tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post5463104065402117524..comments2024-03-17T08:27:53.658-05:00Comments on Stonekettle Station: Jerkoff of the Month - US Department of Veteran’s AffairsJim Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-60642239530962823112009-03-27T20:28:00.000-05:002009-03-27T20:28:00.000-05:00Steve, I guess that's what burns me the most here:...Steve, I guess that's what burns me the most here: I definitely supported Shinseki when Obama nominated him. He's a vet, and more than that a combat vet who was wounded in action (landmine actually), was badly maimed, recovered and stayed on active duty. He rose to the rank of General, he slapped GWB and that fucking bastard Rumsfeld upside their collective heads.<BR/><BR/>I really admire the guy.<BR/><BR/>I understood when Peake had the con under Bush, I lived through the "fuck the military they're nothing but cannon fodder for the Conservatives" mindset - that was the attitude of the Bush administration.<BR/><BR/>But this shit is continuing to happen on Shinseki's watch. He more than anybody should be taking care of business. This kind of nonsense is totally unacceptable, and he knows it. No way in hell that a senator should have had to call to make Shinseki's department do what they should have done all along - their job.Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-35475029543094061392009-03-27T20:17:00.000-05:002009-03-27T20:17:00.000-05:00Sounds like it's time for a little downsizing... t...Sounds like it's time for a little downsizing... through the judicious use of a couple of fragmentation devices.<BR/><BR/>Yeah, I really hope Shinseki gets his can-opener ready and starts opening some whoopass real soon now. I had more hope for his taking over the VA than this shows. Maybe somebody didn't read a memo.Steve Buchheithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12999709767641212586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-39528804029332536152009-03-27T14:04:00.000-05:002009-03-27T14:04:00.000-05:00Whoops, that should have been zinc chromate, not z...Whoops, that should have been <B>zinc chromate</B>, not zinc chromide.alaskanimehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08299289638870579061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-78215427790472381462009-03-27T13:48:00.000-05:002009-03-27T13:48:00.000-05:00This isn't the first time crap like this has happe...This isn't the first time crap like this has happened with the VA. My ex's dad was exposed to zinc chromide/chromium-6 in the Army when a can of paint exploded with enough force to knock a foot-thick blast door off it's tracks. As a result, he's developed COPD and is unable to walk for more than 15 minutes at a time without getting literally blue in the face. I remember last year or the year before hearing that the VA wanted to take away his disability benefits, citing that he was "cured" because he could get around without a wheelchair and was holding down a steady job as a computer tech - which requires a lot of sitting, <I>not</I> moving around. The docs at the VA kept chaging his prognosis as well to cowtow to the bureaucrats and their unwillingness to give help to those who really need it.alaskanimehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08299289638870579061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-72668197014623050682009-03-26T20:28:00.000-05:002009-03-26T20:28:00.000-05:00NeuronDoc, I see three failures, two epic, one muc...NeuronDoc, I see three failures, two epic, one much less so.<BR/><BR/>The first one was the doctor, Nurse practitioner, or PA who sent this guy home without testing or examination, or getting the opinion of the staff orthopedic surgeon or doing a referral to a facility with proper specialists. Epic Fail. State Medical review board time. Hospital review board. Suspension. Need to pull head out of ass or find a new line of work.<BR/><BR/>The second one was Roberts' mistake - he should have insisted on a second opinion. Demanded to see a specialist, and gotten a definitive answer. This is a minor fail - army guys, junior army guys are conditioned to follow orders, conditioned to respect authority. The <I>Doctor</I> said it was ok. Roberts might not have agreed, but probably wouldn't have argued. Additionally, it's obvious that the VA didn't do a very good job of informing him of his rights under law, or referring him to the patient advocate office.<BR/><BR/>and finally, three, most epic fail of all. The bean counter who denied the claim for reimbursement/payment of medical expenses. This fuckwit needs to be fired, now, and never ever allowed anywhere near vets again. Period. In fact, let the vets escort him out to the parking lot. I'll help. I've met a million of these little dicks, all spreadsheets and procedures and red tape. This cocksucker should have run this to ground, saw it was a medical emergency, saw that the soldier's LEG was at risk - and realized that they were paying $3000 out of <I>$90,000</I> and taken care of this combat veteran. Period, end of story. That's his <I>job. </I> Instead, he's petulant that a wounded soldier in danger of losing a limb didn't fill out the proper paperwork. And he can't fall back on "procedure" because when the matter was given congressional scrutiny, suddenly, hey! We'll take care of that, no problem. Why did it take a Senatorial inquiry to get this man taken care of? Obviously it could be done. It didn't take a change in law, it didn't take a plus up in congressional funding. Once it was made public, once a Senator called - bang, oops, we'll take care of it right away, Sir! Again, whoever made this decision needs to be fired. Right goddamned now. Publically, he needs to be named, and fired on national news. Here's why: Roberts got taken care of, how many other vets didn't? How many? How many lost legs, arms, eyes, and life because of little sons of bitches like this? The message needs to be sent, loud and clear and this bastard needs to be made an example of. This bean counting idiot has no idea of what the VA's charter is. Nobody with this attitude should be allowed around decorated, combat wounded vets. Ever. Or vets of any kind for that matter. The idiot ought to be grateful we let him live. and he should be ashamed of himself. I hope he gets fucking mained in a fiery car crash.<BR/><BR/>Sorry but you have no idea how much this pisses me off. Shinseki needs to step up, or step off. Now.Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-81737830363180190872009-03-26T18:58:00.000-05:002009-03-26T18:58:00.000-05:00Ack -- not todya --> today. Stupid fingers.Ack -- not todya --> today. Stupid fingers.neurondochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12155027993661209263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-46850363097063185562009-03-26T18:57:00.000-05:002009-03-26T18:57:00.000-05:00I read the story on cnn.com todya and figured you'...I read the story on cnn.com todya and figured you'd have something to say about it, Jim.<BR/><BR/>Someone should do something bad to the asshat doctors who sent him home from the VA. They didn't fully investigate a painful lump the size of a freaking <I>golf ball?</I> I may not be an infectious diseases specialist (and you know why) or (even worse) an orthopedic surgeon, but even I could see where that one was heading.<BR/><BR/>Rules, rules, rules. Don't bureaucratic paper-pushers just love 'em?neurondochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12155027993661209263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-39282939900085879462009-03-26T15:31:00.000-05:002009-03-26T15:31:00.000-05:00Janiece, I can hear your teeth grinding and knashi...Janiece, I can hear your teeth grinding and knashing from here! ;D<BR/>WendyB_09WendyB_09https://www.blogger.com/profile/03788918629240949526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-89317349046299266662009-03-26T14:57:00.000-05:002009-03-26T14:57:00.000-05:00Well, hi there, Janiece. I see you're having a go...Well, hi there, Janiece. I see you're having a good day. <BR/><BR/>How about a VA horror story to give you indigestion and high blood pressure? <BR/><BR/>Well, that would be just fabulous. Thanks so much.<BR/><BR/>GRRR.Janiecehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14190655869710465713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-45088878024575935722009-03-26T14:51:00.000-05:002009-03-26T14:51:00.000-05:00Someone needs to contact my Senator, if he hasn't ...Someone needs to contact my Senator, if he hasn't been contacted already.<BR/><BR/>Rockefeller is on the Veterans' Affairs committee, and been outspoken about care for veterans.Random Michelle Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13817444379694818074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-77631284424964565432009-03-26T14:36:00.000-05:002009-03-26T14:36:00.000-05:00Oh, I'm thinking dangling them by thumbscrews from...Oh, I'm thinking dangling them by thumbscrews from the VA office building would be too good for them. <BR/><BR/>WendyB_09WendyB_09https://www.blogger.com/profile/03788918629240949526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-41420961612291208022009-03-26T14:35:00.000-05:002009-03-26T14:35:00.000-05:00I don't think jerkoff is a strong enough word for ...I don't think <I>jerkoff</I> is a strong enough word for the VA right now. Maybe complete and utter fucking assholes?Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02458727475454361013noreply@blogger.com