Cedric's Big Mix: 2014-05-18

Saturday, May 24, 2014

His priorities

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

FADED CELEBRITY IN CHIEF BARRY O GAVE HIS WEEKLY ADDRESS TODAY AND IT WAS ON MEMORIAL DAY.

THE VETERANS WHO FEEL BARRY O HAS BEEN AWOL ON THE LATEST V.A. SCANDAL DID NOT RECEIVE MUCH COMFORT IN HIS SPEECH WHICH DID NOT EVEN NOTE THE SCANDAL BUT ALSO OPENED:

Hi, everybody. It’s Memorial Day weekend – a chance for Americans to get together with family and friends, break out the grill, and kick off the unofficial start of summer.

HE MARCHES TO HIS OWN LITTLE DRUM, DOESN'T HE?

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

Imagine that you woke up this morning to find you were the ruler of a country and that your country had only one high value export while your people lived in poverty and you had to import rice and other basic food staples.

Realizing the importance of your sole commodity, you would most likely attempt to ensure that everything was in order, every 'i' dotted, every 't' crossed.

You'd do that because of the importance of the commodity to your entire country.

And if you didn't do that and the citizens found out, they'd consider you a failure.

Well the commodity is oil, the country is Iraq and the failure is Nouri al-Maliki.

The chief thug of Iraq was put into place by Bully Boy Bush in 2006 with the understanding the Nouri would push through an oil and gas law because 'liberated' Iraq had none. In 2007, with the US Congress questioning what was being accomplished in Iraq, the Bully Boy Bush administration came up with a series of 'benchmarks' which success would be measured by. Chief among the benchmarks? Passing an oil and gas law.

Nouri wanted the US taxpayers money that the US government had been wasting to continue to flow into Iraq, so he readily agreed to the benchmarks.

But he was unable to pass any oil and gas law.

Not in 2006.

Not in all the years he held the post.

Let's not pretend that there weren't problems.

There were problems.

I, for one, was always thrilled watching Nouri's continued failure.

That's because the law the US government wanted, the one Nouri forever pimped, wasn't wanted by Iraqis and especially wasn't wanted by Iraqi labor groups.

When a proposed law is deeply unpopular what do you do?

If you're the leader you can try to ram it through.

It's not democratic but sometimes it can be rammed through.

But you might try that once or even twice. When you've tried that over and over since 2006?

You're not just a bad leader, you're kind of idiot.

A smart person jettisons the parts that are felt objectionable and refashions a new bill. A smart person refashions it in a way to get more people on board and uses horse trading on that and other issues to bring others on board.

When your economy has no diversification to speak of and is rooted around only one commodity, you do everything you can to secure that commodity.

If you're not an idiot.

Nouri's an idiot. Eight years in a row as prime minister and he couldn't even make the most basic move to secure the economy. And yet the failure thinks he deserves a third term as prime minister.

SPA reports, "Iraq filed for arbitration against Turkey on Friday" and that the filing was "with the Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce."

What's going on?

From yesterday's snapshot:

Marina Ottaway offers an analysis for CNN which includes, "Elated by his victory, al-Maliki is sounding uncompromising, and although he has declared that he is open to work with any political party, he has made it clear that it would be strictly on his own terms. For example, he has told the Kurdish party that they are welcome in a government coalition as long as they accept his interpretation of the constitution, thus renounce their ambition to export oil independently." Apparently while preparing that analysis today, Ottaway missed Sinan Salaheddin's Associated Press report which opens, "Iraq's self-ruled northern Kurdish region on Thursday started exporting crude oil to the international market through the Turkish port of Ceyhan despite objections from the central government in Baghdad, Turkey's energy minister said."

This morning, Gary Dixon (TradeWinds) noted, "Turkish energy minister Taner Yildiz told Reuters loading of the 1m barrel stem was completed on Thursday." Selcan Hacaoglu and Ali Berat Meric (Bloomberg News) added, "More than one million barrels of Kurdish oil were shipped from Turkey to Europe yesterday, Turkey’s energy minister and the Iraqi Kurdish administration said, a sale that may trigger legal action by Iraq’s government."

The Kurdistan Regional Government issued the following today:

Erbil, Kurdistan (KRG.org) - In line with its policy of implementing the 2005 Constitution of Iraq and helping Iraq achieve its oil production, export and revenue targets, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has completed the first sales of crude oil produced in the Kurdistan Region and piped to the port of Ceyhan.
A tanker loaded with over one million barrels of crude oil departed last night from Ceyhan towards Europe. This is the first of many such sales of oil exported through the newly constructed pipeline in the Kurdistan Region.
The revenue from the sales will be deposited in a KRG-controlled account in Halkbank in Turkey and will be treated as part of the KRG’s budgetary entitlement under Iraq’s revenue sharing and distribution as defined under the 2005 Constitution of Iraq.
Meeting Iraq’s continued international UN obligations, five percent of the sales revenue will be set aside in a separate account for reparations.
The KRG has invited independent bodies to observe the sales and export process in line with the KRG’s commitment to transparency. KRG also hopes that officials from SOMO (the federal Iraqi oil marketing organization) accept KRG’s invitation to observe the process.
The KRG will continue to exert its rights of export and sell oil independently of SOMO but remains committed to negotiate in good faith with its counterparts in Baghdad to reach a comprehensive settlement on oil issues within the framework of Iraq’s Constitution.

The KRG has worked tirelessly with its international partners and investors to create new pathways to prosperity and economic development for the people of Kurdistan and Iraq and is ready to become a reliable and stable source of energy both for its immediate neighbours and international markets.

The Kurds can sale their oil because (a) they're semi-autonomous and (b) no national oil & gas law has been passed.

Friday, May 23, 2014

Time for the nuclear option?

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

FADED CELEBRITY BARRY O CONTINUES TO FLOUNDER IN THE FACE OF THE VA SCANDAL.

IT IS CONSUMING SO MUCH ATTENTION THAT HE'S CONSIDERING WHAT'S BEING DUBBED "THE NUCLEAR OPTION."

A WHITE HOUSE RAT TOLD THESE REPORTERS, "THE NIT-TIT PLAN IS THE NUCLEAR OPTION. THE CELEBRITY IN CHIEF WOULD TAKE OFF HIS SHIRT AND GO THE ENTIRE WEEK TOPLESS WHILE IN PUBLIC AND BEFORE PHOTOGRAPHERS. WHEN ASKED ABOUT IT, HE WOULD STROKE HIS NIPS AND COYLY ASK, 'YOU MEAN THESE? DO YOU THINK I'M SEXY? DO YOU THINK I'M PRETTY?' AND AFTER A WEEK OF THIS, THE VA SCANDAL WOULD BE FORGOTTEN. REMEMBER, THIS IS ON BACKGROUND. I CAN'T LOSE MY JOY SO YOU CAN'T USE MY NAME OR EVEN MY TITLE. IF YOU IDENTIFY ME AS 'WHITE HOUSE SPOKESPERSON,' EVERY ONE WILL KNOW IT'S ME JAY. SO YOU CAN'T DO THAT, OKAY?"

WHEN THESE REPORTERS SPOKE TO BARRY O FOR CONFIRMATION ON THE NIT-TIT PLAN, HE GIGGLED AND SAID, "I'M NOT SAYING I AM DOING IT. I'M NOT SAYING I'M NOT. I AM SAYING THESE MOOBS ARE BOUNCY AND MEATY WITH PERKY NIPPLES AND MAYBE IT'S TIME THE COUNTRY FOCUSED ON THEM?"

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

Starting with the VA scandal. Senator Patty Murray is the Chair of the Senate Budget Committee and serves on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Murray Press Office

Thursday, May 22, 2014 (202) 224-2834

[AUDIO] VETERANS: Murray Continues Call for Decisive, Transparent VA Action

Murray: “What we need from VA now is decisive action and I think this Committee should be clear to the VA what we expect. The lack of transparency and the lack of accountability are inexcusable and cannot be allowed to continue.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) continued her push for action at the VA during the Senate Appropriations Committee’s first Full Committee Markup of the year. During consideration of the Military Construction and Veterans’ Affairs Appropriations bill, Murray reiterated her call for decisive, transparent action from the Department of Veterans Affairs to address the deep, system-wide problems when it comes to health care wait times. Murray also expressed support for provisions that would address those wait times and increase accountability through prohibiting the VA from awarding bonuses to VHA senior executives, medical directors, and assistant directors until the Inspector General completes a nation-wide review and the VA provides a plan to implement the recommendations.

The bill also funds Senator Murray’s key priorities for veterans, including mental health and suicide prevention, gender specific care for women veterans, Vet Centers, care for veterans in rural areas, and care for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

LISTEN to Senator Murray’s remarks here.

Full Text of Senator Murray’s Remarks:

“I want to thank Chairman Johnson and Ranking Member Kirk and their staffs for all their work putting this bill together.

“Like pretty much every American, I believe that when it comes to caring for our nation’s heroes, we cannot accept anything less than excellence.

“The VA and the Department generally offers very high quality health care—but it is really disappointing that the Department has failed to address wait times for that care.

“I was glad to see President Obama weigh in on this issue yesterday, but these recent allegations are not new issues – they are deep, system-wide problems, and they do grow more concerning every day. We should not be waiting to take action.

“The Inspector General and GAO have reported on this problem repeatedly for several years. But many of the recommendations still have not been implemented by the VA.

“The Department has announced it’s going to conduct a nation-wide review of access to care. And there have been some adjustments in personnel. But those are really only first steps.

“There are still far too many unanswered questions about the review, including whether it is taking a serious look at the problem.

“As I told Secretary Shinseki last week, I continue to believe that he does take this seriously and wants to do the right thing. But we really have come to the point where we need to have more than good intentions.

“What we need from VA right now is decisive action and I think this Committee mark should be very clear to the VA what we expect.

“The lack of transparency and the lack of accountability are inexcusable and cannot continue to be allowed.

“Giving bonuses to hospital directors for running a system that places priority on gaming the system and keeping their numbers down rather than providing care to veterans – has to come to an end.

“That is why I am very pleased the Subcommittee’s mark includes a provision to prohibit VA from awarding bonuses to VHA senior executives, medical directors, and assistant directors until the Inspector General completes a nation-wide review and the VA provides a plan to implement the recommendations.

“And I also commend you Mr. Chairman for adding an extra $5 million to the Inspector General to conduct that review.

“We cannot continue to not provide the resources for the care at the local level or for the IG to be able to conduct this very important review.

“So I really want to thank Chairman Johnson and Ranking Member Kirk for including those really important provisions in this bill and addressing wait times and increasing accountability. I think this takes a very important direction, and I appreciate it.

“There are other issues in this bill very important to all of us. I do want to thank the Chairman for his willingness to continue to work with me on providing reproductive health services to our most catastrophically wounded heroes. I wasn’t able to include it in this, but we are going to continue to work on that.

“Madam Chairman, I just think it is extremely important that all of us recognize that this committee is making a strong statement with this bill about the challenges we’ve been hearing at the VA, and I appreciate it.”

###

---

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

The cooking of the books by the VA? Two lists were kept at some VA medical centers (over 20 are now under investigation). One was the fairy tale list known as the 'real' list and it was entered into the computer system. It showed veterans needing medical attention being able to make appointments within 14 days of calling in for an appointment.

Senator Murray's calling for an end to the bonuses and that is smart because these fairy tale lists allowed VA officials to be rewarded for their 'good' job.

But the reality was there was an off book list. It was kept by hand and it demonstrated that veterans were not receiving timely medical attention. Scott Bronstein, Drew Griffin and Chelsea J. Carter (CNN -- link is text and video) report:

Some veterans injured in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan are being made to wait for months in the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System despite a national mandate they be given priority access to medical care, a VA doctor told CNN.

Dr. Katherine Mitchell, medical director of the Phoenix VA's post-deployment clinic, outlined the allegations in a report that aired Wednesday night on CNN's "AC 360°."

She accused the Phoenix VA -- up until at least three weeks ago -- of not following a mandate that the highest priority be given to new or injured veterans for scheduling appointments.

Wait lists in Phoenix for veterans injured in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan can be "six months, nine months or longer," Mitchell said.

In the video (from Wednesday's Anderson Cooper 360), Drew Griffin comments on Barack's speech from yesterday.

Drew Griffin: You know, I thought these poor veterans are going to have to wait now even longer to get care while the President studies the issue, Anderson. The fact is veterans across the country have been waiting too long to get doctor's appointments. That is a fact. The other fact is, the VA has known about that. Not only that, the VA has known that its offices out here in the country have been cooking the books to try and hide those numbers. Those are facts which come from numerous government reports. So those are facts that are already out there. In the last several months, six months, on your program, whistle-blowers have come forward and told us, have told us, they have talked to the VA Inspector General reporting that due to delays in care, deaths have occurred as a result. The VA has admitted to 23 deaths due to delays. Now, I just want to tell you, Anderson, who this is harming and why many believe the President's speech today was completely inadequate. Last night, here in Phoenix, I talked to a physician at the VA who runs the post-deployment clinic, Dr. Katherine Mitchell, and I had to ask her twice because I couldn't believe what she was telling me. She told me even recent war vets, vets coming home injured are waiting months to get care.

The Economist weighs in on yesterday's speech noting:

Not for the first time, Mr Obama’s first response seemed oddly detached. He offered tepid support for Eric Shinseki, a former four-star general who serves as his secretary for veterans’ affairs, calling him a great public servant who “cares deeply about veterans”, before noting that, if Mr Shinseki were to conclude that he had let veterans down, “then I’m sure that he is not going to be interested in continuing to serve.” With that out of the way, the president then explained how hard it is to run the VA, an agency that has endured backlogs for decades and now faces an influx of troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as claims from newly-eligible veterans after rules were relaxed for those exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam or suffering from post-traumatic stress.

This afternoon, Dana Bash informed Jake Tapper (The Lead, CNN) that Shinseki told (bragged to?) reporters today that he has not offered his resignation and insisted, "You guys know me better than that."

Bret Hayworth (Sioux City Journal) reports Iraq War veteran Jim Mower, who is running for Congress, publicly called today for Shinseki to resign:

"I am appalled by the actions of the president and the V.A.," Mowrer said.

Mowrer is a veteran who served in Iraq for 16 months with an Infantry Battalion out of Waterloo, Iowa. He said Obama only reacted after weeks of media outcries about veterans hospitals, so he sees "a rudderless ship approaching disaster."

Mowrer is not worried about any fallout from his criticism of Obama, who is a fellow Democrat.

"I don't care who the president is, it needs to be fixed," he said.

Jim Mower isn't the only Democrat making the call for Shinseki to step down. As noted in yesterday's snapshot, US House Reps John Barrow and David Scott (both Democrats) called yesterday for Shinseki to step down. In addition, Andrew Johnson (conservative National Review -- link is text and video) notes Bob Kerry appeared on Hardball last night and called for Shinseki to step down. (Disclosure, as noted before, I know and like Bob Kerrey.) The Vietnam veteran, former Governor of Nebraska and former US senator told Chris Matthews, "In this case I think there's an urgency for General Shinseki, who is honorable man and served his country honorably, but he needs to step aside."

Mike Lillis (The Hill) notes House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi declared that the scandal "could rise to the level of criminal misconduct" and points out, "She's not alone in suggesting the alleged misconduct might be criminal. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) has urged VA Secretary Eric Shinseki to call in the FBI to investigate."

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Thursday, May 22, 2014

Barry plays with the jocks

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

FADED CELEBRITY BARRY O SUFFERED THROUGH A SPEECH ABOUT VETERANS NEEDS AND HOW THE V.A. IS NOT SERVING THEM. IT WAS 1370 LONG WORDS.

BUT THEN, AS HE NOTES, "THE FUN BEGAN."

BARRY O TOLD THESE REPORTERS, "I GOT TO GIVE A SPEECH ABOUT THE SEATTLE SEAHAWS -- 1330 WORDS. PRIME JOCK MEAT. I WAS REALLY LOVING IT, GRINNING AND FLIRTING, WONDERING IF THE BOYS BROUGHT ANY STINKY JOCK STRAPS FOR ME TO PLAY WITH. THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW? WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT."

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

The last time I saw Barack?

You like roses and kisses and pretty men to tell you
All those pretty lies, pretty lies
When you gonna realize they're only pretty lies
Only pretty lies, just pretty lies
-- "The Last Time I Saw Richard," written by Joni Mitchell, first appears on her Blue album.

Pretty lies no longer work as well for US President Barack Obama. And today he spoke about the latest Veterans Affairs scandal.

“The question is this: if the administration has known about these issues for at least four years, why is it just now taking action?"

That is the question to ask, we'll get to it in a moment.

In the United States, the VA stands accused of cooking the books. Numerous VA medical centers maintained two sets of appointment lists. The first one, the official one kept in the computer system, demonstrated veterans received medical attention within 14 days of needing it. That list is the fairy tale. The reality was the off books list which demonstrated veterans were actually waiting weeks and months.

The fairy tale list was used to give the impression that VA was doing their job and serving veterans in a timely manner. It was also used to reward officials for strong performances -- resulting in raises for them and bonuses. Again, this list was a lie.

Most recently, Patricia DiCarlo and Scott Bronstein (CNN) reported, "An audit team sent to the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida, discovered a list of patients needing follow-up appointments that was kept on paper instead of in the VA's electronic computer system." It is just the most recent addition to a growing list. Scott Bronstein and Tom Cohen's (CNN) report, "Meanwhile, the number of Veterans Affairs facilities under investigation has expanded to 26, the agency's Office of Inspector General confirmed Tuesday. Last week, the inspector general told a Senate committee that 10 facilities were being investigated."

As the scandal has grown, people have awaited word from Barack. Monday, the White House said Barack had just learned of the scandal and then it was revealed Barack learned of the scandal right before he was sworn in as president in January 2009.

Stephanie Gaskill (Defense One) reminds, "In 2008, Sen. Barack Obama vowed to fix the Department of Veterans Affairs if elected president. But over the past 5 years, problem after problem has emerged: a massive case backlog, delayed GI Bill payments, a stalled electronic records system, and now allegations that federal employees have been lying about wait times at VA hospitals." David Zucchino, Cindy Carcamo and Alan Zarembo (Los Angeles Times) offer the following examples:

• In Washington state, Navy veteran Walter “Burgie” Burkhartsmeier, 73, had to wait two months to get an MRI exam at a VA facility in Seattle for shooting pains down his left arm. Eighteen months passed before someone read the MRI results — which showed bony projections on his spinal cord that put him at risk of paralysis if he were struck in the back.
• In Texas, Carolyn Richardson, 70, said a VA doctor last year ordered “immediate” chemotherapy for her husband, Army veteran Anson “Dale” Richardson, 66, but a two-month delay robbed him of the chance to fight the throat cancer that killed him Nov. 4.
• In Phoenix, Thomas Breen, 71, a Navy veteran with a history of bladder cancer, waited two months last fall for a follow-up appointment at the VA facility there after discovering blood in his urine. His family finally took him to a private hospital that diagnosed him with terminal bladder cancer. He died Nov. 30.
• In Nevada, Sandi Niccum, 78, a blind Navy veteran, was forced to wait five hours for emergency room treatment at a VA facility in North Las Vegas last year. Niccum, who was weeping and pounding the floor with her cane because of intense pain in her abdomen, died less than a month later after a large mass was found. A VA investigation did not link the care delay to her death, but it faulted the facility for the long wait and for failing to monitor Niccum.

• And in Durham, N.C., two employees were put on administrative leave last week after an internal review uncovered irregularities in appointments, a local VA spokeswoman said.

Today, Barack finally spoke himself about the scandal.

What did he say?

Among other things, "He has put his heart and soul into this thing. At this stage, Rick is committed to solving the problem and working with us to do it."

What?

Yes, Barack finally spoke about the scandal and his primary concern was "Rick" -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki.

"Rick," Barack wants the world to know, "has put his heart and soul into this thing."

So forget you, Barry Coates, the VA's failures kept you from getting timely medical treatment meaning your cancer wasn't caught in time and progressed to stage-four. Your problems are nothing, apparently, when compared to "Rick" Shinseki's "heart and soul." (Barry Coates shared his story with the House Veterans Affairs Committee on April 9th -- nothing in Barack's speech indicated he was aware of how the VA failed Coates or other veterans in the same situation.)

You can read his remarks in full here -- all 1370 words.

All 1370 words.

I emphasize that for a reason.

Barack made a joke of veterans today.

He thought 1370 words were adequate for this issue?

On the same day he gave a speech "Honoring the Super Bowl Chapmion Seattle Seahawks"?

Really? Because I think he came off looking like a fool -- and an uncaring and thoughtless fool at that.

1370 words in his VA scandal speech.

We're supposed to take that seriously when he gives a speech on a football team the same day and that speech is 1330 words -- only 40 less than his speech on a VA scandal that threatens the health and well being of veterans?

He should be ashamed of himself.

Veterans health and lives in jeopardy was only worth 40 more prepared remarks than Barack's gushing (and whoring) over a sports team. He and his speech writers should be ashamed of themselves.

Not surprisingly, Barack's speech did not go over well.

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Wednesday, May 21, 2014

He's ready to disrobe if that would help

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

AS ALWAYS, FADED CELEBRITY BARRY O LOOKS TO DO ANYTHING EXCEPT HIS ACTUAL JOB. WHICH IS WHY HE SHOWED UP AT WASHINGTON'S FRIENDSHIP PARK ON MONDAY IN AN ATTEMPT TO CREATE A NEW PHOTO OP AND TAKE OVER A LITTLE LEAGUE GAME. THE CHILDREN WERE NOT IMPRESSED WITH ONE DECLARING, "DADDY. LET'S JUST PLAY."

IT WAS AN ATTEMPT TO DISTRACT FROM THE GROWING V.A. SCANDAL -- THE ONE WHERE WHITE HOUSE PLUS-SIZE SPOKESMODEL JAY CARNEY DECLARED BARRY O FOUND OUT ABOUT THE WAIT-LISTS VIA THE MEDIA AND THEN, OOPS, A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST MADE CLEAR BARRY O WAS INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM 7 YEARS AGO . . . AND DID NOTHING.

"LOOK," AN EXASPERATED BARRY O DECLARED THIS MORNING, "WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO CHANGE THE FOCUS? I'M EVEN WILLING TO POSE TOPLESS AGAIN IF THAT WILL DO THE TRICK."

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

Some people should grasp that they don't know everything. Linda Bilmes has her areas of expertise and her areas of stupidity. She tells Jordain Carney and Stacy Kaper (National Journal), "Congress has been totally exasperated by the VA’s inability to get on top of the problem for a long time. But they haven’t been willing to really contemplate anything other than throwing more money at the problem."

Her stupidity is dangerous to the nation.

Her statement 'feels' right so she blathers on like an idiot. But she's completely uninformed and ignorant. If you didn't do the work, sit your tired ass down because nobody needs to hear it.

I've been at the hearings, I've reported on the hearings. Linda's efforts to blame Congress are shameless. I don't care if it's a Democrat or a Republican, members of Congress have not just tossed money at the problem. They have asked VA repeatedly, "What do you need?" They have asked that in terms of money, in terms of bills. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin was one of the best about this. Her remarks in Subcommittees she chaired went like this, "We are here to help our veterans and we need to work together on this. So what tools do you need that you don't have?"

Carney and Kaper say that it takes 2 years for a VA claims adjuster to be trained. Really?

I'd love to know where they got that figure. VA officials have usually told Congress that it takes 8 months to a year. It's interesting how so-called facts can be made up -- look at the crap Linda's spewing for example. We note Linda on the costs of the Iraq War. We will be far less likely to note Linda in the future because she is either lying in the statement we quoted or she is perfectly willing to speak without any research at all. In either case, she is no longer trustworthy and her ridiculous remarks question the legitimacy of all of her work -- past, present and future.

Linda didn't make the VA claims remark ("It takes approximately two years to fully train a claims worker") but here's why Carney and Kaper look like idiots -- how about people start doing the damn work required? -- the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees did not start offering money for more claims workers two years ago. Bernie Sanders is the Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and I can remember then-Chair Patty Murray raising this issue and then-Chair Daniel Akaka raising this issue.

And, by the way, when Committee members raised this issue they were told by Dr. Robert Petzel and Allison Hickey and others with VA that they didn't want extra workers (because it would take 8 months or a year to fully train them) which is why overtime was utilized instead.

Do Carney and Kaper know about that? Apparently not.

Apparently, you can 'report' any damn thing in the world if you're willing to make it up.

Bob Filner. I know Bob and I like Bob. As San Diego Mayor, he disgraced himself with unbecoming actions that were also criminal. My heart breaks for Bob and I hope he can learn from what happened, I do believe in redemption.

But what happened there has nothing to do with his tenure as Chair of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. He called out Petzel and Hickey. The only one who shows that kind of determination today is Senator Richard Burr (Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee).

Maybe if reporters had actually attended the hearings -- novel concept, isn't it? -- and reported on them, we wouldn't have to scream so loud here.

I'm fine with holding anyone accountable -- even Oval Office occupants.

And I think, with the exception of Bob Filner and Richard Burr, all Committee members are too kind to VA officials -- who are liars, they've lied repeatedly and should be held in contempt of Congress for their lies.

I praise Daniel Akaka for the tone he set as Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, but I also called out Daniel. And I know Daniel and like Daniel. But we're the ones who said he needed to step down and we're the ones who said Patty Murray needed to be made the Chair. I love Daniel but he was making too many mistakes and was far too pleasant in the face of repeated lies from the VA. I cried after I dictated the snapshot calling for him to step down as Chair but I cried after. I didn't silence the criticism (which I still consider accurate).

So no one should ever think I'm going to pull punches. If I feel a hard call has to be made, I will make it.

That doesn't mean I'm right and I can be wrong and often am. But it does mean I don't run around trying to excuse the Veterans Affairs Committees.

Linda flaunts gross ignorance when she states, "Congress has been totally exasperated by the VA’s inability to get on top of the problem for a long time. But they haven’t been willing to really contemplate anything other than throwing more money at the problem."

Patty Murray has repeatedly asked VA officials what tools do they need? Richard Burr has especially asked them that question with regards to how to hold failing employees accountable.

Linda needs to get her lazy ass to a VSO hearing. That's when the Committees hear from various Veterans Service Organizations about proposed bills and laws and what the VSOs think of these measures.

In hearing, VA officials will frequently insist that this or that bill will hamper them. Does Linda know about that?

No, she doesn't know a thing.

But what a pleasing lie to tell, "It's everyone's fault!"

The Veterans Affairs Committee need to do a better job of oversight but, in terms of attempting to address problems, they have proposed various legislative changes and, generally speaking, the VA opposes them on every measure.

Whatever Bob Filner is, he was a strong advocate for veterans. So was/are Steve Buyer, Jeff Miller, Patty Murray, Daniel Akaka, Richard Burr, Mark Begich, etc. And it is insulting to be ignorant of what's taken place yet respond to the latest VA scandal with some insipid remark that builds on collective guilt (but lacks the guts to go there).

It's amazing Linda can blame Congress but not say a word about the president.

That would be Barack Obama, the president who has nominated Jeffrey Murawsky for the post of Under Secretary of Health despite the fact that Murawksy is currently responsible for overseeing one of the VA medical centers involved in the current scandal where whistle-blowers have come forward to expose two sets of appointment lists. The first is a fairy tale where veterans request an appointment and receive one within 14 days. The fairy tale list is the official list, the one in the computers. There's also an off books list where its documented that veterans are waiting weeks and months for medical care. Murawsky was either involved in that or unaware of it -- neither option builds confidence in his nomination.

It's the Phoenix VA medical center where the lists are said to have led to the deaths of 40 veterans so, yes, it's better that Murawsky was over Chicago instead of Phoenix but not 'better enough' to justify nominating him for a promotion. Oh, wait, he was also supposed to supervise Phoenix.

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Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Why the need for the smokescreen?

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FROM THE TCI WIRE:

The April 30th election results are known. or are they?

Reuters reports, "Preliminary results on Monday showed Maliki won at least 94 seats, far more than his two main Shi'ite rivals, the movement of Muqtada Sadr, which picked up 28 seats, and the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI), which won 29 seats." Press TV reports, "Results released by Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission on Monday showed that the premier’s State of Law alliance garnered 92 out of 328 parliamentary seats. Maliki’s bloc won 30 seats in the capital Baghdad alone and won the first spot in 10 out of 18 provinces overall, while his main rivals are said to have gained between 19 and 29 seats in total." Sinan Salaheddin and Sameer N. Yacoub (AP) reports 92 as well and point out, "He will still need to approach other parties to piece together a broader majority coalition to get the first crack at forming a government as violence rages and instability grows." Duraid Adnan and Tim Arango (New York Times) point out that these are "initial results -- still subject to challenges from various political parties" while stating Nouri won 93 seats.

They also note Saleh al-Mutlaq call for the United Nations and other international bodies to launch an investigation into election irregularities. National Iraqi News Agency reports:

Spokesman for the Citizen Coalition, Baligh Abu Kalal confirmed on Monday that the coalition has recordings of fraud acts and breaking the locks of ballot boxes and what preceded that as the distribution of lands and the use of public money.

92 or 93 or 94 seats, it's not a winner. Nor are Nouri's votes -- he ran for Parliament the same as everyone else -- particularly impressive.

The rush to praise him for basically standing still (State of Law got 89 seats in the 2010 elections) is rather surprising since the goal ahead of the elections for other Shi'ite parties was to break up into smaller groupings because it was felt that the 2010 elections benefited smaller political blocs. He managed to prevent much of Anbar from voting. Disqualifying cities such as Falluja from voting is preventing Anbar from voting. This was not free and fair elections. At one point, the US government was publicly insisting that if elections did not take place everywhere then the election would not be free and fair. But that assertion disappeared as parts of Anbar were prevented from voting. In many ways, Nouri's thuggish manner was on display in 2013 when he sought to punish Anbar Province and Nineveh Province by refusing to allow them to vote in March 2013 provincial elections.

The White House has privately claimed that it was only their efforts and those of the State Dept which allowed Anbar and Nineveh to finally vote in June 2013.

Apparently, the concern was never over the Iraqi people -- the US government's concern. It was only over being embarrassed publicly by their proxy and puppet Nouri al-Maliki. That's why the farce of letting sections of Anbar -- a highly populated and Sunni dominated province -- vote went over so well with hypocrites such as US President Barack Obama.

UNAMI issued the following today (yes, today -- they wrongly put "19 April" on it):

SRSG Welcomes the Announcement of the Preliminary Results of the Parliamentary Elections, Calls for Complaints to be Resolved through Legal Channels

Baghdad, 19 April – The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq (SRSG), Mr. Nickolay Mladenov, welcomed the announcement by the Independent High Electoral Commission of the preliminary results of the Council of Representatives elections held on 30 April 2014.

“As the people of Iraq have now spoken, I call upon all elected representatives to work together for the future of Iraq”, he said.
He reiterated his appreciation of the work done by the Independent High Electoral Commission and recalled that all potential complaints and disputes should be addressed through the established legal mechanisms in a fair and transparent manner and without undue political pressure.
Mr. Mladenov reaffirmed the United Nations’ readiness to continue working closely with the newly elected Members of Parliament in pursuing the necessary reforms aimed at further enhancing the democratic process and addressing the country’s priorities.

Ban Ki-moon is the United Nations Secretary-General. His office issued the following:

The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement of the preliminary results of the Council of Representatives election in Iraq of 30 April 2014. He looks forward to the certification of the final results after all procedures have been completed, including the adjudication of possible appeals. The Secretary-General urges all political parties to engage constructively and in a timely manner in the process of government formation.
The Secretary-General is concerned about the security situation in Anbar province and urges the government of Iraq to ensure that military operations against terrorism are conducted in accordance with Iraq’s international and constitutional human rights obligations.

The Secretary-General condemns the deliberate flooding of the Abu Ghraib area and urges all sides to refrain from actions that result in displacement of populations or cause environmental disasters. He reiterates his appeal regarding the need to address the humanitarian needs of the hundreds of thousands of people affected by the ongoing fighting in Anbar Province.

Press liars are hailing Nouri as a winner. This wasn't a win. He stated his plan for an I-rule-alone government and not a power-sharing one. By that goal, he lost. He didn't get the votes necessary for that. He doesn't even have enough MPs currently to be named prime minister-designate.

He barely improved on his 2010 standing -- despite all the fraud, the refusal to let some areas vote, the refusal on April 30th to open the polls in areas where he was expected to perform poorly -- instead his military sent people away. And the polls there remained closed for half a day, only opening after noon.

He rigged the elections and he still came up short. And that's not even factoring in that the results could change. Or that one outlet says he got 92 seats in Parliament, another says 93 and another says 94 -- great job, 'Independent' High Electoral Commission in announcing the votes.

The custom now is to form a group -- the Constitution was tossed aside long ago -- so now the move will be to try to form groupings and blocs. The one with the most seats in Parliament is supposed to have a member named prime minister-designate and then that person has 30 days to form a Cabinet. That means nominating people and getting Parliament to vote for them.

Press liars love to lie for Nouri. So when he fails to form a Cabinet, they lie and say the Constitution says nothing about a full Cabinet. That's because it's obvious to any fool -- even those with press passes. You move from prime minister-designate to prime minister solely by forming a Cabinet. This is the sole test. If you can do that, you're up to the leadership aspect.

If you can't do that, the President of Iraq names another person prime minister-designate.

A partial Cabinet is not meeting the requirement.

But that's the Constitution and the reality is that the United States picks Iraq's prime minister.

That's not written into the Iraqi Constitution.

But it's what they did in 2006 when the Bully Boy Bush administration refused to allow the Parliament to name Ibrahim al-Jafaari prime minister. BBB insisted on Nouri al-Maliki.

In 2010, there was no way to give Nouri a second term. Not constitutionally.

So Barack Obama's administration came up with a legal contract, The Erbil Agreement, to give Nouri a second term.

Barack spit on democracy and pissed on the Iraqi people with that one.

Despite voting in March 2010, the determination of who would be prime minister would come via a backroom contract -- brokered by the US -- that would give Nouri a second term.

It condemned Iraq. Not just because it put Nouri in charge but also because Barack broke his word. After his envoys insisted the contract had the full support and weight of the US government behind it (and Barack made that promise to Ayad Allawi over the phone -- personally made it), the White House looked the other way as Nouri refused to honor his promises in the contract.

The contract didn't just say, "Nouri gets a second term as prime minister."

To get that, Nouri had to make promises to the various political blocs. And he used the contract to get a second term and then refused to honor it, has his attorney declare it was illegal and the US government, Barack Obama, stabbed the Kurds in the back, stabbed Iraqiya in the back, stabbed the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq in the back, stabbed Iraqi Christians in the back . . .

You only believe Barack keeps his word if you're a partisan whore.

And it's disgusting to see those people lie about all the great things Barack's done in Iraq.

He's destroyed the country.

Not by pulling out. (All US forces never left.) But by backing a known thug who was known to run secret prison and torture chambers. That's who Barack hopped into bed with in 2010. Shame on him.

All of Iraq's current political crises stem from The Erbil Agreement and Nouri's refusal to honor the legal promises he made in that contract.

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