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March 17, 2009

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The Slow Boil Begins

By Greyhawk

The American Legion describes some potential problems with the newly proposed Obama/Shinseki "F#$k the Veterans" program:

The Legion argues that, depending on the severity of the medical conditions involved, maximum insurance coverage limits could be reached through treatment of the veteran's condition alone. That would leave the rest of the family without health care benefits. The Legion also points out that many health insurance companies require deductibles to be paid before any benefits are covered. Additionally, the Legion is concerned that private insurance premiums would be elevated to cover service-connected disabled veterans and their families, especially if the veterans are self-employed or employed in small businesses unable to negotiate more favorable across-the-board insurance policy pricing. The American Legion also believes that some employers, especially small businesses, would be reluctant to hire veterans with service-connected disabilities due to the negative impact their employment might have on obtaining and financing company health care benefits.
But...

"It became apparent during our discussion today that the President intends to move forward with this unreasonable plan," said Commander David K. Rehbein of The American Legion. "He says he is looking to generate $540-million by this method, but refused to hear arguments about the moral and government-avowed obligations that would be compromised by it." <...> Commander Rehbein was among a group of senior officials from veterans service organizations joining the President, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki and Steven Kosiak, the overseer of defense spending at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The group's early afternoon conversation at The White House was precipitated by a letter of protest presented to the President earlier this month.
I can think of other ways Obama could raise that kind of cash - but it might be too late to use that particular tactic at this point.

Among the other senior officials from veterans service organizations, Glen M. Gardner Jr, commander, Veterans of Foreign Wars:

"Charging wounded and service-connected disabled veterans for their VA healthcare breaks a sacred trust that this nation has with her veterans," said Gardner, who fears that the initiative could lead to higher insurance premiums, as well as make it more difficult for veterans and their families to obtain or retain private health insurance. He said it could also discourage civilian employers from hiring disabled veterans.

The meeting was the result of a Feb. 27 letter to the president that was signed by the leaders of 11 veterans' and military organizations, all of whom were present at the White House.

Gardner, a Vietnam veteran from Round Rock, Texas, is greatful for the president's willingness to sit down and address the issue face-to-face, but he said after yesterday's meeting that "the VFW still believes that the proposal is clearly the wrong thing to do."

The VFW national commander voiced the VFW's opposition to the third-party collection proposal in meetings today with congressional leadership, and will again tomorrow in testimony before a joint House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing.

You can read a copy of the letter to President Obama from the heads of eleven veteran's groups here.

And Paul Reickhoff, IAVA:

“I was honored to meet with President Obama at the White House today. IAVA applauds the record increase in veterans’ health care funding in the President’s budget, and his focus on timely implementation of the new GI Bill. However, we are disappointed to hear that the Administration is still considering a third party billing option,” said IAVA Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff. “Veterans of all generations agree that this proposal is bad for the country and bad for veterans. If the President and the OMB want to cut costs, they can start at AIG, not the VA.”
<...>
“The cost of the wars should not be shifted onto the backs of veterans and small business owners, many of which are service-disabled veterans themselves. We look forward to working with the President and First Lady Michelle Obama, who has made military families one of her top priorities, to ensure that veterans are not denied the benefits they have unequivocally earned. This is a critical time for veterans, and we’re eager to get to work,”
I'm the suspicious type. The contemplated move is obvious political suicide, but it seems to me there could be a move afoot to get at least some of the various veterans organizations to sign off on some other "cost saving measure" in return for dropping this bit of hari kiri.
"I got the distinct impression that the only hope of this plan not being enacted," said Commander Rehbein, "is for an alternative plan to be developed that would generate the desired $540-million in revenue. The American Legion has long advocated for Medicare reimbursement to VA for the treatment of veterans. This, we believe, would more easily meet the President's financial goal. We will present that idea in an anticipated conference call with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel in the near future.

"I only hope the administration will really listen to us then. This matter has far more serious ramifications than the President is imagining," concluded the Commander.

But Senator Patti Murray has already declared the 'make the vets pay' option "dead on arrival" if sent to congress. I say call the Obama/Shinseki/Emmanuel bluff.

Update - clarifying remarks from David Rehbein: "President Obama made clear during our discussion that he intends to force private insurance companies to pay for the treatment of military veterans with service-connected disabilities."


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Posted by Greyhawk / March 17, 2009 4:54 PM | Permalink

1 TrackBack

VA Medical from Neptunus Lex on March 18, 2009 2:23 PM

I’ve resisted, up until now, making any comment on the kerfuffle between the president and veterans groups over the former’s  plan to raise $540 million for his broader health care program by forcing veterans to use their private medical i... Read More

18 Comments

You know besides the obvious slights, this would be the perfect way to dissuade people from joining the military.

"If you get hurt, you're on your own"

Sure Patty said that it would be DOA, however, as we all know, they will attach it to a piece of legislation that congress wants, or needs, so it will become the "poison pill" so to speak.

Any chance this gets in during a conference committee hearing? That seems to be the MO of Obama/Reid/Pelosi these days.

Given that Patty Murray is borderline retarded I don't know that I'd attach much weight to what she says.

(I'm not kidding, and only barely exaggerating)

Step up for veterans. Make convicts pay for their healthcare. They're scum anyway.

I'm still burning from being denied VA eligibility because I don't have a service related disability. Nothing like reneging on contracts with those who fight for freedom.

Obama is well on his way to having to issue individual written orders to service members or units. First, his base wants to prosecute those who conducted interrogations based on policy and Presidential legal opinions. Now, he wants to push the cost of any injuries onto the servicemember. Someday, he'll want the military to take action and they will ask for handwritten orders and contractual terms defining compensation for on-the-job injuries.

Questions: If you are injured on the job, who pays? If you develop an occupational disease, say from asbestos, who pays?

Do we owe less to someone subject to prosecution and possible execution who "quits his unit, organization, or place of duty with intent to avoid hazardous duty or to shirk important service" (desertion) or "willfully disobeys a lawful command of his superior commissioned officer"?

We are well past employee responsibility for employment-related injuries and diseases . Or are we going to renege on Workers Compensation acts, the Longshorman and Harbor Workers Compensation Act and the Maintenance and Cure for seamen that dates from the Middle Ages?

This is dead on arrival. The fact he just signed a very unpopular nearly 800 billion stimulus package that nobody has read, and is being rejected by several state governors. Now he wants to make servicemen pay or get another 1/2 billion out of them? Come on! What tone deaf moron is advising this guy?

Opinion polls show the US military has a higher respect among the civilian population than Congress. Congress knows this and will kill it. Obama is being made to look like an ass, and a weird kind of skinflint who is extracting dimes from vets after tossing Franklins out the window.

Seriously did Karl Rove leave behind his mind control device?

I just wonder what happened to Shinseki's backbone.

Does the name Courtney Masengale ring a bell with anyone?

Why not charge service members for the weapons they use?

If you're going to charge veterans for the cost of medical care they need after being wounded in battle, why not make them first pay for the bullets?

I mean, fair's fair, right?

Why not charge service members for the weapons they use?

If you're going to charge veterans for the cost of medical care they need after being wounded in battle, why not make them first pay for the bullets?

I mean, fair's fair, right?

This proposal is so egregious, I can’t believe it hasn’t died already. The fact that the administration continues to stick with it, in spite of the political implications, makes me wonder if it isn’t a feint for the larger move to pass the President’s plan for “health care reform.” If he causes more and more stress on the current system, the public will demand the alternative. "You never want a serious crisis go to waste." Even if you have to manufacture one.

This whole thing stinks to high heaven, and the only reason I can think of for offering such a plan is to make the bailout look popular by comparison.

It's a dog, and it's political suicide for anyone who stands behind it. The FL and VFW shouldn't consider any sort of compromise to make this thing go away. Rather, they should counterattack and press for better treatment across the board.

Don't express related costs in billion of dollars; express them in fractions of "Banker Bucks". Make explicit comparisons between the competence and success of our military versus the financial wizards, and similar comparisons between the way they've been treated by the new Congress and Administration. Hammer these clowns 'til they beg for mercy (or seek forgiveness, at least)!

When the enemy stupidly overextends itself, one doesn't compromise and allow it to keep half its gains. One cuts it off, counterattacks, and makes it pay dearly for its mistake.

I realize it's impolite to refer to Washington DC as the enemy, but I can't help feeling that way lately.

Two suggestions on funding the short fall in veterans coverage --

1) Renege on the Gaza $900bn offer. Give it to VA.
2) Start charging countries where we have bases hospitalization fee. Lop it off the top of the foerign aid we give them.

I've got news for you. They are already doing it. I have a service connected injury (not battle related) and have been treated at the VA in WRJ VT for about 5 years. I see a podiatrist every 6 months for this injury. About a year ago, they started billing (and collecting from) our family Blue Cross plan for those and any other services the VA hospital I receive. And, I have a 100% service connected disability.

I'd just like to point something out I haven't seen mentioned anywhere yet on this: to me, this looks remarkably similar, in principle, to the whole 'Alaska makes rape victims pay for their rape kits' issue that was used to slam Sarah Palin during the election campaign. Basically, it looks just like a general policy at most levels of government to avoid having to pay for constituent services when there's some other private entity that they can try to stick with the bill. Not that I think it's right, but it's just general policy now.

But if Obama's supporters were so outraged about the rape kits, they must be outraged about this too, right?

Update - clarifying remarks from David Rehbein: "President Obama made clear during our discussion that he intends to force private insurance companies to pay for the treatment of military veterans with service-connected disabilities."

Note to the economically retarded in the Obama Administration: No such capability exists on earth to force insurance companies to pay for anything. You can make them cover things, and they will turn around and adjust their premiums so that other people have to pay more.

As long as the Vet doesn't pay you say? Unless of course the Vet pays the premiums on his or her private insurance through their current employer.

Taxes or fees or unfunded mandates aren't somehow "free." Follow the money; businesses pass taxes, charges, fees and the costs of mandates on to their customers.

It seems as if only die-hard socialists don't get that concept.

I think that Greyhawk is onto something here. This proposal is so incredibly and blatantly insulting and demeaning to veterans, that there has to be some kind of purpose behind it. Taking these kind of shots at vets for no good reason would literally be insane.

He didn't completely say it, but perhaps this is going to be used in a rhetorical way in the upcoming nationalized health care debate. Something to the effect that, "Just as we owe our veterans blah, blah, blah all Americans deserve free health care, blah, blah, blah." So this is a setup for veterans, conservatives, et al to jump out of the chair screaming, "The govt. owes us this care!" To which Obama responds, "We owe it to ourselves!" ???

Just spitballing here. The other thing that perplexes is that if/when he loses the media, this issue has the potential to burn like a prairie fire engulfing him in the flames. He must have absolute confidence that the MSM will not buck up and report on this stuff, because this is just the most politically untenable policy that I can think of for a lefty douchebag to throw out there. It is straight up lefty stereotyping 101. It's Ted Rall like.

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March 17, 2010


Dawn Patrol 03/17/2010
[Mrs Greyhawk]
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Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and various sources around the world. If you're a blogger, you can join the conversation. If you link to any of these stories, add a link to the Dawn Patrol too and your trackback will be added to the list. Hat Tips to the Dawn Patrol are greatly appreciated.Refresh for updates.


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Support Our Troops, Read Their Stories

----------------------------


AFGHANISTAN

Suicide attackers killed in Afghanistan -- [CNN]
Two suicide attackers, dressed as women, stormed a relief agency in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday and were killed by police before they could detonate their explosives.

US kills 8 terrorists in 2 new airstrikes in North Waziristan -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
The US launched a strike in the village of Hamzoni and another in Datta Khel, the second there in two days.

S.N.A.B.U. = Situation Normal All BAF-fed Up -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
After 2 hours of driving and being bounced around on the Afghan highways like a ping-pong ball, we arrived at our destination. Originally we were planning to drive on to
BAF and then off-load the Humvees. But when we found out about the mountain of paperwork and coordination required to escort our ANA counterparts on the installation, we opted to off-load outside the base and drive them the remainder of the way.

Post Office Doesn't Like Me -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
Imagine it's your first day on the job and you are responsible for picking up the mail and incoming packages for the camp. You visit the main post office and in a wooden bin they have a stack a mail of that hasn't been picked up in awhile. Then you ask the question "Is there any other mail?" The clerk has this sheepish grin and leads you out back to a metal storage container. Inside the container, there are hundreds of boxes marked with your camp's address. As you examine the boxes closer, you notice most of these boxes are marked for a SMSgt Rex Temple at your camp. You have never met this person and your vehicles don't have enough spare room to haul all of these packages.

Danger Room Explainer: Outsourced Intel in Afghanistan -- [Danger Room]
When is intelligence really intelligence, and when is it merely "atmospherics"? It may sound abstract, but it goes to the heart of a New York Times scoop about a defense official who apparently set up an off-the-books intelligence operation in Afghanistan.
On Monday, the Times ran a story about Michael Furlong, the Defense Department official being investigated over an ad hoc spy ring. The piece raised more questions than it answered, and Washington Post intelligence columnist David Ignatius is now filling in some of the blanks.
In a column today, Ignatius distills the story. "Under the heading of 'information operations' or 'force protection,' he writes, "the military has launched intelligence activities that, were they conducted by the CIA, might require a presidential finding and notification of Congress. And by using contractors who operate 'outside the wire' in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the military has gotten information that is sometimes better than what the CIA is offering."
Ignatius also unpacks some of the curious semantics around this..


IRAQ

Iraq Votes - Part VI -- [MEMRI]
The Elections Commissions announced yesterday the results of 79% of the votes counted. The results delivered a big surprise showing Ayad Allawi's Al-iraqiya slate ahead of Prime Minister Al-Maliki's State of Law by a few thousand votes. This is not much given that the counting of the votes is still going on, but the State of Law has already asked for a recount, particularly in the Province of Baghdad claiming fraud.[1]
The fact, however,...

Mission Accomplished: Astroturfing Baghdad -- [Danger Room]
Lots of strange press releases land in my inbox, but the first line of this one stood out: "The world leader in artificial turf is proud to announce that the first artificial turf sports field in Iraq for the U.S. Government has been installed at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad."




U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Allies everywhere feeling snubbed by President Obama -- [Washington Post]
The contretemps between President Obama and Israel needs to be seen in a broader global context. The president who ran against "unilateralism" in the 2008 campaign has worse relations overall with American allies than George W. Bush did in his second term.

Chahar-Shanbeh Souri -- [Planet Iran]
People are chanting a new message to Obama saying: "Hossein, Hossein, stop trying to talk to our murderers!"




WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

If bin Laden is found, he'll be killed, Holder says -- [AP]
Holder: If bin Laden found, he'll be killed -- Osama bin Laden "will never appear in an American courtroom," Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. told House members at a hearing Tuesday. -- "Let's deal with the reality here,"

ACLU files lawsuit for information on US Predator program -- [Threat Matrix]
The American Civil Liberties Union has followed up its Freedom of Information Act request that was filed in January seeking information on the US Predator program. Today, the ACLU filed a lawsuit against the the Defense Department, the State Department, and the Justice Department, demanding enforcement of its January request for information on the program. The full press release release from the ACLU is..


SUPPORTING THE TROOPS

Army Suicides Grow, but This Soldier Was Saved -- [Politics Daily]
...Alone in his barracks room at Forward Operating Base Rustamiyah, Sanders, a soft-spoken young man with a pleasant demeanor, seized his M-4 carbine, put the barrel under his chin, squeezed his eyes shut and pulled the trigger.
When Sanders pulled the trigger of his loaded carbine, there was only a light click. Horrified both at what he had done and what he had failed to do, Sanders tore open his weapon, searching frantically to find why it hadn't fired. He quickly identified the reason: no firing pin.
At that moment his roommate, Spec. Albert Godding, walked in. "Where's my firing pin -- I don't have a firing pin!'' Sanders yelled, terrified that he'd misplaced that critical piece and would get in trouble for losing it. "And how,'' Godding asked gently, "did you discover it was missing?'' When Sanders realized what had happened -- that Godding was worried enough that he'd removed the firing pin ...

Silver Star Winner Reprimanded for Afghan Battle -- [ABC]
Three Army officers have received letters of reprimand for failing to prepare adequate defenses for a combat outpost in Wanat, Afghanistan, where a mass Talibanattack in July 2008 resulted in the deaths of nine soldiers and 27 wounded, Defense Department officials confirmed to ABC News.
"These are essentially career-enders," said a military official of the letters of reprimand.
Two Defense Department officials said the actions are not yet final because the review that led to the letters of reprimand is still ongoing and the three officers have a period of time to respond and request reconsideration of the disciplinary action.
Among the three officers receiving the letters of reprimand is Capt. Matthew Myer, the company commander of the unit attacked at Wanat, who was awarded the Silver Star for his brave actions in repelling the attack.


Making today matter -- [Soldiers Angels Germany]
From Chaplain Campbell of Warrior's Sanctuary:
Last weekend while my wife and I were returning from a quick shopping trip we saw some flashing lights on the other side of the freeway. Not from a police car or a fire truck. The flashing lights were from large "Am Buses" transporting our wounded warriors to Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Navy Medical Center at Bethesda.
And it got him to wondering,


MILITARY

Arrrrrrmy Training, SIR! -- [This Ain't Hell]
I'm sure you've all read that the Army, for some stupid reason, is changing basic training. Their reasons are specious and indicative of why Army training was changed thirty years ago.
...The Army wants to do away with the endurance running and focus on some sort of short distance sprints and zig-zagging. Dicksmith seems pleased about. I'd remind the Army and dicksmith that endurance running builds soldiers' immune systems and their aerobic capacity - improving their overall internal health. Do away with distance running and you're going to make the force less effective.


WELCOME HOME

Bushrod honors were not misplaced -- [Fredericksburg.com]
Jermon Bushrod's return to King George after his Super Bowl victory resulted in some letters that I feel were way off mark ["Football players aren't 'heroes,' King George," Feb. 26].
Mr. Bushrod is a millionaire, no doubt. He also happens to be one of the most humble, respectful gentlemen you will come across.
He's a local boy who has done good and provides a positive role model for our kids. He deserves accolades for all his accomplishments and the example he sets.
To compare him and his welcome home to our troops in harm's way displays an agenda or maybe a misguided avenue to express a point.
As a 24-year military veteran, I certainly had no issue with the fanfare in which Mr. Bushrod was welcomed home. Nor, do I suspect, did any of my fellow service members, active or not. Maybe a more powerful message would come from a letter expressing a desire to read more of the positive stories involving our troops, instead of the dirty laundry.

They're Coming Home! -- [KBND]
We are going to have four welcome home celebrations. One in Portland, one in Bend, one in Medford, and one in the Eugene Springfield area.




THE MEDIA/CULTURE

It's just some ribbon. -- [From my Position...]
American Idol is one of the Mrs.' guilty pleasures. While I watched it tonight, I was treated to Andrew Garcia, a talented performer, singing something. I can't remember what, however, because I was way to interested in why he was wearing a series of ribbon devices on his pocket. One of those medals is the Army commendation medal. The others I haven't bothered to look up yet.

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POLITICS

GE and Ronald Reagan: The Mutual Gift That Keeps On Giving -- [Politics Daily]
As part of a one-year celebration to honor the 100th anniversary of Ronald Reagan's birth, General Electric will run ads honoring the 40th president's legacy -- and will donate $10 million to The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library

Petraeus Testifies About DADT
PETRAEUS: It would include an assessment of the likely effects on recruiting, retention, moral and cohesion and would include an identification of what policies might be needed in the event of a change and recommend those polices as well.


The Petraeus briefing: Biden's embarrassment is not the whole story -- [Foreign Policy Blog]
The Mullen briefing and Petraeus's request hit the White House like a bombshell. While Petraeus's request that CENTCOM be expanded to include the Palestinians was denied ("it was dead on arrival," a Pentagon officer confirms), the Obama administration decided it would redouble its efforts -- pressing Israel once again on the settlements issue, sending Mitchell on a visit to a number of Arab capitals and dispatching Mullen for a carefully arranged meeting with the chief of the Israeli General Staff, Lt. General Gabi Ashkenazi. While the American press speculated that Mullen's trip focused on Iran, the JCS Chairman actually carried a blunt, and tough, message on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: that Israel had to see its conflict with the Palestinians "in a larger, regional, context" -- as having a direct impact on America's status in the region. Certainly, it was thought, Israel would get the message.
Israel didn't. When Vice President Joe Biden was embarrassed by an Israeli announcement that the Netanyahu government was building 1,600 new homes in East Jerusalem, the administration reacted. But no one was more outraged than Biden who, ...


HUMOR/SATIRE


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The Mudville Gazette is the on-line voice of an American warrior and his wife who stands by him. They prefer to see peaceful change render force of arms unnecessary. Until that day they stand fast with those who struggle for freedom, strike for reason, and pray for a better tomorrow.
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  • Froggy: I think that Greyhawk is onto something here. This proposal read more
  • Dadmanly: Update - clarifying remarks from David Rehbein: "President Obama made read more
  • justanotherlurker: I'd just like to point something out I haven't seen read more
  • Lord Whorfin: I've got news for you. They are already doing it. read more
  • JohnMc: Two suggestions on funding the short fall in veterans coverage read more
  • Squid: This whole thing stinks to high heaven, and the only read more
  • Paul: This proposal is so egregious, I can’t believe it hasn’t read more
  • JohnG: Why not charge service members for the weapons they use? read more
  • JohnG: Why not charge service members for the weapons they use? read more
  • Hoystory: I just wonder what happened to Shinseki's backbone. Does the read more

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The Mudville Gazette is written and produced by Greyhawk. Unless otherwise credited, the opinions expressed are those of the author, and nothing here is to be taken as representing the official position of or endorsement by the United States Department of Defense or any of its subordinate components. Furthermore, I will occasionally use satire or parody herein. The bottom line: it's my house.

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