In Illinois politics there were two really moving young politicians, Blago and Obama. Blago was known as the smart one. We are beginning to see why. Obama just doesn't get real people. Sort of like the tone deaf guy singing loudly in the choir. Knows the words but it just ain't right.
The "Pride" of my generation of politics was "fast Eddie" Vrdolyak. Retired now, IL supreme court just removed his IL law license at his request after a felony conviction. Leader for how he went out, 5 yrs. probation, $50,000 fine and when the Il Supreme court had to vote on his license the Chief Justice and two other justices had to recuse themselves for "personal ties". Obama and Blago will never be in his league altho I hear Blago is getting a hell of and advance on his book dealio.
This guy is screwing up on so many levels that it is like an episode from "The Twilight Zone". Trying to take away health care for veterans is wrong on so many levels that I am speechless. Wonder how those same veterans will feel if DC is attacked?
Can the Speaker of the House be impeached? She told a church full of illegal aliens that anyone who agreed with her was patriotic.
Trying to take away health care for veterans is wrong on so many levels That's so true. How can you ask a man or woman to fight, kill, and or die for you, then turn your back on him? I'm so tired of seeing our kids and vets pay. We have the vets to thank for our freedom and we pray our kids can fix our F-ups and save our future freedoms.
WASHINGTON — Under withering criticism from veterans and Congress, President Obama on Wednesday abandoned a proposal that would have required veterans to use their private health insurance to pay for the treatment of combat-related injuries.
David K. Rehbein, national commander of the American Legion, said the president had indicated at a meeting on Monday that he “intended to move forward” with the proposal, which could have saved the government more than $500 million a year.
But on Wednesday, the White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs, said Mr. Obama had scrapped the idea.
“The president has instructed that its consideration be dropped,” Mr. Gibbs said.
The press secretary said Mr. Obama had heeded the concerns of veterans’ organizations that feared the proposal could make it more difficult for some of their members to obtain care.
I's almost impossible to find any clear information on this topic that hasn't been spun one way or another. I never totally believe anything until I can locate an original source document, or at least an analysis from some group I think is close to neutral. This is as close as I could come to any "official" policy, and it's 12 years old.
"Since 1986, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been authorized to recover a portion of the costs VA incurs to provide health care services to veterans with no service-connected disabilities from veterans’ private health insurers. This includes individual and group insurance plans, Medicare supplemental insurance plans,1 and self-insured plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). VA’s recovery authority was expanded in 1990 to include recoveries for care provided to veterans with service-connected disabilities, as long as that care was for treatment of conditions unrelated to the veterans’ service-connected disabilities."
Right now when I walk into the VA, they will treat my service related injury totally free of charge, but they bill my insurance for anything else I want treated.
If this is all they are talking about, then I support the idea. If it's an actual policy that forces me to use my own insurance (with deductibles and co-pay) to pay for my shoulder that was messed up in Iraq, then I may be the first member of my family to vote Republican since we shipped over from Ireland.
On a side note:
The State of Wisconsin VA is one of the best run government organizations I have ever encountered.
Bill, it was an actual policy that would force you to use your own insurance (with deductibles & co-pay) to pay for service related injuries. That is why I got so p!$$ed so quick and stopped giving him & his administration the benefit of the doubt.
It wouldn't have been a big deal for me (0% disability), but it would have been devastating for my grandfather.
I'm glad he finally 'got it' and has since said he would not pursue it. I'll believe it will no longer be pursued when he's no longer in office.
If it's an actual policy that forces me to use my own insurance (with deductibles and co-pay) to pay for my shoulder that was messed up in Iraq, then I may be the first member of my family to vote Republican since we shipped over from Ireland.
It IS what was being suggested or the Obama administration wouldn't be RUNNING from the trial balloon.
We would see clarification of the issue and why it is fair and good for veterans.
It ISN'T fair and good for veterans.
It reveals two things, the desire to force the average Joe to cough up and pay for the new social (and socialist) program and Obama (and liberal's--NOT DEMOCRATS) disdain for the military.
Historically, those who serve don't come from the top 1-5% of income families. Rarely do you have the son of a multi-billionaire enlisting. What is disgusting is that the Obama administration is choosing WHICH members of the lower/middle class he wants to benefit.
It isn't those who have fought and bled for this country.
Did anyone see Southpark last night? Cartman roaming the streets at night trying to make them safe dressed in furry face mask and tail as the super hero "The Coon". My 18 years olds only comment was, “Oh my God, Watts is gonna burn again when everyone sees this!"
The base message was that we needed to be protected even if the one doing the protection doesn't have a clue. The power and authority matter much more than any real good that gets done. The coon reference was pretty bigoted but the rest of the parody was spot on.
Obama is an amateur that will blunder his way thought the next four years. The damage he’ll do will be with this country for years to come.
I have never served in the military but it's my freakin' tax dollars we're talking about. I'd much rather spend them on a service man or woman injured in the line of duty that I would paying for some illegal alien's baby delivery. Upset doesn't begin to describe how I feel.
it's sad when Obama makes you long for the days of Clinton.
Not in a million years, that F.A.G.,F.P.O.T.U.S.,Fcrook should be wearing a number! [ CLINTON ] sides Hillary is the smart one [ she should never be in the white house either ].
McSame may have been a little better. at least he would not have attempted to SCREW our veterans.
I have never served in the military BUT, the thought of depriving our wounded and maimed vets of the care that they deserve
I lack the words to express my out rage at the notion that the vets should pay for care in this situation.
Its time to clean house in Washington DC.
WE the People are fed up with the mindless ill concieved stupidity
Yeah, Obama does not have much of a Fan base here in Iraq. I would rather personally extend my stay here for an additional year than have one of our guys who was wounded last month pay for his benefits...
The NY Fed Reserve knew about the bonuses 3+ months ago according to some. Same place that Geithner was working at before he was confirmed.
Dodd says he didn't, then he did, but it was changed in conference, but it was Treasury that told him to, but...
Treasury, via Geithner, says they only just learned about the 'bonus' a few days ago...
Obama says he didn't know until shortly before the $h!tstorm hit because Treasury didn't tell him...
Obama said, "So for everybody in Washington who's busy scrambling, trying to figure out how to blame somebody else, just go ahead and talk to me, because it's my job to make sure that we fix these messes, even if I don't make them."
Way to take ‘responsibility’ there Mr. President.
And we’re led to believe this is just a ‘distraction’. No, I’d call it outright incompetence and a hidden agenda. Some would even go so far as to say a conspiracy. Any way you look at it though, a LOT of folks are liars and should be shown the door as their services are no longer needed IMO.