Comments on: Senators Vow To Improve Wounded Vets' Care

Bob Dole And Donna Shalala Will Head Hospital Commission Named By President Bush

[bennerdjr]

This is from a retired Army veteran. There are 536 individuals to blame for the mess military and Veterans Affairs medicine is in. The current membership of the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate and the President of the United States. I do not care what party they represent.
The problems that area faced by those in the military and VA to provide medical care existed during the 20 years I was in the service and the 17 1/2 years that I have been retired. It is called the budget process. No one complaining about the quality of care now can take refuge in saying, I didn't know about it. People such as Sen. McClain, Liebermann, and Rep. Tom Davis have been in office much to long to plead ignorance of the matter.
LTG Kiley, the Army Surgeon General, should have been the one fired instead of the commander of Walter Reed. After all LTG Kiley was the previous commander of Walter Reed. With only six months in his post the commander that was fired probably hadn't figured out where things were yet.
I want the 536 individuals I mentioned to stand up and take responsiblity for their disregard for military and veterans medical care. More than take responsibility they need to immediately correct the total situation, not just throw some money at Walter Reed. Of course, those 536 individuals don't have the intestinal fortitude to do that.

[nyckate]

ANOTHER COMMISSION??? For the love of Pete - just fix the hospitals - get the guys out of rat-roach-infested falling down mold filled buildings and into REAL hospitals and rehabilitation centers.

Don't be fooled Bushies - Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld have ALL been to Walter Reed many times - they KNEW they were in terrible shape - they just didn't care.

[j0hnwi11iams]

Just so we can throw away any findings that show the systematic raiding of the government by junk corporations.

[blurple1]

Amazing how people will see conflict in every area. The comment published three times probably to a software glitch.

How unaware do you have to be not to already know this?

[retmilspouse]

hey retmilspouse if you look at the time I only Published once cbs must have thought it important and ran it all those times thank you very much.
Posted by starleo146 at 02:24 PM : Mar 06, 2007

Oh excuse me. I didn't know that your point was so poignant that cbs had to run it 3 times. Whatever!

[afubar69]

" A former Halliburton executive came in and laid of hundreds of professional healthcare workers in an effort to cut costs."

Well, that certainly explains things. Cheney's old company. Wanna bet that he's still getting kick-backs?

Not all VA hospitals are terrible. The Portland, OR Va is pretty good. Not all VA workers are bad, some actually care and try to help, but lots of times the red tape prevents them.

[starleo146]

hey retmilspouse if you look at the time I only Published once cbs must have thought it important and ran it all those times thank you very much.

[retmilspouse]

starleo, Please post your comment one time. More than once does not make it more important than others.

[starleo146]

BobDole Oh My GOsh it is like sending the fox to the hen house Elizabeth Dole Is Senator of a military state and has done nothing, nothing, nothing for our men in srvice where did she get her advice from Kansas Bob,way to go Bush put a rubber stamp to investigate .You can save your inquiry we already know thank you.

[starleo146]

BobDole Oh My GOsh it is like sending the fox to the hen house Elizabeth Dole Is Senator of a military state and has done nothing, nothing, nothing for our men in srvice where did she get her advice from Kansas Bob,way to go Bush put a rubber stamp to investigate .You can save your inquiry we already know thank you.

[starleo146]

BobDole Oh My GOsh it is like sending the fox to the hen house Elizabeth Dole Is Senator of a military state and has done nothing, nothing, nothing for our men in srvice where did she get her advice from Kansas Bob,way to go Bush put a rubber stamp to investigate .You can save your inquiry we already know thank you.

[retmilspouse]

.... When I have other benefits I don't go there.
Posted by cmp271 at 01:32 PM : Mar 06, 2007

That is what most people are doing who can find themselves another choice. My husband got a full time job after retirement and we have great private health benefits our Tricare pays second. We pay for the private but it is well worth the price as both he and I have had unfortunate life threatening health events since his retirement in 2001. I can't imagine going through what we did if Tricare or the VA were our only options. I just feel for the poor souls for whom the VA is their only option. Bless them all for what they did for our country and left them in this situation.

[cmp271]

Oh my, we have a welfare proponent and a viagara advocate in charge of this! Only in America!!!

I am a veteran also and know the care in these places is well below standards. I have many stories of on base as active duty and as a dependent wife and my dealings with the VA. Some are good, the support staff, the NP's leave lots to be desired. When I have other benefits I don't go there.

[lars008-2009]

I'm shocked, shocked to find such conditions.....
yeahhhhhh rightttttttttt

it is well known to both political parties and all news media that the va/military hospitals have been c r a p..... they always have been c r a p...... but then what do you expect from socialized medicine...... and that is what you will get when the demonic-rats try to force socialized medicine on the usa..... all the hospitals will be c r a p like the va/military hospitals....

reminds me of casablanca.......
Rick: How can you close me up? On what grounds?
Captain Renault: I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!
[a croupier hands Renault a pile of money]
Croupier: Your winnings, sir.
Captain Renault: [sotto voce] Oh, thank you very much.
[aloud]
Captain Renault: Everybody out at once!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034583/quotes

[scott4261]

All Americans, Republicans, Democrats, and independents, should all be appalled by the conditions at Walter Reed.

[retmilspouse]

usmcvn,

You've got it right just as I said. Been here forever and the only way to fix it is to start over, but they won't do it. Most of the posts here that disagree probably have not had to deal with those institutions personally. My husband once had to deal with the VA in Montgomery, AL and what a joke that turned out to be. And I know what you mean about being in the minority as far as the treatment you probably received. It's sad but true. I know some of the hospitals are doing a better job than the others because my brother goes to one in Atlanta and he said its good. Overall they all suffer as a general rule. Maybe they could look at what Tricare has done and try to outsource most of it. Still not the best system but is a lot better than it was. Just a thought.

[nyckate]

Fact is that Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and many other Bush Admin people have been in and out of Walter Reed hospital many times over the last couple of years - they knew is was falling down and a disgrace to the troops and the US -- but they did squat even while they knew that more and more troops were coming home in bits and pieces.

I'd say shame on them but its become quite obvious that there are NONE in the Bush White House who have the heart or soul or conscience to feel any shame as they time and time again show their utter lack of regard for everyone but themselves.

[bluestardad]

more talk and nothing will happen!

[musty2u]

You couldn't be more wrong about your funding claims. The VA is getting more than ever.
AAMC Office of Governmental Relations reported:

"On July 20, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its FY 2007 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs spending bill (S.Rept. 109-286, H.R. 5385). The Senate bill provides $32.258 billion for VA medical care, a $3.555 billion (12.4 percent) increase over the FY 2006 levels and the same as the President's request for FY 2007. The House passed its FY 2007 appropriations bill for Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs (H.Rept. 109-464, H.R. 5385) on May 19 with $32.283 billion for VA medical care, a $3.580 billion (12.5 percent) increase over FY 2006. The House bill dedicates $2.8 billion to specialty mental health care, compared to the $2.2 billion appropriated for this purpose in FY 2006. The Senate did not address this issue"

[frankly6]

retmilspouse

You are right the VA has been having problems. However, since we went into this war of choice, Bush and his GOP rubber stamp congress have cut VA funding. It's just one more example of the caluousness and incompetence of Bush and Co.

A prime example: Bush and Co. privatised the administration of Walter Reed. A former Halliburton executive came in and laid of hundreds of professional healthcare workers in an effort to cut costs.

Republicans can't have it both ways anymore. You can't wave your flags and pretend to support the troops while gutting the healhcare that you promise will be there when they come back broken.