Cedric's Big Mix: 2014-05-11

Saturday, May 17, 2014

She's angry

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE

FIRST LADY MICHELLE O HIT THE ROOF AS "THAT LITTLE RUNT UNDERCUT ME."

SHE WAS REFERRING TO BARRY O TAKING JOE BIDEN TO SHAKE SHACK.

"NOT ONLY DOES IT UNDERCUT MY 'LET'S MOVE' CAMPAIGN," SHE FUMED TO THESE REPORTERS, "BUT HE NEVER TAKES ME ANYWHERE! NEVER!"

"AND COME ON, HE COULDN'T EVEN BRING ME BACK SOME FRIES? COME ON!" WITH THAT, AN ANGRY FIRST LADY STRODE OFF.

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

Starting with veterans issues, US House Rep Eddie Bernice Johnson told her local Fox4 News today that she has been receiving complaints from veterans in her district about problems getting medical appointments in a timely fashion. She explained this is not just one or two veterans and the problem appears persuasive. She contacted Veterans Affairs' Office of Inspector General to report the allegations and they have already sent a representative to the Dallas VA earlier this week to investigate the allegations.

She tells Fox4, "Just the other day, we received additional calls that [they] were ordered to shred records and I reported that right away to the Inspector General."

The Congress woman's region is only the latest across the nation to experience this problem.

Yesterday, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee heard from VA Secretary Eric Shinseki as the Committee explored the information VA whistle-blowers have revealed: The VA has two lists for medical appointments.

The first list is entered in computers and is the official list VA officials point to for bonuses and raises -- and Shinseki and other high ranking officials cite when painting rosy pictures for Congress. It suggests that the VA is responsive and pro-active, actively working to ensure that veterans get medical attention within 14 days of requesting an appointment.

It's a happy little fairy tale that goes like this, "Once upon a time, the VA was plagued with problems and scandals but along came Sir Eric Shinseki, the brave knight, to vanquish the problems and scandals."

In the real world, however, there is a second list, a secret list kept 'off book' where veterans wait weeks, months and years for the medical help they need. It is said that 40 veterans died due to the VA medical center in Phoenix, Arizona's use of these secret lists.

Yesterday, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee attempted to get answers or even a course of immediate action and they only thing they received from Shinseki was an endless series of non-answers and non-responses. We covered the hearing in yesterday's snapshot, Ruth covered it in "Senator Richard Blumenthal says call in the F.B.I.," Kat covered it in "Shinseki needs to be fired," Ava covered it in "Shineski (Ava)" and Wally covered it in "More talk, no action (Wally)."

Thursday, Shinseki appeared to dodge questions and today he appears to have attempted to trick and deceive the American people. Bryant Jones (Military.com) wrote early today, "The head of Veteran Affairs Health Care resigned Friday following allegations that scheduling delays had led to 40 deaths at an Arizona VA hospital." Jones was referring to the VA's Dr. Robert Petzel, Undersecretary for Health Care. Jones we give the benefit of the doubt. We don't extend that courtesy to MSNBC's Amanda Sakuma. Not because she writes for MSNBC but because she writes poorly.. Not only does she repeat the lie that Petzel resigned due to the scandal, she gets a number of other key details wrong. Someone introduce her to CBS News since she either is mistaken or lying by claiming that Phoenix is the only facility accused of running a real list and a fake list. Tuesday, for example, Wyatt Andrews (CBS News -- link is text and video) reported on the whistle-blower coming forward to make similar claims regarding an Illinois VA center. Similar to the wait lists at the Phoenix VA -- two sets, the real one and the cover one to make it look like vets are getting timely treatment -- Chicago steps into the spotlight. Whistle-blower Germaine Clarno has stepped forward.

As the day wore on, people began to feel lied to as it was noted Shinseki turned in his notice last September (he's retiring) and Barack had already nominated Dr. Jeffrey Murawsky to be the new Undersecretary for Health Care.

Pete Kasperowicz (The Blaze) quotes three people on Shinseki's attempted con. The Chair of the House Veterans Affairs Committee Jeff Miller states, "Today's announcement from VA regarding Undersecretary Robert Petzel's 'resignation' is the pinnacle of disingenuous political doublespeak. Petzel was already scheduled to retire in 2014 and President Obama has already announced his intention to nominate Petzel's replacement, so characterizing this as a 'resignation' just doesn’t pass the smell test." Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America's Tom Tarantino is quoted stating, "To be clear, Dr. Petzel's resignation is not the step toward accountability that our members need to see from VA leaders. Anyone who has been following this situation knows that Dr. Petzel had already announced his retirement earlier this year." The American Legion's Daniel Dellinger is quoted declaring, "This move by VA is not a corrective action, but a continuation of business as usual. Dr. Petzel was already scheduled to retire this year, so his resignation now really won’t make that much of a difference."

A veteran with a veterans VSO discussed Shinseki's appearance before the Committee at length with me today. He is also grossly offended by Senator Bernie Sanders. As Wally pointed out in his report, after the hearing Sanders went on CNN and was so craven in toadying up to the VA that host Chris Cuomo even pointed it out. My friend does not feel Sanders stuck up for veterans in the hearing either.

He feels Sanders made a strong statement in the opening ("when all the press was present") and then "faded quickly." He's not alone in feeling that way. I spoke to four other veterans present to get their take on Bernie Sanders' performance as Chair on Thursday and no one's impressed.

I noted that everyone -- in the snapshot yesterday, I noted -- on the Committee spoke at length to express outrage. They did. But as my friend points out, Bernie Sanders faded quickly.

Reviewing my notes and evaluating the points made by five veterans present for the hearing, I will state that my opinion was wrong -- or whatever term you want to apply (opinions aren't 'wrong,' they're opinions but I will state mine was wrong) -- the points made by those offering input today were valid. I painted with broadstrokes and probably with relief (after press predictions that a huge split was going to take place on the Committee). That was wrong, my apologies for that.

I can be wrong and often am.

Reviewing the notes, I'd say this stands out the most, "One of the concerns that I have to be very honest is that there has been a little bit of a rush to judgment."

The most repeated criticism of Sanders was that he was deferential to the VA and swept veterans under the rug. If you're going to make that criticism, I'd argue that line from Sanders ("One of the concerns that I have to be very honest is that there has been a little bit of a rush to judgment.") captures it.

40 veterans may be dead because of the VA's actions. And Bernie's big concern is "a rush to judgment"?

Equally true, the biggest outrage expressed about veterans being denied timely health care should come from the Chair. In the conversations with the five veterans, it was noted that Ranking Member Richard Burr demonstrated real passion on the topic. It was noted that Senator Patty Murray doesn't raise her voice but gets chilly when extremely bothered "and she went freezer on Petzel." Senators Mark Begich and Dean Heller were also noted as conveying how unacceptable the crisis was. Senator Richard Blumenthal's call for the FBI was noted by three as needed. But no one bought that Sanders was putting veterans first.

"Great opening statement that then went nowhere."

I am fine with disagreeing with any of the five or all of them. And they know that. But as they made their case, I didn't find myself disagreeing. I was wrong, they are correct.

One pointed out, and this is a very important point on this topic, that Sanders has promised "hearings."

"When," the veteran asked, "has Sanders ever held hearings? We're lucky to get a hearing on one topic with him. Hearings? Do you really see him devoting any real time to this? We'll be lucky to get one more hearing on this topic. And you can talk about his acupuncture and yoga issues for the hearing last month [April 30th] but the reality is his pet causes don't trump dead veterans. When this became the topic in the news, his pet causes should have been put on hold. In that hearing, he promised there would be a serious hearing on the wait lists but I don't feel he offered anything serious in yesterday's hearing."

Excusing the VA in the CNN interview did not help Sanders but the veterans can all point to moments in the hearing where they felt Sanders was placing VA officials over the health and lives of veterans.

On Thursday's hearing, US House Rep Jeff Miller's office issued the following:

For more information, contact: Curt Cashour, (202) 225-3527

May 15, 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Following VA’s testimony at today’s Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Hearing and the temporary assignment of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Rob Nabors to VA to oversee the department’s review of patient safety and appointment scheduling policies, Chairman Jeff Miller released the following statement:
“After Sec. Shinseki’s out-of-touch performance today, it’s no wonder President Obama felt compelled to assign someone from the White House to help clean up the mess at the department. Had the president heeded our calls last year to help address the growing pattern of preventable deaths and patient safety incidents at VA medical centers across the country, perhaps VA would not find itself mired in the scandal it is today. While I appreciate the fact that the president has assigned a crisis manager to help deal with what is indeed a crisis, I have no confidence whatsoever an internal VA review will yield results that are either accurate or useful. VA officials in Washington have known about problems with medical care access for at least six years and have failed to fix them. That’s why the only way we can begin to fix VA’s delays in care problem is via an independent bipartisan commission. Anything less is unacceptable. – Rep. Jeff Miller, Chairman, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
Related
Chairman Miller letter to President Obama Requesting Bipartisan VA Medical Care Access Commission
May 13, 2014
Chairman Miller letter to President Obama
May 21, 2013

Friday, May 16, 2014

Barack insists the law does not apply to Conyers

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE

AT 85, MAYBE JOHN CONYERS NEEDS TO PARK HIS TIRED ASS ON THE PORCH AND STOP RUNNING FOR CONGRESS?

MR. COWARDLY HAS HIS BALLS SNIPPED BY NANCY PELOSI IN 2007 AND, SAD FOR JOHN, THEY DON'T GROW BACK. SO HE INSISTED HE WOULD IMPEACH BULLY BOY BUSH . . . AFTER HE LEFT OFFICE BUT THEN COWARDLY CONYERS DIDN'T EVEN DO THAT.

NOW THE OLD FOOL MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION BECAUSE HE DIDN'T FOLLOW THE LAW.

HE NEEDED TO COLLECT THE SIGNATURES OF ENOUGH REGISTERED VOTERS TO BE ON THE BALLOT.

FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, BITCH BARRY INSISTS CONYERS MUST BE ON THE BALLOT.

ISN'T BITCH BARRY SUPPOSED TO BE SUPPORTING THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES?

AND WHAT MESSAGE DOES BITCH BARRY SEND WHEN HE ARGUES THE RULES DON'T APPLY TO JOHN CONYERS?

THE WHOLE THING IS SHAPING UP TO BE ANOTHER BEER SUMMIT AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

"Very serious allegations have been made about VA personnel and they're doing this in Phoenix and in other locations," declared Senator Bernie Sanders at this morning's Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing. Sanders is the Chair of the Committee.

Chair Bernie Sanders: I take these allegations very seriously as I know every member of this Committee does which is why I have supported an independent investigation by the VA Inspector General. As we speak right now, the Inspector General's office is in Phoenix doing a thorough examination of the allegations. My hope is that their report to us will be done as soon as possible. And what I have stated and repeat right now is that as soon as that report is done, this Committee will hold hearings to see what we learned from that report and how we go forward.

These accusations that he takes seriously? That veterans are being denied needed and timely care and that the VA has systematically covered this up by working two lists of patients -- one public and in the computers and one kept by hand. Falsifying these records, it's alleged by whistle-blowers, has allowed various honchos to collect bonuses and receive praise in performance appraisals (which would also indicate that they received raises). While this lying has been going on, veterans have suffered.

The April 9th snapshot covers that day's House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing. At the start, Chair Jeff Miller stated the following regarding those who had suffered.

US House Rep Jeff Miller: I had hoped that during this hearing, we would be discussing the concrete changes VA had made -- changes that would show beyond a doubt that VA had placed the care our veterans receive first and that VA's commitment to holding any employee who did not completely embody a commitment to excellence through actions appropriate to the employee's failure accountable. Instead, today we are faced with even with more questions and ever mounting evidence that despite the myriad of patient safety incidents that have occurred at VA medical facilities in recent memory, the status quo is still firmly entrenched at VA. On Monday -- shortly before this public hearing -- VA provided evidence that a total of twenty-three veterans have died due to delays in care at VA medical facilities. Even with this latest disclosure as to where the deaths occurred, our Committee still don't know when they may have happened beyond VA's stated "most likely between 2010 and 2012." These particular deaths resulted primarily from delays in gastrointestinal care. Information on other preventable deaths due to consult delays remains unavailable. Outside of the VA's consult review, this committee has reviewed at least eighteen preventable deaths that occurred because of mismanagement, improper infection control practices and a whole host -- a whole host -- of other maladies plaguing the VA health care system nationwide. Yet, the department's stonewall has only grown higher and non-responsive. There is no excuse for these incidents to have ever occurred. Congress has met every resource request that VA has made and I guarantee that if the department would have approached this committee at any time to tell us that help was needed to ensure that veterans received the care they required, every possible action would have been taken to ensure that VA could adequately care for our veterans. This is the third full committee hearing that I have held on patient safety and I am going to save our VA witnesses a little bit of time this morning by telling them what I don't want to hear. I don't want to hear the rote repetition of -- and I quote -- "the department is committed to providing the highest quality care, which our veterans have earned and that they deserve. When incidents occur, we identify, mitigate, and prevent additional risks. Prompt reviews prevent similar events in the future and hold those persons accountable." Another thing I don’t want to hear is -- and, again, I quote from numerous VA statements, including a recent press statement -- "while any adverse incident for a veteran within our care is one too many," preventable deaths represent a small fraction of the veterans who seek care from VA every year. What our veterans have truly "earned and deserve" is not more platitudes and, yes, one adverse incident is indeed one too many. Look, we all recognize that no medical system is infallible no matter how high the quality standards might be. But I think we all also recognize that the VA health care system is unique because it has a unique, special obligation not only to its patients -- the men and women who honorably serve our nation in uniform -- but also to the hard-working taxpayers of the United States of America.

As many as 40 veterans may have died while waiting for treatment from the Phoenix center. In addition, veteran Barry Coates testified about what he went through.

He's owed an apology. Not just from the VA but from that stupid idiot US House Rep Corrine Brown. How dare that stupid idiot tell someone with stage four cancer that it's not so bad and, hey, she's got a friend who a doctor said would die in a few months and he's still alive, you just never know.

The only thing you never know is how embarrassing Corrine Brown will be. It is time for Democrats to remove Brown from the House Veterans Affairs Committee.

Yes, realizing the idiot couldn't be Ranking Member was wonderful and I applaud Democratic leadership for that. I also applaud them for naming US House Rep Mike Michaud Ranking Member. He's very effective and he comes across as someone who cares.

If you saw Barry Coates face (or his wife's face) when Corrine decided to be peppy as she rushed to rescue the VA and offer her useless crap, you know Brown has to go. She has to go.

Minimizing stage four cancer? To someone suffering from it?

To someone who is a veteran and who wouldn't be in stage four if he could have gotten the appointments he needed in a timely fashion?

Corrine Brown is not fit to serve on the House Veterans Affairs Committee. She and her vast wig collection need to move over to a Committee that's far less important so that her idiotic and insulting remarks will not be aimed at people who suffer because the VA failed them.

The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee has no Corrine Brown fortunately.

So today's hearing included no lectures that stage-four cancer really wasn't that bad or insults of universities (another stunt Corrine Brown pulled -- that was in 2009 -- she was completely wrong on her facts as she attacked America's universities for, you know this is coming, a failure that was in fact the VA's).

The hearing was divided into three panels. The first was Secretary of Veterans Affairs accompanied by the shifty Dr. Robert Petzel. The second panel was the American Legion's Daniel Dellinger, Disabled American Veterans' Joseph A. Violante, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America's Tom Tarantino, Paralyzed Veterans of America's Carl Blake, Student Veterans of America's D. Wayne Robinson, Veterans of Foreign Wars' Ryan Gallucci and Vietnam Veterans of America's Rick Weidman. The third panel was the VA's Acting Inspector General Richard Griffin and --

And we're stopping right there.

There is no transparency in this administration. Hillary Clinton doesn't like accountability which is why she ran through four years as Secretary of State with no IG to monitor her. It's also why State can't account for vast sums today. John Kerry came into the post wanting a real and active Inspector General (and State now has one).

With all the VA scandals since Barack became president, why hasn't he found an Inspector General and not an acting one. And we all know Griffin's tainted, right? He's a Deputy IG really and he was nominated by Bully Boy Bush . . . after his own Blackwater issues.

In fact, the shooting from 2007 that's again been in the news? Did we forget that? Let's drop back to the Monday, September 17, 2007 snapshot:

Turning to the issue of violence, Sahar Issa (McClatchy Newspapers) reported Sunday that a Baghdad shooting (by private contractors) killed 9 Iraqi civilians and left fifteen more wounded. Later on Sunday, CNN reported, "In the Baghdad gun battle, which was between security forces and unidentified gunmen, eight people were killed and 14 wounded, most of them civilians, an Interior Ministry official said. Details were sketchy, but the official said witnesses told police that the security forces involved appeared to be Westerners driving sport utility vehicles, which are usually used by Western companies. The clash occurred near Nisoor square, in western Baghdad. CBS and AP report that Abdul-Karim Khalaf, spokesperson for the Interior Ministry, announced "it was pulling the license of an American security firm allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of civilians during an attack on a U.S. State Department motorcade in Baghdad," that "it would prosecute any foreign contractors found to have used excessive force" in the slaughter (eight dead, 13 wounded) and they "have canceled the liscense of Blcakwater and prevented them from working all over Iraqi territory."

Was anyone punished for those deaths?

Griffin lost his State Dept job over that.

So why the hell is he an 'acting' anything in this administration?

It is a failure of leadership and accountability.

October 25, 2007, Karen DeYoung (Washington Post) reported:

The State Department's security chief was forced to resign yesterday after a critical review found that his office had failed to adequately supervise private contractors protecting U.S. diplomats in Iraq.

Richard J. Griffin, a former Secret Service agent who was once in charge of presidential protection, was told by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's deputy, John D. Negroponte, to leave office by Nov. 1. Griffin's chief deputy, Gregory B. Starr, will become acting assistant secretary for diplomatic security.
Griffin is the first senior official to lose his job over the widening private-contractor scandal. Under fire from Congress, the U.S. military and the Iraqi government after the Sept. 16 contractor killing of 17 Iraqi civilians, Rice on Tuesday ordered extensive changes in diplomatic security arrangements in Iraq and pledged stronger oversight.

Some job loss, he's remained in the administration under Bully Boy Bush and now under Barack.

And Barack doesn't just keep him on, he makes him 'acting' IG. What an insult to the Iraqi people. Next time US Vice President Joe Biden wants to pretend in a phone call that he really, really wants to see the criminals in the incident pay, Nouri al-Maliki should ask him why the official charged with failure (a) hasn't been tried and (b) gets rewarded by Barack naming him "acting Inspector General" for the VA.

Ranking Member Richard Burr; [. . .] but we are here to take a look at the investigations that have already taken place and addressed certain deficiencies in the veterans system that no action was taken on or at least corrective action. In Fiscal Year 2013, VA reported that 93% of specialty and primary care appointments and 95% of mental health appointments were made in 14 days of the patient or provider's date. At first glance, these numbers seem to demonstrate that veterans are receiving the care they want when they want it. However, we know this is not the case. I think if VA had asked hard questions regarding these statistics, we would not be here today discussing recent allegations surrounding many -- and I stress "many" -- VA facilities. More importantly, we're here today to discuss when senior leadership in the Dept became aware that local VA employees were manipulating wait times to show that veterans do not wait at all for care. It seems that every day there are new allegations regarding inappropriate scheduling practices ranging from zeroing out patient wait times to scheduling patients in clinics that don't even exist -- and even to booking multiple patients for a single appointment. The recent allegations were not only reported by the media but have even been substantiated by the General Accounting office, the Inspector General's Office and the Office of Medical Inspector.

As usual, Kat will cover Ranking Member Burr at her site (we'll cover him in a moment from the first panel). Ruth has a Senator on the Committee, Senator Richard Blumenthal, and she'll cover him at her site. Wally will grab Senator Heller for Rebecca's site. At Trina's site, Ava will cover Senator Mazie Hirono.

We'll move to Senator Patty Murray's opening statement.

VIDEO: Senator Murray’s Opening Statement

Like most Americans, I believe that when it comes for caring for our nation's heroes, we cannot accept anything less than excellence. The government made a promise to the men and women who answered the call of duty. And one of the most important ways we uphold that is by making sure our veterans can access the health care they need and deserve. So while the Department generally offers very high quality health care and does many things as well as, or better than, the private sector -- I am very frustrated to be here, once again, talking about some deeply disturbing issues and allegations. It's extremely disappointing that the Department has repeatedly failed to address wait times for health care. So I was encouraged when you announced a nation-wide review of access to care. And I am very pleased that the President is sending one of his key advisors, Rob Nabors, to assist in overseeing and evaluating that review. His perspective, from outside the Department, will make this review more credible and more effective. But announcing this review is just the first step. These recent allegations are not new issues -- they are deep, system-wide problems. And they grow more concerning every day. When the Inspector General's report is issued -- and when the access review's report is given -- I expect the Department to take them very seriously and to take all appropriate steps to implement their recommendations. But there are also cases where the facts are in right now. There are problems we know exist. And there is no reason for the Department to wait until the Phoenix report comes back before acting on the larger problem. The GAO reported on VA's failures with wait times at least as far back as the year 2000. Last Congress we did a great deal of work around wait times, particularly for mental health care. The Inspector General looked at these problems in 2005, 2007, and again in 2012. Each time they found schedulers around the country were not following VA policy. They also found in 2012 that VA has no reliable or accurate way of knowing if they are providing timely access to mental health care. But now the IG recommendations are still open. And the Department still has not implemented legislation I authored to improve the situation. Clearly this problem has gone on for far too long. It is unfortunate that these leadership failures have dramatically shaken many veterans' confidence in the system. Secretary Shinseki, I continue to believe that you take this seriously and want to do the right thing. But we have come to the point where we need more than good intentions. What we need from you now is decisive action to: restore veterans' confidence in VA, create a culture of transparency and accountability, and to change these system-wide, years long problems. This needs to be the wakeup call for the Department. The lack of transparency and the lack of accountability is inexcusable and cannot be allowed to continue. The practices of intimidation and of cover-ups must change – starting today. Giving bonuses to hospital directors for running a system that places priority on gaming the system and keeping their numbers down, rather than provide care to veterans -- must come to an end. But, Mr. Secretary it can’t end with just dealing with a few bad actors or putting a handful of your employees on leave. It has to go much further and lead to system-wide change. You must lead the Department to a place where we prioritize the care of our veterans above everything else. The culture at VA must allow people to admit where there are problems and ask for help from hospital leadership, VISN leadership, or from you. This is the time for the Department to make real, major changes. Because business as usual is unacceptable.

We'll focus on the first panel today with plans to pick up more of the hearing in Friday's snapshot. Let's note two key exchanges. What the Committee is addressing is is not a new issue. It's new to the public because CNN broke the story in April. But it's not new to the VA.

Ranking Member Richard Burr provided a walk through on just this when questioning VA Secretary Eric Shinseki.

Ranking Member Richard Burr: Mr. Secretary, were you aware that on October 25, 2013, the Office of Special Counsel requested that the VA conduct an investigation into the allegations of inappropriate scheduling at the Fort Collins Community Outpatient clinic? And that since then, the media has reported about Mr. Freeman's e-mail of June 19, 2013 that explains how to game the system to avoid being on the bad boy list. Were you aware of those?

Secretary Eric Shinseki: Uh, Senator, I became aware of that-that, uh, that screen shot -- I believe that's what it was -- screen shot of an employee who was suggesting that there are ways to game. I put that employee on administrative leave, uh,

Ranking Member Richard Burr: When was that?

Secretary Eric Shinseki: That was last Friday.

Ranking Member Richard Burr: Mr. Secretary, it's my understanding that on June 21, 2013, VA received a report from the Office of Medical Inspector regarding chronic understaffing issues at the Jacksonville VA Medical Center and that report described multiple patient scheduling problems including scheduling two patients for the same appointment slot and scheduling patients for a clinic that does not have any assigned providers -- often referred to as ghost clinics. And that on September 17, 2013, the Office of Special Counsel submitted a letter to the President of the United States on which the VA was courtesy copied the findings of that June 21st Office of Medical Inspector on the Fort Jackson Medical Center including the practice of double-booking patients and the use of ghost clinics. Do you remember reading that report and receiving that copied letter to the president?

Secretary Eric Shinseki: Uh, I can't say that I remember it today here.

Ranking Member Richard Burr: Okay. There was a December 23, 2013 report by the Office of -- by the Office of Medical Inspector regarding the Cheyenne Medical Center in Fort Collins Clinic that found that several medical support assistants reported that, and I quote, "Medical Center's business office training included teaching them to make the desired date the actual appointment and, if the Clinic needed to cancel appointments, they were instructed to change the desired date to within 14 days of the new appointment." Did you read that report?

Secretary Eric Shinseki: That, uh, report has come to my-my attention here recently.

Ranking Member Richard Burr: Okay, on February 25, 2014, your Chief of Staff, Mr. [Jose D.] Riojas, submitted a response to the Office of Special Counsel which included the December 23 , 2013 Office of the Medical Inspector report on Fort Collins. And in that letter, Mr. Riojas states, and I quote, "However as OMI" Office of Medical Inspector "was not provided any specific veterans cases effected by these practices, it cannot substantiate that the failure to properly train staff resulted in danger to public health or safety." Were you aware of what your Chief of Staff wrote?

Secretary Eric Shinseki: I was.

Ranking Member Richard Burr: Okay. Mr. Secretary, were you aware that the GAO report entitled "VA Health Care: Reliability of Reported Out Patient Medical Appointment Wait Times Scheduling Oversight Need Improvement" which was publicly released in January 2013 and then on December 11, 2012, to that same report, your former Chief of Staff, John Gingrich, sent a letter to the GAO which stated, and I quote, "VA generally agrees with the GAO's conclusions and concurs with GAO's recommendations to the Dept"? Do you remember that letter? That report and your Chief of Staff's response?

Secretary Eric Shinseki: In-in general, I do remember that report.

Ranking Member Richard Burr: Mr. Secretary, you knew that there were specific issues relating to scheduling and wait times as early as June 21, 2013 at Jackson, December 23, 2013 at Fort Collins, as well as numerous IG reports related to excessive wait times in January '012 in Temple, Texas, September '012 in Spokane, Washington, October 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio, September 2013 in Columbia, South Carolina. December '012, a GAO report questions the validity and the reliability of the reported wait time performance measures. Which brings us to today in Phoenix. On May 1, you publicly stated that you had removed Ms. Hellman as the medical director. And you stated then that that was to ensure the integrity of the IG's current ongoing investigation. On May 5th, Dr. Petzel conducted a conference call with all medical directors, all VISN directors and the chiefs of staff -- a rather large group -- to discuss the ongoing face-to-face audits of all VA centers and large community outpatient clinics. I have been told by sources that were on that call that during that call, Dr. Petzel made the statement that the removal of Ms. Hellman was, I quote, "political and that she's done nothing wrong." If you're asking us to wait until the investigation is over, doesn't the same apply to people who work for you? And, Mr. Secretary, from all I've described to you and the current investigation, why should this Committee or any veteran believe that change is going to happen as a result of what we're going though?

Secretary Eric Shinseki: I-I was not aware of, uh, the phone call you referred to and I will look into it. Uhm, I would just tell you that, uh, my removal of the director, uh, placing her on administrative leave was at the request of the IG. He is the lead in this, uh-uh, comprehensive review. Uhm, I don't get out ahead of him. Uh, he requested it. And I, uh, put Director Hellman and two other individuals on administrative leave.

Let's start with Petzel. Did Dr. Robert Petzel do what he's accused of? No one knows at this point. But what we do know -- because we reported on it here -- is that Dr. Petzel doesn't seem to feel compelled to shut his damn mouth in the midst of an ongoing investigation. In the May 1st snapshot, we reported on the April 30th Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing and noted:

The big disgrace that is the VA's Dr. Robert Petzel told the Committee, "I need to say that to date, we found no evidence of a secret list. And we have found no patients who have died because they were on a wait list."
Did you grasp what just happened because the press didn't?
I've heard Jen Psaki, Marie Harf, Victoria Nuland, Jay Carney, Robert Gibbs, Dana Perino and many more explain, when asked, that they couldn't what?
Remember?
Pick any controversial and embarrassing topic and what do they say, "I'm sorry. I can't comment on an ongoing investigation."
But Petzel didn't say that -- despite it being an ongoing investigation.
So, in fact, we now know that they can comment on an ongoing investigation, they just don't want to.
After denying any guilt, Petzel then declared, "We think it's very important that the Inspector General be allowed to finish their investigation before we rush to judgment as to what has actually happened." But he rushed to judgment when he denied it.

The May 2nd snapshot included this:

Scott Bronstein, Drew Griffin and Neili Black (CNN) report today:

He's the leader of the Department of Veterans Affairs, which runs the VA hospitals where dozens of U.S. veterans died waiting for simple medical screenings.

Yet in the six months that CNN has been reporting on these delays, Eric Shinseki has been silent. And he hasn't spoken out on the matter to any other news organization, either.

Early Friday evening -- after this story appeared on CNN.com -- the VA gave a response, via spokesman Drew Brookie. He explained that the VA's inspector general's office (referred to as OIG), which is probing the matter, "advised VA against providing information that could potentially compromise their ongoing investigation at the Phoenix VA Health Care system."

Petzel doesn't seem to grasp these concepts. If, after shooting his big mouth off in the April 30th hearing, he then shot it off again May 5th in a conference call, it's not a write-up, it's a goodbye.

As Burr made clear, this is not a newly emerging issue. And the VA has been given multiple heads ups as far back as 2012. What kind of leadership is Shinseki providing?

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"More talk, no action (Wally)"
"Shineski (Ava)"
"Senator Richard Blumenthal says call in the F.B.I."
"Shinseki needs to be fired"
"24 destroys any good will it had"
"Denis McDonough is an idiot"
"Arrow -- season finale"
"Elderly Coward Medea Benjamin"
"Music: Jody Watley and Janis Ian"
"Little Julie From Jolly Farm"
"Bring back our what?"
"THIS JUST IN! WHOSE GIRLS?"

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Bring back our what?

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE

FADED CELEBRITY BARRY O HOPES TO USE NIGERIA TO RESTORE FULLNESS AND WIDTH TO HIS LIMP AND SMALL PRESIDENCY.

SO HE AND SHE-HULK OBAMA HAVE STARTED A "BRING BACK OUR GIRLS" CAMPAIGN LEADING MANY AMERICANS TO WRONGLY BELIEVE U.S. GIRLS HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED.

NO.

THIS IS NOT U.S. SITUATION.

THESE ARE NOT U.S. CHILDREN.

NIGERIA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THEIR PROBLEMS AND ISSUES AND TRASHY BARRY NEEDS TO LEARN TO FOCUS ON AMERICANS -- HE CAN START BY CREATING JOBS. HASHTAG#GLOBAL#FOOL##

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

Starting in the US with veterans issues, Senator Patty Murray's office issued the following today:

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES CONTACT: Murray Press Office

Wednesday, May 14^th, 2014 (202) 224-2834

VETERANS: TOMORROW: Murray to Question Sec. Shinseki on VA Health Care, Disturbing Allegations

(Washington, D.C.) – TOMMORROW, Thursday, May 15^th, 2014, at 10:00 AM ET/ 7:00 AM PST, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) a senior member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, will attend a hearing to examine the State of VA Health Care with Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki. At the hearing, Murray will question Secretary Shinseki on recent allegations that patients died while waiting for treatment at VA hospitals, and ask him what immediate changes will be made to finally restore long-overdue accountability, transparency, and confidence in the VA system.

WHO: U.S. Senator Patty Murray

WHAT: Sen. Murray will attend Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing on the State of VA Health Care

WHEN: TODAY: Thursday, May 15^th, 2014

Hearing begins at 10:00 AM ET/7:00 AM PST

WHERE: 106 Dirksen Senate Office Building

WEBCAST: http://www.veterans.senate.gov/hearings/the-state-of-va-health-care-051514

###

---

Meghan Roh

Press Secretary | New Media Director

Office of U.S. Senator Patty Murray

Mobile: (202) 365-1235

Office: (202) 224-2834

@PattyMurray | @SenateBudget | @MegRoh

Two of the articles we're about to highlight on this issue try to put this in terms of Democrats and Republicans, they see that as how the hearing tomorrow will play out with Democrats supporting/rescuing Shinseki and Republicans being harsh.

First off, Ranking Member Richard Burr is always 'harsh.' He demands accountability of Shinseki. He did the same thing when Bully Boy Bush was in the White House.

Second, if Democrats do that, then they're creating problems for themselves in an election year.

If Democrats on the Comittee -- that includes Senator Murray -- and Socialist Bernie Sanders who Chairs the Committee and votes with the Democrats -- are seen as soft, they're hurting themselves in an election year.

Since January 2007, Democrats have controlled the Senate.

And if they're rescuing Shinseki tomorrow and not holding him accountable, it's going to be noticed and it's going to lead to a suspicion/charge/accusation that they're not holding Shinseki accountable right now because, while in power the entire time he has been VA Secretary, they haven't provided proper oversight so they're trying to mitigate the scandal.

I don't expect Patty Murray to go soft. She's not done gone soft in the past with Shinseki or with the VA.

Chair Sanders?

A lot of veterans are complaining that he already went soft in an April 30th hearing (see the May 1st snapshot for that hearing). I have countered that the topic of the hearing -- alternative treatments -- is his key issue as Chair and that he was focused on that. But I could be wrong and I often am so I guess we'll find out tomorrow where he stands on this issue because we will be covering the hearing and if the Democrats on the Senate embarrass themselves by forgetting they're on that Committee to serve the veterans and not to provide cover for the VA, we'll be noting it. And if that means we're calling out like we do with the ridiculous US House Rep Corrine Brown, then that's what it means.

And on Corrine and her wacky wigs, someone noted Women's Media Center and it's crappy charge that Fishbowl was sexist for asking if Corrine wore a wig. Now I know the issue of wigs is sensitive for the elderly women of Women's Media Center. When you're elderly and still try to pass yourself off as a sex kitten it can be a little embarrassing. Equally true when you show up for hearings with your wig not on proper, people will talk. Corrine has had it half way around her head in a hearing and not even noticed. Equally true, when you hair changes colors and length daily, it's a pretty good tip off that it's a wig. Equally true, cheap is cheap. When I had chemo, I bought a wig expecting my hair to fall out. I got lucky, it didn't. But I wasn't going to put a cheap wig on my head. Robert Redford wears a cheap rug. I've noted that before too. It's not sexist. But it's great to know WMC wastes everyone's time -- including their own limited time -- but can't say a word to defend the women of Iraq. We will be coming back to that in the snapshot.

On the latest VA scandal, Lisa Mascaro (Los Angeles Times) reports:

Shinseki's leadership has come under fire after claims that up to 40 veterans' deaths have been linked to excessive wait times for service at a Phoenix VA facility, where officials may have kept separate record books to hide the problem.
Whistle-blowers in other states have raised similar concerns of long waits and other problems with VA care, including in Mississippi, Missouri and Texas.

Charles S. Clark (National Journal) offers, "The tales of delays, 40 perhaps unnecessary deaths and alleged secret waiting lists in Phoenix -- announced in late April by Miller -- were first publicized in a CNN interview with Dr. Samuel Foote, now retired after 25 years in VA clinical work. Foote had also contacted the VA inspector general. The nonprofit Project on Government Oversight just before Shinseki’s Thursday appearance is joining with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America in a press conference on how to protect whistleblowers who expose wrongdoing at the VA." Rob Hunter (KTAR) notes, "Phoenix isn't the only place affected. Whistleblowers, following Phoenix VA Dr. Sam Foote's example, are coming forward in many other cities and states detailing health care problems and cover-ups. Clearly it's a nationwide problem. This isn't a secret. The care has been horrible for years and nothing is ever done to fix it. See, providing veterans health care is a social contract, an obligation."

Is US President Barack Obama taking the issue seriously? Julie Pace (AP) reports that Barack has "temporarily assigned" his Deputy Chief of Staff Rob Nabors "to oversee a review" of the VA. Let's hope Rob Nabors does a better job than Jonathan Winer. We'll come back to Winer tomorrow.

Mark Thompson has a very strong article on the issue for Time and, in it, he notes there were warning signs:

The VA’s “method of calculating the waiting times of new patients understates the actual waiting times,” the agency’s inspector general said in a 2007 report on outpatient visits. “Because of past problems associated with schedulers not entering the correct desired date when creating appointments, [the VA] uses the appointment creation date as the starting point for measuring the waiting times for new appointments.”
In 2012, the IG said that when it came to getting a mental-health appointment within the VA goal of 14 days, the agency claimed it met that target 95% of the time. But after drilling deeper into VA data, the IG concluded only 49% got their appointments within two weeks.
That same year, the IG reported that patients at a VA facility in Temple, Texas, had “prolonged wait times for GI [gastroenterology] care [that] lead to delays in diagnosis of colorectal and other cancers…staff indicated that appointments were routinely made incorrectly by using the next available appointment date instead of the patient’s desired date.”
Not surprisingly, the longer the wait for care, the worse the result. “Long-term outcomes, such as death and preventable hospitalizations, are more common for veterans who seek care at facilities that have longer wait times than for veterans at facilities that have shorter wait times,” the federal Institute of Medicine said last year.

I hope the two reports (we link to them above but don't quote from that part of it) are wrong about Thursday's hearing splitting into Democrats and Republicans. The two reports are wrong to treat the current scandal as isolated when, in fact, it's part of a broad vista of never-ending VA scandals.

Aaron Glantz (Center for Investigative Reporting) reports today:

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has systematically failed to follow its own rules governing the prescription of addictive narcotic painkillers, contributing to overdoses and deaths, according to 68-page report released today by the agency’s inspector general.
The audit comes a day before Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki is to testify before a Senate committee to answer allegations that dozens of veterans in Phoenix died waiting for care.

“They don’t know what they’re doing. They don’t care,” said Steven Harvey, a 57-year-old Army veteran who was sent home with morphine even after he fell into a coma when he was given 10 times the recommended dose of the painkiller fentanyl during a routine procedure to remove a kidney stone at a Los Angeles VA in August 2012.

Every time you take a breath it seems, a new VA scandal emerges.

And if it's not a corruption scandal -- where people lie about wait times to get bonuses -- then it's incompetence scandal. Eric Shinseki has shown no leadership. Jordain Carney and Stacy Kaper offer "Obama Has Ever Reason To Fix The VA. Why Hasn't He?" (National Journal) and we'll note this from the article:

The backlog list was cut to more than 300,000 as of May 10. If the VA maintains the current average monthly rate, the backlog could be cut by mid-2015. That would meet Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki's 2010 pledge to eliminate the backlog by the end of next year.

Critics, however, say the shrinking backlog is something of a farce, the result of an administrative maneuver that has not delivered results for the veterans in the backlog, but has instead moved them into a different waiting line. When taking into consideration all VA claims, including those were the veterans died waiting for a decision, those stuck in appeals, and award adjustments—often adding a spouse or child—the VA's inventory of claims is much higher still hovering just under a whopping 1.3 million. (By comparison when Obama took office in January 2009, the inventory of claims was about half that amount: 631,000.)

As of May 10, the VA's number of appealed claims stood at 274,660, almost 100,000 more than the 174,891 appeals in late 2009. Between 2012 and 2013 the number of claims that ended up in appeal grew 5 percent, and between the end of 2013 and March 31 the number of appeals kept rising 2.7 percent. Once in the appeals process, veterans can wait in limbo for an average of two and a half years.

Critics contend that list is growing because, as the agency endeavored to quickly work through the claims, it has made more errors.

We've covered that issue extensively here. We've done that because I called out when the VA presented to Congress as the answer. It's not an answer, it's a shell game. We called it that then, we call it that now. It's taken nearly two years but at least the press acknowledges the possibility that this is what's happening.

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Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Billman for the powerful

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE

FAT F**K JEFFREY C. BILLMAN WAS INSISTING IN 2013 THAT HIS BEING NAMED THE EDITOR OF FLORIDA'S TOILET PAPER AKA FOLIO WEEKLY WOULD MEANT HE WOULD "GIVE VOICE TO THE VOICELESS."

FATTY FORGOT. FATTY SQUATS ON THE VOICELESS AND INSTEAD ACTS AS A RINGER FOR THE WHITE HOUSE.

THERE IS NOTHING TO SEE IN BENGHAZI INSISTS THE FAT MAN WHO HASN'T SEEN HIS OWN PENIS IN YEARS (THAT BIG BELLY BLOCKS HIS VIEW). FATTY WANTS YOU TO KNOW THAT

Worth noting: What Rice said about that anti-Islam YouTube video, in fact, reflected what the CIA believed at the time; the evidence still suggests the video played a role, and that the Benghazi attacks were opportunistic, rather than planned weeks out.

NO, FAT FATTY. THAT'S WRONG. STOP STUFFING YOUR FACE FOR A MINUTE, FATTY, AND PAY ATTENTION.

FATTY F**K, FATTY F**K, FATTY F**K, OH, FATTY, FATTY F**K.

OH, IT MUST BE HARD TO BE SO STUPID, WHEN YOU'RE FAT AND UGLY TOO.

WHEN YOU'RE FAT.

AND UGLY TOO.

FATTY F**K, FATTY F**K, FATTY F**K, OH, FATTY, FATTY F**K.

POOR FATTY, AFTER HIS BIG, TOILET CLOGGING, MEMORIAL DAY DUMP AT A MEN'S ROOM AT ROTH'S GAS STATION AND GARAGE, HE'S BEEN BANNED FROM ALL FLORIDA BATHROOMS.

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

Major news breaks in the US today. Wyatt Andrews (CBS News -- link is text and video) reports the latest on the never-ending VA scandals. Similar to the wait lists at the Phoenix VA -- two sets, the real one and the cover one to make it look like vets are getting timely treatment -- Chicago steps into the spotlight. Whistle-blower Germaine Clarno has stepped forward.

Wyatt Andrews: Germaine Clarno is a VA social worker and employee representative in Chicago. She alleges there are multiple waiting lists for veterans kept here at the Hines VA Medical Center. Which divisions of the hospital kept these secret waiting lists

Germaine Clarno: Well employees are coming to me from all over the hospital -- from outpatient, inpatient, surgery, radiology.

Wyatt Andrews: Clarno says veterans were put on a secret waiting lists when they called for an appointment but wouldn't formally get an appointment booked in the computer until one came up within the VA's goal of 14 day The purpose of the list, she says, was to hide how often veterans were not being seen on time. Is it too strong to call this fraud?

Germaine Clarno: No.

Wyatt Andrews: To what purpose

Germaine Clarno: To make the numbers look better for their own recognition and for bonuses

Wyatt Andrews: The VA grants bonuses to executives and doctors partly based on wait times. Whistle-blowers, including Dr. Sam Foote who revealed the scandal in Phoenix where up to 40 veterans may have died, believe that bonuses give an incentive to conceal delays in care. Clarno says it's easier for bosses to claim short wait time and collect the reward than it is to explain the targets cannot be met. And you think, throughout the VA, people were faking these numbers to get bonuses?

Germaine Clarno: Yes.

Wyatt Andrews: And never mind how long veterans truly waited for care?

Germaine Clarno: Correct.

And this is when Eric Shinseki needs to go.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs needed to resign in the fall of 2009.

That's when many veterans attempting to attend college were suffering.

The VA lied.

They flat out lied in every damn way possible and, in a functioning administration, Shinskei wouldn't have resigned, he would have been fired.

'We care about veterans, support the blah, blah, we'll do a parade . . .'

Save all your b.s.

When you let veterans suffer, when some aren't able to provide their children Christmas because of your screw up that you don't fix month after damn month, stop pretending you give a damn.

Veterans were waiting for fall tuition checks. Many didn't get them.

For those who've forgotten, VA tried to blame colleges and universities.

They lied. The outright lied.

They knew it wasn't the colleges.

What's even worse, they knew months ahead of time the new program wouldn't work for all veterans. And they didn't inform veterans and they didn't inform Congress.

From the October 14, 2009 snapshot, reporting on that day's House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing:

Erick Shinseki: A plan was written, very quickly put together, uh, very short timelines, I'm looking at the certificates of eligibility uh being processed on 1 May and enrollments 6 July, checks having to flow through August. A very compressed timeframe. And in order to do that, we essentially began as I arrived in January, uh, putting together the plan -- reviewing the plan that was there and trying to validate it. I'll be frank, when I arrived, uh, there were a number of people telling me this was simply not executable. It wasn't going to happen. Three August was going to be here before we could have everything in place. Uh, to the credit of the folks in uh VA, I, uh, I consulted an outside consultant, brought in an independent view, same kind of assessment. 'Unless you do some big things here, this is not possible.' To the credit of the folks, the good folks in VBA, they took it on and they went at it hard. We hired 530 people to do this and had to train them. We had a manual system that was computer assisted. Not very helpful but that's what they inherited. And we realized in about May that the 530 were probably a little short so we went and hired 230 more people. So in excess of 700 people were trained to use the tools that were coming together even as certificates were being executed.

He came and was told of a serious problem and didn't alert Congress. He hired an outsider to evaluate and was told the plan in place "was simply not executable." He still didn't inform Congress. He tried training additional employees but, if you remember, that wasn't the problem. And maybe if he'd been honest with Congress about what was looming, the issue could be addressed.

Instead, veterans had to take out loans. They had to work with landlords on delaying rent. Even after lying to Congress -- and he lied -- in October that this was going to be wrapped up quick, as late as December, some veterans had to delay Christmas for their kids because they still were waiting for the check that shouldn't have come months ago.

Shinseki should have been fired.

There has been one scandal after another including the backlog which has not been fixed, which is a shell game and VSOs are only now starting to grasp this due to complaints from their members.

It's only going to get worse.

And Barack Obama doesn't have another term as president of the United States. This is it. He's in the second year of his second term.

Through one scandal after another, he's allowed Shinseki to continue as VA Secretary.

How does Barack think that will look in the history books? His infamous paragraph that he's spoken of?

It's not going to look good at all. VA and DoD still aren't integrated so that they can produce the one electronic record -- a record which would be created for a service member and, when the service member became a veteran, the record would follow the veteran into the VA. This would help with claims, this would reduce paperwork, you name it.

While Shinseki's been VA Secretary for Barack's full first term and now into his second, the Secretary of Defense was Robert Gates, then it was Leon Panetta, then it was Chuck Hagel (who remains in the position today). Shinseki wasted Gates' time with a plan for the electronic record. He never implemented it. Then Shinseki wanted to start at square one when Panetta came in. He'd probably still be delaying if he hadn't pissed off Hagel by lying to Congress and insisting the delay was Hagel's fault.

Hagel hit the roof (and had every reason to) and went to the White House. That's the only reason there's been any movement (finally) on this issue.

May 5th, the American Legion called for the resignations of VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, VA's Dr. Robert Petzel and the VA's Allison Hickey.

In front of local media and a live Internet audience, American Legion National Commander Daniel M. Dellinger today called for the resignations of Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, Under Secretary of Health Robert Petzel and Under Secretary of Benefits Allison Hickey.

Dellinger cited poor oversight and failed leadership as the reason for calling for the resignations – something The American Legion hasn’t done regarding a public official in more than 30 years.

“Gen. Eric Shinseki has served his country well,” Dellinger said. “His patriotism and sacrifice for this nation are above reproach. However, his record as the head of the Department of Veterans Affairs tells a different story. The existing leadership has exhibited a pattern of bureaucratic incompetence and failed leadership that has been amplified in recent weeks.”

Dellinger pointed to allegations from multiple whistleblowers of a secret waiting list at the Phoenix VA Health Care System that may have resulted in the death of approximately 40 veterans, that VA previously had acknowledged that 23 veterans throughout the health-care system have died as a result of delayed care in recent years, and a the findings of an investigation by VA’s Office of Medical Inspector that clerks at the VA clinic in Fort Collins, Colo., were instructed last year how to falsify appointment records so it appeared the small staff of doctors was seeing patients within the agency's goal of 14 days, according to the investigation.

“These disturbing reports are part of what appear to be a pattern of scandals that has infected the entire system,” said Dellinger, noting issues that have come up in Pittsburgh, Atlanta and Augusta, Ga. “Those problems need addressed at the highest level – starting with new leadership. The existing leadership has exhibited a pattern of bureaucratic incompetence and failed leadership that has been amplified in recent weeks.”

Dellinger said that the failure to disclose safety information or to cover up mistakes is unforgivable – as is fostering a culture of nondisclosure. “VA leadership has demonstrated its incompetence through preventable deaths of veterans, long wait times for medical care, a benefits claims backlog numbering in excess of 596,000, and the awarding of bonuses to senior executives who have overseen such operations,” he said. “Some veterans have waited years to have their claims decided. That same leadership has failed to provide answers to why these issues continue to occur.”

Dellinger said that while errors and lapses can occur in any system, “The American Legion expects when such errors and lapses are discovered, that they are dealt with swiftly and that the responsible parties are held accountable. This has not happened at the Department of Veterans Affairs. There needs to be a change, and that change needs to occur at the top. “

When asked by media what the Legion would do if the trio didn’t resign, Dellinger said a draft of the request was being sent to the White House. “This is a very serious situation,” he said. “The administration needs to take steps now. It’s long overdue. Whenever you’re talking about a patient’s life – a veteran’s life – in jeopardy, it’s always serious.”

Dellinger also wrote an op-ed piece calling for the resignations. Read it here.

It needs to happen.

The latest scandal?

If true, there's nothing that ties it to Eric Shinseki . . .

except lack of leadership.

One scandal after another indicates he's not leading and he's certainly not demanding accountability.

If the worst that can be said is that Shinseki may have encouraged fudging of the numbers, the best that can be said is he's incompetent, unable to properly review those employees under him and completely unaware of what's taking place in the department he heads.

US House Rep Jeff Miller is the Chair of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. His office issued the following:

For more information, contact: Curt Cashour, (202) 225-3527

May 13, 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Chairman Jeff Miller wrote President Obama to request that he establish a bipartisan commission on VA medical care access. Afterwards, he released the following statement:
“Judging by the throngs of veterans, families and whistleblowers who keep courageously stepping forward, VA’s delays in care problem is growing in size and scope by the day. That’s why I am asking for President Obama’s personal involvement in helping fix this crisis. For nearly a year, we have been pleading with top Department of Veterans Affairs leaders and the president to take immediate steps to stop the growing pattern of preventable veteran deaths and hold accountable any and all VA employees who have allowed patients to slip through the cracks. In response, we’ve received disturbing silence from the White House and one excuse after another from VA. Right now, President Obama is faced with a stark choice: take immediate action to help us end the culture of complacency that is engulfing the Veterans Health Administration and compromising patient safety, or explain to the American people and America’s veterans why we should tolerate the status quo.” – Rep. Jeff Miller, Chairman, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
Related
Chairman Miller letter to President Obama
May 13, 2014
Chairman Miller letter to President Obama
May 21, 2013

The scandal plagued VA is not a star on Barack's record and Shinseki's excuses/failures/both are now apparently costing lives. It's past time this issue was addressed.

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Tuesday, May 13, 2014

That's how rumors get started

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE

FADED CELEBRITY BARRY O IS SETTING THE INTERNET ABUZZ WITH RUMORS THAT HE SLEPT WITH CAROLINE KENNEDY AND BEYONCE AND NOW THERE'S DIVORCE TALK.

REACHED FOR COMMENT, WHITE HOUSE PLUS-SIZE SPOKESMODEL JAY CARNEY EXPLAINED, "LOOK, NOBODY DOES A BLOW JOB LIKE THE O BUT AMERICA IS NOT READY TO FACE THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE A GAY PRESIDENT SO EVERY NOW AND THEN WE GET SOME RUMORS STARTED THAT THE PRESIDENT IS HAVING AN AFFAIR. IT GIVES THE APPEARANCE OF A STRAIGHT SEXUAL AFFAIR AND A STRAIGHT PRESIDENT AND, LET'S BE HONEST, NO ONE BELIEVES THE PRESIDENT IS IN A HAPPY MARRIAGE."

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

Chris Carroll (Stars and Stripes) reports today on changes the Pentagon is making with regards to imminent danger pay and notes, "Imminent danger pay and current R & R programs remain unaffected in Afghanistan, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Syria and Yemen."

US service members in Iraq still get danger pay. And should. Thing is, few Americans seem aware that US troops are still in Iraq.

Even fewer may be aware of this meet-up.

That photo of yesterday's meet up went up on Nouri's website.

As the article at Nouri's site notes, Nouri met with US Ambassador Robert S. Beecroft and with US Gen Lloyd Austin. It was news but we noted it Sunday night -- and were the only English language website to do so -- it was even in the Iraqi press. It's now Monday and there are still no reports on it in the Western press.

Why is it news that Austin went to Iraq?

Saturday, David Swanson (War Is A Crime) mentioned, "The White House is trying to keep the occupation of Afghanistan going for TEN MORE YEARS ("and beyond"), and articles have been popping up this week about sending U.S. troops back into Iraq."

Let's drop back to last Thursday's snapshot:

Gordon Lubold has long covered the Iraq War -- including for the Christian Science Monitor. He has a post with disturbing news at Foreign Policy -- on the discussions of sending (more) US troops into Iraq:

But the nature of the fight the Maliki government confronts in western Iraq is such that officials say Baghdad is looking not only for better reconnaissance and surveillance capability, but also for more robust, lethal platforms. Iraq has been unwilling to accept American military personnel in the country in any operational form, but the willingness to revisit that policy appears now to be shifting. A spokesman for the Iraqi Embassy declined to comment on the issue of allowing American military personnel into the country to conduct drone operations, but acknowledged that the U.S. and Iraq share a "common enemy" in al Qaeda.

"Iraq's view is that all available tools must be utilized to defeat this threat, and we welcome America's help in enhancing the capabilities we are able to bring to bear," the spokesman said.

You need to put that with other news because Lubold isn't smart enough to. There's the fact that all US troops never left Iraq. There's the fact that Barack sent a brigade of Special-Ops in during the fall of 2012. Tim Arango (New York Times) reported, "Iraq and the United States are negotiating an agreement that could result in the return of small units of American soldiers to Iraq on training missions. At the request of the Iraqi government, according to General Caslen, a unit of Army Special Operations soldiers was recently deployed to Iraq to advise on counterterrorism and help with intelligence." And let's include the news from the April 25th snapshot:

Mark Hosenball, Warren Strobel, Phil Stewart, Ned Parker, Jason Szep and Ross Colvin (Reuters) report, "The United States is quietly expanding the number of intelligence officers in Iraq and holding urgent meetings in Washington and Baghdad to find ways to counter growing violence by Islamic militants, U.S. government sources said." It was 1961 when US President John F. Kennedy sent 1364 "advisors" into Vietnam. The next year, the number was just short of 10,000. In 1963, the number hit 15,500. You remember how this ends, right?

Last week, Dar Addustour reported that US Gen Lloyd Austin was expected to visit Iraq and meet with Nouri to discuss weapons and US forces. That's what the meet-up was about.

And we all need to be aware (a) of the meet-up and (b) of the press doing their part to conceal that the meet-up took place. Austin is not only the current commander of CENTCOM, he was also the top US commander in Iraq up until the drawdown of December 2011.

As the US cozies up to Nouri, Amnesty International's just issued Torture in 2014: 30 Years of Broken Promises notes, "Torture and other ill-treatment have also blighted the records of countries emerging from conflict. In Iraq, the phenomenon remains widespread in prisons and detention centers. More than 30 people are believed to have died in custody as a result of such treatment between 2010 and 2012."

Nouri and his War Crimes, Aswat al-Iraq notes, "Renowned Sunni Sheikh Abdul Malik al-Saadi" on Saturday called out the attacks on Falluja, referring to them as "the greatest proof of sectarian genocide." Genocide is the term for it, genocide and War Crimes.

Chief Thug and Prime Minister of Iraq Nouri al-Maliki is committing War Crimes. He's using the weapons provided to him by the US government to target civilians in Falluja. They are being punished because he says there are terrorists in the city. There are Iraqis in the city. By going along with the lie that they're 'terrorists,' the US government is choosing sides in a civil war. So today, the continued shelling of Falluja's residential neighborhood ("collective punishment" is the term for this legally defined War Crime) has killed 2 civilians and left eleven more injured. Every day the civilian death toll climbs -- Iraqi civilians killed by the Iraqi military on the orders of Nouri al-Maliki.

But here's the thing about War Crimes, no Iraqi soldier can fall back on the excuse that they were 'just' following orders. That assertion was rejected in Nuremberg.

Over the weekend, Al Jazeera's reported:

Shelling by the Iraqi army in the city of Fallujah has killed more civilians, hospital sources and witnesses have said, amid allegations that government forces were using barrel bombs in an attempt to drive out anti-government fighters from the area,
The use of barrel bombs in civilian areas is banned under international conventions given their indiscriminate nature.
But Mohammed al-Jumaili, a local journalist, told Al Jazeera that the army has dropped many barrel bombs "targeting mosques, houses and markets" in Fallujah.

This is the government Barack Obama has backed. And this is what has resulted from it. Saturday, UNAMI issued the following:

Baghdad, 11 May 2014 – The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq (SRSG), Mr. Nickolay Mladenov remains concerned at reports of increased armed activities in Fallujah and particularly its effects on civilians.

“The people of Anbar have suffered from terrorism and violence for too long. All efforts must be made to ensure that fighting ends, people return to their homes, and reconstruction can begin. It is vital that those affected by the fighting are able to receive humanitarian support”, Mr. Mladenov said.
“As the Iraqi Security Forces continue their efforts to restore law and order in Anbar, they should ensure that the fight against terrorism is conducted in accordance with Iraq’s international and constitutional human rights obligations”, he added.
“I am particularly concerned about the impact of violence on civilians and the deteriorating conditions in Fallujah. The UN humanitarian team will continue working with the Government and local authorities to ensure that, despite the difficulties, aid reaches those in need. Continued fighting, including shelling, often hampers the delivery of badly needed emergency aid”, the SRSG added.
Since the outbreak of violence, the United Nations delivered a total of 15,186 food parcels, blankets, and tents; 37,943 Water and Sanitation Supplies (WASH) and hygiene kits that have reached a total of 233,958 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by fights in Anbar and floods in Abu Ghraib.
During the past week:
UNICEF reached 3,000 families with the distribution of hygiene and household kits in Rawa, Anah, Haditha and Sitak in Anbar. Another 1,500 affected families were reached with hygiene kits in Abu-Ghraib (Baghdad) and 5,000 more hygiene kits were distributed in Samarra and Jazeera (Salah-al-Din). UNICEF also distributed 81 water tanks, installed 6 water storage tanks (of 250,000 litres capacity each) in Rutba, Al-Qaim, Heet, Khalidiayh, Obaidi and Amiryat al-Fallujah, (benefiting 15,360 individuals), and two water storage tanks (of 10,000 litres capacity each) in Samarra. UNICEF also continued with the water truck delivery of 300,000 litres per week in Rutba, Heet and Al-Qaim (benefiting 15,126 individuals).
UNHCR continued with the distribution of Core Relief Item (CRIs) kits including 175 tents in Amiriyat al-Fallujah and Al-Habaniya areas, as well as in Mansour area in Baghdad, bringing its total distributed Core Relief Item kits to date to 6,519. UNHCR is also planning to assist 400 displaced families from Abu-Ghraib with cash money.
IOM distributed to date a total of 7,507 Non-Food Items to Anbar population and delivered on behalf of WFP 930 new food parcels to Saqlawiya, Heet, Amiriyat al-Fallujah, Al-Madina al-Siyahiya, Al-Karma, Al-Habaniya, Al-N'emiyeh, Al-Qaim, Ramadi and Abu-Ghraib, bringing the total number of food parcels distributed to date in Anbar to 15,186.
WHO in coordination with the Ministry of Heath delivered 2 Inter-Agency Emergency Health Kits (each kit can meet the needs of 10,000 persons) and 1 Trauma Kit (sufficient to carry out 100 major surgeries) to Abu-Ghraib flood victims as well as 3 Emergency Kits of medical and surgical supplies to hospitals in Ramadi and Fallujah, as well as additional medical supplies to Al-Qaim

Of the crisis, Abdul Rahman al-Rashed (Asharq Al-Awsat) notes, "No one will win in this war, which may go on as long as the government in Baghdad believes it can solve the crisis through force of arms."

Among Sunni Arab blocs, campaign rhetoric reflected extreme polarisation. Speaker Osama Al Nujayfi's Mutahidun, the largest Sunni bloc, described Mr Al Maliki's counterinsurgency campaign as an all-out war against Sunni Arabs, warning that Mr Al Maliki's reelection would result in "genocide" against Sunnis.

That's from Kirk Sowell's "With results due, Iraq anticipates a post-election fight" (The National) where he offers his take on the recent elections which also include:

"She cares because?"
"THIS JUST IN! IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU!"

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