A Page From Obama's Playbook: The BullChit Continues at VA

Everyone should remember the great fanfare when Robert McDonald was approved as Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary. Celebrity spokesman, Montel Williams appeared on "Your World with Neil Cavuto" said and I paraphrase "I'll give him 90 days". 

Its been six months and what has changed? NOT ONE DAMN THING!

Just as in the past, critters in congress and other politicians make promises, have hearings, spend money just to have Obama take it away, and still the same CHIT goes on.

Not only did Robert McDonald insult a decorated Marine and congressman, he has taken a page out of Boo Boo's book, lying on national T.V.

"Documents obtained by the Washington Free Beacon cast doubt on claims made Sunday by the secretary for veterans affairs that 60 people who manipulated wait time data have been fired by the agency over the last half-year.

Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald said on Sunday that the agency is improving and working toward holding officials accountable, firing 900 employees in the past six months.

“We’re making fundamental changes in the department. In terms of leadership, we’ve held accountable about 900 employees who are no longer with us, that were with us before,” McDonald said on NBC’s Meet the Press.

“900 people have been fired, since I became secretary. We’ve got 60 people that we fired who have manipulated wait times. We’ve got about 100 senior leaders who are under investigation now … so we’re holding people accountable.”

The appearance was McDonald’s first on a Sunday program since taking over the embattled agency in July 2014. McDonald replaced former-Secretary Eric Shinseki, who resigned after it was revealed that 40 veterans died while waiting to receive care at the Phoenix VA facility.

However, new documents obtained and viewed by the Washington Free Beacon raise questions about the information McDonald provided to NBC, specifically the claim that 60 employees were fired because they manipulated wait times.

According to these documents, as of Feb. 5, 2015, only 11 employees tied to wait time manipulations have been fired. (Union intervention?...OM)

The document, which was given to the Free Beacon by a Republican staffer, is sent to both the House and Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs for “official use only,” and “provides the Department’s weekly report on adverse employment actions initiated since June 3, 2014, on any basis related to patient scheduling, record manipulations, appointment delays, and/or patient deaths.”(What about how many Veterans were required to register their firearms?...OM)

The employees in the report are facing “adverse personnel actions,” which are either “proposed” or already “taken.”

The document lists the names of employees facing disciplinary action and their position title. For each employee, the report then notes the proposed disciplinary action, the date it was proposed, the action taken, and the effective date of each action.

Based on this report, from June 3, 2014, to February 5, 2015, the department has proposed a total of 74 personnel actions related to scheduling or record manipulation; five of them were actions against VA executives.

Eleven employees, three of whom held executive positions, are listed as having been removed. (That just 1.2% of the number that McDonald cited, Patriots should ask "what about the other 98.8%? Did they leave because of retirement, new jobs?...OM)

In other cases, employees are listed as resigning, being suspended, “demoted,” “admonished,” or “reprimanded.” In some cases, no disciplinary action was taken.

At least 15 cases are listed as “pending.”

The Department of Veterans Affairs did not respond to several requests for comment at press time.

Now is the time for McDonald to answer. "We (veterans) have served and defended our country. We were given a promise. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO KEEP THAT PROMISE?"...OM

Source: http://freebeacon.com/issues/documents-cast-doubt-on-claim-that-60-va-employees-have-been-fired-for-manipulating-wait-times/

Our Veterans Still Facing Enemies Who Can Destroy Their Lives

Prior to the recent election, America was made aware of those who unselfishly gave up part of their lives to don the uniform of the American military were facing the broken promises of America just as those who went before them when it comes to receiving much needed healthcare from the VA.

Talking heads, T.V. and radio hosts jumped on the bandwagon, some even saying that they'll, "Give the VA 90 days for the VA to show some improvement" after Congress passed "emergency" funding and a new administrator was appointed and ratified. Where are they now?

Well, just as in the past there has been little improvement.

Some VA hospitals used the funding for big screen T.V.'s in the hospital, while the inpatient veterans were going without properly cleaned blankets.

Roughly 10% of all the Veterans Affairs patients are still waiting a month or more for appointments.

Now, though this may seem to be a minor problem for some, we learn that those who visit the VA are once again facing an enemy. This enemy may not take their physical lives but can take their personal lives.

Two years after a major security breach compromised the personal information of over 4,000 veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) continues to suffer from systemic “security weaknesses,” according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

“While the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has taken actions to mitigate previously identified vulnerabilities, it has not fully addressed these weaknesses. … Until VA fully addresses previously identified security weaknesses, its information is at heightened risk of unauthorized access, modification, and disclosure and its systems at risk of disruption,” the report found.

The VA has experienced multiple high-profile breaches in recent years, and the report cautions that unless it corrects “underlying” security vulnerabilities in its systems, breaches are likely to continue and could result in unauthorized access and disclosure of personal information.

Many of the weaknesses identified in the report are not new, but the inspectors say the agency has failed to sufficiently address some of the “previously identified vulnerabilities.”

The VA Inspector General released a report in February 2013 that identified deficiencies in “management controls intended to ensure that VA’s critical systems have appropriate security baselines and up-to-date vulnerability patches,” and made recommendations to resolve the problems.

The VA said they completed the recommendations and would continue to improve those security controls but the recent inspection found that the VA failed to deliver on that promise.(Haven't "we" heard this before?...OM)

“The department has not yet effectively implemented a program to manage vulnerabilities and apply associated patches,” the report notes. “Until it does so, it will remain at increased risk that known vulnerabilities could be exploited.”

The IG made eight recommendations to correct the problems, but the agency appears to be off to a poor start implementing those.

The VA received a draft of the findings, and responded that six of the recommendations were implemented. However, the report notes that inspectors “are concerned that the actions VA described as completed for at least two of the six recommendations may not comprehensively address the weaknesses we identified.”

The latest report marks the 16th consecutive year the agency has failed a cyber security assessment. The House Veteran Affairs Committee held a hearing on Tuesday to address the ongoing concerns.

Chairman Jeff Miller (R., Fla.) said in his opening remarks that the VA’s Technology Office has “greatly contributed to the problems of data manipulation” by failing to address the persistent weaknesses.

“These failures are not because of a lack of resources, as some VA senior officials want us to believe,” he said. “Within the past decade, Congress has provided over 28 billion dollars to VA’s Office of Information and Technology to ensure its goals and actions are aligned with and driving the strategic goals of the agency. Given the availability of resources, it is apparent that this office’s lack of success and repeated under performance is a leadership failure.”

Let us know what you think.

Semper Fi!

Source: http://freebeacon.com/issues/va-has-not-corrected-security-problems/

"We Need Reinforcements"...Gunny Sends

Source: Mike Shelton

Since Ebola, the Elections and the VA Scandal have overtaken the news cycle. WHAT the VA Scandal has "disappeared"? Oh, forgot, the Critters through more money at it and replaced the "captain" of the Titanic so all is fixed. NOT!

 With all of this, I feel like Marine Colonel Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller at the Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War in 1950:

"We’ve been looking for the enemy for several days now. We’ve finally found them. We are surrounded. That simplifies the problem of getting to these people and killing them.”

I am not looking for the enemy, I have found them and they are the American sheeple. Instead of physically killing them, I would prefer to kill their lack on focus with information and here's where I'll need you, the readers help, but more on that in a minute.

Some may be wondering how does Ebola, the upcoming elections and the VA Scandal intertwine.

EBOLA

Boo Boo is sending 3900+ troops including the National Guard to the Ebola "Hot Zone", in fact a hundred Marines have been there since the 10th of October.

Now, looking at the chaos & panic that just 3 Ebola victims in the U.S. has caused within the healthcare system, can you just imagine what will happen if just, GOD FORBID, 2 or 3 of the original 100 Marines get exposed or worst yet one percent of the 3900 troops (39 for the sheeple) get exposed. How are those brave troops going to be treated? What about the troop's families? Are the base hospitals READY for this possibility? IS the VA system? Is our healthcare system?

The Election

There is nothing we, The PEOPLE, can do about the Clown in Chief and his complete incompetence concerning national security, ISIS or Ebola, BUT we, the PEOPLE can elect / reelect Senators / Representatives that will do something like securing our borders or stopping air travel from the "Hot Zone".

After all, it seems that Socialists  Democrats seem to back Boo Boo's Politically correct misjudgment at putting in to place a travel ban from the Ebola "Hot Zones".

What can we, the PEOPLE, do? Get out and vote, as the the old saying goes "kick the bums out".

The VA Scandal

As I pointed out, our troops are in the "Hot Zone" and some may return in fairly good shape and decide to leave the military.

Ebola may be laying dormant, no one really knows, so say in six months, a young Marine vet wakes up, he feels like chit and decides to go to the VA, since he can't afford healthcare under Obamacare or he's unemployed because of the Socialists Democrats backing Obama's non economical policy.

Our young Marine gets to the VA and there he sits, feeling worst as every minute passes.

Finally he is told that he has to make an appointment for two weeks later. That two weeks stretches into a month and unfortunately, our young Marine passes, cause of death, a new strain of EBOLA.

Now, here is where I need reinforcements and it won't cost a cent.

Since Montel Williams, Glenn Beck, O'Reilly and other talking heads have dropped the ball on the VA Scandal, it is up to we, the PEOPLE, to pick up the ball and run with it.

How? Lets start simple by keeping eye out for articles, news reports on the VA hospitals in your area. IF there is any information, good or bad, get it out there.

IF you need a place to post it, let me know. I'll be more then happy to post it here, full credit will be given. Just post links information in the comments section.

IF the talking heads, politicians won't follow up, We will.

"Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory." General George S. Patton

Semper Fi!

"The Nation Which Forgets Its Defenders Will Be Itself Forgotten" - Calvin Coolidge

Special Bulletin! Ebola comes to the U.S.!

Source: Mike Shelton

Special Bulletin! Man jumps White House fence; Makes it into White House!

Special Bulletin! VA Hospital in Shreveport, LA lacks PJ's, sheets and toothbrushes

What, you didn't get the Special Bulletin about the VA hospital in Shreveport, LA? Well I guess neither did Montel Williams, Glenn Beck nor Mary L. Landrieu. More about them in a minute.

What connects the deadly disease Ebola to a veteran suffering from PTSD to a VA hospital in Shreveport, LA which serves about 37,000 veterans a year?

Washington's answers to every problem facing America is, “Let's throw money at it.” Or “There wasn't enough money.”

In the case of Ebola, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Democrat, wants to give “... CDC, or any public health system, needs more resources, Congress should immediately come back to Washington and vote to provide those funds before the November election...” KEY phase “..before the November election.”

When it comes to the veteran suffering from PTSD jumping the fence at the White House and the security lapse by the secret service, Congresswoman Eleanor Norton (D-D.C.) suggested at a hearing on Tuesday (September 30, 2014...OM) that budget cuts may have contributed to the Secret Service’s security troubles, saying Congress “has to take some responsibility” for the problems. In other words, “It's the GOP's fault.”

Does everyone remember the outrage expressed by just about everyone from POTUS down through the Critters on to the celebrities and finally to the American people that the American veterans were dying waiting for appointments?

Remember the outrage when Inspector General reports showed systemic problems within the VA system although theses problems were not really new?

Even Glenn Beck, Montel Williams as well as other "talking heads" and other celebrities got into the act by using their celebrity status to voice their “concerns” and “outrage” over the treatment of our veterans.

So what happened? As usual Washington replaced the captain of the Titanic and threw more money at the iceberg perhaps hoping the iceberg would go away before the November elections.

After Washington had done their “duty” for the veterans, they moved on to their much needed vacation and recessed. Montel Williams moved on to his next cause for publicity, Glenn Beck moved on to do his Glenn Beck things and America promptly and typically put the VA scandal behind them.

Much to his credit, Neil Cavuto would periodically mention the VA on his two shows, but no one even bothered to look or wonder if the “cure” is worse than the disease.

Nor did Mr. Williams, Mr. Beck or anyone bother to do what any regular person would do when they shell out a large sum of money to fix something. Follow up, check to make sure that the money is being spent wisely. After all, IT IS the American people's tax money and you would think that the taxpayers would want to know IF they were getting the most “bang for their bucks”.

Where is Senator Landrieu (D, LA) or Montel Williams when America's heroes have to wait while many nurses spend more time on cell phones, iPods or accessing their personal data on hospital computers while our heroes continue to get substandard care?(Ed. note: I have seen this in my own place of employment with KY state government and supervisors ignore it and those doing it get paid for overtime.)

Source: Mike Shelton

Where is Senator Landrieu's oversight and outrage when the Shreveport, LA, VA Hospital spent $3 million for solar panels yet runs out of sheets, blankets and even pajamas on the weekend because it waits for clean laundry to arrive from another VA hospital located 125 miles away? Couldn't the Shreveport VA hospital use that $3 million to build its own laundry or find a local veteran owned private business to supply the cleaning? Oh, yes, she's busy running for reelection and mostly "bragging" how she cares for the veterans. Has anyone bothered to ask her, "What took so long? Why Now?"

Where is Senator Landrieu's and Montel Williams' oversight and outrage when the linens, blankets and pajamas are worn and torn? Where is the outrage over pajamas that have holes and are missing buttons?

YET, this same hospital can spend $74,412 on wide screen T. V.s for the sole purpose of “broadcasting” employee and general information.

Where is the outrage that the hospital can spend $134,082 on furniture MADE IN CANADA when blankets return from “cleaning” with former patients' electrode pads still struck to them or pajamas that have a former patient's IV tape stuck to them.

                 Source: Mike Shelton

Where is Glenn Beck asking his listeners and viewers for money to help replenish “health and comfort” items like toothpaste, tooth brushes, deodorant, combs and mouthwash that are normally supplied by volunteers and when these items run out, particularly on the weekends. Those healthcare professionals who REALLY give a damn, have to hustle in the attempt to find those needed “health and comfort” items elsewhere in the hospital, BUT, Glenn Beck can ask for his viewers and listeners to donate money in order for him to take a truck loads of comfort items, food and other items to the border for the “poor” ILLEGAL immigrants that have flooded our borders.

YET the Obama administration with the backing of his Democrat minions can use American taxpayer's money to ensure that the illegal immigrants that flood our borders have food, shelter and the “health & comfort” items. Those that are in the U.S. illegally are taken care of, BUT our heroes go without, counting on volunteers to supply the most basic of items.

Once again, the American people along with the “talking heads” and of course the Critters in the District of Corruption have moved on thinking that we have replaced the head of the VA and thrown more money at problem, so it can be forgotten, the problem is taken care of.....YEAH RIGHT!

Again, the American Veteran is the “Sunday go to meeting suit”. Taken out for special occasions or as political backdrops and then put back in the closet until next time.

Shouldn't everyone really wonder what is really going on in the many VA hospitals around the country? Or do all Americans feel that since the Critters have thrown money at the problem, all is well?

Main source: http://watchdog.org/174330/va-hospital-lacks-pjs-sheets/ previously linked.

Special thanks to @ABiCduckie for coming to my aid in editing while Igor is on vacation

Let me know what you think.

Semper Fi!

V.A. Reform Bill - Is the Cure Worse Than the Illness?

Editor's Note: As I was writing this and it was being edited by my friend and partner in crime, Igor, the bill was passed and the "duty experts" analysed the final bill but no one even mention the most important thing with healthcare, the providers...OM 

As the Critters rush to get a Veteran’s Administration reform bill before they flee the District of Corruption for their much deserved and hard-earned five week vacation, Fox News reports “Lawmakers to announce tentative deal on bill to overhaul troubled VA”. Needless to say I’ll bet that many will heave a sigh of relief and say, “Finally, the veterans are getting their “just due”, the Critters are finally doing something.” But are they?

In typical D.C. tradition, let’s replace the head of the V.A. with a businessman, not with a retired career military officer or senior Non-Commissioned Officer. Someone who basically KNOWS the true needs of a veteran. Granted, the nominee did spend five years in the Army, BUT in my not so humble opinion five years does not give anyone enough experience to know the needs of today’s veterans. But, he is a businessman, so he “knows” how to straighten out the system, JUST as all previous heads of the V.A. Yes, they did give him the authority to fire SENIOR ADMINISTRATORS with a 21 day appeal process, but as we all know, there are many times where the actual workers will not do their job and in some cases, the supervisor doesn't know about it or worse yet will cover it up by ignoring it. I work for a government agency and see it daily and when one draws it to the attention of the powers that be, it is ignored. NOTHING CHANGES. The fraud goes on.

Just as typical, the Senate, House and even the White House want to throw more money at the problem as if more money for newer buildings, hiring new doctors and other healthcare professionals would make a difference. HOWEVER, if those doctors and healthcare professionals come from those discharged honorably from the military, this will help with the unemployment rate among veterans. (According to 2013 data, Among the 722,000 unemployed veterans in 2013, 60 percent were age 45 and over. Thirty-five percent were age 25 to 44, and 5 percent were age 18 to 24.). Hiring veterans to help veterans would, in my opinion, improve service. After all, the military, thus the Vets have a better different work ethic, better attitude and know the military culture much better then most civilians.

Now, let’s talk about money being spent to allow Veterans to go outside the V.A. system IF there is an unusually long wait time for a Vet to be seen or if the Vet lives live more then 40 miles from a V.A. facility.

YES, it is a great idea and plan, BUT will the government be willing to pay full price for care given by civilian doctors and hospitals? Or will the Federal government want to seek a method where part of the payment is borne by the state, like they do with MEDICAID [Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) which varies by state based on criteria such as per capita income. The regular average state FMAP is 57%, but ranges from 50% in wealthier states up to 75% in states with lower per capita incomes (the maximum regular FMAP is 82 %).]

Maybe the Federal Government will want to make it like another “money saving program”, MEDICARE, where the Federal government pays approximately 80% of the total cost.

Or maybe, the Federal Government will eventually just decide to dump all the Veterans on the Federal Medical Exchange and make Veterans buy insurance and give the veterans subsidies.

Either way, by allowing Veterans to seek medical care outside the V.A. system MAY be a good thing BUT, and I know there is always a but, considering there are 6,616,963 total patients in the V.A. Healthcare system in FY 2014  and lets say 10% of these patients need to seek medical services outside the V.A. system, that will be 661,690 patients added to what is fast becoming an overburdened health system, thanks to Obamacare.

As Obamacare fully takes full effect in the next 12 to 18 months, it will not only add more than 30 million people, (I can't really say Americans because we don't know how many illegals will be included in the healthcare system) but it’s numerous provisions will soon alter the cost of health insurance, medical treatment, and prescription drugs. It will also affect the type and quality of healthcare available in the near future and very possibility the ability to get in to see a doctor (any healthcare provider, for that matter) of your choice.

Experts are predicting that this tsunami of new patients may very well cause a doctor and nurse shortage. A study has found that up to 40% of doctors are leaving the profession due to the overbearing and punitive regulations.

As these doctors and maybe other health care professionals leave the healthcare system, simple common sense, something lacking in D.C. and unfortunately the general population, should tell a person that if you loose 40% of the doctors and add 661,690 patients with a variety of injuries and illness not normally found in the civilian world, there is a possibility that once again veterans will face long delays which once again could result in life threatening conditions and long waits.

Finally, something that should really have people wondering. HAS ANYONE even thought that with $10 billion in emergency spending available for veterans who can’t get prompt appointments with V.A. doctors or live more than forty miles from a V.A. facility (Just who is to determine this and how long WILL IT TAKE...OM). JUST who will manage these funds and insure that there is some accountability? $10 billion dollars is a lot of money for most Americans, but for the critters, its just a drop in the bucket of overwhelming debt and like all “emergency funding” is there ever any accountability? Just look at the Porkulus money spent on the not so shovel ready jobs, the money for the B.P. oil spill, and of course the money authorized for hurricane Sandy. Is there any anyway to prevent fraud?

I am not even implying that the veterans would willfully commit fraud; they have more honor than that, BUT what about the heath care professionals and of course the government? Just look at Medicare and Medicaid.

“The acute problems of waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid are not a consequence of fee-for-service payment or any other particular design feature; they are a consequence of government. All economic endeavors involve the risks of waste, fraud, and abuse. But these problems are endemic to government for the simple reason that government spends other people’s money, and nobody spends other people’s money as carefully as they spend their own. The only way to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in a governmental activity is to eliminate that activity.”(Or the various unconstitutional Government agencies...OM)

Now, am I happy to see that the Critters HAVE FINALLY DONE SOMETHING for my Brothers and Sisters, DEFINITELY! BUT knowing the history of the problems within the V.A. system, I have to wonder will this really do any good? Along with that, I have to ask a number of questions and pray others will ask the Critters as well.

Is this another one of those bills that we’ll have to read to find out what’s in it?

Was this bill rushed so that the Critters can go home and say, “Vote for me. I care about the Vets, I voted for the money to reform V.A.”? (Note: While blog was in editing, Montel Williams appeared on Cavuto show 30 July, and mentioned the same thing and in the same interview, said that he has been speaking out about the V.A. for seven weeks. “SIR! In all due respect, WHAT TOOK YOU SO DAMN LONG and WHY NOW?”)

As far as the Critters are concerned, I feel that maybe, just maybe, the passage of the V.A. Reform bill answers the questions I've been asking, “WHAT TOOK SO LONG?” and “WHY NOW?”

It took so long because Congress and the sheeple just didn't give a damn and as the Critters face reelection with very low poll ratings, the Critters who are in danger of losing their power, have once again pulled out the “Sunday go to meeting suit” and once again using Veterans to win an election.

For the Glenn Beck (Who wants to have 9-12 a day of service for Veterans, WHY NOT EVERYDAY?...OM), Sean Hannity, Montel Williams, other talking heads and the American sheeple, “WHAT TOOK SO LONG?” and “WHY NOW?” and now an additional question “WILL YOU FOLLOW UP TO ENSURE THERE IS REAL REFORM?”.

What do you think? Please let me know!

Semper Fi!