Why? What does a meeting with the VA Secretary have to do with valuing veterans? Again, can you point to a history of how often Presidents meet with individual cabinet secretaries? What happens in those meetings, and is there some kind of correlation between meetings and effectiveness of an agency? Or is this one of those generic criticisms you latch onto because they sound good?
Actions speak much louder than words. Obama didn't even meet with the VA secretary for 2 years. You're scrambling to defend your guy.
This isn't a Democrat vs Republican issue. The reason this became an issue is because neither party really cared (at least not more than they did about their pet projects....unless their pet projects had to do with the VA). Now both are pretending to care in an effort to win political points. The whole thing is pretty disgusting if you ask me.
....and they won't be the only one's. Now we just need someone to fire back about how the first 2 years of Obama were the first time vets went without a COLA increase since the 70's despite the fact that it was tied to the same thing as Social Securty who got their increase anyway and we'll have a full on partisan battle royal. No one REALLY cares about vet issues but vets.
Unfortunately you are somewhat correct about no one caring.. BTW the GOP blocked a COLA increase in 2012 as well.
Sensing a trend here... Republicans block funding for veterans then blame Democrats for not taking care of veterans. Nice.
you can recite chapter and verse from the Obama playbook on the VA scandal: -he knew nothing about it -first heard about it from the media -he's super angry, no one is more angry than him -can't comment on an ongoing investigation -investigation will take more than 6 months -in 6 months, declare it a phony scandal, old news -blame GOP budget cuts -blame Bush -find someone already retiring and call it a "resignation" What else are we leaving out?
Veterans aren’t the only ones waiting for health care A re-framing of the issue by an author of a book who extolled the VA in 2005. I find his question of "compared to what" compelling. What he describes is a system which has performance metrics while private service has none which even despite evidence of fudging numbers still gets faster service and better outcomes than many private sector hospitals. As someone who has worked with vets, this example rings to true (no pun intended). One part of this tragedy is how far behind we are in processing these veterans claims for disability. Sure there are some vets who are trying to claim service connected disability when there is none, but in a desire to keep the undeserving off the public dole we end up hurting veterans who have given up so much for this country:
GOP not recognizing that cutting the budget in the wrong places and going to war has real life consequences.
Blocking of funding? What does that have to do with secret waiting lists (avg wait tile 115 days??) and the VA executives receiving bonuses while veterans suffered and died under their noses? Apparently there was funding for bonuses to be provided to those executives absolutely undeserving of them. If people are dying and unable to receive care under the watch of the VA and no funding from the government is coming in how are bonuses justifiable? Those of you who loathe corporate America, well, the same behavior pervades our government, maybe you just choose to keep a blind eye. I understand the notion that more funding, which doesn't always solve a problem, may make more doctors available --also sounds like a great way to dole out more bonuses for underperformance and incompetence to corrupt executives -- but lack of funding does not excuse what has happened at the VA.
Politicizing this so you can one up somebody on the internet for your little afternoon ego boost is beyond pathetic.
You Go To War With The VA You Have---not The VA You Might Want Or Wish To Have At A Later Time. create 500,000 new veterans, block any attempts adequately fund the VA, blame the next administration..... profit
Why is it that we allow people in the govt to resign? Some people just need to be fired for their incompetence. This guy is getting a nice fat retirement package now...paid for by you and me. Well done sir, well done...
