 8 years at the helm, and after being one of the ONLY voices from the right FOR VA Increases in spending....!
Here's a guy that has dedicated his life to Veteran's and their continuing fight to get benefits they were promised, and he gets canned by his own party for it...after they SAY they will fight hard FOR Veterans, which they seem to have NO trouble making more of these days.It is a very interesting story.
Yes, it would appear that more cuts are coming, thanks to that crook Delay.Indeed, and it only looks to be getting worse by the DAY.
I believe he has proposed funding for alternative fuel sources. The point is, the research and development for those possible sources will take years. I don't really believe in government funding for such things. Let the free market do it.
Thanks Muskwa... I have been off-the-air for a while, but I sent a message to Mr. Roskam, who is also a state legislator in Illinois...(A Republican Too!).
"At the same time, Bush would slow the growth of Medicaidand food stamps, two favorite Democratic programs. But he also would attack some Republican constituencies by cutting farm subsidies and medical and disability services to
Veterans ."
That from an AP story on Dubbya's new proposed budget for 2005, and my bet is that since he had the Veterans Affairs Chairman relieved of his duties last year(thanks in large part to TOM DELAY
of Texas, again
) because he spoke out FOR Veterans benefits
too much ... This is something I have begged you guys take into consideration for years now. Well now you can readily SEE that Gdubbya has no compunction to CUT that already strained budget for Veterans, even MORE. Actually, Republicans have CUT the level of spending out there, ad NAUSEUM...and it shows. Go see for yourself. Now there are LOTS of Iraq Vets, waiting in lines out there.
He also has NO compunction over making MORE Disabled-Veterans (10,000 dead and wounded in the last 3 years???), but why should he care... HEdoesn't have to be away from wife, family, mom and dad... so screw it!
I mean...When will all of usband together and DEMAND that the VA budget remain OFF the table, and face NO cuts? We should be asking for an amendment to the Constitution that can make it, right now... One that requires that the VA Budget follow the COLI, always. We ask enough of these young, brave souls already. But then we pull the rug out from under them after they come home??? What a crock-O-shit.
NO....!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"The Defensebudget, by contrast, would grow by almost 5%to $419 billion, bringing its overall growth since Bush became president in 2001 to 41% . Homeland Security would grow by nearly 7% in 2006, and the State Department would enjoy a nearly 16% boost...For a president who is an avowed opponent of big government, Bush would lead government employment in a surprising direction. Civilian employment in the executive branch would reach the equivalent of 1,877,000 workers — up 6,000 from this year and 140,000 since 2001 ."
I mean... this is SHITman. WHENwill we acknowledge that NONE of us would even BE free, unless our young men and women took up arms when the President asks them to...? I am SO angry about this crap. Aren't any of you Republicans? Can't you now SEE that they are short-changing our Veterans???
I hate to say this, because some of you dread the word so much, but if it takes an increase in taxesto pay for our young men and women to not only fight, but to be taken CARE OF
without
QUESTION
when they return from that deadly job...
Then weare selfish ... plain and simple .
The Department of Veterans Affairs would require higher-income veterans to pay $15 toward most monthly supplies of prescription drugs, up from the current $7. These veterans also would be required to pay a new, annual enrollment fee of $250 to use the system's medical services, department officials said.
Rita A. Reed, deputy assistant secretary for budget, projected that 213,000 veterans would drop out of the VA system because of the enrollment fee, which was expected to raise about $452 million annually.
HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It won't raise shit. Many MORE Veterans will simply decide not to GET medications or health care that they NEED, and who will give a damn? That is what they want...they want Veterans to simply Go Away. Gee, thanks GDubbya.
You
LIAR...
P
l
ease read his statements while Campaigning last year???Â
He was all FORhelping Veterans and INCREASING their funding at The VA,when he needed their help to get his ass elected . He turned Jon Kerry into The Devil himself, and now we reap the benefits.
"National Guardsmen and Reservists are not taken care of before their deployment. The Army denies these Guardsmen access to TRICARE , the Pentagon health insurance, claiming it is too expensive. As of July 2004, 20%of National Guardsmen lacked healthcare. Because they don't have healthcare, some of these troops haven't been to a doctor in years and are then expected to participate in combat abroad. We need to give these troops the option to buy into healthcare, if only for national security purposes. Keeping our troops healthy is not just a matter of fairness, its also a matter or preparedness ."
By the way LUV...? The only thing more surprising to me than your gullability, as a Veteran, is the silence of everyone else here (with the exception of Dan, and Muskwa) Â on this issue, yet they THENÂ champion a local Veteran and wish him well, all at the same time...!
What a BIGcrock-o-shit.
[Edited 2 times. Most recently by on Feb 9, 2005 at 05:06am.]
Bill, my question on means testing to you was just for clarification, it was an honest question because I couldn't remember if you were for it. All I was asking for was a clarification.
The only thing more surprising to me than your gullability, as a Veteran, is the silence of everyone else here (with the exception of Dan, and Muskwa)Â on this issue, yet theyTHENÂ champion a local Veteran and wish him well, all at the same time...!
What a BIGcrock-o-shit.
Well if you'd pull your head out of your ass and look around for a second you'd notice that yesterday was the first time I posted in about 2 fucking weeks so it would be pretty tough to say much about it now wouldn't it. So save me your outrage. And for the record I am against what they are doing and have written Dayton and Coleman to voice my opinion to them. I wish Zephyrus well because I mean it, I write to my representatives for the same reason because I want them to get the care they are entitled to when they do get back and I don't feel the cuts they are making are justified at all period.  Â
Fold, every gov't funded organization claims they are not getting enough money. Do vets deserve more?...absolutely. But what other underfunded programs should the money come from?
...Well if you'd pull your head out of your ass and look around for a second you'd notice that yesterday was the first time I posted in about 2 fucking weeks so it would be pretty tough to say much about it now wouldn't it. So save me your outrage. And for the record I am against what they are doing and have written Dayton and Coleman to voice my opinion to them. I wish Zephyrus well because I mean it, I write to my representatives for the same reason because I want them to get the care they are entitled to when they do get back and I don't feel the cuts they are making are justified at all period."
Well, GEEPERS. Thanks for shit-hammering me! How nice of you
. I don't remember calling you any names, but you go right ahead...! It seems that you had a bad day yesterday, since you also told someone over at Salmings Bar to fuck-off...so to speak? But that doesn't change the fact that most people in here, (and I did NOT mention YOURname) are long on Toothe, and short on Follow-Through, when it comes to supporting the Troops.... AFTER
hey come home. If that ticks you off, then I am GLAD.
Oh, and if you think for one secondthat Normie Coleman (and we all know what Dayton did yesterday... Wellstone
was the last Best-Friend of Veterans in this state...) will do ANYTHING but go along with Gdubbya and Tom Delay on whatever the final VA budget turns out to be, then you are the one with his head in a terrible, horrible and stinky place. But I am certainly glad that you write them letters. That has proven to be SUCH
an effective way of serving the needs of our Veterans...In fact, I bet they listen to you, and write legislation for Veterans JUST because of your letters !!! Try showing UP...Letters, this time, won't make a BIT of difference. Only a "Million Troop" March on Washington will have ANY effect on this Budget ... and I would happily LEAD one.
Wanna come along
?
You can write tons of letters, all along the way, and tell all your Veteran buddies to show up!!! Because frankly, unless that happens, GDubby and Co. WILL cut more money OUT of the VA Budget...this time, LOTS of it.
Lastly, when you decide just what it is that has gotten you to be so "Torpedo-ishy" today, then maybe you can do something about it...until then, don't EVEN blame me for your personal-bullshit man.
Luv - ( PFID:efa8900) - 05:14am Feb 9, 2005 PST(#1804of 1864) Â I"m all in.
Where's Grinch and Freep?
THAT among other posts (taken from the "Slamings Bar" board) , is what I was speaking of yesterday...dude. Now since THX used "JT" as a moniker, when he was also using his regular, "THX"...? I just figured it was you. Perhaps it isn't...! So, there is someone using your name(in part) over at THAT board...! Wow, how awful of me to make such a HORRENDOUS mistake. Get used to it... I had a couple waterheads chasing me and stealing my moniker(s),  for a year or more.
And screw these guys too, eh LUV? How DAREthey ask to be recognized, for anything!
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - The bullets and torpedoes they faced were just as real, but World War II merchant mariners say the government hasn't given them the same treatment as military personnel.
When the fighting ended, they got no homecoming parades, "no GI Bill, no nothing," said former mariner George Duffy of Seabrook, N.H. (Sounds Familiar...) Now there's proposed legislation to pay $1,000 monthly to the aged former civilian sailors, who hauled troops, tanks, bombers, fuel and other wartime goods to keep Allied forces supplied. "My bill is a belated thank you," said Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif.
Similar measures have failed, and supporters say time is running out because the mariners are now in their 70s and 80s. Some were on Capitol Hill on Thursday to lobby lawmakers to support this latest effort.
I, being the "Mother Theresa of Veterans", will go there -Â
WASHINGTON -Â Lawmakers overseeing the military questioned the chiefs of staff for the
Army ,
Navy ,
Air Force and
Marine Corps on Thursday about proposed budget cuts to weapons systems and wondered about the wisdom of wartime reductions and their impact on national security.
Although the Pentagon's budget would increase by $19 billion next year, President Bush's $419 billion proposal would scale back production of a stealth fighter, a transport plane and ships, and eliminate one aircraft carrier.
At a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the chiefs of staff said the proposed cuts were driven by budget constraints and that the reductions ran counter to what the military previously had estimated it would needto perform at a high level .(Now I remember  Gdubbya AND Rummy BOTH saying that "whatever" the Troops needed, all they had to do was ASK... The Bastards...!!! They are always so... Bravado, about everything.) Â
"I want to make sure that we don't engage in a process that is in some ways penny wise and pound foolish," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas .
you talk about apples and oranges and admonish me for throwing in a grapefruit?
[Edited by molegrass on Nov 23, 2004 at 12:45pm.]
Can't read? I actually think those troops are a big deal even if it is 5,500. I was being sarcastic. Try to keep up Sparky.
[Edited 3 times. Most recently by on Nov 23, 2004 at 01:16pm.]
You don't even try to differentiate between Iraq and 9/11 at this point...
To you all of the middle east are the terrorists.. except of course places like Saudi Arabia where Bush and company have rich friends, never mind that most of the 9/11 terrorists were from Saudi Arabia, not Iraq.
and I wasn't?
"Rick, do you have any idea how much the economies of the world, not just the US, depend on oil?"
I think I have some idea. I think when someone yells "no blood for oil" they're being shortsighted and silly. It's bumpersticker mentality. There's been wars fought over commodities for centuries. This one probably won't be the last.
My point was in the second post: All right let's admit the movement of oil at market prices is important, and one of the reasons the U.S. is in Iraq.
But here at home, I don't the see the sacrifice that the so-called Greatest Generation was willing to endure for the effort. What if the president came out and said "we need to re-evaluate the way we live our daily lives, or we'll be fighting this war over and over. We'll be on an endless chase for a limited commodity and it will get more frantic as the years go by."
Would he have even gotten re-elected? People don't want to hear that. It's downright unpatriotic.
So he says, "get out and shop." THAT we can do.
[Edited 4 times. Most recently by on Nov 28, 2004 at 10:23am.]
"I don't really believe in government funding for such things. Let the free market do it. "
So, in your opinion, free market failure (or indifference) would be preferable to government funded success?
heh-heh.
crabgrass 11/28/04 9:42am
Pakistan too, another "ally"
Another moronic one liner by the teen sensation.
I can't find the post now, but I read one from a man who had talked to his son in Iraq last Sunday. The young man said that in a large number of the homes they entered when going building-to-building in Fallujah, Iraqi people had left blankets and bedding for them, had left notes thanking them for ridding their city of the terrorists and inviting them to sleep in their houses if they needed to. I found that incredibly moving.
Â
[Edited by on Nov 25, 2004 at 07:41am.]
The WOT is not a failure, it is just a
sideshow
now, with the main effort being re-directed at Iraq. With the proliferation of both Nukes and Bio-Weapons, we should be going after Nation-States that have the ability to produce those, or
have
produced them, now. Iraq is NOT such a place.
Rick is right too... If there had been No Iraq-War, would he have been Elected this year
at all
?
Highly dubious.
The search for alternative fuels has already begun in earnest. In ten years, half of us will be driving cars that need HALF the fuel that we now pour into them, and thenÂ
into the atmosphere. Hybrids and all electric cars are already here. They will only become more common in the years ahead, much like BIG cars dissappeared in the 70's, because we found alternatives.
Muskwa, the U.S. G
overnment went to the Moon. Can ANY industry start an initiative like that one, and get all the benefits that our society got backfrom it? I do not see how. Fabrics, Teflon, The CHIP, and on and on and on. Hundreds of Billions we got back, from the investment made. We all decided to take thosde chances together back then... What stops us from doing the same thing now? A leader with that sort of Focus on the Future.
That ef
fort was launched BY government, and included hundreds of small industries, all focused on the "Goal". That is
why
it worked.
They
all invested, because the
rewards
were
phenomenal
, still to this day. The effort now seems to be for short-sighted rewards, like the one recently given to the guys that launched a retreavable spacecraft...(
if you can call it that).
The Government HAD such vehicles already, and in fact Gdubbya said "
We should go to Mars
", yet there is NO program in place that even approaches what we did as a Nation in the 60's, and we were in a nasty little War then,
too
. Government can guidethe people for the common good of all of us, when they can get past their own
selfish concerns
.
I don't see them doing that, anytime soon.
Â
Here's an interesting post from a blog, which has since been removed. I was wondering when this would start.
Torpedo-8 11/28/04 6:11pm
you said everything the government gets more involved with is a failure
the government is deeply involved with the WOT
it's your logic, not mine
I said "chances" are, DUMon. Once again you prove that 120 grand does not buy comprehension.
dude, it's a typo
it still doesn't change the fact that you think chances are, the WOT is going to be failure
why do you hate america?
Get help.
Â
Â
Bill, pass along any info on it if you would. I would be happy to spend some time down there.
They are doing the same in Bangor Maine which is a major departaion and reception for inbound and outbound Marines, Soldiers Airmen and Marines. My cousin said their reception there when he came home for his 2 week leave a few weeks back was phenomenol. They were suprised at the reception and graciousness of the people there. It's great to see :)
We got a phone call from my Cousin yesterday from parts unkown Iraq. It was good to hear his voice and sad all in the same time. I felt guilty in a way. God Bless them all.
[Edited 2 times. Most recently by on Nov 26, 2004 at 11:04am.]
seriously, why do you hate America?
is it the freedom?
"I believe that this is the true attitude of all those liberals who SAY they "support the troops" because they know they can't say otherwise."
What are the consequnces if they "say otherwise"?
That said, I spent the better part of 450 miles in the last two days seeing those "Support the Troops" ribbons on 1 in 5 vehicles in upstate Minnesota.
I don't know what they mean.
It's not (I) or (We) Support the Troops. It's Support the Troops, as almost a command.
Is it Support the Troops, (dammit!) or Support the Troops (Vote for Bush and not that Pinko, Commie, Traitor, Kerry).
The phrase has been used to meaninglessness, in my estimation. And that's really a shame
[Edited 2 times. Most recently by on Nov 27, 2004 at 03:55pm.]
Disabled Vets Question Benefits
UPI
December 16, 2004
CHICAGO - Disabled military veterans and political leaders in Illinois are posing tough questions to the Department of Veterans Affairs on why there's no uniform way to assess the consistency of decisions on disability claims at its regional offices. The VA will pay $25 billion in disability compensation to 2.7 million disabled military veterans this fiscal year, according to Stars and Stripes. The maximum disability benefit is about $2,500 a month -- around $30,000 a year. The plight of disabled vets made headlines this month after the Chicago Sun-Times ran a series showing disabled veterans from Illinois have ranked near the bottom in federal disability benefits for 20 years. It appeared disability ratings and compensation depended on where a veteran lived and filed a claim, leaving veterans to wonder whether they were treated fairly. The Government Accountability Office told Congress the "VA cannot provide reasonable assurance that similarly situated veterans who submit claims for the same impairment to different regional offices receive reasonably consistent decisions."
Illinois was 50th of 52 areas -- all the U.S. states and Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia -- in federal disability pay. In the Midwest region,
Minnesota paid the most to disabled vets
, an average $7,872 annually, followed by Missouri at $7,848, Wisconsin at $7,739, Iowa at $7,490 and $6,910 in Indiana. Disabled Illinois veterans received an average $6,802 -- more than $100 a year less than Indiana vets got. Benefits received by disabled veterans in most Midwestern states were below the national average disability pay of $8,065. Disabled vets in Maine and New Mexico received as much as $4,000 a year more last year, the Sun-Times investigation found. The average benefit paid to wounded vets in Puerto Rico was $11,607 and $10,842 in Maine. House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., said veterans residing in Illinois were on the short end of the benefits stick and called for uniformity in determining disability pay.
Hastert requested a nationwide study of VA disability pay. Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., accused the VA of treating injured Illinois veterans as "second-class" soldiers. "When you agreed to serve this country, there were promises made to you that need to be kept," Durbin told veterans Tuesday at VFW Post 2791 in Tinley Park in south suburban Chicago. As Durbin listened to a small group of Vietnam and Korean War veterans talk about their problems with the VA, more than 100 vocal veterans criticized the Chicago VA regional office at a hearing of the City Council's health committee. A VA report obtained by the Sun-Times ranked Illinois 46 of 52 states and territories in disability pay in 1984. Twenty years ago injured veterans in Puerto Rico averaged $6,500 in disability pay while Illinois vets averaged $3,002.
"They've always had these statistics," said Allen Lynch, a Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient who heads the Illinois Veterans' Rights Bureau.
The Illinois congressional delegation and Gov. Rod Blagojevich sent letters to outgoing VA Secretary Anthony J. Principi inviting him to Chicago before Jan. 5, 2005, to meet with veterans who feel they've been shortchanged and respond to their claims. "Our veterans all served under the same red, white and blue standard, and their disability claims should be measured by a single, fair standard as well," wrote Durbin. "Unfortunately, it appears that the application of the VA's rules in its 58 regional offices is delivering unequal results for our disabled veterans in their time of need." Principi ordered the VA inspector general to conduct an independent review of how disability claims are rated and promised to rectify inequities in disability pay. "I am very concerned about allegations of disparity in how VA decides the claims of Chicago veterans," Principi said in a statement Friday. "My department is committed to treating every veteran's claim fairly and equitably. If that isn't happening somewhere in our system, it will be corrected." President George W. Bush nominated former Republican National Committee Chairman Jim Nicholson to succeed Principi, and Democratic U.S. Senator-elect Barack Obama has invited Nicholson to meet with veterans in Illinois.
Illinois veterans officials call the VA's response an encouraging first step. "They let us know they will be sending a team from the veterans affairs benefits department to conduct a review of the claims," Laurie Tranter, a veterans affairs spokeswoman, told the Chicago Tribune. "This means the VA is going to take this very seriously, and they are going to review the process to see if there isn't a better way to review benefit claims." Durbin said many Midwest states were shortchanged when it comes to benefits for their disabled veterans. Mental-health experts expect up to 17 percent of Iraq war veterans will suffer post-traumatic stress after their tours. A study in the July issue of the New England Journal of Medicine found the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder was lower among troops in Afghanistan who had been exposed to fewer insurgent bombings and random attacks than in Iraq.
Stars and Stripes reported nearly 30,300 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans had sought healthcare though the VA system through June. Their most common complaints were musculoskeletal problems, nervous system and digestive disorders and dental problems.
Â
VA To Contact Vets Who Faced Harm
Charlotte Observer
December 17, 2004
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says it will begin contacting veterans exposed to dangerous levels of chemicals during World War II and will invite them to apply for benefits if they were harmed. The VA will work with the Pentagon to gather current addresses, then use the information to contact the veterans and their families, VA spokeswoman Cynthia Church said Monday.
The announcement follows a Detroit Free Press series of articles last month that showed the VA broke a 1993 promise to Congress to directly contact veterans of secret chemical testing, notify them of the health risks and invite them to file claims. The Free Press reported the VA did not send a single notification letter to any of the thousands of veterans involved in the testing, or their survivors.
It is unclear how many of the veterans remain alive, six decades after their chemical exposure. Even the youngest ones are in their 80s. It also remains unclear how long it will take for the VA to begin contacting veterans. Church said the speed of the response depends partly on how efficiently it can compare its computer records with those kept by the Department of Defense.
And therein lies the "Other Foot"...in that the VA operates today with a "
Serve Them Only If They Demand Care"
attitude, and in this case as in most cases, they are hoping that these now very-aged Veterans,
will simply go away...!
Â
[Edited by on Dec 17, 2004 at 05:02am.]
Sens. Reid, Akaka, Mikulski send letter to President
Washington, D.C. (Dec.) – Standing up for our nation’s veterans, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, Committee on Veterans Affairs Ranking Member Daniel Akaka, and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Barbara Mikulski today urged President Bush to support sweeping improvements in programs for veterans, including health care, education and easing the transition difficulties for troops returning from Iraq.
The three key Democrats also pledged to work with their Republican colleagues to ensure that Jim Nicholson, Bush's nominee to head the Department of Veterans Affairs, receives a fair and timely confirmation hearing. A copy of their letter follows:
December 16, 2004
The Honorable G(Dubbya)eorge W. Bush
The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We appreciate your moving quickly to fill the top position at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) following the resignation announcement of Secretary Anthony Principi. We commit to working closely with our Republican colleagues to ensure your nominee, Ambassador Jim Nicholson, receives an expeditious, thorough, and fair confirmation hearing. Our nation’s veterans and their families face several major challenges that require the Administration’s immediate attention. As Ambassador Nicholson prepares for his confirmation process, and as you finalize your fiscal year 2006 budget request for the Department, we urge you to take the following actions to stand up for our nation’s veterans:
(1) Fully fund and reopen the VA health care system for all veterans. Due to chronic underfunding of the VA health care system, hundreds of thousands of veterans are being denied the care they were promised and deserve. Last year, most experts and veterans organizations found the Administration’s budget request for VA health care more than $2.6 billion short, and as a result, Congress restored over $1.2 billion during the appropriations process. This year again, we are told that the Office of Management and Budget has recommended cutting almost $1 billion in veterans health care funding. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Priority 8 veterans remain shut out of the VA health care system. Many of those veterans denied access to the VA medical system or who suffer because of cutbacks in services often have no recourse, as nearly 1.7 million military veterans have no health insurance. It is a serious mistake to shortchange VA at a time when we are creating a whole new generation of veterans. The current situation is untenable and unfair to those who have bravely served our nation.
(2) Create a seamless transition from active duty to veteran status. Many soldiers are being denied timely access to health care benefits and services when they transition from active duty to veteran status. The Administration must do more to ensure that returning combat veterans, as well as all other service men and women who complete their term of service or retire from service, receive timely access to VA benefits and services. Currently, the burden falls upon returning war veterans to produce service and medical records in order to gain access to the VA system. Separation physicals to exit the military are often duplicated to enter the VA health care system. This is wasteful and inefficient. The archaic nature of the system, especially the heavy reliance on paper-based records, leads to mistakes, backlogs, lost records, long waiting times, and an unnecessarily difficult transition between the two systems. VA and the Department of Defense must become interoperable by developing an electronic records system worthy of our high-tech fighting force, so that those who have served our country are not mired in bureaucracy. Although some progress has been made, VA still has more work to do.
(3) Eliminate claims backlogs and reduce claims processing times. The backlog of VA claims continues to grow, yet the VA continues to reduce claims processing staff. Currently, there are nearly 338,000 claims and 132,300 appeals pending with VA. It takes VA, on average,
163 days
to process a
single
claim
. The demand for VA services is only expected to grow, as we are a nation at war, and thousands of newly disabled veterans will be entering the VA system. VA has projected that there will be a 3 percent increase in rating receipts in fiscal year 2005. How could VA possibly process claims in an accurate and timely manner with fewer Veterans Benefits Administration claims processors? The nation owes to its service men and women and their survivors prompt, accurate, and comprehensive support for their disability claims. The current system
must
be improved.
(4) Increase education benefits. Education benefits for service members and veterans continue to lag well behind the rising cost of post-secondary education. When we opened the door of education to our veterans in 1944, we changed their lives and our nation for the better. We cannot let that door slam shut because of a failure to keep pace with rising college costs. Today, active duty troops will find that the GI bill meets only about
50 percent
of higher education costs for a public college or university. The problem is even more acute for Guardsmen and Reservists, whose education benefits have
not
kept pace with active duty education increases in recent years. It is time, Mr. President, to enhance the GI bill so it delivers real education benefits in line with the costs of a 21st Century education.
(5) Increase burial benefits. Burial benefits for the families of our wounded or disabled veterans have not kept up with inflation and rising funeral costs. While these benefits were never intended to cover the full costs of burial, they now pay for only a fraction of what they covered in 1973, when the federal government first started paying burial benefits for our veterans. We are losing over 1,000 World War II veterans each day, and it is time to revitalize veterans’ burial benefits to honor those who have sacrificed for our country. (Actually, that figure is 1500, per day
)
(6) Protect and expand long-term care and mental health services. The VA must carefully implement the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) recommendations, and continue to ensure timely and quality service delivery to all eligible veterans. More specifically, the VA must guard against any reduction in long-term care and mental health services. As you may know, one in every six soldiers returning from Iraq suffers from post-traumatic stress disorders. Quality and accessible mental health services must be made available. We understand VA has committed to expedite a strategic planning process for long term care and mental health services, and not proceed with a closure or reduction in services until a thorough analysis, examining demand forecasts and all other reliable data, is complete.
Mr. President, we know you agree that our nation has no more important obligation than caring for our veterans, especially during a time of war. We are deeply concerned that the Administration’s policies have shortchanged this obligation. That is why, early in the 109th Congress, we will introduce legislation to correct many of the injustices currently endured by America’s veterans. Full funding for veterans health care and greater assistance to our returning war veterans and their families are just two of the initiatives we intend to pursue. We hope to have your support, and look forward to working with you and the leadership of the Department of Veterans Affairs in the coming year.
DANIEL AKAKA,Committee on Veterans Affairs
HARRY REID,Minority Leader
BARBARA MIKULSKI,VA-HUD Appropriations
I cannot wait to see what the actualappropriation will be.
[Edited by on Jan 5, 2005 at 04:25am.]
I fully agree with the requests set forth. The Pentagon is currently looking to cut billions from its budget at the President's request. I hope he'll redirect at least some of those savings to the VA.
Â
Damn Repubs get in power and . . .
"The leadership's problem with Smith has been his insatiable desire to make life better for veterans during 24 years on the Veterans Affairs committee (six years as vice chairman, four years as chairman). "
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/robertnovak/rn20050110.shtml
"Why is this "corny sounding" campaign important? These soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have tried everything else to get that legislative body to honor the nation's promise."
http://www.gopusa.com/commentary/tsegel/2005/ts_0111.shtml
Hello Muskwa. I agree. Nice to see that someone from the other side can see through all the rancor and bring Vets issues to the fore. I have been traveling to the usual spots for a week or so, but I did I read where Rep. Chris Smith(Republican) was replaced as chairman of the Veteran's Affairs" committee, mainly because he would not accept the notion that MORE CUTS in VA Spending were needed (Thanks to Tom Delay, mostly!), and he was replaced by members of his own party...after like 8 years at the helm, and after being one of the ONLY voices from the right FOR VA Increases in spending....!
Here's a guy that has dedicated his life to Veteran's and their continuing fight to get benefits they were promised, and he gets canned by his own party for it...after they SAY they will fight hard FOR Veterans, which they seem to have NO trouble making more of these days. It is a very interesting story.
Yes, it would appear that more cuts are coming, thanks to that crook Delay.Indeed, and it only looks to be getting worse by the DAY.
[Edited by on Jan 22, 2005 at 05:13am.]
I believe he has proposed funding for alternative fuel sources. The point is, the research and development for those possible sources will take years. I don't really believe in government funding for such things. Let the free market do it.
ID Tags Returned To War Veterans
It takes great kindness and generosity of spirit to do such a thoughtful act.
Thanks Muskwa... I have been off-the-air for a while, but I sent a message to Mr. Roskam,
who is also a state legislator in Illinois...(A Republican Too!).
I will post any relevant-info I get from him. OK?
Take Care.
Â
[Edited by on Jan 30, 2005 at 12:35am.]
When government gets involved, chances for failure go up.
"At the same time, Bush would slow the growth of Medicaidand food stamps, two favorite Democratic programs. But he also would attack some Republican constituencies by cutting farm subsidies and medical and
disability services to
Veterans
."
That from an AP story on Dubbya's new proposed budget for 2005, and my bet is that since he had the Veterans Affairs Chairman relieved of his duties last year(thanks in large part to TOM DELAY
of Texas, again
) because he spoke out FOR Veterans benefits
too much
... This is something I have begged you guys take into consideration for years now. Well now you can readily SEE that Gdubbya has no compunction to CUT that already strained budget for Veterans, even MORE. Actually, Republicans have CUT the level of spending out there, ad NAUSEUM...and it shows. Go see for yourself. Now there are LOTS of Iraq Vets,
waiting in lines out there.
He also has NO compunction over making MORE Disabled-Veterans (10,000 dead and wounded in the last 3 years???), but why should he care... HEdoesn't have to be away from wife, family, mom and dad... so screw it!
I mean...When will all of usband together and DEMAND that the VA budget remain OFF the table, and face NO cuts? We should be asking for an amendment to the Constitution that can make it, right now... One that requires that the VA Budget follow the COLI, always. We ask enough of these young, brave souls already. But then we pull the rug out from under them after they come home??? What a crock-O-shit.
NO....!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"The Defensebudget, by contrast, would grow by almost 5%to $419 billion, bringing its overall growth since Bush became president in 2001 to
41%
. Homeland Security would grow by nearly 7% in 2006, and the State Department would enjoy a nearly 16% boost...For a president who is an avowed opponent of big government, Bush would lead government employment in a surprising direction. Civilian employment in the executive branch would reach the equivalent of 1,877,000 workers —
up 6,000 from this year and 140,000 since 2001
."
I mean... this is SHITman. WHENwill we acknowledge that NONE of us would even BE free, unless our young men and women took up arms when the President asks them to...? I am SO angry about this crap. Aren't any of you Republicans? Can't you now SEE that they are short-changing our Veterans???
I hate to say this, because some of you dread the word so much, but if it takes an increase in taxesto pay for our young men and women to not only fight, but to be taken
CARE OF
without
QUESTION
when they return from that deadly job...
Then weare selfish
...
plain and simple
.
[Edited by on Feb 8, 2005 at 03:59am.]
thanks for saying the WOT is a complete failure
Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs would require higher-income veterans to pay $15 toward most monthly supplies of prescription drugs, up from the current $7. These veterans also would be required to pay a new, annual enrollment fee of $250 to use the system's medical services, department officials said.
Rita A. Reed, deputy assistant secretary for budget, projected that 213,000 veterans would
drop out of the VA system
because of the enrollment fee, which was expected to raise about $452 million annually.
HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It won't raise shit. Many MORE Veterans will simply decide not to GET medications or health care that they NEED, and who will give a damn? That is what they want...they want Veterans to simply Go Away.
Gee, thanks GDubbya.
You
LIAR...
P
l
ease read his statements while Campaigning last year???Â
He was all FORhelping Veterans and INCREASING their funding at The VA,when he needed their help to get his ass elected
. He turned Jon Kerry into The Devil himself, and now we reap the benefits.
Bill,
Looks like there's some means testing in there. If I remember correctly you are/were for means testing correct?
Â
On The National Guard and Healthcare
:
"National Guardsmen and Reservists are not taken care of before their deployment. The Army denies these Guardsmen access to
TRICARE
, the Pentagon health insurance, claiming it is too expensive. As of July 2004, 20%of National Guardsmen lacked healthcare. Because they don't have healthcare, some of these troops haven't been to a doctor in years and are then expected to participate in combat abroad. We need to give these troops the option to buy into healthcare, if only for national security purposes. Keeping our troops healthy is not just a matter of fairness, its also a matter or preparedness
."
http://www.optruth.org/
Â
[Edited by on Feb 9, 2005 at 04:51am.]
By the way LUV...? The only thing more surprising to me than your gullability, as a Veteran, is the silence of everyone else here
(with the exception of Dan, and Muskwa)
 on this issue, yet they THEN champion a local Veteran and wish him well, all at the same time...!
What a BIGcrock-o-shit.
[Edited 2 times. Most recently by on Feb 9, 2005 at 05:06am.]
ok, chances are the WOT is a complete failure
thansk for admitting that, america hater
Bill, my question on means testing to you was just for clarification, it was an honest question because I couldn't remember if you were for it. All I was asking for was a clarification.
The only thing more surprising to me than your gullability, as a Veteran, is the silence of everyone else here (with the exception of Dan, and Muskwa)Â on this issue, yet theyTHENÂ champion a local Veteran and wish him well, all at the same time...!
What a BIGcrock-o-shit.
Well if you'd pull your head out of your ass and look around for a second you'd notice that yesterday was the first time I posted in about 2 fucking weeks so it would be pretty tough to say much about it now wouldn't it. So save me your outrage. And for the record I am against what they are doing and have written Dayton and Coleman to voice my opinion to them. I wish Zephyrus well because I mean it, I write to my representatives for the same reason because I want them to get the care they are entitled to when they do get back and I don't feel the cuts they are making are justified at all period.  Â
"thansk"???...... Like i said, it's continuous with you.
Proof again that you have an inability to comprehend the English language, even after spending 120 grand.
Congratulations!
[Edited 2 times. Most recently by on Nov 29, 2004 at 01:12pm.]
Fold, every gov't funded organization claims they are not getting enough money. Do vets deserve more?...absolutely. But what other underfunded programs should the money come from?
how about we take it from the subsidized dumbfuck potato farmers of Minnesota fund?
how about taking it out of the corporate welfare funds?
[Edited by molegrass on Feb 9, 2005 at 07:11pm.]
...Well if you'd pull your head out of your ass and look around for a second you'd notice that yesterday was the first time I posted in about 2 fucking weeks so it would be pretty tough to say much about it now wouldn't it. So save me your outrage. And for the record I am against what they are doing and have written Dayton and Coleman to voice my opinion to them. I wish Zephyrus well because I mean it, I write to my representatives for the same reason because I want them to get the care they are entitled to when they do get back and I don't feel the cuts they are making are justified at all period."
Well, GEEPERS. Thanks for shit-hammering me!
How nice of you
. I don't remember calling you any names, but you go right ahead...! It seems that you had a bad day yesterday, since you also told someone over at
Salmings Bar
to fuck-off...so to speak? But that doesn't change the fact that most people in here, (and I did NOT mention YOURname) are long on Toothe, and short on Follow-Through, when it comes to supporting the Troops....
AFTER
hey come home. If that ticks you off, then I am GLAD.
Oh, and if you think for one secondthat Normie Coleman (and we all know what Dayton did yesterday...
Wellstone
was the last Best-Friend of Veterans in this state...)Â will do
ANYTHING
but go along with Gdubbya and Tom Delay on whatever the final VA budget turns out to be, then you are the one with his head in a terrible, horrible and stinky place. But I am certainly glad that you write them letters. That has proven to be
SUCH
an effective way of serving the needs of our Veterans...In fact, I bet they listen to you, and write legislation for Veterans JUSTÂ
because of your letters !!! Try showing UP...Letters, this time, won't make a BIT of difference. Only a "Million Troop" March on Washington will have ANY effect on this Budget ... and I would happily LEAD one.
Wanna come along
?
You can write tons of letters, all along the way, and tell all your Veteran buddies to show up!!! Because frankly, unless that happens, GDubby and Co.
WILL
cut more money OUT of the VA Budget...this time, LOTS of it.
Lastly, when you decide just what it is that has gotten you to be so "Torpedo-ishy" today, then maybe you can do something about it...until then, don't EVEN blame me for your personal-bullshit man.
K?
[Edited by on Feb 10, 2005 at 05:15am.]
Luv
- ( PFID:efa8900) - 05:14am Feb 9, 2005 PST(#1804of 1864) Â I"m all in.
Where's Grinch and Freep?
THAT among other posts
(taken from the "Slamings Bar" board)
, is what I was speaking of yesterday...dude. Now since THX used "JT" as a moniker, when he was also using his regular, "THX"...? I just figured it was you. Perhaps it isn't...! So, there is someone using your name(in part) over at THAT board...! Wow, how
awful
of me to make such a HORRENDOUS mistake. Get used to it...
I had a couple waterheads chasing me and stealing my moniker(s), Â for a year or more.
shit...
LOL.
[Edited by on Feb 11, 2005 at 03:16am.]
And
screw
these guys too, eh LUV? How DAREthey ask to be recognized, for anything!
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - The bullets and torpedoes they faced were just as real, but World War II merchant mariners say the government hasn't given them the same treatment as military personnel.
When the fighting ended, they got no homecoming parades, "no GI Bill, no nothing," said former mariner George Duffy of Seabrook, N.H. (Sounds Familiar...) Now there's proposed legislation to pay $1,000 monthly to the aged former civilian sailors, who hauled troops, tanks, bombers, fuel and other wartime goods to keep Allied forces supplied. "My bill is a belated thank you," said Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif.
Similar measures have failed, and supporters say time is running out because the mariners are now in their 70s and 80s. Some were on Capitol Hill on Thursday to lobby lawmakers to support this latest effort.
I, being the "Mother Theresa of Veterans",
will go there -Â
to speak for them all!!
[Edited by on Feb 11, 2005 at 04:03am.]
Associated Press -
February 11, 2005
WASHINGTON -Â Lawmakers overseeing the military questioned the chiefs of staff for the
Army
,
Navy
,
Air Force
and
Marine Corps
on Thursday about proposed budget cuts to weapons systems and wondered about the wisdom of wartime reductions and their impact on national security.
Although the Pentagon's budget would increase by $19 billion next year, President Bush's $419 billion proposal would scale back production of a stealth fighter, a transport plane and ships, and eliminate one aircraft carrier.
At a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the chiefs of staff said the proposed cuts were driven by budget constraints and that the reductions ran counter to what the military previously had estimated it would needto perform at a high level
.(Now
I remember
 Gdubbya AND Rummy BOTH saying that "whatever" the Troops needed, all they had to do was ASK... The Bastards...!!! They are always so... Bravado, about everything.)
Â
"I want to make sure that we don't engage in a process that is in some ways penny wise and pound foolish," said
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas
.
Wow. A republican with Balls.
luv2Fly and Luv (aka Hockeymom) are two different people
So aren't you bosem buddies planning some big party or something together?
Hope it's no place with sharp objects. If Zeph thinks he's seen action in Iraq, he'll wanna go back after that.
[Edited 6 times. Most recently by on Feb 11, 2005 at 09:11am.]
Glad I can make you happy Bill.