Less Airtime to VA Scandal in Month Than Christie Controversy Received in 5 days

[PapaG]

HAHAHA!! Gawd Bless this network media and their political biases. Binders with women updates are next.

Kudos to CNN and FauxNews for actually covering this outrage.

In nearly four and a half weeks, the ABC, CBS and NBC morning and evening news shows have offered 110 minutes to an evolving Obama administration scandal involving secret lists designed to keep veterans from receiving proper medical treatment. Back in January, it took those same network shows just four and a half days to churn that much coverage for Chris Christie's Bridgegate.

Since the VA story broke on April 23 with the news that as many as 40 veterans seeking treatment at one Phoenix facility died while on secret waiting lists, CBS has provided the most coverage, 48 minutes and 46 seconds. NBC allowed 44 minutes and 53 seconds and ABC came in last with a scant 16 minutes and 44 seconds. None of the networks bothered covering the story until May 6, almost two weeks after it broke. (This is despite heavy investigative reporting by Fox News and CNN.)

Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/scott-...candal-christie-controversy-rec#ixzz32Vrw2JB5

 

[PapaG]

Let's go back to 2009, in the first 100 days of the Obama presidency, when they were still feeling out how far left they could go with their disdain for the US military.

I forgot how much these assholes really hate the military.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/10/veterans.health.insurance/index.html

Senators slam plan for wounded vets to use private insurance

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki confirmed Tuesday that the Obama administration is considering a controversial plan to make veterans pay for treatment of service-related injuries with private insurance.

But the proposal would be "dead on arrival" if it's sent to Congress, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, said.

Murray used that blunt terminology when she told Shinseki that the idea would not be acceptable and would be rejected if formally proposed. Her remarks came during a hearing before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs about the 2010 budget.

No official proposal to create such a program has been announced publicly, but veterans groups wrote a pre-emptive letter last week to President Obama voicing their opposition to the idea after hearing the plan was under consideration.

The groups also cited an increase in "third-party collections" estimated in the 2010 budget proposal -- something they said could be achieved only if the Veterans Administration started billing for service-related injuries.

Asked about the proposal, Shinseki said it was under "consideration."

"A final decision hasn't been made yet," he said.

Currently, veterans' private insurance is charged only when they receive health care from the VA for medical issues that are not related to service injuries, like getting the flu.

Charging for service-related injuries would violate "a sacred trust," Veterans of Foreign Wars spokesman Joe Davis said. Davis said the move would risk private health care for veterans and their families by potentially maxing out benefits paying for costly war injury treatments.

...continued at link...

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

 

[Cryptkeeper]

And more attention was given to Benghazi than any of these incidents. Thank you, Fox News.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

This is news?

The left gets pretty much a pass from the media. Look at Oregon and Kitzy- Cover Oregon, CRC, monies to a solar power startup after it had declared bankruptcy.... all to the tune of nearly half a billion. That's pretty much an automatic resignation were the guv a republican. Kitzy gets a total pass. Now, that said, if this was a GOP state with a righ leaning media, Kitzy would be gone by now so it does play both ways. Except for the national media.

 

[Eastoff]

This Veteran's affairs scandal is horrible. I think the people involved should all be held accountable.

I blaim the executive branches 100%

The following states all had deaths due to VA negligence. I've also included the political parties of their governors as well

Montana -D
Wyoming -R
Colorado -D
Arizona -R
New Mexico -R
Texas -R
Georgia -R
North Carolina -R

 

[PapaG]

This Veteran's affairs scandal is horrible. I think the people involved should all be held accountable.

I blaim the executive branches 100%

The following states all had deaths due to VA negligence. I've also included the political parties of their governors as well

Montana -D
Wyoming -R
Colorado -D
Arizona -R
New Mexico -R
Texas -R
Georgia -R
North Carolina -R

The VA is a federal agency with federal leadership. The VA secretary reports directly to the President. State governments have nothing to do with the VA. What was the point of this post? State governments don't fund, staff, or manage the VA.

 

[BlazerWookee]

My father spent six years trying to get treatment from the VA in Arizona for small cell carcinoma that ended up growing to the size of his ear on the side of his face. By the time he finally was able to have it removed, it had spread throughout his salivary glands, requiring major surgery on his neck and shoulder area. Twelve weeks later, he died.

Had they removed the carcinoma at his first or even his second visit, he might well be alive today.

My Aunt (Dad's sister) has been reaching out to Senator McCain, we'll see what sort of response we get...

 

[Eastoff]

The VA is a federal agency with federal leadership. The VA secretary reports directly to the President. State governments have nothing to do with the VA. What was the point of this post? State governments don't fund, staff, or manage the VA.

I didn't realize the President appointed all of the VA staff. My mistake. PS have you watched any of the dailyshow's coverage on the Veteran Affair's scandal?

 

[PapaG]

My father spent six years trying to get treatment from the VA in Arizona for small cell carcinoma that ended up growing to the size of his ear on the side of his face. By the time he finally was able to have it removed, it had spread throughout his salivary glands, requiring major surgery on his neck and shoulder area. Twelve weeks later, he died.

Had they removed the carcinoma at his first or even his second visit, he might well be alive today.

My Aunt (Dad's sister) has been reaching out to Senator McCain, we'll see what sort of response we get...

Sorry about your dad. Here is Fez's response...

 

[Eastoff]

Fuck you time travelling OBAMA!!! Why do you always have to fuck over our veterans?!

http://www.va.gov/opa/publications/archives/docs/history_in_brief.pdf

In 1776 the Continental Congress sought to encourage enlistments and curtail desertions with the nation’s first pension law. It granted half pay for life in cases of loss of limb or other serious disability. But because the Continental Congress did not have the authority or the money to make pension payments, the actual payments were left to the individual states. This obligation was carried out in varying degrees by different states. At most, only 3,000 Revolutionary War veterans ever drew any pension. Later, grants of public land were made to those who served to the end of the war

The Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1918 authorized the establishment of an independent agency, the Federal Board for Vocational Education. Under the new law, any honorably discharged disabled veteran of World War I was eligible for vocational rehabilitation training. Those incapable of carrying on a gainful occupation were also eligible for special maintenance allowances. The Bureau of War Risk Insurance was responsible for screening veterans for eligibility. A 1919 law fixed responsibility for medical care of veterans with Public Health Service, transferred a number of military hospitals to Public Health Service, and authorized new hospitals.

The additional facilities still could not keep up with the growing workload, but the law permitted continued use of private hospitals by contract.

Appointed first director of the Veterans’ Bureau was Col. Charles R. Forbes, who had served for four months as director of the Bureau of War Risk Insurance. A veteran of World War I, Forbes came from Seattle, where he had been vice president of an engineering firm.

Within two years he was relieved as director. Forbes later was sentenced to prison and fined on charges of conspiracy to defraud the government on hospital contracts.

As the Depression worsened, veterans began calling for immediate payment of their “bonuses,” as the certificates came to be called. In March 1932, a small group of veterans from Oregon began marching to Washington, D.C., to demand payment. Word of the march spread like wildfire and soon small bands of unemployed veterans from across the country began descending on the nation’s capital.

On June 17, a large group of marchers laid an orderly siege to the U.S. Capitol, where the Senate was considering a bill proposing immediate payment of the bonuses. Despite the veterans’ attempts to drum up support for the bill, it was overwhelmingly defeated.

On Feb. 1, 1946, Bradley reported that the VA was operating 97 hospitals with a total bed capacity of 82,241 patients. Hospital construction then in progress projected another 13,594 beds. Money was available for another 12,706 beds with the construction of 25 more hospitals and additions to 11 others.

But because of the demobilization, the total number of veterans would jump to more than 15 million within a few months. The existing VA hospitals were soon filled to capacity, and there were waiting lists for admission at practically all hospitals. In addition, there were 26,057 nonservice-connected cases on the hospital waiting list.

The Korean GI Bill also did not provide tuition payments to the colleges. Instead, veterans were paid subsistence checks, which were also to cover their college expenses. The effect of the changes was that the benefit no longer completely covered the cost of the veteran’s education.

At first, the only allowable claims related to Agent Orange were for a skin rash, chloracne. The VA in 1991 recognized for claims purposes two other ailments, soft-tissue sarcoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The 1978 law guaranteed that all family and retirement income would be counted in determining veterans’ eligibility for pensions and the amounts paid.

A pensioner would receive a maximum annual income based on a combination of VA and non-VA income sources. Under the new law, most World War II veterans would not be entitled to pensions because the total of all family income had to be counted. The changes resulted in a large reduction in the number of veterans qualifying for pensions

The new law required higher income, nonservice-disabled patients to pay for part of their treatment.

Veterans who had enlisted after Sept. 7, 1980, and officers commissioned or who entered active military service after Oct. 16, 1981, must have completed two years of active duty or the full period of their initial service obligation to be eligible for most VA benefits.

The new law, applying to claims filed after October 1990, required that to be determined totally disabled, a veteran of any age had to be considered unemployable as a result of a disability reasonably certain to continue throughout the life of the disabled person seeking pension.

 

[BlazerWookee]

And more attention was given to Benghazi than any of these incidents. Thank you, Fox News.

Wait. What?

 

[MarAzul]

This Veteran's affairs scandal is horrible. I think the people involved should all be held accountable.

I blaim the executive branches 100%

The following states all had deaths due to VA negligence. I've also included the political parties of their governors as well

Montana -D
Wyoming -R
Colorado -D
Arizona -R
New Mexico -R
Texas -R
Georgia -R
North Carolina -R

Governors have zero to do with the VA. Medical practices at the VA are exempt for overview by the States Medical board or anything else.

 

[MarAzul]

My father spent six years trying to get treatment from the VA in Arizona for small cell carcinoma that ended up growing to the size of his ear on the side of his face. By the time he finally was able to have it removed, it had spread throughout his salivary glands, requiring major surgery on his neck and shoulder area. Twelve weeks later, he died.

Had they removed the carcinoma at his first or even his second visit, he might well be alive today.

My Aunt (Dad's sister) has been reaching out to Senator McCain, we'll see what sort of response we get...

Sorry to hear about your father Wook. But for your information and possible future use, I intend to use the idea of "Emergency Care" if or when it comes to that.
I have a letter from the VA (you probably do too) that if you have and emergency, go to the Hospital and have it taken care of right then. Tell the Hospital you are under VA Care and have
someone (you or who ever helps you) inform the VA of your emergency withing 48 hours of checking in. The VA is suppose to pay if you have time you can call them first an see if they want to handle it at a VA
facility but pronto, this is an emergency. Most likely you can't even get them to answer the phone so off you go.

 

[MarAzul]

And more attention was given to Benghazi than any of these incidents. Thank you, Fox News.

Fox is about the only news to cover the VA and Benghazi. Damned if I can figure out why?

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I'm a vet and VA's are always understaffed and overworked.

 

[MarAzul]

I'm a vet and VA's are always understaffed and overworked.

I just heard a report on TV that the VA has a healthcare worker for every 35 Vets. That doesn't sound so bad. Then I heard they see about 1/3 the patients per day that the private healthcare workers see.
So I don't know??

Then there was this report that Gitmo has a 1.5 healthcare workers there for each detainee. I guess they get top notch care.

 

[PapaG]

Fuck you time travelling OBAMA!!! Why do you always have to fuck over our veterans?!

http://www.va.gov/opa/publications/archives/docs/history_in_brief.pdf

What's your point? Obama campaigned on VA issues, and governors have nothing to do at all with the VA. It's been proven that wait lists the last 5 years were falsified so VA administrators would hit their federal bonuses.

You're coming across as very ignorant on this subject, and instead seem to be only looking to protect your idol, Obama.

 

[PapaG]

I just heard a report on TV that the VA has a healthcare worker for every 35 Vets. That doesn't sound so bad. Then I heard they see about 1/3 the patients per day that the private healthcare workers see.
So I don't know??

Then there was this report that Gitmo has a 1.5 healthcare workers there for each detainee. I guess they get top notch care.

I blame the state governors. Some of them are Republicans.

 

[DaLincolnJones]

I blame the state governors. Some of them are Republicans.

There ya go! Now you understand the program. Just spread bullshit, and point the blame in the most ridiculous direction. (see Benghazi)

It never fails to amaze me how those that have never worn a uniform can dictate to those that have on what we are to believe.

 

[MarAzul]

I blame the state governors. Some of them are Republicans.

Damn! Funny you should say that!! Darn near all of the VA facilities with reported problems are in States Currently with a Republican administration, recently had one or are part of a VA region that is predominately Republican
The facility in Georgia with a Democratic Governor also serves two adjacent Republican States. Missouri with a newly elected Democrat Governor (formerly Republican) in a district of Republican States.

Governors have nothing to do with administration of the VA, so why the apparent connection?
VA regions 4, 6 ,7, 8, 15, 17, 18, 19 all have reported problems

 

[DaLincolnJones]

why do republicans hate veterans?

 

[MarAzul]

why do republicans hate veterans?

Kind of weird! Not one area where the Democrats govern has a problem been reported with the VA but then they don't have any more to do with administering the VA than the Republicans do.

What's up with this? Are the cats in Washington aware of this difference?

 

[PapaG]

Kind of weird! Not one area where the Democrats govern has a problem been reported with the VA but then they don't have any more to do with administering the VA than the Republicans do.

What's up with this? Are the cats in Washington aware of this difference?

You're talking about the same administration who had the IRS target political enemies, and the same administration that closed down a disproportionate number of GM dealerships when they stole that company from the bond holders.

It's right there in front of us all. Why would anybody be surprised that the Dems would want vets to die? They typically vote GOP. Imagine on single-payer what happens if you're a registered GOP. Back of the line, I'm guessing.

 

[MarAzul]

Dang! I never thought of that! Is this what Obama had in mind when he said, "They Can Come For The Ride, But They Gotta Sit In The Back."? Looks like he might have meant, way back, perhaps a tad too far.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

This is what is great about this site, immediately look to blame one political party for the problems. News flash, both parties have ignored and underfunded the VA and other programs for our vets.

While I may not agree with everything that Marazul writes at least he takes time to write his elected officials. No where in this thread have I seen anyone demand that our elected officials take care of the men and women who have been injured in service and defense of our country but instead you turn it into some weird pissing match about which political party is better.

This is the game they want you to play. Blame the other side instead of fixing the problems.

Oh well, I'm going to go back to posting trolling threads about Muslims.

 

[PapaG]

This is what is great about this site, immediately look to blame one political party for the problems. News flash, both parties have ignored and underfunded the VA and other programs for our vets.

While I may not agree with everything that Marazul writes at least he takes time to write his elected officials. No where in this thread have I seen anyone demand that our elected officials take care of the men and women who have been injured in service and defense of our country but instead you turn it into some weird pissing match about which political party is better.

This is the game they want you to play. Blame the other side instead of fixing the problems.

Oh well, I'm going to go back to posting trolling threads about Muslims.

The VA budget has doubled in the last 6 years, yet care is either the same, or has lessened.

The President has made this an Us vs. Them country in terms of domestic political discourse, so that's what we have these days. I have to say, it is nice seeing Obama's approval rating in the high 30s/low 40s. The way the media propped this bumbling fraud up was sickening, but it's nice to see the American people, for the most part, see an incompetent boob no matter how much the media loves him.

 

[MarAzul]

This is what is great about this site, immediately look to blame one political party for the problems. News flash, both parties have ignored and underfunded the VA and other programs for our vets.

While I may not agree with everything that Marazul writes at least he takes time to write his elected officials. No where in this thread have I seen anyone demand that our elected officials take care of the men and women who have been injured in service and defense of our country but instead you turn it into some weird pissing match about which political party is better.

This is the game they want you to play. Blame the other side instead of fixing the problems.

Oh well, I'm going to go back to posting trolling threads about Muslims.

I don't agree with it being both parties at all Sly. People need to be fired and some sent to jail
over this VA thing and the IRS too. Just yesterday the Democrats in the Senate defeated a bill that would authorize the head of the VA to fire some people at his discretion. Obama did not want the power. You can only surmise that he doesn't want to be firing Government Union employees that contribute to democrats.

Now who the hell do you write to about this crap, they are all Democrats in this State and they ain't going to shit about this and that is a real shame, heads ought to roll. When you fuck around an cause people to die, that is criminal activity.

 

[jlprk]

I forgot how much these assholes really hate the military.

Says a chicken hawk who refused to serve.

The VA budget has doubled in the last 6 years...I have to say, it is nice seeing Obama's approval rating in the high 30s/low 40s.

Another thing you "forgot" was to mention that Republican Congress popularity is 9%.

 

[MARIS61]

Historically speaking, the Republican administrations have always cut veterans benefits and refused raises. They have no more respect for veterans than they have for black, gay abortion doctors who get food stamps.

Pretty much all veterans raises and benefits have come from Democratic administrations. The VA is in such bad shape because Reagan totally gutted it, Clinton refunded it, and nobody has paid attention to the graft, embezzlement, and mismanagement since then.